A lot of this chapter come straight out of 'King of the Murgos' Chapter Four, so extra special credit must go to David Eddings for this one. And do any of you know how frustrating it is to type out something that's written is a book? It's so annoying, so appreciate this.

Chapter Three

"Are you sure you're alright, Velvet?" Khaldon asked the following day as the pair made their way to see the Emperor Varana. They needed to inform him of the tragedy that had unfolded the previous night.

"I'm fine," Liselle smiled at him, but he didn't know how much truth was in that smile. He suddenly realised he had no idea what really went on inside her head, which he found alarming for a number of reasons. Firstly he was concerned for this young woman that he had become extremely fond of. Was she all smiles while suffering silently? The sight of a woman brutally murdered was not something a woman like Liselle should have had to see. It had been worse by the face that Liselle had somehow known Bethra. That was another thing that bothered Khaldon; how did someone like Liselle know someone like Bethra? Khaldon knew that Bethra had powerful connections, but it still seemed indecent to believe that a lady of Liselle's status would have anything to justify associating herself with a courtesan. And then finally, Khaldon was bothered by the fact that her smiles were frighteningly similar to the ones she had graced him with before this tragedy had taken place. What if, he thought with dread, the way she was around him was just an act? He needed to know the truth.

"Prince Khaldon," a quavering voice suddenly called and Khaldon turned to see the frail-looking Lord Morin, the Imperial Chamberlain, making their way towards them. Despite his age, the chamberlain was very alert and studied them both shrewdly as he neared. "How may I assist you?"

"We desire an audience with his Imperial Majesty, Lord Morin," Khaldon asked, bowing slightly. He hoped Lord Morin would remember that unscheduled meetings was not something Khaldon would usually requested and therefore see the gravity of the situation without requiring much explanation. Unfortunately, judging by the expression the older man was wearing, it was looking as though that wouldn't be the case.

"His Majesty is currently entertaining several guests that arrived unexpectedly today," Morin informed them. "Perhaps you shall be more fortunate in a few hours."

"I have information that is great urgency. I'm afraid it cannot wait."

"His Excellency has asked not to be disturbed."

"Please, my Lord," Liselle begged, with an innocent little smile that anyone would find completely trustworthy. The young spy could be a formidable political figure if she wanted to be. "We would not ask if it was not of great importance. His Excellency would want this brought to his attention as soon as possible, I'm sure."

Morin regarded her for a moment before addressing Khaldon, his voice a tad dazed in the wake of her magnetism. "Prince Khaldon, who is this charming young lady?"

"May I introduce Her Ladyship, the Margravine Liselle of Baktor," Khaldon said as Liselle curtsied. "She is here on business for her uncle, Margravine Khendon."

"Ah yes. Drasina's spy network is universally admired by us all," Morin bowed respectfully. "And I'm certain that this information must be of importance. Please, wait here, I shall inform the Emperor."

And with that, the chamberlain turned and made his way to where the Emperor and his guests were, and Khaldon went back to studying Liselle.

"Please Khaldon, I'm fine," Liselle told him again, looking up at him with another one of her dazzling smiles.

"I'm just looking out for you," he said, his heart fluttering as she put her hand on his and beamed softly at him. He suddenly found it very hard to swallow.

When Morin returned and escorted them into the room, Khaldon was rather shocked to discover just who Emperor Varana's guests were. King Belgarion and his lovely wife were there, as was Lady Polgara and her husband Durnik, the Man with Two Lives. Ancient Belgarath was there of course, along with the strange boy Errand, who now went by the name Eriond though Khaldon had no knowledge of this. There was a towering giant that Khaldon didn't recognise and then there was the famous Prince Kheldar, the richest man in the world. Khaldon noticed with some satisfaction that his cousin looked particularly shabby.

"His Excellency, Prince Khaldon, Ambassador of the Royal Court of Drasnia and Her Ladyship, the Margravine Liselle, a – uh – " Morin suddenly faltered with his announcement.

"Spy, your Excellency," Liselle informed coolly and confidently.

"Is that an official designation, your Ladyship?"

"It saves a great deal of time, Excellency."

"My, how the world changes," Morin said with a sigh. "Should I introduce your Ladyship to the Emperor as an official spy?"

"I think he's gathered that already, Lord Morin," she grinned, reaching out to touch his hand. The old man bowed and exited, Liselle's eyes following him. She smiled softly. "What a dear old man."

"Well, hello, cousin," Kheldar greeted in a cheery voice that set Khaldon's teeth on edge. Why did he have to be related to such an infuriating individual? He didn't know how Belgarath and Belgarion could stand being around the irksome little man for extended periods of time. The only reason Khaldon suffered him was because of family ties and even that was a struggle to endure.

