"She doesn't look all that dangerous to me," Barak grunted.

"Go tell that to Harakan." Silk grinned. "Liselle threw the little dear into his face at Ashaba. Zith nipped him a few times and absolutely petrified him."

"Was he dead?" the big man asked.

"I’ve never seen anybody any deader."

“You're getting ahead of the story,” Hettar eluded.

"There's no way we're going to be able to tell you about everything that happened in one morning, Hettar," Durnik said.

"That's all right, Durnik," Barak said. "It's a long way back home. We'll have plenty of time at sea."

That afternoon, by more or less popular demand, Beldin was obliged to repeat the performance he had given prior to their departure for the reef. Then, simply to demonstrate some of the gifts of his companions, Garion suggested that they adjourn to the tournament grounds to give them more room. Lelldorin showed the king and his court some of the finer points of archery, culminating the demonstration by showing them an entirely new way to pick plums from a distant tree. Barak bent an iron bar into something resembling a pretzel, and Hettar put them into a state verging on stunned amazement by a dazzling display of horsemanship. The culmination of the affair did not come off too well, however. When Relg walked through a solid stone wall, many ladies fainted, and some of the younger members of the audience fled screaming.

"They don't seem to be ready for that yet," Silk said. Silk had resolutely turned his back when Relg had approached the wall. "I know I'm not," he added.

About noon a few days later, two ships entered the harbor from different directions. One of the ships was a familiar Cherek war boat, and General Atesca and Bureau Chief Brador disembarked from the other. Greldik led King Anheg and Emperor Varana down the gangway of the war boat.

“Barak!” Anheg roared as he came down the gangway. “Can you think of any reason I shouldn't take you back to Val Alorn in chains?"

"Testy, isn't he?" Hettar observed to the red-bearded man.

"He'll calm down after I get him drunk." Barak shrugged.

"I’m sorry, Garion," Anheg said in a booming voice. "Varana and I tried to catch him, but that big scow of his moves faster than we thought."

"Scow?" Barak protested mildly.

"It's all right, Anheg," Garion replied. "They didn't arrive until after everything was finished."

"You got your son back, then?"

"Yes."

"Well, trot him out, boy. We all invested a lot of effort in trying to find him for you."

Ce'Nedra came forward carrying Geran, and Anheg enfolded them both in a bear hug. "Your Majesty," he greeted the Rivan Queen, "and you, your Highness." He grinned and tickled the little boy. Geran giggled.

Ce'Nedra tried a curtsy.

"Don't do that, Ce'Nedra," Anheg told her. "You'll drop the baby."

Ce'Nedra laughed and then smiled at Emperor Varana. "Uncle," she said.