King of The Murgos

trailing far behind. "We might as well get some use out of them."
    Their darkened scow moved eastward with her sharply angled sails cracking in the wind. The deck lights of the Mallorean ships that had been pursuing them continued their cautious northward course, crossed far behind, and winked out of sight.
    "May Torak guide them to a reef," the captain muttered fervently.
    "It worked!" Urgit said delightedly, clapping the seaman on the shoulder. "By the Gods, it actually worked!"
    "I just hope that nobody catches me running at night without any lights," the captain brooded.
    Dawn came smudged and bleary to the murky eastern horizon, rising slowly up out of a low-lying shadow some ten leagues or so ahead. "That's the coast of Cthaka," the captain said, pointing.
    "Is there any sign of those Mallorean ships?" Urgit asked, peering around at the heaving sea.
    The captain shook his head. "They passed astern of us during the dogwatch, your Majesty. They're halfway up the Gorand Sea by now." The seaman looked at Garion. "You wanted to get closer in to shore and then swing around to starboard again, my Lord?"
    "To starboard, of course."
    The captain squinted up at the sails. "We'll have to reset the rigging again, I suppose."
    "I'm afraid not," Garion told him regretfully. "When we turn south, we'll be sailing directly into the wind. You'll have to furl your sails and break out the oars." He noted the disappointed expression on the seaman's face. "I'm sorry, Captain, but there are limits. Your sails are the wrong shape, and when you get right down to it, rowing in this case will actually be faster. How far north were we swept last night?"
    "A goodly way, my Lord," the captain replied, peering at the indistinct coastline lying ahead. "You can put a lot of water behind you moving under full sail before a wind like that. I wouldn't be surprised to see the mouth of the Gorand Sea somewhere ahead."
    "We don't want to go in there. Let's not start playing tag with those Mallorean ships again—particularly in tight quarters. I'm going below for a bite of breakfast and some dry clothes. Send someone down if anything happens."
    "I will, my Lord."
    They had fish for breakfast that morning. At Polgara's suggestion, Durnik's huge catch had been cut into steaks and then delicately broiled over a low flame.
    "Delicious, isn't he?" Durnik asked proudly.
    "Yes, dear," Polgara agreed. "He's a very nice fish."
    "Did I tell you how I caught him, Pol?"
    "Yes, dear—but that's all right. You can tell me again, if you'd like."
    As they were just finishing their meal, the Murgo captain entered, wearing a tarred cape and an anxious expression. "There's more of them, my Lord," he blurted to Garion.
    "More of what?"
    "Malloreans. There's another squadron coming up the Cthaka coast."
    Urgit's face blanched, and his hands started to tremble.
    "Are you sure they aren't the same ones who were chasing us last night?" Garion asked, getting quickly to his feet.
    "There's no way they could be, my Lord. It's a different group of ships."
    Silk was looking narrowly at the ship's master. "Captain," he said, "have you ever been in business for yourself?"
    The captain threw a brief, guilty glance at Urgit. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled.
    "This is no time for false modesty, Captain," Silk "said. "We're charging headlong into the midst of a Mallorean squadron. Are there any coves or inlets around here where we could get out of sight?"
    "Not along this coast, your Highness; but right after you go through the channel into the Gorand Sea, there's a small bay to starboard. It's well hidden by some reefs. If we were to unstep the masts and tie bushes along the sides, I think we could escape notice."
    "Let's do it then, Captain," Belgarath said shortly. "What's the weather look like?"
    "Not very pleasant. There's a heavy cloud bank coming up from the south. I think we can expect a gale before noon."
    "Good."
    "Good?"
    "We're not alone in these waters," Belgarath reminded him. "A nice gale ought to give the Malloreans something to do beside line the rails of their ships looking for us. Go give the orders, Captain. Let's turn around and make a run for it,"
    "How were you so sure that the captain knew about a secluded cove or bay somewhere?" Urgit asked Silk after the seaman had left.
    Silk shrugged. "You levy taxes on merchandise that gets moved from one place to another, don't you?"
    "Of course. I need the revenue."
    "A resourceful man with his own