"And you wanted me to get married?" Zakath asked Belgarath.

"It has its drawbacks," Belgarath replied calmly. He looked around. "The walls are still standing, I see, and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of explosions. Maybe, eventually, you'll grow up after all, Pol."

"Another note?" she half shrieked. "A miserable note?"

"We were pressed for time,"

"The three of you went up against the dragon alone?"

"More or less yes. The she-wolf was with us, however."

"An animal! That's your idea of protection?"

"She was very helpful."

At that point, Polgara began to swear in several different languages.

"Why, Pol," he objected mildly, "you don't even know what those words mean at least I hope you don't."

"Don't underestimate me, old man. This isn't over yet. All right, Ce'Nedra, it's your turn."

"I think I'd prefer to conduct my discussions with his Majesty in private where I can be much more direct," the tiny queen said in an icy tone.

Garion winced.

Then, surprisingly, Cyradis spoke. "It was discourteous of thee, Emperor of Mallorea, to hurl thyself into mortal danger without first consulting me." Belgarath, it appeared, had been characteristically obscure in his discussion with her before they had gone forth to face the dragon, conveniently forgetting to mention what they proposed to do.

"I beg thy forgiveness, Holy Seeress," Zakath apologized, lapsing, perhaps unconsciously, into archaic language. "The urgency of the matter was such that there was no time for consultation."

"Nicely spoken," Velvet murmured. "We'll make a gentleman out of him yet."

Zakath raised his visor and grinned at her a surprisingly boyish grin.

"As it may be, Kal Zakath," Cyradis continued sternly, "know that I am wroth with thee for thy hasty and unthinking rashness."

"I am covered with confusion, Holy Seeress, that I have offended thee, and I hope that thou canst find it in thy heart to forgive mine error."

"Oh," Velvet sighed, "he'll be just fine. Kheldar, were you taking notes?"

"Me?" Silk sounded surprised.

"Yes. You."

There were far too many things going on, and Garion was hovering on the verge of exhaustion. "Durnik," he said a bit plaintively, "can you help me out of this?" He rapped his knuckles on the breastplate of his armor.

"If you wish." Even Durnik's voice sounded cold.

"Does he really have to sleep with us?" Garion complained about midmorning.

"He's warm," Ce'Nedra replied in a snippy tone, "which is more than I can say for some others. Besides, he sort of fills the vacancy I have in my heart in a small way, of course."

The wolf puppy under the covers was enthusiastically licking Garion's toes, then, inevitably, fell to nibbling.

They slept for a goodly part of the day, rising about midafternoon. They sent a servant to the king, asking to be excused from this night's festivities, pleading extreme fatigue.

"Wouldn't this be a good time to ask to see that map?" Beldin asked.