Sorceress of Darshiva

Zandramas the Sorceress. That situation is about to come to a head. Urvon seems to be suffering from some form of mental instability, but his subordinates are moving large numbers of people into the region in preparation for something fairly major. Zandramas is also marshaling her forces. Our best assessment of the situation is that it's only going to be a matter of time before the Emperor moves his forces out of Zeth to restore order. There have been reports of sup plies being stockpiled at Maga Renn. It's apparent that Kal Zakath intends to use it as a staging area."
    "Were we able to capitalize on that in any way?" Silk asked intently.
    "To some degree, your Highness, We sold a part of our bean holdings to the Bureau of Military Procurement just today."
    "What was the price?"
    "About fifteen points above what we paid."
    "You'd better get word to Kasvor in Jarot,'' Silk said with a sour expression. "I told him to sell at thirteen. The Melcene consortium has been making offers. Is the price likely to go higher?"
    Vetter spread one hand and rocked it back and forth uncertainly.
    "Let the word get out that we sold at fifteen and tell Kasvor to hold out for that figure. Even if the price goes to sixteen, we'll have still taken most of the profit out of the transaction."
    "I'll see to it, your Highness." Vetter frowned a bit. "There's something going on in Dalasia," he continued his report. "We haven't been able to get the straight of it yet, but the Dalasians all seem to be very exited about it. Kell has been sealed off, so we can't get anybody there to investigate, and Kell is the source of just about everything that goes on in Dalasia.’’
    "Any news from the West?" Garion asked.
    "Things are still stalemated in Cthol Murgos," Vetter replied. "Kal Zakath is reducing his forces there and he's called all his generals home. He's still holding the cities in eastern Cthol Murgos, but the countryside is reverting. It's not certain whether King Urgit is going to take advantage of the situation. He has other things on his mind."
    "Oh?" Silk asked curiously.
    "He's getting married. A princess from the House of Cthan, as I understand it."
    Silk sighed.
    "King Gethel of Mishrak ac Thull died," Vetter went on, "and he was succeeded by his son, Nathel. Nathel's a hopeless incompetent, so we can't be sure how long he'll last." Vetter paused, scratching at his chin. "We've had reports that there was a meeting of the Alorn Council at Boktor. The Alorns get together once a year, but it's usually at Riva. About the only other thing unusual about it was the fact that a fair number of non-Alorn monarchs attended."
    "Oh?" Belgarath said. "Who?"
    "The king of the Sendars, the Emperor of Tolnedra, and King Drosta of Gar og Nadrak.
    The king of Arendia was ill, but he sent representatives."
    "Now what are they up to?" Belgarath muttered.
    "We weren't able to get our hands on the agenda," Vetter told him, "but not long afterward, a delegation of diplomats from their kingdoms went to Rak Urga. There are rumors that some fairly serious negotiations are going on."
    "What are they doing!?" Belgarath demanded in an exasperated voice.
    "I've told you over and over not to go off and leave the Alorns untended," Beldin said. "If there's any way at all for them to do something wrong, they'll do it."
    "The price of gold is up," Vetter continued, "and the price of Mallorean crowns is down. Melcene imperials are holding steady, but the diamond market is fluctuating so wildly that we've withdrawn our investments in that commodity. That's more or less what's current, your Highness. "I'll have a more detailed report on your desk first thing in the morning."
    "Thank you, Vetter," Silk replied. "That's all for right now."
    Vetter bowed and quietly left.
    Belgarath began to pace up and down, swearing to himself.
    "There's nothing you can do about it, father," Polgara told him, "so why upset yourself?"
    "Perhaps they have some reason for what they're doing," Silk suggested.
    "What possible reason could they have to be negotiating with the Murgos?"
    "I don't know." Silk spread his hands. "I wasn't there when they made the decision. Maybe Urgit offered them something they wanted."
    Belgarath continued to swear.
    About a half-hour later, they adjourned to the dining room and took seats near one end of a table that could easily have accommodated a half a hundred. The linen was snowy white, the knives and forks were solid silver, and the porcelain plates were