They mounted their horses and rode slowly away from the tower in the bright sunshine of a spring noon. Ce'Nedra held Geran, and the wolf scampered alongside, dashing out from time to time to chase rabbits.

After they had gone a little way, Garion heard a familiar whisper of sound. He reined Chretienne in. "Ce'Nedra," he said, pointing back at the tower, "look."

She looked back. "I don't see anything."

"Wait. They'll be out in a moment."

"They?"

"Grandmother and Grandfather. There they come now."

Two wolves bounded out through the open door of the tower and ran across the grassy plain, matching stride for stride as they ran. There was a kind of unbridled freedom and an intense joy in the way they ran.

"I thought they were going to get started with the cleaning," Ce'Nedra said.

"This is more important, Ce'Nedra. Much, much more important."

They reached the cottage just as the sun was going down. Durnik was still busy in the fields, and they could hear Polgara singing softly in the kitchen. Ce'Nedra went inside, and Garion and the wolf crossed the field to join Durnik.

The meal that evening consisted of a roast goose and everything that went with it: gravy, dressing, three kinds of vegetables, and freshly baked bread, still hot from the oven and dripping with butter.

"Where did you get the goose, Pol?" Durnik asked.

"I cheated," she admitted calmly.

"Pol!"

"I'll explain it some other time, dear. Let's eat it before it all gets cold."

After supper they sat near the fire. They didn't really need a fire indeed, the doors and windows were even open but fire and hearth were a part of home, sometimes necessary even when not, strictly speaking, needed.

Polgara held Geran, her cheek against his curls and a dreamy look of contentment on her face. "Just practicing," she said quietly to Ce'Nedra.

"There's no way you could ever forget that, Aunt Pol," the Rivan Queen said. "You've raised hundreds of little boys."

"Well, not quite that many, dear, but it never hurts to keep one's hand in."

The wolf lay sound asleep on the hearth before the fire. He was making small yipping noises, however, and his feet were twitching.

"He's dreaming." Durnik smiled.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Garion said. “He spent the whole time while we were coming back from Grandfather's tower chasing rabbits. He didn't catch any, though. I don't think he was really trying."

"Speaking of dreaming," Aunt Pol said, rising to her feet. "You two and your son and your puppy will want an early start in the morning. Why don't we all go to bed?"

They arose at first light the next morning, ate a hearty breakfast, and then Durnik and Garion went out to saddle the horses.