King of The Murgos

at Silk.
    "Well, yes, but—"
    "And you chose not to tell me? What's your game, Sadi?"
    The eunuch hesitated, and Garion saw beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. Durnik and Toth, moving casually as if merely removing themselves from the vicinity of the confrontation, went past Oskatat and leaned idly against the wall, one on each side of the door.
    "Well, Sadi?" Urgit pressed. "I've heard about this Prince Kheldar. He's not merely a spy; he's an assassin as well." His eyes suddenly grew wide. "So that's it!" he gasped, staring at Silk. "Belgarion sent you here to kill me, didn't he—you and these other Alorns."
    "Don't be absurd, Urgit," Lady Tamazin said from her chair. "You've been alone with these people for hours at a time since they arrived here. If they were here to kill you, you'd already be dead."
    He thought about that. "All right, you—Prince Kheldar— speak up. I want to know exactly what you're doing here. Now talk."
    Silk shrugged. "It's as I told my Lord Oskatat, your Majesty. I'm merely passing through. My business is in another part of the world."
    "Which part?"
    "Here and there," Silk said evasively.
    "I'm going to get some straight answers here," Urgit declared.
    "Shall I send for the headsman, your Majesty?" Oskatat asked ominously.
    "Perhaps that might not be a bad idea," Urgit agreed.
    The seneschal turned, but found Durnik and the impassive Toth barring his way from the room. Urgit, perceiving the situation at once, reached quickly for the bellpull which would fill the room with armed Murgos.
    "Urgit!" Lady Tamazin snapped. "No!"
    He hesitated.
    "Do as I say!"
    "What's this?" he asked.
    "Look around you," she told him. "If you even touch that cord, one of these people will have a knife against your throat before you can tug it even once."
    His expression grew suddenly frightened, and he slowly lowered his hand.
    Sadi cleared his throat. "Ah—your Majesty," he said. "I believe that the Queen Mother has seen directly to the heart of the matter here. We are both in positions to greatly inconvenience each other. Wouldn't it be wiser for us to discuss things rationally before we resort to any unpleasantness?"
    "What is it that you want, Sadi?" Urgit asked him in a slightly quavering voice.
    "Only what you had intended all along, your Majesty. As Kheldar said, our business is in another part of the world, and it does not directly concern you. Give us the ship that you were going to give us anyway, and in return we'll deliver your Dagashi to Rak Hagga as we promised. After that, we'll proceed with our own affairs. What could be fairer than that?"
    "Listen to him, Urgit," Lady Tamazin urged. "He makes a great deal of sense."
    Urgit's expression was filled with doubt. "Do you really think so, mother?"
    "What harm can they do you, once they've crossed the Mallorean lines?" she asked. "If you're nervous about them, then get them out of Rak Urga as quickly as possible."
    "All except this one." Oskatat pointed at Silk.
    "We really need him, my Lord," Sadi said politely.
    "He killed Dorak Urgas," the seneschal said stubbornly.
    "We can give him a medal for that later, Oskatat," Urgit said.
    Oskatat stared at him.
    "Oh, come now, my friend. You despised Dorak as much as I did."
    "He was a Murgo prince, your Majesty. His murder cannot go unpunished."
    "You seem to forget that I murdered a dozen of my other brothers—also Murgo princes—on my way to the throne. Were you planning to punish me as well?" Urgit looked back at Sadi. "I think, however, that it might not hurt for me to keep Kheldar here in the Drojim. Sort of as a performance bond. As soon as you deliver Kabach to Rak Hagga, I'll release him. He can catch up with you later."
    Sadi's expression grew pained.
    "You're overlooking something important here, Urgit," Lady Tamazin said, leaning forward intently.
    "Oh? What's that, mother?"
    "Prince Kheldar of Drasnia is reputed to be one of King Belgarion's closest friends. You have there the perfect envoy to convey a message to the Rivan King."
    He looked sharply at Silk. "Is that true?" he asked. "Do you really know Belgarion?"
    "Quite well, actually," Silk replied. "I've known him since he was a little boy."
    "That old man over there said that Belgarion isn't at Riva just now. Do you have any idea where you might be able to find him?"
    "Your Majesty," Silk answered with a perfectly straight face, "I can honestly tell you that I know exactly where Belgarion is at this very moment."
    Urgit