All characters and places belong to David and Leigh Eddings

Zakath, Emperor of Boundless Mallorea, the man who ruled with an iron fist was almost crying.

"Cyradis, you're, you're pregnant? But when-"

"Dost thou not remember that day we had when we had as thou hast so charmingly put it,' Breakfast in bed'?"

Zakath reddened as the former Seeress recounted in graphic detail exactly how she got pregnant.

"Yes, alright my love, I get the point"

Just then Brador, head of his vast and well-financed intelligence bureau, the envy of Javelin, head of Drasnia's entered with a soft knock.

"My Lord, I do not wish to interrupt you're fascinating conversation but the Murgo army is approaching Mal Zeth. They weren't going to Mal Yaska as we first expected so we don't have the manpower to put up even a token resistance. We must get you and you're wife out of here as quickly as possible."

Zakath let loose a stream of vile curses which had been modified slightly by his contact with Alorns. Among the normal cries of "Torak's teeth" there were a few "Belar"s as well.

Brador, Zakath and Cyradis mounted fast horses down in the sables after sending the Imperial Guard to defend the Main Gate. The three of them galloped through the beautiful city and left through a small back gate, the same one Garion and his friends had used during the time of plague. Just then, a man leapt from the shadows knocking Cyradis from her horse. She fell heavily and lay still.

Zakath was about to go after the man who now had Cyradis thrown over his shoulder. He was cut off by a group of Murgo soldiers however, and could not reach her. Yelling with rage, he was led from the city by Brador as they headed to the Dalasian coast to commandeer a ship. There was only one destination, Riva.