King of The Murgos

scratched at one cheek, his eyes suspicious. "I don't think I like this," he said. "Let's say that I give you a message to deliver to Belgarion. What's to prevent you from just throwing it away and then circling around to rejoin your friends?"
    "Ethics." Silk shrugged. "I always do the things I'm paid to do. You were planning to pay me, weren't you?"
    Urgit stared at Silk for a moment and then he threw back his head and laughed. "You're absolutely outrageous, Kheldar," he said. "Here you are, about two steps from the headsman's block, and you have the nerve to try to extort money from me."
    Silk sighed and looked around tragically. "Why is it that the word 'pay' always brings that same look of consternation into the eyes of kings the world over?" he asked. "Surely your Majesty would not expect me to perform this truly unique service for you without some small recompense, would you?"
    "Wouldn't you say that getting to keep your head is more than adequate payment?"
    "Oh, I'm fairly safe, I think. Since I'm the only one in the world who can guarantee delivery of your message, I'm far too valuable to kill, wouldn't you say?"
    Lady Tamazin suddenly laughed, a whimsical expression on her face as she looked at the two of them.
    "Something amusing, mother?" Urgit asked her.
    "Nothing, Urgit. Nothing at all."
    The king's eyes were still indecisive. He looked hopefully at his seneschal. "What do you think, Oskatat?" he asked. "Can I trust this little knave?"
    "It's your Majesty's decision," the big Murgo replied stiffly.
    "I'm not asking you as your king," Urgit told him. "I'm asking as a friend."
    Oskatat winced. "That's cruel, Urgit," he said. "You're forcing me to decide between duty and friendship."
    "All right, then. Let's put it on that basis. What should I do?"
    "As king, you should obey the law—even if it means flying in the face of your own best interests. As a man, however"
    "Well? What should I do? Should I be a king or a man? Which do you advise?"
    It hung there in the air between them. The seneschal refused to meet Urgit's eyes. Instead, he cast one quick, appealing look at Lady Tamazin. "Torak forgive me," he muttered finally. He straightened and looked his king full in the face. "Save yourself, Urgit," he said. "If this Drasnian can arrange an alliance with Belgarion, then pay him whatever he demands and send him on his way. Belgarion may deceive you at some later date, but Kal Zakath seeks your head now. You need that alliance, no matter what the cost."
    "Thank you, Oskatat," the king said with genuine gratitude. He turned back to Silk. "How quickly do you think you could reach Belgarion with my message?" he asked.
    "Your Majesty," Silk replied, "I can have your message in Belgarion's hands more quickly than you could possibly imagine. Now, shall we talk about money?" His long, pointed nose began to twitch in a manner Garion recognized at once.
    "How much do you want?" Urgit asked warily.
    "Oh," Silk pretended to think about it, "I suppose a hundred Tolnedran goldmarks ought to cover it."
    Urgit gaped at him. "A hundred marks? You're insane!"
    Silk casually examined the fingernails of one hand. "The figure's open to negotiation, your Majesty," he admitted. "I just wanted to establish a general price range sort of to get things off to a smooth start."
    Urgit's eyes took on a strange light. He leaned forward, tugging absently at his nose. "I might be able to see my way clear to pay you ten—or so," he countered. "I don't really have all that much Tolnedran coin in my vaults."
    "Oh, that's all right, your Majesty," Silk said magnanimously. "I'd be willing to accept Angarak coins—at a slight discount, of course."
    "Discount?"
    "Angarak gold is obviously adulterated, King Urgit. That's why it's red instead of yellow."
    Urgit eyed him narrowly. "Why don't you draw up a chair, old boy?" he suggested. "This might take a while." Strangely enough, his nose had also begun to twitch.
    What followed was a display of astonishing virtuosity on the part of both negotiators. Garion had seen Silk in this sort of situation many times before and had always believed that his sharp-nosed friend was without peer when it came to getting the best of every bargain he struck. Urgit, however, quickly demonstrated that he too was an expert at the game. When Silk pointed out in suitably exaggerated terms the dangers he would have to face on his way to deliver the message, Urgit countered by offering an escort of Murgo soldiers rather