"It's like every Murgo city," Urgit replied abstractedly. "The walls are seventy feet high and thirty feet thick. What difference does it make?"
"The city could withstand a siege, then—if you had enough men there?"
"That's the whole problem—I don't."
"Then you need to get reinforcements there before the Malloreans can reach the city."
"What a brilliant observation. But if I can't get relief columns there in time, how could I possibly get reinforcements there before the streets are filled with Malloreans?"
Garion shrugged. "Send them by sea."
"By sea?" Urgit suddenly looked stunned.
"Your harbor is full of ships, and your city's bulging with troops. Load enough men on the ships to reinforce the garrison at Rak Cthaka and sail them around to the city. Even if Rak Gorut fell tomorrow, it's still going to take the Malloreans ten days to march overland. Your ships could be there in less than a week. Your reinforced garrison will be able to hold until the relief columns arrive."
Urgit shook his head. "Murgo armies do not move by ship," he said. "My generals wouldn't hear of it."
"You're the king, aren't you? Make them hear of it."
Urgit's face grew apprehensive. "They never listen to me."
Garion had a sudden urge to shake him. With some effort he got his irritation under control. "There's nothing holy about walking," he said, "particularly if marching your men to Rak Cthaka is going to cost you the city. Tell your generals to load the men on those ships and also tell them that the matter isn't open to discussion."
"They'll refuse."
"Then dismiss them from their posts and promote a few colonels."
Urgit stared at him, aghast. "I couldn't do that."
"You're the king. You can do anything you want to."
Urgit wrestled with it indecisively.
"Do as he says, Urgit," Lady Tamazin commanded abruptly. "It's the only way to save Rak Cthaka."
He looked at her, a lost expression on his face. "Do you really think I should, mother?" he asked in a small voice.
"Just do it. As the young man said, you're the king—and I think it's about time that you started acting like one."
"There's something else we need to consider, your Majesty," Sadi said, his face grave. "If the Malloreans lay siege to Rak Cthaka, I won't be able to land there. I'm going to have to get past that vicinity before any fighting breaks out. Slavers can move around with very little interference, unless there's an actual battle going on, but once the fighting starts, the Malloreans are sure to detain us. If we don't move very quickly, your Dagashi won't reach Rak Hagga until sometime next summer."
Urgit's face grew even more disconsolate. "I hadn't considered that," he admitted. "I think you and your people had better get ready to leave here immediately. I'll send word to the Temple and tell Agachak that the plans have changed."
The door opened. Oskatat entered, and at his side was the Murgo officer who had so rudely demanded Urgit's signature the previous day.
"Ah, General Kradak," Urgit greeted the officer with an obviously feigned joviality, "so good of you to join us. You've heard about what's going on in the south?"
The general nodded shortly. "The situation is grave," he said. "Rak Gorut and Rak Cthaka are in great peril."
"What do you advise, General?" Urgit asked.
"There's nothing to advise," Kradak said. "We'll have to accept the fact that Gorut and Cthaka are lost and concentrate our efforts on holding Urga, Morcth, and Araga."
"General, that only leaves three of the nine military districts of Cthol Murgos under my control. Zakath is eating my kingdom one bite at a time."
The general shrugged. "We cannot reach Rak Cthaka before the Malloreans do. The city will fall. There's nothing we can do about it."
"What if we were to reinforce the garrison there? Would that change things at all?"
"Certainly, but it's impossible."
"Maybe not," Urgit said with a quick look at Garion. "What do you think of moving reinforcements there by ship?"
"By ship?" The general blinked, and then his face hardened. "That's absurd."
"Why absurd?"
"It's never been done in Cthol Murgos before."
"I imagine that there are a lot of things that have never been done in Cthol Murgos before. Is there any specific reason why it won't work?"
"Ships sink, your Majesty," Kradak pointed out acidly, as if speaking to a child. "The troops know that and they'll refuse to go on board."
Oskatat stepped forward. "Not if you crucify the first ten or so who refuse right there on the dock," he said firmly. "That sort of example should lessen the reluctance of the rest."
Kradak gave the gray-haired man a look of undisguised hatred. "What would a house servant know about command?" he demanded. He looked back at Urgit with a barely concealed sneer. "Just stay on your throne, Urgit," he said harshly. "Play with your crown and your scepter and pretend that you're a real king. But keep your nose out of the business of running the war."
Urgit's face blanched, and he shrank back in his chair.
"Shall I send for the headsman, your Majesty?" Oskatat inquired in an icy voice. "It appears that General Kradak has outlived his usefulness."
Kradak stared at him incredulously. "You wouldn't dare!" he gasped.
"Your life hangs on his Majesty's pleasure just now, Kradak. One word from him, and your head will roll in the dust."
"I am a general officer in the armies of Cthol Murgos." Kradak clutched at the gold chain about his neck as if for reassurance. "My appointment comes from Taur Urgas himself. You have no authority over me, Oskatat."
Urgit straightened in his chair, an angry flush moving up into his face. "Oh, really?" he said in a dangerously quiet voice. "Maybe it's time that we got a few things clarified." He took off his crown and held it up. "Do you recognize this, Kradak?"
