Demon Lord of Karanda

altogether."
    "Sometimes I think that I'll never see my baby again," she said in a weary little voice.
    "You mustn't ever think that," he told her. "We will catch up with Zandramas, and we will take Geran home with us again."
    "Home," she sighed. "We've been gone for so long that I can barely remember what it looks like."
    He took her into his arms, buried his face in her hair, and held her close. After a time she sighed and fell asleep. In spite of his own deep weariness, however, it was quite late before he himself drifted off.
    The next day dawned clear and warm. They made their way back to the road again and continued eastward with Iron-grip's sword pointing the way.
    About midmorning, Polgara called ahead to Belgarath.
    "Father, there's someone hiding off to the side of the road just ahead."
    He slowed his horse to a walk. "Chandim?" he asked tersely.
    "No. It's a Mallorean Angarak. He's very muchafraid -and not altogether rational."
    "Is he planning any mischief?"
    "He's not actually planning anything, father. His thoughts aren't coherent enough for that."
    "Why don't you go flush him out, Silk?" the old man suggested. "I don't like having people lurking behind me -sane or not.
    "About where is he?" the little man asked Polgara.
    "Some distance back in the woods from that dead tree." she replied.
    He nodded. "I'll go talk with him," he said. He loped his horse on ahead and reined in beside the dead tree. "We know you're back there, friend," he called pleasantly."We don't mean you any harm, but why don't you come out in the open where we can see you?"
    There was a long pause.
    "Come along now," Silk called. "Don't be shy."
    "Have you got any demons with you?" The voice sounded fearful.
    "Do I look like the sort of fellow who'd be consorting with demons?"
    "You won't kill me, will you?"
    "Of course not. We only want to talk with you, that's all."
    There was another long, fearful pause. "Have you got anything to eat?" The voice was filled with a desperate need.
    "I think we can spare a bit."
    The hidden man thought about that. "All right," he said finally. "I'm coming out. Remember that you promised not to kill me." Then there was a crashing in the bushes, and a Mallorean soldier came stumbling out into the road. His red tunic was in shreds, he had lost his helmet, and the remains of his boots were tied to his legs with leather thongs. He had quite obviously neither shaved nor bathed for at least a month. His eyes were wild and his head twitched on his neck uncontrollably.He stared at Silk with a terrified expression.
    "You don't look to be in very good shape, friend," Silk said to him. "Where's your unit?"
    "Dead, all dead, and eaten by the demons." The soldier's eyes were haunted. "Were you at Akkad ?" he asked in a terrified voice. "Were you there when the demons came?"
    "No, friend. We just came up from Venna ."
    "You said that you had something for me to eat."
    "Durnik," Silk called, "could you bring some food for this poor fellow?"
    Durnik rode to the packhorse carrying their stores and took out some bread and dried meat. Then he rode on ahead to join Silk and the fear-crazed soldier.
    "Were you at Akkad when the demons came?" the fellow asked him.
    Durnik shook his head. "No," he replied, "I'm with him." He pointed at Silk. Then he handed the fellow the bread and meat.
    The soldier snatched them and began to wolf them down in huge bites.
    "What happened at Akkad ?" Silk asked.
    "The demons came," the soldier replied, still cramming food into his mouth. Then he stopped, his eyes fixed on Durnik with an expression of fright. "Are you going to kill me?" he demanded.
    Durnik stared at him. "No, man," he replied in a sick voice.
    "Thank you." The soldier sat down at the roadside and continued to eat.
    Garion and the others slowly drew closer, not wanting to frighten the skittish fellow off.
    "What did happen at Akkad ?" Silk pressed. "We're going in that direction, and we'd sort of like to know what to expect."
    "Don't go there," the soldier said, shuddering. "It's horrible -horrible. The demons came through the gates with howling Karands all around them. The Karands started hacking people to pieces and then they fed the pieces to the demons. They cut off both of my captain's arms and then his legs as well, and then a demon picked up what was left of him and ate his head. He was screaming the whole time." He lowered his chunk of bread and fearfully stared at Ce'Nedra. "Lady, are you going to kill me?" he