page58 (1/2)

Tears streamed down Carl’s cheeks He looked away fro back the boy’s hair

“I’m sorry, Carl I did not mean to upset you But I want you to know that when this is all over, and you go hoain, that if you ever need a home, you will always be welco man, and I would be proud to have you stay here, with me Both you a

nd Tinker And I want you to know I trust you to think for yourself, and you o as you please”

Carl looked up et eyes “Thank you, Father Rahl”

Rahl smiled warmly “No about some food?”

Carl nodded his approval

“What would you like? We have anything you could want”

Carl thought a minute, and a smile came to him “I like blueberry pie It’s“But I’m not allowed to have it for breakfast”

A big grin came to Darken Rahl’s face He stood “Blueberry pie it is, then I’ll go get it and be right back”

The Master walked off through the garden to a small vine-covered door at the side The door opened for hi it back as Rahl passed through into the dark roo over a fire in a sainst the far wall, a sheen of sweat covering them

“Master Rahl” Demmin bowed his head “I trust the boy meets with your approval”

Rahl licked his finger tips “He will do nicely” He smoothed his eyebron “Dish me out a bowl of that slop so it can cool”

Deruel into it with the wooden spoon from the kettle

“If everything is all right”—a wicked grin came over his pockmarked face—“then I will be off to pay our respects to Queen Milena”

“Fine On the way, stop and tell the dragon I want her”

De “She doesn’t like me”

“She doesn’t like anyone,” Rahl said flatly “But don’t worry, Demmin, she will not eat you She knohat I will do if she stretches my patience”

Deain “She will ask how soon you will need her”

Rahl glanced at him out of the corner of his eye “That is none of her concern, and tell her I said so She is to come when I ask, and wait until I ah the foliage, at the side of the boy’s head “But I want you back here in teeks”

“Teeks, all right” Deruel down “But does it really need to take that long with the boy?”

“It does if I want to return from the underworld” Rahl continued to look out the slit “It er Whatever it takes, it takes I e of his unconditional loyalty”

Demmin hooked a thumb in his belt “We have another problem”

Rahl glanced back over his shoulder “Is that all you do, De for problems?”

“It keeps my head attached to my shoulders”

Rahl shed “Get it off your tongue, then”

Deht I received reports that the tracer cloud has vanished”

“Vanished?”

“Well, not so much vanished, as hidden” He scratched the side of his face “They said clouds moved in and hid it”

Rahl laughed Demmin frowned in confusion

“Our friend, the old wizard It sounds like he saw the cloud and has been up to his little tricks to vex me It was to be expected This one is not a problem, my friend It is not important”

“Master Rahl, that was how you were to find the book Other than the last box, what could be more important?”