The general glared at him with a stony face.
"Answer me!"
"It's the crown of Cthol Murgos," Kradak replied sullenly.
"And the man who wears it has absolute authority, right?"
"Taur Urgas did."
"Taur Urgas is dead. I sit upon the throne now, and you will obey me in the same way you obeyed him. Do you understand me?"
"You are not Taur Urgas."
"That's painfully obvious, General Kradak," Urgit replied coldly. "I am your king, however, and I'm also an Urga. When I grow agitated, I feel the madness of the Urgas creeping up on me—and it's creeping very fast just now. If you don't do exactly as I tell you to do, you're going to be a head shorter before the sun sets. Now go give the order to load the troops on those ships."
"And if I refuse?"
Urgit's expression grew hesitant. For some reason he looked appealingly at Garion.
"Kill him," Garion said in the flat unemotional voice he had discovered immediately got people's attention.
Urgit straightened again and firmly yanked his bellpull. The great gong outside in the hallway clanged. Two burly guards responded immediately. "Yes, your Majesty?" one of them asked.
"Well, Kradak?" Urgit asked. "What's it to be? The ships or the block? Speak up, man. I haven't got all day."
Kradak's face went ashen. "The ships, your Majesty," he replied in a shaky voice.
"Splendid. I'm so happy that we were able to settle our little differences without unpleasantness." Urgit turned to his guards. "General Kradak is going directly to the barracks of the Third Cohort now," he told them, "and you will accompany him. He's going to order those men to board the ships in the harbor and to sail to the relief of the garrison at Rak Cthaka." He gave Kradak a narrow, distrustful look. "If he gives them any other order, you will cut off his head immediately and bring it to me—in a bucket."
"As your Majesty commands," the Murgos replied in unison, each banging his fist against his mail shirt.
Kradak turned, trembling and suddenly broken, and went out with the grim Murgo guards flanking him closely.<
br />
Urgit retained his imperious expression until the door closed, and then he threw both arms in the air and began beating his feet on the floor, whooping with delight. "Oh, Gods!" he said ecstatically. "I loved that! I've been wanting to do that all my life!"
The Lady Tamazin rose gravely from her chair, limped to where her son sat, and wordlessly embraced him.
"Affection, mother?" he asked lightly, a broad grin still creasing his sharp-featured face. "How terribly un-Murgoish." And then he laughed and caught her in a rough bear hug.
"There may be hope after all," she observed calmly to Oskatat.
A slow smile crept across the big Murgo's lips. "It looks a bit more promising, my Lady," he agreed.
"Thank you for your support, Oskatat," Urgit said to his friend. "I might not have gotten through that without your help." He paused. "I must say, though, that I’m a little surprised that you approved of my scheme."
"I don't. I think it's an absurd idea almost certainly doomed from the start."
Urgit blinked.
"There was another issue at stake, however—one that is much more important." There was a peculiar pride on the big man's face. "Do you realize that this is the very first time you've ever faced down one of your generals? They've been running roughshod over you since the day you took the throne. The loss of a few ships and a few thousand men is a small price to pay for a real king on the throne of Cthol Murgos."
"Thank you for your candor, Oskatat," Urgit said gravely. "It may just be, though, that things may not turn out so disastrously as you think."
"Perhaps, but Taur Urgas would not have done this."
"It might just be that someday we'll all rejoice in the fact that Taur Urgas is no longer with us, Oskatat.'' A faint ironic smile crossed the king's lips. "As a matter of fact, I seem to feel a small surge of rejoicing coming over me already. I'm losing this war, my old friend, and a man who's losing can't afford to be conservative. I've got to take a few gambles if I want to keep Kal Zakath from parading through the streets of Rak Urga with my head on a pole."
"As your Majesty commands," the seneschal said with a bow. "I'm also going to have to give certain orders. Have I your permission to withdraw?"
"Of course."
Oskatat turned and started toward the door. Before he reached it, however, it opened and Silk came into the room. The seneschal stopped, staring hard at the Drasnian. Silk's hand moved swiftly toward the hood of his robe, but then he let it drop with a rueful grimace.
Garion groaned inwardly. He moved carefully into position not far behind Oskatat, aware that Durnik and the gigantic Toth were also coming up on either side of him, ready to move quickly to prevent any outcry.
"You!" Oskatat exclaimed to Silk. "What are you doing here?"
Silk's expression grew resigned. "Just passing through, Oskatat," he replied casually. "You've been well, I trust?"
Urgit looked up. "What's this?"
"The seneschal and I are old friends, your Majesty," Silk replied. "We met in Rak Goska some years ago."
"Is your Majesty aware of this man's true identity?" Oskatat demanded.
Urgit shrugged. "He's one of Sadi's servants," he said. "Or so I was told."
"Hardly that, Urgit. This is Prince Kheldar of Drasnia, the most notorious spy in the entire world."
"The seneschal is perhaps a bit lavish in his praise," Silk noted modestly.
"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 Alorns."
"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 Mallorean lines?" she asked. "If you're nervous about them, then get them out of Rak Urga as quickly as possible."
"All 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?"
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