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They went down through theafter theed on the open lawn beyond They ested, glancing back at the house
"I bought us a little tih
"How'd you et our weapons, I also set fire to the kitchen" Silk smirked "That will keep their attention for a bit"
A tendril of smoke rose from the back of the house
"Very clever," Aunt Pol said with a certain grudging ad little bow Mister Wolf chuckled and led them away at an easy trot
The tendril of smoke at the back of the house beca black and oily toward the uncaring stars
Chapter Fifteen
THEY RODE HARD for the next several days, stopping only long enough to rest the horses and catch a few hours' sleep at infrequent intervals Garion found that he could doze in his saddle whenever they walked the horses He found, indeed, that if he were tired enough, he could sleep al pace Wolf set, he heard Silk talking to the old man and Aunt Pol Curiosity finally won out over exhaustion, and he roused hih to listen"I'd still like to know more about Sal
"She's an opportunist," Wolf said "Any tie"
"That os" Garion opened his eyes "Why do they call her Eternal Salmissra?" he asked Aunt Pol "Is she very old?"
"No," Aunt Pol answered "The Queens of Nyissa are always named Salmissra, that's all"
"Do you know this particular one?"
"I don't have to," she told him "They're always exactly the same They all look alike and act alike If you know one, you know the to be terribly disappointed with Y'diss," Silk observed, grinning
"I iine that Y'diss has taken sorows a bit excessive when she's irritated"
"Is she so cruel then?" Garion asked
"Not cruel exactly," Wolf explained "Nyissans admire serpents If you annoy a snake, he'll bite you He's a siical Once he bites you, he doesn't hold any further grudges"
"Do we have to talk about snakes?" Silk asked in a pained voice
"I think the horses are rested now," Hettar said froo now"
They pushed the horses back into a gallop and pounded south toward the broad valley of the Nedrane River and Tol Honeth The sun turned war in the first days of spring,