The door was quickly snatched open.

"Kheldar!" It was a ringing shout, and it came from the far end of the throne room. King Urgit bolted down the steps of the dais, flinging his crown over one shoulder as he ran. He caught Silk in a rough embrace, laughing uncontrollably. "I thought you were dead," he crowed.

"You're looking well, Urgit," Silk said to him.

Urgit made a slight face. "I'm married now, you know," he said.

"I was afraid Prala might get you eventually. I'm getting married myself shortly."

"The blond girl? Prala told me about how she felt about you. Imagine that, the invincible Prince Kheldar, married at last."

"Don't make any large wagers on it just yet, Urgit," Silk told his brother. "I may still decide to fall on my sword instead. Are we sort of alone here? We’ve got some things to tell you, and our time's a bit short.”

"Mother and Prala are here," Urgit told him, "and my stepfather here, of course."

“Stepfather? " Silk exclaimed, looking at Oskatat in surprise.

"Mother was getting lonely. She missed all the playful abuse Taur Urgas used to bestow on her. I used my influence to marry her off to Oskatat. I'm afraid he's been a terrible disappointment to her, though. So far as I know, he hasn't knocked her down a single flight of stairs or kicked her in the head even once.”

"He's impossible when he's like this," Oskatat apologized for his king.

"Just brimming over with good spirits, Oskatat." Urgit laughed. "By Torak's boiling eye, I’ve missed you, Kheldar." Then he greeted Garion and Belgarath and looked inquiringly at Barak, Mandorallen, and Hettar.

"Barak, Earl of Trellheim," Silk introduced the red-bearded giant.

"He's even bigger than they say he is," Urgit noted.

"Sir Mandorallen, Baron of Vo Mandor," Silk went on.

"The Gods' own definition of the word 'gentleman,' " Urgit said.

"And Hettar, son of King Cho-Hag of Algaria."

Urgit shrank away, his eyes suddenly fearful. Even Oskatat took a step backward.

"Not to worry, Urgit," Silk said grandly. "Hettar came all the way through the streets of your capital, and he didn't kill even one of your subjects.”

"Remarkable," Urgit murmured nervously. "You've changed, Lord Hettar," he said. "You're reputed to be a thousand feet tall and to wear a necklace of Murgo skulls."

"I'm on vacation," Hettar said dryly.

Urgit grinned. "We aren't going to be unpleasant to each other, are we?" he asked, still slightly apprehensive.

"No, your Majesty," Hettar told him, "I don't think we are. For some reason, you intrigue me."