"How many?" Garion asked quickly.

"A dozen or so. They've got a Grolim with them. I didn't want to get too close, but I think it's White-eyes. They're hiding in ambush in a grove of trees in the next valley."

"How would he know we're coming this way?" Velvet asked in perplexity.

"Zandramas knows that we're going to Perivor," Polgara replied. "This is the shortest route."

"A dozen Darshivans don't really pose much of a threat," Zakath said confidently. "What's the purpose of this, then?"

"Delay," Belgarath told him. "Zandramas wants to hold us up so that she can get to Perivor before we do. She can communicate with Naradas over long distances. We can probably expect him to set traps for us every few miles all the way to Lengha."

Zakath scratched at his short beard, frowning in concentration. Then he opened one of his saddlebags, took out a map, and consulted it. "We're still about fifteen leagues from Lengha," he said. He squinted at Beldin. "How fast could you cover that distance?"

"A couple hours. Why?"

"There's an imperial garrison there. I'll give you a message to the garrison commander with my seal on it. He'll move out with troops and spring those traps from behind. As soon as we join those forces, Naradas won't be bothering us anymore." Then he remembered something. "Holy Seeress," he said to Cyradis, "back in Darshiva, you told me to leave my troops behind when I came to Kell. Is that prohibition still in effect?"

"Nay, Kal Zakath."

"Good. I'll write that message."

"What about the patrol hiding just ahead?" Silk asked Garion. "Or are we just going to wait here until Zakath's troops arrive?"

"I don't think so. What's your feeling about a little exercise?"

Silk's answering grin was vicious.

"There's still a problem, though," Velvet said. "With Beldin on his way to Lengha, we won't have anyone to scout out any other ambushes."

"Tell the she with yellow hair not to be concerned," the wolf said to Garion. "One is able to move without being seen, or if one is seen, the man-things will pay no heed."

"It's all right, Liselle," Garion said. "The wolf will scout for us."

"She's a very useful person to have along." Velvet smiled.

"Person?" Silk said.

"Well, isn't she?"

He frowned. ""You know, you might be right at that. She has a definite personality, doesn't she?"

The wolf wagged her tail at him and then loped off.

"All right, gentlemen," Garion said, loosening Iron-grip's sword in its sheath, "let's go pay these lurking Darshivans a visit."

"Won't Naradas cause some problems?" Zakath asked, handing his note to Beldin.

"I certainly hope he tries," Garion replied.

Naradas, however, proved to no longer be among the Darshivan soldiers hidden in the grove of trees. The skirmish was short, since most of the ambushers seemed to be much better at running than at fighting.