For an instant Garion dimly understood what Mister Wolf had been driving at when he had warned about the danger of becoming obsessed with a desire for revenge, but he pushed the notion out of his mind. If Hettar could live with it, so could he. He felt a sudden fierce admiration for this lonely hunter in black leather.
Mister Wolf was deep in conversation with Mandorallen, and the two of them loitered until Hettar and Garion caught up with them. For a time they rode along together.
"It is our nature," the knight in his gleaming armor was saying in a melancholy voice. "We are over-proud, and it is our pride that dooms our poor Arendia to internecine war."
"That can be cured," Mister Wolf said.
"How?" Mandorallen asked. "It is in our blood. I myself am the most peaceful of men, but even I am subject to our national disease. Moreover, our divisions are too great, too buried in our history and our souls to be purged away. The peace will not last, my friend. Even now Asturian arrows sing in the forests, seeking Mimbrate targets, and Mimbre in reprisal burns Asturian houses and butchers hostages. War is inevitable, I fear."
"No," Wolf disagreed, "it's not."
"How may it be prevented?" Mandorallen demanded. "Who can cure our insanity?"
"I will, if I have to," Wolf told him quietly, pushing back his gray hood.
Mandorallen smiled wanly. "I appreciate thy good intentions, Belgarath, but that is impossible, even for thee."
"Nothing is actually impossible, Mandorallen," Wolf answered in a matter-of fact voice. "Most of the time I prefer not to interfere with other people's amusements, but I can't afford to have Arendia going up in flames just now. If I have to, I'll step in and put a stop to any more foolishness."
"Hast thou in truth such power?" Mandorallen asked somewhat wistfully as if he could not quite bring himself to believe it.
"Yes," Wolf replied prosaically, scratching at his short white beard, "as a matter of fact, I do."
Mandorallen's face grew troubled, even a bit awed at the old man's quiet statement, and Garion found his grandfather's declaration profoundly disturbing. If Wolf could actually stop a war single-handedly, he'd have no difficulty at all thwarting Garion's own plans for revenge. It was something else to worry about.
Then Silk rode back toward them. "The Great Fair's just ahead," the rat-faced man announced. "Do we want to stop, or should we go around it.
"We might as well stop," Wolf decided. "It's almost evening, and we need some supplies."
"The horses could use some rest, too," Hettar said. "They're starting to complain."
"You should have told me," Wolf said, glancing back at the pack train.
"They're not really in bad shape yet," Hettar informed him, "but they're starting to feel sorry for themselves. They're exaggerating of course, but a little rest wouldn't hurt them."
"Exaggerating?" Silk sounded shocked. "You don't mean to say that horses can actually lie, do you?"
Hettar shrugged. "Of course. They lie all the time. They're very good at it."
For a moment Silk looked outraged at the thought, and then he suddenly laughed. "Somehow that restores my faith in the order of the universe," he declared.
Wolf looked pained. "Silk," he said pointedly, "you're a very evil man. Did you know that?"
"One does one's best," Silk replied mockingly.
The Arendish Fair lay at the intersection of the Great West Road and the mountain track leading down out of Ulgoland. It was a vast collection of blue, red and yellow tents and broad-striped pavilions stretching for a league or more in every direction. It appeared like a brightly hued city in the midst of the dun-colored plain, and its brilliant pennons snapped bravely in the endless wind under a lowering sky.
"I hope I'll have time to do some business," Silk said as they rode down a long hill toward the Fair. The little man's sharp nose was twitching. "I'm starting to get out of practice."
A half dozen mud-smeared beggars crouched miserably beside the road, their hands outstretched. Mandorallen paused and scattered some coins among them.
"You shouldn't encourage them," Barak growled.
"Charity is both a duty and a privilege, my Lord Barak," Mandorallen replied.
"Why don't they build houses here?" Garion asked Silk as they approached the central part of the Fair.
"Nobody stays here that long," Silk explained. "The Fair's always here, but the population's very fluid. Besides, buildings are taxed; tents aren't."
Many of the merchants who came out of their tents to watch the party pass seemed to know Silk, and some of them greeted him warily, suspicion plainly written on their faces.
"I see that your reputation's preceded you, Silk," Barak observed dryly.
Silk shrugged. "The price of fame."
"Isn't there some danger that somebody'll recognize you as that other merchant?" Durnik asked. "The one the Murgos are looking for?"
"You mean Ambar? It's not very likely. Ambar doesn't come to Arendia very often, and he and Radek don't look a bit alike."
"But they're the same man," Durnik objected. "They're both you."
"Ah," Silk said, raising one finger, "you and I both know that, but they don't. To you I always look like myself, but to others I look quite different."
Durnik looked profoundly skeptical.
"Radek, old friend," a bald Drasnian merchant called from a nearby tent.
"Delvor," Silk replied delightedly. "I haven't seen you in years."
"You look prosperous," the bald man observed.
"Getting by," Silk responded modestly. "What are you dealing in now?"
"I've got a few Mallorean carpets," Delvor told him. "Some of the local nobles are interested, but they don't like the price." His hands, however, were already speaking of other matters.-Your uncle sent out word that we were to help you if necessary. Do you need anything?"What are you carrying in your packs?" he asked aloud.
"Sendarian woolens," Silk answered, "and a few other odds and ends." Have you seen any Murgos here at the Fair?
-One, but he left for Vo Mimbre a week ago. There are some Nadraks on the far side of the Fair, though
-They're a long way from home-Silk gestured. Are they really in business?
It's hard to say-Delvor answered.
-Can you put us up for a day or so?
I'm sure we can work something out Delvor replied with a sly twinkle in his eyes.