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"Over here, Captain," the Murgo said, leading his horse into the shelter provided by the outspreading lie of the stand

The Tolnedran nodded and followed thecloak "Have you had a chance to think over ht it was only speculation," the captain replied "We don't even know that these foreigners are in this quadrant"

"My inforo told him "I think you can be quite certain that they're souarantee that we'll find theh," the captain said "And even if we do, it'd be very difficult to do what you propose"

"Captain," the Murgo explained patiently, "it's for the safety of the princess, after all If she's returned to Tol Honeth, the Vorduvians are going to kill her You've read those docuht you"

"She'll be safe with the Borunes," the captain said "The Vorduvians aren't going to come into Southern Tolnedra after her"

"The Borunes are only going to turn her over to her father You're a Borune yourself Would you defy an Emperor of your own house?" The captain's face was troubled

"Her only hope of safety is with the Horbites," the Murgo pressed

"What guarantees do I have that she'll be safe with theuarantee of all - politics The Horbites are doing everything in their power to block the Grand Duke Kador on his march to the throne Since he wants the princess dead, the Horbites naturally want to keep her alive It's the only way really to insure her safety - and you becogestively

The captain still looked doubtful

"Suppose we double the ao said in a voice that almost purred

The captain sed hard "It is for her safety, isn't it?"

"Of course it is"

"It's not as if I were betraying the House of Borune"

"You're a patriot, Captain," the Murgo assured the officer with a cold s Ce'Nedra's ar the trees The tiny girl's face was outraged, and her eyes were blazing

Later, after the legionnaires and their Murgo friend had departed, the princess exploded "How dare they?" she raged "And for money!"

"That Tolnedran politics for you," Silk said as they led their horses out of the stand of saplings into the drizzly

"But he's a Borune," she protested, "a member of my own family"

"A Tolnedran's first loyalty is to his purse," Silk told her "I'hness"

A few days later they topped a hill and saw the Wood of the Dryads spreading like a green se on the horizon The showers had blown off, and the sun was very bright

"We'll be safe once we reach the Wood," the princess told theions won't follow us there"

"What's to stop them?" Garion asked her