"Oh, bother that!" she snapped. "Everyone here has seen undressed women before. I'm just trying to reason with my mystical young friend here. Cyradis, if you don't put on the gown, I'll be very cross with you and we really need to do something with your hair."

The Seeress unerringly took the tiny queen in her arms and embraced her fondly. "Dear, dear Ce'Nedra," she said gently, "thy heart is larger than thyself, and thy concern doth fill mine as well. I am content, however, in this simple garb. Mayhap in time my tastes will change, and then will I gladly submit to thy gentle ministrations."

"There's absolutely no talking to her," Ce'Nedra said, throwing her arms in the air. Then, with a charming flirt of the hem of her chemise, she stormed back into the room from which the two of them had emerged.

"You ought to feed her more," Beldin told Garion. "She's really very skinny, you know."

“I sort of like her the way she is," Garion replied. He looked at Cyradis. "Will you sit, Holy Seeress?"

"If I may."

"Of course." He waved off Toth's almost instinctive move to aid his mistress and guided the girl to a comfortable chair.

"I thank thee, Belgarion," she said. "Thou art as kind as thou art brave." She smiled, and it was like the sun coming up. She touched one hand to her hair. "Doth this really look so ugly?" she asked.

"It's just fine, Cyradis," he told her. "Ce'Nedra sometimes exaggerates, and she has an absolute passion for making people over- me, usually."

"And dost thou mind her efforts, Belgarion?"

"I suppose not. I'd probably miss them if she didn't try, at least."

"Thou art caught in the snare of love, King Belgarion. Thou art a mighty sorcerer, but methinks thy little queen hath a more powerful sorcery yet, for she holds thee in the palm of that tiny band."

"That's true, I suppose, but I don't really mind all that much."

"If this gets any more cloying, I think I'll throw up," Beldin said gruffly.

And then Silk returned.

"Anything?" Belgarath asked.

"Naradas beat you to the library. I stopped by there, and the man in charge "

"Librarian," Belgarath corrected absently.

"Whatever. Anyway, he said that as soon as Naradas arrived, he ransacked the library.”

"So that's it, then," Belgarath said. "Zandramas isn't on the island. She sent Naradas here to do her looking for her, it seems. Is be still looking?"

"Apparently not."

"That means he's found it, then."

"And probably destroyed it to keep us from getting a look at ft," Beldin added.

"Nay, gentle Beldin," Cyradis said. "The chart ye seek doth still exist, but it is not in the place where ye propose to seek.”

"I don't suppose you could give us a few hints?" Belgarath asked her.

“No-” She shook her head.

"I didn't think so."