"Wisely spoken, my King," a rasping voice said from the back of the throne room. "As I myself know full well, the powers of enchanters are myriad, and even the prowess of these two brave knights may not be sufficient to match them."

Garion turned. The man who had spoken had absolutely white eyes.

"The wizard of whom I told thee,” Baron Astellig whispered to Garion. "Be wary of him, Sir Knight, for he hath the king in thrall."

"Ah, good Erezel," the king said, his face lighting up, "an it please thee, approach the throne. Mayhap in thy wisdom thou mayest advise these two questors concerning the possibility of avoiding the perils posed by the enchantments certain to be strewn in their path."

"It shall be my pleasure, Lord King," Naradas replied.

"You know who he is, don't you?" Zakath murmured to Garion.

"Yes."

Naradas came down to the throne. "If I may be so bold as to suggest it, Sir Knights," he said in an unctuous lone, "a great tourney is planned not long hence. Should you not participate, it might arouse suspicion in the minions the one you seek hath doubtless placed here. My first advice to you, therefore, is that you enter our tourney and thus avoid that mischance."

"A most excellent suggestion, Erezel," the empty-headed king approved. "Sir Knights, this is Erezel, a great wizard and our closest advisor to our throne. Consider well his words, for they have great merit. We will, moreover, be greatly honored to have two such mighty men join with us in our forthcoming entertainment."

Garion ground his teeth together. With that one innocent-seeming suggestion, Naradas had effectively achieved the delay he had been seeking for weeks now. There was no way out, however. "We would be honored to join with thee and thy valiant knights in thy sport, your Majesty," he said. "Prithee, when are the games to begin?"

"Ten days hence, Sir Knight."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The quarters to which they were escorted were again hauntingly familiar. The displaced Arends who had been washed ashore here so many centuries ago had, it appeared, lovingly recreated the royal palace at Vo Mimbre down to the last detail even including its inconveniences. Durnik, ever practical, noticed this immediately. "You'd think they'd have taken advantage of the opportunity to improve a few things," he observed.

"There's a certain charm in archaism, dear," Polgara said, smiling.

"It's nostalgic, perhaps, Pol, but a few modern touches wouldn't have hurt all that much. You have noticed that the baths are located down in the cellar, haven't you?"

"There's a point there, Lady Polgara," Velvet agreed.

"It was much more convenient in Mal Zeth," Ce'Nedra concurred. "A bath in one's own apartments offers all sorts of opportunities for fun and mischief,"

Garion's ears turned bright red.

"I seem to be missing the more interesting parts of this conversation," Zakath said slyly.

"Never mind," Garion told him shortly.