Page 79 (1/2)

"An ugly rumor hath persisted in Arendia for soe "We are told that some of our nobles have upon occasion enriched the their serfs to the Nyissans"

"Looks like it's rowled "See that crest upon the tunic of that one there? It's the crest of Vo Toral I know the Baron of Vo Toral for a notorious spendthrift, but had not thought him dishonorable Upon ood's that going to do?" Barak asked

"He will be forced to challenge ried "Serf or slave - what's the difi'erence?"

"Those hts, my Lord," Mandorallen stated "Their Lord is required to protect thehthood demands it of us This vile transaction hath stained the honor of every true Arendish knight I shall not rest until I have bereft that foul baron of hisidea," Barak said "Maybe I'll go with you"

Hettar caan talking quietly to hi one of his aros ordered harshly "I want to see howwhip and began to flick it deftly at the legs of the chained an to dance feverishly on the wharf beside the slave ship

"Dog's blood!" Mandorallen swore, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the railing

"Easy," Garion warned "Aunt Pol says we're supposed to stay pretty ht"

"It cannot be borne!" Mandorallen cried

The chain that bound the slaves together was old and pitted with rust When one slave tripped and fell, a link snapped, and the ility born of desperation, he rolled quickly to his feet, took two quick steps and plunged off the wharf into the murky waters of the river

"This way,slave

The burly Nyissan with the whip laughed harshly and pointed at the escaping slave "Watch," he told the Murgos

"Stop hiold for hirin "Watch" The swiht When he caain, his face and ar leeches that infested the river Screa out chunks of his own flesh in his efforts to pull theh

Garion's athered himself with an awful concentration, pointed one hand at the wharf just beyond their own ship and said, "Be there!" He felt an enor out of hiainst Mandorallen The sound inside his head was deafening

The slave, still writhing and covered with the oozing leeches, was suddenly lying on the wharf A wave of exhaustion swept over Garion; if Mandorallen had not caught hio?" Barak de at the turbulent spot on the surface of the river where the slave had been an instant before "Did he go under?"

Wordlessly and with a shaking hand, Mandorallen pointed at the slave, who lay still weakly struggling on the Drasnian wharf about twenty yards in front of the bow of their ship