"You weren't so bad yourself, but smooth or rough, at least we got him here."

They stood at the door awaiting Cyradis and the others. After about a quarter of an hour, they arrived.

"Is he in there?" Belgarath asked Garion.

"Yes. We had to do a bit of fast talking, but he finally agreed."

Standing beside Cyradis was a figure robed and hooded in black. It appeared to be a woman, a Dal most likely, but it was the first time Garion had ever seen one of that race clad in any color but white. "This is the one who will aid us," the Seeress said. "Let us go in unto the king, for the hour is nigh."

Garion opened the door, and they filed in.

The king looked up in some surprise.

"Be not dismayed, King of Perivor," Cyradis said to him,, "for, as thy champions have told thee, we have come to reveal truths to thee, truths which will lessen thy sorrow."

"I am grateful for thine efforts, Lady," the king replied, "but that is scarce possible. My sorrow may neither be lessened nor banished. Here lieth my dearest friend, and my heart lieth on that cold bier with him."

"Thine heritage is in part Dal, your Majesty," she said to him, "so thou art aware that many of us possess certain gifts. There are things the one you called Erezel did not tell thee ere he died. I have summoned one who will question him ere his spirit doth sink into the darkness."

"A necromancer? Truly? I have heard of such, but have never seen the art practiced."

"Knowest thou that one with such gifts cannot misspeak what the spirits reveal?"

"I understand so, yes."

"I assure thee that it is true. Let us then probe the mind of this Erezel, and see what truths he will reveal to us."

The dark-robed and hooded necromancer stepped to the bier and laid her pale, slender hands on Naradas' chest,

Cyradis began posing the questions. "Who art thou?" she asked.

"My name was Naradas," the figure in black replied in a halting, hollow voice. "I was Grolim Archpriest of the Temple of Torak at Hemil in Darshiva."

The king stared first at Cyradis and then at the body of Naradas in stunned astonishment.

"Whom didst thou serve?" Cyradis asked.

"I served the Child of Dark, the Grolim Priestess Zandramas."

"Wherefore earnest thou to this kingdom?."

"My mistress sent me hither to seek out a certain chart and to impede the progress of the Child of Light to the Place Which Is No More."

"And what means didst thou use to accomplish these ends?"