"I will explain to his Majesty the reason for this necessary concealment, my Lord," Astellig replied a bit stiffly. "I assure thee that these knights, whom I dare to call friends, intend no disrespect to our Lord King."

"I’m sorry, Baron Astellig," the knight said, "but I cannot permit this."

The baron's hand went to his sword hilt.

"Steady," Garion warned, placing one gauntleted hand on Astellig's arm. "As all the world knows, it is forbidden to draw arms in the king's presence."

"Thou art well versed in propriety, Sir Knight," the man barring their way said, sounding a bit less sure of himself now.

"I’ve been in the presence of kings before, my Lord, and I am conversant with the customary usages. I do assure thee that we mean no disrespect to his Majesty by our visored approach to the throne. We are compelled to it, however, by a stern duty that hath been lain upon us."

The knight looked even more unsure of himself. "Thou art well spoken, Sir Knight," he admitted grudgingly.

"An it please you then, Sir Knight," Garion continued, "wilt thou accompany Baron Astellig, my companion, and myself to the throne? A man of thine obvious prowess can easily prevent mischief." A little flattery never hurt anything in difficult situations.

"It shall be as thou sayest, Sir Knight," the knight decided.

The four of them approached the throne and bowed somewhat stiffly. "My Lord King," Astellig said.

"Baron," Oldorin replied with an absent-seeming nod.

"I have the honor to present two stranger knights who have traveled here from afar in pursuit of a noble quest.”

The king looked interested. The word "quest" rang bells in Mimbrate heads.

"As thou may have noticed, your Majesty," Astellig continued, "my friends are visored. This is not to be taken as a gesture of disrespect, but is a necessary concealment required by the nature of their quest. A foul evil is abroad in the world, and they journey with diverse companions to confront it. They each have some eminence in the world beyond the shores of our isle, and should they reveal their faces, they would instantly be recognized, and the evil one they seek would be forewarned of their coming and would seek to impede them. Thus it is that their visors must remain closed."

"A reasonable precaution," the king agreed. "Greetings, Sir Knights, and well met."

"Thou art kind, your Majesty," Garion said, "and we are grateful to thee for thy gracious understanding of our circumstances. Our quest is fraught with perilous enchantments, and I do fear me that should we reveal our identities, we might well fail, and the whole world would suffer as a result.”

“I do fully understand, Sir Knight, and I will not press thee for further details of thy quest. The walls of any palace have ears, and some there are even here who might be in league with the villain thou seekest."