“Do you deny that you murdered the soldiers Taur Urgas sent to detain you when your scheme in Rak Goska was exposed?” Oskatat said accusingly.
“I don’t know that I’d use the word ‘murdered,’ exactly, my Lord.” Silk winced. “Oh, I’ll admit that there was a bit of unpleasantness, but that’s such an awkward way to sum up.”
“Your Majesty,” the grim old Murgo said. “This man was responsible for the death of Dorak Urgas, your eldest brother. There is a long-standing warrant for his immediate execution, so I will send for the headsman at once.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Urgit’s face had grown cold. His eyes were narrowed, and he chewed nervously on a fingernail. “All right, Sadi,” he said, “what’s this all about?”
“Your Majesty—I—” The eunuch spread his hand.
“Don’t try to play the innocent with me,” Urgit snapped. “Did you know about this man?” He pointed at Silk.
“Well, yes, but—”
“And you chose not to tell me? What’s your game, Sadi?”
The eunuch hesitated, and Garion saw beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. Durnik and Toth, moving casually as if merely removing themselves from the vicinity of the confrontation, went past Oskatat and leaned idly against the wall, one on each side of the door.
“Well, Sadi?” Urgit pressed. “I’ve heard about this Prince Kheldar. He’s not merely a spy; he’s an assassin as well.” His eyes suddenly grew wide. “So that’s it!” he gasped, staring at Silk. “Belgarion sent you here to kill me, didn’t he—you and these other Aloms.”
“Don’t be absurd, Urgit,” Lady Tamazin said from her chair. “You’ve been alone with these people for hours at a time since they arrived here. If they were here to kill you, you’d already be dead.”
He thought about that. “All right, you—Prince Kheldar— speak up. I want to know exactly what you’re doing here. Now talk.”
Silk shrugged. “It’s as I told my Lord Oskatat, your Majesty. I’m merely passing through. My business is in another part of the world.”
“Which part?”
“Here and there,” Silk said evasively.
“I’m going to get some straight answers here,” Urgit declared.
“Shall I send for the headsman, your Majesty?” Oskatat asked ominously.
“Perhaps that might not be a bad idea,” Urgit agreed.
The seneschal turned, but found Durnik and the impassive Toth barring his way from the room. Urgit, perceiving the situation at once, reached quickly for the bellpull which would fill the room with armed Murgos.
“Urgit!” Lady Tamazin snapped. “No!”
He hesitated.
“Do as I say!”
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Look around you,” she told him. “If you even touch that cord, one of these people will have a knife against your throat before you can tug it even once.”
His expression grew suddenly frightened, and he slowly lowered his hand.
Sadi cleared his throat. “Ah—your Majesty,” he said. “I believe that the Queen Mother has seen directly to the heart of the matter here. We are both in positions to greatly inconvenience each other. Wouldn’t it be wiser for us to discuss things rationally before we resort to any unpleasantness?”
“What is it that you want, Sadi?” Urgit asked him in a slightly quavering voice.
“Only what you had intended all along, your Majesty. As Kheldar said, our business is in another part of the world, and it does not directly concern you. Give us the ship that you were going to give us anyway, and in return we’ll deliver your Dagashi to Rak Hagga as we promised. After that, we’ll proceed with our own affairs. What could be fairer than that?”
“Listen to him, Urgit,” Lady Tamazin urged. “He makes a great deal of sense.”
Urgit’s expression was filled with doubt. “Do you really think so, mother?”
“What harm can they do you, once they’ve crossed the Malloreon lines?” she asked. “If you’re nervous about them, then get them out of Rak Urga as quickly as possible.”
“Al! except this one.” Oskatat pointed at Silk.
“We really need him, my Lord,” Sadi said politely.
“He killed Dorak Urgas,” the seneschal said stubbornly.
“We can give him a medal for that later, Oskatat,” Urgit said.
Oskatat stared at him.
“Oh, come now, my friend. You despised Dorak as much as I did.”
“He was a Murgo prince, your Majesty. His murder cannot go unpunished.”
