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"I'm certain I'll be able to ht smile "I promise you that the last act will be extremely short, Chaht we'd agreed to be civilized"

"I can't recall e ever agreed on anything," Wolf said He turned to the Emperor "I think we'll leave now, Ran Borune," he said "With your permission, of course"

"Of course," the Eh I still don't believe in you, naturally My skepticislad of that," Wolf said, and quite suddenly he grinned ihed

"I look forward to our next arath," Asharak said

"I wouldn't if I were you," Wolf advised hiarden

Chapter Seventeen

IT WAS MIDAFTERNOON when they ereen in the warht, and the cypress trees stirred in a faint breeze"I don't think ant to stay in Tol Honeth too er," Wolf said

"Do we leave now, then?" Mandorallen asked

"There's so into the sunlight "Barak and his cousin will co's house and wait there"

"We'll stop by the central s I need"

"This isn't a shopping expedition, Pol"

"The Grolims already knoe're here, father," she said, "so there's no point in creeping about like sneak thieves, is there?"

He sighed "All right, Pol"

"I knew you'd see it my way," she said

Mister Wolf shook his head helplessly and rode off with Barak and Grinneg The rest of the city below The streets at the foot of the hill were broad and lined on either side by nificent houses-each almost a palace in itself

"The rich and the noble," Silk said "In Tol Honeth, the closer you live to the palace, the more important you are"

"'Tis oft times thus, Prince Kheldar," Mandorallen observed "Wealth and position sometimes need the reassurance of proximity to the seat of power By ostentation and propinquity to the throne, s their own inadequacy"

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Silk said