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"No, dear," the queen said firmly, "you won't"

"What?" Ce'Nedra was stunned

"We have a treaty too," Xantha explained "Our agreement with the House of Borune isas the female descendants of the Princess Xoria stay with the Borunes It's your duty to remain with your father and to obey hi here"

"You're also hu with your father"

"I don't want to go to Riva," Ce'Nedra protested

"It's degrading" Xantha looked at her sternly "Don't be a foolish child," she said "Your duties are clear You have a duty as a Dryad, as a Borune, and as an Imperial Princess Your silly little whio to Riva, then you o"

Ce'Nedra appeared shaken by the finality of the queen's tone, and she sulked in silence after that

Then the queen turned to Mister Wolf "There are many rumors abroad," she said, "and soout there in the world of the humans, and it may even touch our lives in this Wood I think I should knohat this thing is"

Wolf nodded gravely "I expect you should," he agreed "The Orb of Aldur has been stolen fro by Zedar the Apostate"

Xantha caught her breath "How?" she demanded

Wolf spread his hands "We don't know Zedar's trying to reach the kingdoaraks with the Orb Once he's there, he'll try to use its power to awaken Torak"

"Thatdone?"

"The Alorns and the Sendars are getting ready for war," Wolf replied "The Arends have proh he didn't make any prolanced at the pouting Ce'Nedra

"Then it means war?" the queen asked sadly

"I' Zedar with these others, and I hope we can catch hiet the Orb back before he can reach Torak with it If we're successful, I think the Angaraks will attack the West anyway out of desperation Certain ancient prophecies are getting close to their fulfillns everywhere, and even the twisted perceptions of the Grolihed "I've seen soarath," she said "I'd hoped I rong What does this Zedar look like?"

"A great deal liketime, and that puts a certain h the upper reaches of our Wood last week and crossed over into Nyissa," Xantha said "If we'd knoe ht have been able to detain hiht, then Was he alone?"

"No," Xantha reported "He had two of the servants of Torak with him and a small boy"

Wolf looked startled "A boy?"

"Yes-about six years old or so"

The old man frowned, and then his eyes opened very wide "So that's how he did it," he exclaiht of that"

"We can show you where he crossed the river into Nyissa," the queen offered "I should warn you though that it's going to be dangerous for so large a party to go there Salmissra has eyes everywhere in those swamps"

"I've already made plans for that," Mister Wolf assured her He turned to Barak "Are you sure that ship's going to be waiting at the mouth of the River of the Woods?" he asked