“You seem to forget that I murdered a dozen of my other brothers—also Murgo princes—on my way to the throne. Were you planning to punish me as well?” Urgit looked back at Sadi. “I think, however, that it might not hurt for me to keep Kheldar here in the Drojim. Sort of as a performance bond. As soon as you deliver Kabach to Rak Hagga, I’ll release him. He can catch up with you later.”
Sadi’s expression grew pained.
“You’re overlooking something important here, Urgit,” Lady Tamazin said, leaning forward intently.
“Oh? What’s that, mother?”
“Prince Kheldar of Drasnia is reputed to be one of King Belgarion’s closest friends. You have there the perfect envoy to convey a message to the Rivan King.”
He looked sharply at Silk. “Is that true?” he asked. “Do you really know Belgarion?”
“Quite well, actually,” Silk replied. “I’ve known him since he was a little boy.”
“That old man over there said that Belgarion isn’t at Riva just now. Do you have any idea where you might be able to find him?”
“Your Majesty,” Silk answered with a perfectly straight face, “I can honestly tell you that I know exactly where Belgarion is at this very moment.”
Urgit scratched at one cheek, his eyes suspicious. “I don’t think I like this,” he said. “Let’s say that I give you a message to deliver to Belgarion. What’s to prevent you from just throwing it away and then circling around to rejoin your friends?”
“Ethics.” Silk shrugged. “I always do the things I’m paid to do. You were planning to pay me, weren’t you?”
Urgit stared at Silk for a moment and then he threw back his head and laughed. “You’re absolutely outrageous, Kheldar,” he said. “Here you are, about two steps from the headsman’s block, and you have the nerve to try to extort money from me.”
Silk sighed and looked around tragically. “Why is it that die word ‘pay’ always brings that same look of consternation into the eyes of kings the world over?” he asked. “Surely your Majesty would not expect me to perform this truly unique service for you without some small recompense, would you?”
“Wouldn’t you say that getting to keep your head is more than adequate payment?”
“Oh, I’m fairly safe, I think. Since I’m the only one in the world who can guarantee delivery of your message, I’m far too valuable to kill, wouldn’t you say?”
Lady Tamazin suddenly laughed, a whimsical expression on her face as she looked at the two of them.
“Something amusing, mother?” Urgit asked her.
“Nothing, Urgit. Nothing at all.”
The king’s eyes were still indecisive. He looked hopefully at his seneschal. “What do you think, Oskatat?” he asked. “Can I trust this little knave?”
“It’s your Majesty’s decision,” the big Murgo replied stiffly.
“I’m not asking you as your king,” Urgit told him. “I’m asking as a friend.”
Oskatat winced. “That’s cruel, Urgit,” he said. “You’re forcing me to decide between duty and friendship.” .
“All right, then. Let’s put it on that basis. What should I do?”
“As king, you should obey the law—even if it means flying in the face of your own best interests. As a man, however, you should seize every opportunity that presents itself to avert disaster.”
“Well? What should I do? Should I be a king or a man? Which do you advise?”
It hung there in the air between them. The seneschal refused to meet Urgit’s eyes. Instead, he cast one quick, appealing look at Lady Tamazin. “Torak forgive me,” he muttered finally. He straightened and looked his king full in the face. “Save yourself, Urgit,” he said. “If this Drasnian can arrange an alliance with Belgarion, then pay him whatever he demands and send him on his way. Belgarion may deceive you at some later date, but Kal Zakath seeks your head now. You need that alliance, no matter what the cost.”
“Thank you, Oskatat,” the king said with genuine gratitude. He turned back to Silk. “How quickly do you think you could reach Belgarion with my message?” he asked.
“Your Majesty,” Silk replied, “I can have your message in Belgarion’s hands more quickly than you could possibly imagine. Now, shall we talk about money?” His long, pointed nose began to twitch in a manner Garion recognized at once.
“How much do you want?” Urgit asked warily.
“Oh,” Silk pretended to think about it, “I suppose a hundred Tolnedran guidemarks ought to cover it.”
Urgit gaped at him. “A hundred marks? You’re insane!”
Silk casually examined the fingernails of one hand. “The figure’s open to negotiation, your Majesty,” he admitted. “I just wanted to establish a general price range sort of to get things off to a smooth start.”