"It's a common name among Dalasian women," Zakath told him. "Onatel was one of their most honored seeresses."

"But the Isle of Verkat is in Cthol Murgos," Sadi pointed out.

"It's not all that strange," Belgarath said. "We've had some fairly strong hints that the Dals and the slave race of Cthol Murgos are closely related and keep in more or less constant contact. This is just some additional confirmation."

The morning sun was warm and bright as they emerged from the house and strolled off in various directions. Garion and Zakath had removed their armor and left their swords behind, al-though Garion prudently carried the Orb in a pouch tied to his belt. The two of them walked across a dewy lawn toward a group of larger buildings near the center of the city.

"You're always very careful with that stone, aren't you, Garion?" Zakath asked.

"I'm not sure that careful is the exact word," Garion replied, "but then again, maybe it is—in a broader sense. You see, the Orb is very dangerous, and I don't want it hurting people by accident."

"What does it do?"

"I'm not really sure. I’ve never seen it do anything to anybody—except possibly Torak—but that might have been the sword."

"And you're the only one in the world who can touch the Orb?"

"Hardly. Eriond carried it around for a couple of years. He kept trying to give it to people. They were mostly Alorns, so they knew better than to take it."

"Then you and Eriond are the only people who can touch it?"

"My son can," Garion said. "I put his hand on it right after he was born. It was very happy to meet him."

"A stone? Happy?"

"It's not like other stones." Garion smiled. "It can be a little silly now and then."

It gets carried away by its own enthusiasm. I have to be very careful about what I think sometimes. If it decides I really want something, it might just take independent action." He laughed. "Once I was speculating about the time when Torak cracked the world, and it proceeded to tell me how to patch it."

"You're not serious!"

"Oh, yes. It has no conception of the word 'impossible.' If I really wanted it to, it could probably spell out my name in stars." He felt a small twitch in the pouch at his belt. "Stop that!" he said sharply to the Orb. "That was just an example, not a request."

Zakath was staring at him.

"Wouldn't that look grotesque?" Garion said wryly. " 'Bel-garion' running from horizon to horizon across the night sky?"

"You know something, Garion," Zakath said. "I've always believed that someday you and I would go to war with each other. Would you be terribly disappointed if I decided not to show up?"