Zubrette, of course, flirted outrageously with all three of them, and
positively glowed when they glared at each other in her presence.
Rundorig's duties in the fields kept him away most of the time, but
Doroon was a serious worry to Garion. He became quite nervous and
frequently found excuses to go about the compound to make certain that
Doroon and Zubrette were not alone together.
His own campaign was charmingly simple - he resorted to bribery.
Zubrette, like all little girls, was fond of sweets, and Garion had
access to the entire kitchen. In a short period of time they had worked
out an arrangement. Garion would steal sweets from the kitchen for his
sunnyhaired playmate, and in return she would let him kiss her. Things
might perhaps have gone further if Aunt Pol had not caught them in the
midst of such an exchange one bright summer afternoon in the seclusion
of the hay barn.
"That's quite enough of that," she announced firmly from the doorway.
Garion jumped guiltily away from Zubrette.
"I've got something in my eye," Zubrette lied quickly. "Garion was trying to get it out for me."
Garion stood blushing furiously.
"Really?" Aunt Pol said. "How interesting. Come with me, Garion."
"I-" he started.
"Now, Garion."
And that was the end of that. Garion's time thereafter was totally
occupied in the kitchen, and Aunt Pol's eyes seemed to be on him every
moment. He mooned about a great deal and worried desperately about
Doroon, who now appeared hatefully smug, but Aunt Pol remained watchful,
and Garion remained in the kitchen.
Part one sendaria Chapter Five
IN MIDAUTUMN that year, when the leaves had turned and the wind had
showered them down from the trees like red and gold snow, when evenings
were chill and the smoke from the chimneys at Faldor's farm rose
straight and blue toward the first cold stars in a purpling sky, Wolf
returned. He came up the road one gusty afternoon under a lowering
autumn sky with the new-fallen leaves tumbling about him and his great,
dark cloak whipping in the wind.Garion, who had been dumping kitchen
slops to the pigs, saw his approach and ran to meet him. The old man
seemed travel-stained and tired, and his face under his gray hood was
grim. His usual demeanor of happy-go-lucky cheerfulness had been
replaced by a somber mood Garion had never seen in him before.
"Garion," Wolf said by way of greeting. "You've grown, I see."
"It's been five years," Garion said.
"Has it been so long?"
Garion nodded, falling into step beside his friend.
"Is everyone well?" Wolf asked.
"Oh yes," Garion said. "Everything's the same here-except that Breldo
got married and moved away, and the old brown cow died last summer."
"I remember the cow," Wolf said. Then he said, "I must speak with your Aunt Pol."
"She's not in a very good mood today," Garion warned. "It might be
better if you rested in one of the barns. I can sneak some food and
drink to you in a bit."
"We'll have to chance her mood," Wolf said. "What I have to say to her can't wait."
They entered the gate and crossed the courtyard to the kitchen door.
Aunt Pol was waiting. "You again?" she said tartly, her hands on her
hips. "My kitchen still hasn't recovered from your last visit."
"Mistress Pol," Wolf said, bowing. Then he did a strange thing. His
fingers traced an intricate little design in the air in front of his
chest. Garion was quite sure that he was not intended to see those
gestures.
Aunt Pol's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed, and her face became grim.
"How do you-" she started, then caught herself. "Garion," she said
sharply, "I need some carrots. There are still some in the ground at the
far end of the kitchen garden. Take a spade and a pail and fetch me
some."
"But " he protested, and then, warned by her expression, he left
quickly. He got a spade and pail from a nearby shed and then loitered
near the kitchen door. Eavesdropping, of course, was not a nice habit
and was considered the worst sort of bad manners in Sendaria, but Garion
had long ago concluded that whenever he was sent away, the conversation
was bound to be very interesting and would probably concern him rather
intimately. He had wrestled briefly with his conscience about it; but,
since he really saw no harm in the practice - as long as he didn't
repeat anything he heard - conscience had lost to curiosity.
Garion's ears were very sharp, but it took him a moment or two to
separate the two familiar voices from the other sounds in the kitchen.
"He will not leave you a trail," Aunt Pol was saying.
"He doesn't have to," Wolf replied. "The thing itself will make its
trail known to me. I can follow it as easily as a fox can scent out the
track of a rabbit."
"Where will he take it?" he asked.
"Who can say? His mind is closed to me. My guess is that he'll go
north to Boktor. That's the shortest route to Gar og Nadrak. He'll know
that I'll be after him, and he'll want to cross into the lands of the
Angaraks as soon as possible. His theft won't be complete so long as he
stays in the west."
"When did it happen?"
"Four weeks ago."
"He could already be in the Angarak kingdoms."
"That's not likely. The distances are great; but if he is, I'll have to follow him. I'll need your help."
"But how can I leave here?" Aunt Pol asked. "I have to watch over the boy."
Garion's curiosity was becoming almost unbearable. He edged closer to the kitchen door.
"The boy'll be safe enough here," Wolf said. "This is an urgent matter."
"No," Aunt Pol contradicted. "Even this place isn't safe. Last
Erastide a Murgo and five Thulls came here. He posed as a merchant, but
he asked a few too many questions - about an old man and a boy named
Rundorig who had been seen in Upper Gralt some years ago. He may also
have recognized me."
"It's more serious than I thought, then," Wolf said thoughtfully.
"We'll have to move the boy. We can leave him with friends elsewhere."
"No," Aunt Pol disagreed again. "If I go with you, he'll have to go
along. He's reaching an age where he has to be watched most carefully."
"Don't be foolish," Wolf said sharply.
Garion was stunned. Nobody talked to Aunt Pol that way.
"It's my decision to make," Aunt Pol said crisply. "We all agreed
that he was to be in my care until he was grown. I won't go unless he
goes with me."
Garion's heart leaped.
"Pol," Wolf said sharply, "think where we may have to go. You can't deliver the boy into those hands."