spellsinger universe pawn of prophecy 71

"And will also fulfill the prophecies," Anheg said cryptically.

Wolf shrugged, his bright blue eyes twinkling suddenly. "I don't

object to fulfilling prophecies," he said, "as long as it doesn't

inconvenience me too much."

"Is there anything we can do to help in the search?" Brand asked.

You'llhave enough to do," Wold said. "No matter how our search turns

out, it's obvious that the Angaraks are getting ready for some kind of

major action. If we're successful, they might hesitate, but Angaraks

don't think the way we do. Even after what happened at Vo Mimbre, they

may decide to risk an all-out attack on the west. It could be that they

are responding to prophecies of their own that we don't know anything

about. In any event, I think you should be ready for something fairly

major from them. You'll need to make preparations."

Anheg grinned wolfishly. "We've been preparing for them for five

thousand years," he said. "This time we'll purge the whole world of this

Angarak infection. When Torak One-eye awakes, he'll find himself as

alone as Mara - and just as powerless."

"Maybe," Mister Wolf said, "but don't plan the victory celebration

until the war's over. Make your preparations quietly, and don't sir up

the people in your kingdoms any more than you have to. The west is

crawling with Grolims, and they're watching everything we do. The trail

I'll be following could lead me into Cthol Murgos, and I'd rather not

have to deal with an army of Murgos massed on the border."

"I can play the watching game too," King Rhodar said with a grim look

on his plump face. "Probably even better than the Grolims. It's time to

send a few more caravans to the east. The Angaraks won't move without

help from the east, and the Malloreans will have to cross over into Gar

og Nadrak before they deploy south. A bribe or two here and there, a few

barrels of strong ale in the right mining camps - who knows what a bit

of diligent corruption might turn up? A chance word or two could give us

several months' warning."

If they're planning anything major, the Thulls will be building

supply dumps along the eastern escarpment," Cho-Hag said. "Thulls aren't

bright, and it's easy to observe them without being seen. I'll increase

my patrols along those mountains. With a little luck, we might be able

to anticipate their invasion route. Is there anything else we can do to

help you, Belgarath?"

Mister Wolf thought for a moment. Suddenly he grinned. "I'm certain

our theif is listening very hard, waiting for one of us to speak his

name or the name of the thing he stole. Sooner or later someone's bound

to make a slip; and once he locates us, he'll be able to hear every word

we say. Instead of trying to gag ourselves, I think it might be better

if we gave him something to listen to. If you can arrange it, I'd like

every minstel ans storyteller in the north start retelling certain old

stories - you know the ones. When those names start sounding in every

village marketplace north of the Camaar River, it'll set up a roaring in

his ears like a thunderstorm. If nothing else it will give us the

freedom to speak. In time he'll get tired of it and stop listening."

"It's getting late, Father," Aunt Pol reminded him.

Wolf nodded. "We're playing a deadly game," he told them all, "but

our enemies are playing one just as deadly. Their danger's as great as

ours, and right now, no one can predict what will finally happen. Make

your preparations and send out men you can trust to keep watch. Be

patient and don't do anything rash. That could be more dangerous than

anything else right now. At the moment, Polgara and I are the only ones

who can act. You're going to have to trust us. I know that sometimes

some of the things we've done have seemed a bit strange, but there are

reasons for what we do. Please don't interfere again. I'll get word to

you now and then about our progress; if I need you to do anything else,

I'll let you know. All right?"

The kings nodded gravely, and everyone rose to his feet.

Anheg stepped over to Mister Wolf. "Could you come by my study in an

hour or so, Belgarath?" he said quietly. "I'd like to have a few words

with you and Polgara before your departure."

"If you wish, Anheg," Mister Wolf said.

"Come along, Garion," Aunt Pol said. "We have packing to take care of."

Garion, a little awed at the solemnity of the discussions, rose quietly and followed her to the door.

Part two cherek Chapter Twenty

King Anheg's study was a large, cluttered room high in a square

tower. Books bound in heavy leather lay everywhere, and strange devices

with gears and pulleys and tiny brass chains sat on tables and stands.

Intricately drawn maps, with beautiful illuminations were pinned up on

the walls, and the floor was littered with scraps of parchment covered

with tiny writing. King Anheg, hus coarse black hair hanging in his

eyes, sat at a slanted table in the soft glow of a pair of candles

studying a large book written on thin sheets of crackling parchment.The

guard at the door let them enter without a word, and Mister Wolf stepped

briskly into the center of the room. "You wanted to see us, Anheg?"

The King of Cherek straightened from his book and laid it aside.

"Belgarath," he said with a short nod of greeting. "Polgara." He glanced

at Garion who stood uncertainly near the door.

"I meant what I said earlier," Aunt Pol said. "I'm not going to let

him out of my sight until I know for certain he's out of the reach of

that Grolim, Asharak."

"Anything you say, Polgara," Anheg said. "Come in, Garion."

"I see that you are continuing your studies," Mister Wolf said approvingly, glancing at the littered room.

"There's so much to learn," Anheg said with a helpless gesture that

included all the welter of books and papers and strange machines. "I

have a feeling that I might have been happier if you'd never introduced

me to this impossible task."

"You asked me," said Wolf simply.

"You could have said no." Anheg laughed. Then his brutish face turned

serious. He glanced once more at Garion and began to speak in an

obviously oblique manner. "I don't want to interfere," he said, "but the

behavior of this Asharak concerns me."

Garion moved away from Aunt Pol and began to study one of the strange

little machines sitting on a nearby table, being careful not to touch

it.

"We'll take care of Asharak," Aunt Pol said.

But Anheg persisted. There have been rumors for centuries that you

and your father have been protecting -" he hesitated, glanced at Garion,

and then continued smoothly. "- A certain thing that must be protected

at all costs. Several of my books speak of it."