Demon Lord of Karanda

fawning bootlicker, a liar, a coward, and absolutely not to be trusted."
    "Ah, there you are, Brador," one of the felt-capped men greeted the Melcene with a forced heartiness.
    "Your Highness," Brador replied with a florid bow. "I have the honor to present his Royal Majesty, Belgarion of Riva." He turned to Garion. "Your Majesty, this is his Highness, King Warasin of Pallia."
    "Your Majesty," Warasin gushed, bowing awkwardly. He was a man with a narrow, pockmarked face, close-set eyes, and a slack-lipped mouth. His hands, Garion noticed, were not particularly clean.
    "Your Highness," Garion replied with a slightly distant note.
    "I was just telling the members of my court here that I'd have sooner believed that the sun would rise in the north tomorrow than that the Overlord of the West would appear at Mal Zeth."
    "The world is full of surprises."
    "By the beard of Torak, you're right, Belgarion -you don't mind if I call you Belgarion, do you, your Majesty?"
    "Torak didn't have a beard," Garion corrected shortly.
    "'What?"
    "Torak -he didn't have a beard. At least he didn't when I met him."
    "When you-" Warasin's eyes suddenly widened.
    "Are you telling me that all those stories about what happened at Cthol Mishrak are actually true?" he gasped,
    "I'm not sure, your Highness," Garion told him. "I haven't heard all the stories yet. It's been an absolute delight meeting you, old boy," he said, clapping the stunned-looking kinglet on the shoulder with exaggerated camaraderie. "It's a shame that we don't have more time to talk. Coming, Brador?" He nodded to the petty king of Pallia, turned, and led the Melcene away.
    "You're very skilled, Belgarion," Brador murmured.
    "Much more so than I would have imagined, considering-" He hesitated.
    "Considering the fact that I look like an unlettered country oaf?" Garion supplied.
    "I don't know that I'd put it exactly that way."
    "Why not?" Garion shrugged. "It's the truth, isn't it?
    What was pig-eyes back there trying to maneuver the conversation around to? It was pretty obvious that he was leading up to something."
    "It's fairly simple," Brador replied. "He recognizes current proximity to Kal Zakath. All power in Mallorea derives from the throne, and the man who has the Emperor's ear is in a unique position. Warasin is currently having a border dispute with the Prince Regent of Delchin and he probably wants you to put in a good word for him." Brador gave him an amused look. "You're in a position right now to make millions, you know."
    Garion laughed. "I couldn't carry it, Brador," he said.
    "I visited the royal treasury at Riva once, and I know how much a million weighs. Who's next?"
    "The Chief of the Bureau of Commerce -an unmitigated, unprincipled ass. Like most Bureau Chiefs."
    Garion smiled. "And what does he want?"
    Brador tugged thoughtfully at one earlobe. "I'm not entirely certain. I've been out of the country. Vasca's a devious one, though, so I'd be careful of him."
    "I'm always careful, Brador."
    The Baron Vasca, Chief of the Bureau of Commerce, was wrinkled and bald. He wore the brown robe that seemed to be almost the uniform of the bureaucracy, and the gold chain of his office seemed almost too heavy for his thin neck. Though at first glance he appeared to be old and frail, his eyes were as alert and shrewd as those of a vulture. "Ah, your Majesty," he said after they had been introduced, "I'm so pleased to meet you at last."
    "My pleasure, Baron Vasca," Garion said politely.
    They chatted together for some time, and Garion could not detect anything in the baron's conversation that seemed in the least bit out of the ordinary.
    "I note that Prince Kheldar of Drasnia is a member of your party," the baron said finally.
    "We're old friends. You're acquainted with Kheldar then, Baron?"
    "We've had a few dealings together -the customary permits and gratuities, you understand. For the most part, though, he tends to avoid contact with the authorities."
    "I've noticed that from time to time," Garion said.
    "I was certain that you would have. I won't keep your Majesty. Many others here are eager to meet you, and I wouldn't want to be accused of monopolizing your time. We must talk again soon."
    The baron turned to the Chief of the Bureau of Internal Affairs. "So good of you to introduce us, my dear Brador," he said.
    "It's nothing, my dear Baron," Brador replied. He took Garion by the arm, and they moved away from Vasca.
    "What was that all about?" Garion asked.
    "I'm not