"And thou, Sir Knight, hath seen Vo Mimbre?" the baron asked in wonder. "I would give all that I own or ever will to behold that fabled city. What is it truly like?"

"Large, my Lord," Garion said, "and its golden stones do flash back the light of the sun as if to shame the heavens by its magnificence."

The baron's eyes filled with tears. "Blessed am I, Sir Knight," he said in a voice choked with emotion. "This unexpected encounter with a knight of noble purpose and passing fair eloquence hath been the crown of my life, for the memory of Vo Mimbre, echoing down through the endless progression of years, hath sustained those of us in lonely exile here, though its echoes grow more remote with each passing season e'en as dearly loved faces of those gone before us are remembered only in a dream that fades and dies as cruel eld creepeth upon us."

"My Lord," Zakath said a bit haltingly, "thy speech hath touched my heart. If I have power and I do I will convey thee at some future date even unto Vo Mimbre and present thee before the throne in the palace there, that we may reunite thee with thy kindred."

"You see," Garion murmured to his friend, "it gets to be habit-forming."

The baron wiped his eyes unashamed. "I note this hound of thine, Sir Knight," he said to Garion to ease them past an embarrassing moment, "a bitch, I perceive "

"Steady," Garion said firmly to the she-wolf.

"That is a very offensive term," she growled.

"He didn't invent it. It's not his fault."

"She is of a lean and lithesome configuration," the baron continued, "and her golden eyes do bespeak intelligence far beyond that of the poor mongrels that do infest this kingdom. Canst thou perhaps, Sir Knight, identify her breed?"

"She is a wolf, my Lord," Garion told him.

"A wolf! " the baron exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "We must flee ere the fearsome beast fall upon us and devour us."

It was a bit ostentatious, but sometimes things like that impress people. Garion reached down and scratched the wolf's ears.

"Thou art brave beyond belief, Sir Knight," the baron said almost in wonder.

"She is my friend, my Lord," Garion replied. "We are linked by ties beyond thine imagining."

"One advises that you stop that," the wolf told him, "unless you have a paw to spare."

"You wouldn't!" he exclaimed, snatching his hand back.

"But you're not entirely sure, are you?" She bared her teeth almost in a grin.

"Thou speakest the language of beasts?" The baron gasped.

"Of a few, my Lord," Garion said. "They each have their own, thou knowest. I have not yet mastered the speech of the serpent. I think it has to do with the shape of my tongue."