"Cousin," Khaldon replied, trying to keep his distain out of his voice and not completely succeeding.

The Emperor watched their exchange in some surprise. As a respected ambassador, Khaldon usually managed to maintain a professional disposition regardless of his personal feelings towards an associate, so for him to greet his cousin so coldly must appear bizarre to the Emperor. "Are you two somehow related?"

"Distantly, your Majesty," Kheldar answered. "Our mothers were second cousins – or was it third?"

"Fourth, I think," Khaldon corrected, and what a relief that was. Khaldon really didn't like his cousin so the greater the distance between their families the better. It was just Kheldar's ego and unquenchable desire to turn everything into a joke that was so off-putting. "You're looking a bit seedy, old man. The last time I saw you, you were dripping in gold and jewels."

"I'm in disguise, cousin. You're not supposed to be able to recognise me."

"Ah," Khaldon said with a great air of understanding, trying as hard as he could to cut Kheldar down a bit while remaining civil. He was Ambassador of the Royal Court of Drasnia and it was his duty to act in accordance of someone of his station. That was when he realised he had been acting in this childish manner in front of not only the Emperor, but King Belgarion, his queen, as well as the famous Ancient Belgarath, his daughter and his son-in-law. Suddenly embarrassed, Khaldon felt he needed to offer some kind of explanation to the Emperor. "Please excuse our banter, your Majesty. Kheldar here and I have loathed each other since childhood."

"It was hate at first sight. We absolutely detested each other," Kheldar grinned, and despite his better judgment, Khaldon found himself smiling at the memories of the hatred that had been such an inconvenience to their families.

"When we were children, they used to hide our knives every time our families visited each other."

Kheldar was still grinning, but he turned his attention to Liselle. "What are you doing in Tol Honeth?"

"It's a secret," Liselle said playfully and Khaldon felt he needed to put a stop to any games she might start up with his cousin. For some reason, the idea of the young woman and the old thief interacting caused a spike of wild panic shoot through the ambassadors' body.

"Velvet brought several dispatches from Boktor and certain instructions," Khaldon clarified and he noticed that Liselle gave him a rather hard look. It seemed she wanted to keep this game going between her and Kheldar and Khaldon couldn't help but feel somewhat jealous. Kheldar, of course, never saw this subtle exchange. For a man that was supposed to be extremely sharp, he did miss a lot.

"Velvet?" he repeated his cousins words.

"Silly, isn't it?" Liselle giggled a little too fondly for Khaldon's liking. "But then, I suppose they could have chosen a worse nickname for me."

"It's better than some that spring to mind."

"Be nice, Kheldar."

Khaldon frowned slightly at the two. They got along fairly well and there seemed to be a level of affection between them. He just hoped it wasn't what he thought it was.

"There was something you thought we ought to know, Prince Khaldon?" Emperor Varana asked, bringing Khaldon back to the business at hand. He could decipher what was going on between his cousin and Liselle later, though he wished he could stop whatever it was before it was too late.

With a sigh, he faced the Emperor. "It saddens me to report that the courtesan Bethra has been murdered, your Majesty."

"What?"

The whole room plummeted into a state of shock. Varana's eyes were wide, as were several others in the room. There were a few that wore puzzled expressions, as they had no idea who this woman was, but Kheldar had suddenly gone pale and silent.

"She was set upon by assassins in a deserted street last night as she was returning from a business engagement," Khaldon told them all solemnly. "She was left for dead, but she managed to drag herself to our gate and she was able to pass on some information before she died."

"Who was responsible for it?" Kheldar demanded a slight catch in his voice. The little man was very white and his hands were trembling. Khaldon was somewhat startled by his cousin's demeanor. In all the years he had know Kheldar, he had never seen him look the way he did now.

"We're still working on that, Kheldar. We have some suspicions, of course, but nothing concrete enough to take before a magistrate."

Emperor Varana rose to his feet. He also looked shaken but Khaldon had expected that to some degree. Rumours were that Bethra had been a guest to the Imperial Compound on more than one occasion since Varana had been named Emperor. "There are some people who will need to know about this. Would you come with me, Prince Khaldon?"

"Of course, your Majesty."

"Please excuse us," Varana pardoned himself from his guests. "This matter needs my immediate attention."

And with that, the Emperor of Tolnedra left the room and Khaldon followed but he could not resist looking over his shoulder at Liselle, who remained behind. And he noticed with no small amount of jealousy that Kheldar was moving in to speak with her further.

TBC. All, jealousy. Well, everything comes out in the next chapter, so keep reading.