Demon Lord of Karanda

forgotten almost as soon as it was seen, but for some reason, it seemed to Garion to be naggingly familiar.
    "Ah, good master Yarblek," the man said to Silk's partner, "I'm sure that yer the kindest man alive. I was near to perishin' of thirst, don't y' know?" He took the cup, dipped into the ale keg, and drank noisily. Then he let out his breath with a gusty sound of appreciation.
    "Tis a good brew ye have there, Master Yarblek," he said, dipping again into the keg.
    Belgarath had a peculiar expression on his face, partly puzzled but at the same time partially amused.
    "He came tagging along when we left Mal Camat," Yarblek told them. "Vella finds him amusing, so I haven't chased him off yet. She turns a little shrill when she doesn't get her own wary."
    "The name is Feldegast, fine gentlemen," the gaudy little fellow introduced himself with an exaggerated bow. "Feldegast the juggler. I be also an acrobat -as ye've seen fer yerselves- a comedian of no mean ability, and an accomplished magician. I can baffle yer eyes with me unearthly skill at prestidigitation, don't y' know. I kin also play rousin' tunes on a little wooden whistle -or, if yer mood be melancholy, I kin play ye sad songs on the lute to bring a lump to yer throat and fill yer eyes with sweet, gentle tears. Would ye be wantin' to witness some of me unspeakable talent?"
    "Maybe a little later," Belgarath told him, his eyes still a little bemused. "Right now we have some business to discuss."
    "Take another cup of ale and go entertain Vella, comedian," Yarblek said to him. "Tell her some more off-color stories."
    " 'Twill be me eternal delight, good Master Yarblek," the outrageous fellow said grandly. "She's a good strappin' wench with a lusty sense of humor and a fine appreciation fer bawdy stories." He dipped out more ale and then capered across the lawn toward the dark-haired Nadrak girl.
    " Disgusting," Yarblek growled, looking after him. "some of the stories he tells her make my ears bum, but the nastier they are, the harder she laughs." He shook his head moodily.
    "Let's get down to business," Belgarath said. "We need to know what's going on in Karanda right now."
    "That's simple," Yarblek told him. "Mengha, that's what's going on. Mengha and his cursed demons."
    "Dolmar filled us in," Silk said. "We know about what happened at Calida and about the way that Karands are flocking in to join his army from all over the seven kingdoms. Is he making any moves toward the south yet?"
    "Not that I've heard," Yarblek replied. "He seems to be consolidating things through the north right now. He's whipping all of the Karands into hysteria, though. If Zakath doesn't do something quickly, he's going to have a full-scale revolution on his hands. I can tell you, though, that it's not safe to travel in northern Karanda right now. Mengha's shrieking Karands control everything to the coast of Zamad."
    "We have to go to Ashaba," Garion told him.
    "I wouldn't advise it," Yarblek said bluntly. "The Karands are picking up some very unsavory habits."
    "Oh?" Silk said.
    "I'm an Angarak," Yarblek said, "and I've been watching Grolims cut out human hearts to offer to Torak since I was a boy, but what's happening in Karanda turns even my stomach. The Karands stake captives out on the ground and then call up their demons. The demons are all getting fat."
    "Would you care to be a little more specific?"
    "Not really. Use your imagination, Silk. You've been in Morindland. You know what demons eat."
    "You're not serious!"
    "Oh, yes -and the Karands eat the scraps. As I said -some very unsavory habits. There are also some rumors about the demons breeding with human females."
    "That's abominable!" Garion gasped.
    "It is indeed," Yarblek agreed with him. "The women usually don't survive their pregnancies, but I've heard of a few live births."
    "We have to put a stop to that," Belgarath said bleakly.
    "Good luck," Yarblek said. "Me, I'm going back to Gar og Nadrak just as soon as I can get my caravan put together. I'm not going anywhere near Mengha -or the tame demon he keeps on a leash."
    "Nahaz?" Garion asked.
    "You've heard the name then?"
    "Dolmar told us."
    "We should probably start with him, " Belgarath said. "If we can drive Nahaz back to where he came from, it's likely that the rest. of the demons will follow their lord."
    "Neat trick," Yarblek grunted.
    "I have certain resources," the old man told him. "Once the demons are gone, Mengha won't have anything left but a ragtag