"Too noisy," Belgarath told him, "The people here are not entirely Mimbrate." He turned to Cyradis. "There's a certain sound sorcery makes," he said.

"Yes," she replied. "I know."

"Can you hear it?"

She nodded.

"Are there other Dals here on the island who can hear it, as well?"

"Yes, Ancient Belgarath."

"How about these counterfeit Mimbrates? They're at least half Dal. Is it possible that some of them might be able to hear it, too?"

"Entirely so."

"Grandfather," Garion said in a worried tone, "that means that half the people in Dal Perivor heard what I did to the lances."

"Not over the noise of the crowd, they didn't."

"I didn't know that would make a difference."

"Of course it does."

"Well," Silk said grimly, "I won't use sorcery, and I can guarantee that there won't be any noise."

"But there will be a certain amount of evidence, Kheldar," Sadi pointed out, "and since we're the only strangers in the palace, there might be some embarrassing questions if they find Naradas with one of your daggers sticking out of his back. Why don't you let me handle it? I can make things look much more natural."

"You're talking about cold-blooded murder, Sadi," Durnik accused.

"I appreciate your sensibilities, Goodman Durnik," the eunuch replied, "but Naradas has already tricked us twice and, each time he does, he delays us that much more. We have to get him out of the way.”

"He's right, Durnik," Belgarath said.

"Zith?" Velvet suggested to Sadi.

He shook his head. "She won't leave her babies not even for the pleasure of biting someone. I have a few other things that are just as effective. They're not quite as fast perhaps, but they get the job done."

"Zakath and I still have to come up against Zandramas," Garion said glumly, "and this tune we'll have to do it alone because of that stupid tournament."

"It won't be Zandramas," Velvet told him. "Ce'Nedra and I spoke with some of the young ladies here at court while you two were out there being magnificent. They told us that this 'fearsome beast' has been showing up from time to time for centuries now, and Zandramas has only been active for a dozen years, hasn't she? I really think the dragon you'll be fighting will be the real one."

"I'm not so sure, Liselle," Polgara disagreed. "Zandramas can take the form of that dragon at any time. If the real one is asleep in her lair, it could very well be Zandramas who's been out there terrorizing the countryside this time all as a part of the scheme to force a confrontation before we get to the place of the meeting."

"I'll know which it is as soon as I get a look at it," Garion said.

"How?" Zakath asked him.