King of The Murgos

get rid of them." He began to pace up and down again. "Besides," he added, "if I can reach an agreement with Belgarion, maybe I'll be able to get Agachak's fist off my throat. Do you think he'd listen to a proposal from me?"
    "You could ask him and find out, I suppose."
    The door opened again and the Queen Mother, assisted by the girl Prala, entered.
    "Good morning, mother," Urgit greeted her. "Why are you out roaming the halls of this madhouse?"
    "Urgit," she said firmly, "you'd be much more admirable if you stopped trying to make a joke out of everything."
    "It keeps me from brooding about my circumstances," he told her flippantly. "I'm losing a war, half of my subjects want to depose me and send my head to Zakath on a plate, I'll be going mad soon, and I think I'm developing a boil on my neck. There are only a few things left for me to laugh about, mother, so please let me enjoy a joke or two while I still can."
    "Why do you keep insisting that you're going to go mad?"
    "Every male in the Urga family for the past five hundred years has gone mad before he reached fifty," he reminded her. "It's one of the reasons we make such good kings. Nobody in his right mind would want the throne of Cthol Murgos. Was there anything special you wanted, mother? Or did you just want to enjoy my fascinating companionship?"
    She looked around the room. "Which of you gentlemen is married to that little red-haired girl?" she asked.
    Garion looked up quickly. "Is she all right, my Lady?"
    "Pol, the lady with the white lock at her brow, said that you should come at once. The young woman seems to be in some distress."
    Garion stood up to follow as the Queen Mother started slowly back toward the door. Just before she reached it, she stopped and glanced at Silk, who had pulled up his hood as soon as she had entered. "Why don't you accompany your friend?" she suggested, "Just for the sake of appearances?"
    They went out of the room and on down one of the garish halls of the Drojim to a dark-paneled door guarded by a pair of mail-shirted men-at-arms. One of them opened the door with a respectful bow to Lady Tamazin, and she led them inside. Her quarters were decorated much more tastefully than the rest of the Drojim. The walls were white, and the decor much more subdued. Aunt Pol sat on a low divan, holding the weeping Ce'Nedra in her arms with Velvet standing nearby.
    —Is she all right?—Garion's fingers asked quickly.
    —I don't think it's too serious—Polgara's hands replied. —A bout of nerves most likely, but I don't want any of these fits of depression to go on for too long. She still hasn't fully recovered from her melancholia. See if you can comfort her.—
    Garion went to the divan and enclosed Ce'Nedra gently in his arms. She clung to him, still weeping.
    "Is the young lady subject to these crying-spells, Pol?" the Queen Mother asked as the two of them took chairs on opposite sides of the cheery fire that danced on the grate.
    "Not all that frequently, Tamazin," Polgara answered. "There's been a recent tragedy in her family, though, and sometimes her nerves get the best of her."
    "Ah," Urgit's mother said. "Could I offer you a cup of tea, Pol? I always find tea in the morning so comforting."
    "Why, thank you, Tamazin. I think that would be very nice."
    Gradually, Ce'Nedra's weeping subsided, though she still clung tightly to Garion. At last she raised her head and wiped at her eyes with her fingertips. "I'm so very sorry," she apologized. "I don't know what came over me."
    "It's all right, dear," Garion murmured, his arms still about her shoulders.
    She dabbed at her eyes again, using a wispy little handkerchief. "I must look absolutely terrible," she said with a teary little laugh.
    "Moderately terrible, yes," he agreed, smiling.
    "I told you once, dear, that you should never cry in public," Polgara said to her. "You just don't have the right coloring for it."
    Ce'Nedra smiled tremulously and stood up. "Perhaps I should go wash my face," she said. "And then I think I'd like to lie down for a bit." She turned to Garion. "Thank you for coming," she said simply.
    "Any time you need me," he replied.
    "Why don't you go with the lady, Prala?" Lady Tamazin suggested.
    "Of course," the slender Murgo Princess agreed, coming quickly to her feet.
    Silk had been standing nervously near the door with the hood of his green robe pulled up and his head down to keep his face concealed.
    "Oh, do stop that, Prince Kheldar," the Queen Mother