King of The Murgos

that there is a faction among your Grolims that does not want this mission to succeed—some group hiding behind false beards?"
    "Beard!" Silk exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "That's why I couldn't place him! He's shaved off his beard!"
    Urgit turned to look inquiringly at him. "What are you talking about, fellow?"
    "Excuse me, your Majesty," Silk said with exaggerated humility. "I just realized something, and it surprised me. I think I can clarify things here."
    "I certainly hope someone can. All right, go ahead."
    "Thank you, your Majesty." Silk looked around with a beautifully feigned expression of nervousness. "I'm an Alorn, your Majesty," he said, then held up one hand quickly. "Please hear me out," he begged, half of the king and half of the surrounding Murgos. "I'm an Alorn, but I'm not a fanatic about it. The way I look at it, there's plenty of room in the world for Alorns and Murgos. Live and let live, I always say. Anyway, last year I hired myself out as a soldier in King Belgarion's army—the one that he raised to lay siege to the Bear-cult at Rheon in northeastern Drasnia. Well, to make it short, I was present when Belgarion and his friend from Sendaria—Durnik, I think his name is—captured the cult-leader, Ulfgar. He had a beard then, but I swear to you that this Kabach is the selfsame man. I ought to know. I helped to carry him into a house after Durnik knocked him senseless."
    "What would a Dagashi be doing in Drasnia?" Urgit asked with an artfully puzzled expression on his face,
    "Oh, he's not a Dagashi, your Majesty," Silk explained. "When King Belgarion and his friends questioned him, it came out that he's a Mallorean Grolim. Harakan, I think his name is."
    "Harakan?" Agachak said, turning quickly to fix the counterfeit Dagashi with his suddenly smoldering eyes.
    "Ridiculous," Harakan scoffed. "This little weasel is one of Belgarion's servants. He's lying to protect his master.
    Is the name Harakan in any way significant, Agachak?" Urgit asked.
    The Hierarch straightened, his eyes intent. "Harakan is Urvon's underling," he replied, "and I've heard that he's been seen here in the west."
    "I think we've got a problem on our hands here, Agachak," Urgit said. "These charges—both of them—are too serious to be ignored. We've got to get to the truth here." The priestess Chabat's eyes were narrowed, and her expression cunning. "Finding that truth is a simple matter, your Majesty," she declared. "My master Agachak is the most powerful sorcerer in all of Cthol Murgos. He will have no difficulty in probing the minds of all who are here to find out who is speaking truth and who is lying.
    Can you really do that, Agachak?" Urgit asked. Agachak shrugged. "It's a simple matter".
    Then by all means, do it. I'm not going on board that scow over there until I find out exactly who my shipmates are going to be."
    Agachak took a deep breath and began to draw in his will. "Master!" a Grolim with a purple satin lining on the hood of his robe exclaimed, leaping forward with one hand outstretched. "Beware!"
    "How dare you?" Chabat shrieked at him, her eyes blazing.
    The Grolim ignored her. "Master," he said to Agachak, "there is great danger in what the priestess proposes. Should either of these men be telling the truth, you will be probing the mind of a powerful sorcerer, and your own mind will be totally vulnerable. A single thought could erase your entire consciousness."
    Agachak slowly relaxed his wilt, "Ah, yes," he murmured. "I had not considered that danger." He turned to Chabat, catching the brief flicker of disappointment that crossed her face. "How curious that my Holy Priestess did not think of that before she suggested the probing—or did you, Chabat? Have you given up the notion of raising a demon to destroy me, then? Will you now fall back on so commonplace a thing as simple deceit? I'm terribly disappointed in you, my beloved."
    She shrank back, her scar-laced face frightened.
    "This matter has to be settled, Agachak," Urgit said. "I'm not going to go near that ship until I find out the truth here. I haven't succeeded in staying alive for all these years by being foolhardy."
    "The question is largely academic now anyway," Agachak replied. "None of these people will be leaving."
    "Agachak, I have to get to Rak Cthaka immediately."
    "Then go. I will find another party of slavers and hire another Dagashi."
    "That could take months!' Urgit protested. "Personally, I'm inclined to believe these slavers.