It was not a sound that had awakened him, but a light. It was a single beam of intense blue that bathed the amphitheater in its radiance, and it was soon joined by others that streamed down from the night sky in great glowing columns, red and yellow and green and shades for which there were no names. The columns stood in a semicircle not far from the edge of the water, and there in the center of their rainbow-hued light, the pristine white albatross hovered on seraphlike wings. The incandescent forms that Garion had seen before at Cthol Mishrak began to appear in the columns of pure light. Aldur and Mara, Issa and Nedra, Chaldan and Belar, the Gods stood, their faces filled with the joy of welcome.

"It's time," Poledra sighed from where she sat enfolded in Belgarath's arms. She firmly took his arms from about her shoulders and rose to her feet.

"No," Belgarath protested in an anguished tone, his eyes filled with tears. "There's time yet."

"You knew this was going to happen. Old Wolf," she said gently. "It has to be this way, you know."

"I'm not going to lose you twice," he declared. He also rose. "There's no longer any meaning to any of this." He looked at his daughter. "Pol," he said.

"Yes, father," she replied, rising to her feet with Durnik at her side.

"You'll have to look after things now. Beldin and Durnik and the twins wilt help you."

“Will you orphan me in one single stroke, father?” Her voice was throbbing with unshed tears.

"You're strong enough to bear it, Pol. Your mother and I are not displeased with you. Be well."

"Don't be foolish, Belgarath," Poledra said firmly.

"I'm not. I won't live without you again."

"It's not permitted."

"It can't be prevented. Not even our Master can prevent me now. You won't leave alone, Poledra. I'm going with you." He put his arms about his wife's shoulders and looked deeply into her golden eyes. "It's better this way."

"As you decide, my husband," she said finally. "We must act now, however, before UL arrives. He can prevent it, no matter how much you bend your will to its accomplishment."

Then Eriond was there. "Have you really considered this, Belgarath?" he said.

"Many times in the last three thousand years, yes. I had to wait for Garion, though. Now he's here, and there's nothing to hold me any longer."

"What would make you change your mind?"

"Nothing. I won't be separated from her again."

"Then I'll have to see to that, I suppose." .

"That's forbidden, Eriond," Poledra objected. "I agreed to this when my task was laid upon me."

"Agreements are always subject to renegotiation, Poledra," he said. "Besides, my father and my brothers neglected to advise me of their decision, so I'll have to deal with the situation without their advice."

"You can't defy your father's will," she objected.