The tournament field was gaily decorated with bright-colored buntings and flapping pennons. A stand had been erected for the king, the ladies of the court, and members of the gentry too old to participate on the field. The commoners stood on the far side of the lists, watching avidly. A pair of gaily dressed jugglers was entertaining the crowd while the knights made their preparations. Brightly striped pavilions stood at either end of the lists-places for knights to have their armor repaired and places where the injured could suffer out of sight, since watching people groaning and writhing tends to dampen an otherwise enjoyable afternoon.

"I'll be right back," Garion told his friend. "I want to talk with Grandfather for a moment." He dismounted and crossed the bright-green turf to the end of the stand where Belgarath sat. The old man was wearing a snowy white robe and a disgruntled expression.

"Elegant," Garion said.

"It's somebody's idea of a joke," Belgarath said.

"Your obvious antiquity shines in your face, old friend," Silk said impudently from just behind him. "People instinctively want to make you as dignified looking as possible."

"Do you mind? What is it, Garion?"

"Zakath and I are going to cheat a little. If we win, the king will grant us a boon like letting you look at that chart."

"That might actually work, you know."

"How do you cheat in a tournament?" Silk asked.

"There are ways."

"Are you sure you'll win?"

"I can almost guarantee it."

Silk jumped to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Bdgarath demanded.

"I want to lay a few wagers." And the little man scurried off.

"He never changes," Belgarath observed.

"One thing, though. Naradas is here. He's a Grolim, so he'll know what we're doing. Please, Grandfather, keep him off my neck. I don't want him tampering with what I'm doing at some crucial moment.”

"I'll handle him," Belgarath said bleakly. "Go out there and do your best, but be careful.”

"Yes, Grandfather." Garion turned and went back to where Zakath waited with their horses.

"We'll stand in the second or third rank," Garion said. "It's customary to let the winners of previous tournaments joust first. It makes us look properly modest, and it'll give you a chance to see how to approach the lists." He looked around. "We'll have to surrender our lances before we joust; and they'll give us each one of those blunted ones from that rack over there. I'll take care of them as soon as we get our hands on them."

"You're a devious young man, Garion. What's Kheldar doing? He's running through those stands like a pickpocket hard at work."

"As soon as he heard what we're planning, he went out to place a few wagers."

Zakath suddenly burst out laughing. "I wish I'd known. I'd have given him some money to wager for me, as well.”

"Getting it back from him might have been a little difficult, though."