‘Actually, I’m not the one who did it. Margravine Liselle killed him.’
Zakath looked with one raised eyebrow at the dimpled Velvet.
‘His Majesty is perhaps overgenerous,’ she murmured with a little curtsy. ‘I had some help.’
‘Help? From whom?’
‘Zith, actually. Mengha was very surprised.’
‘Will someone please tell me what happened without all this clever repartee?’
‘It was really fairly simple, your Majesty,’ Silk said smoothly. ‘We were having a little disagreement with the Chandim and some others in Torak’s old throne room at Ashaba. Mengha was shouting orders to his men, and Liselle pulled Zith out of her bodice and threw the little green darling right into his face. Zith nipped him a few times, he stiffened up like a plank, and he was dead before he hit the floor.’
‘You don’t actually carry that snake down the front of your dress, do you?’ Zakath asked Velvet incredulously. ‘How can you?’
‘It took a bit of getting used to,’ she admitted, placing one modest hand on her bodice.
‘It didn’t really happen that way, did it?’
‘Prince Kheldar’s description of what took place was fairly accurate, your Imperial Majesty,’ Sadi assured him. ‘Zith was very put out. I think she was asleep when the Margravine threw her at Mengha, and being awakened suddenly always makes her cross.’
‘As it turns out, Zakath,’ Belgarath said, ‘Mengha was really one of the Chandim and Urvon’s chief underling.’
‘Yes, so Atesca told me. That puts Urvon behind what was going on in Karanda, doesn’t it?’
‘Only marginally,’ Belgarath replied. ‘Urvon isn’t sane enough to be behind much of anything. He’s completely under the domination of a Demon Lord named Nahaz, and consorting with demons usually unhinges a man’s mind. Urvon’s totally convinced that he’s a God now.’
‘If he’s that mad, who’s running his campaign here? Atesca said that his outflanking of the Darshivan army and their elephant cavalry was a stroke of tactical genius.’
‘It’s my guess that Nahaz is more or less in command, and Demon Lords pay very little attention to casualties. They also have ways of making people run very fast.’
‘I’ve never gone to war with a Demon Lord before,’ Zakath mused. ‘What’s his objective?’
‘The Sardion,’ Garion replied. ‘Everybody wants to get his hands on it—me included.’
‘To raise a New God over Angarak?’
‘That’s its purpose, I suppose.’
‘I don’t think I’d like that. You liberated us from Torak, and I don’t propose to see his replacement enthroned at either Mal Zeth or Mal Yaska. Angarak doesn’t need a God. It has me. Who’s your candidate?’
‘I don’t know yet. They haven’t told me.’
‘What am I going to do with you, Belgarion?’ Zakath sighed.
‘You’re going to let us go so we can do what we’re supposed to do. You might not like the idea of a New God, but I think you’ll find my choice a lot preferable to anything Zandramas or Urvon or Agachak might come up with.’
‘Agachak?’
‘The Hierarch of Rak Urga. He’s here in Mallorea as well.’
‘I’ll deal with him, too, then. That still leaves you, I’m afraid.’
‘I just told you what to do about me.’
A faint smile touched Zakath’s lips. ‘I don’t think I really like your proposal. You’re a little undependable.’
‘What’s your goal in all this?’ Belgarath asked him.
‘I’m going to restore order in Mallorea, even if I have to depopulate whole districts to do it. Since this Sardion is the thing that’s got everyone so agitated, I’d guess that my best course would be to find it and destroy it.’
‘Good,’ Garion said, rising to his feet. ‘Let’s go, then.’
‘Oh, no, your Majesty.’ Zakath’s tone was once again coldly imperial. ‘I don’t trust you any more. I made that mistake once already. I can eliminate at least one of the people trying to reach the Sardion by sending you and your friends back to Mal Zeth under heavy guard. Then I can concentrate on looking for the Sardion myself.’
‘Where do you plan to start looking?’ Garion asked him bluntly. The conversation, he decided, had moved around to the point where the goading Belgarath had suggested seemed to be in order. ‘You don’t even know what you’re looking for and you haven’t got the faintest idea of where to start. You’re just floundering around.’
‘I don’t think I care for that, Belgarion.’
‘That’s too bad. The truth is sometimes painful, isn’t it?’
‘And I suppose you do know where it is?’
‘I can find out.’
‘If you can, so can I, and I’m sure you’ll give me a few clues.’
‘Not a chance.’
‘You’ll grow more cooperative once I put a few of your friends on the rack. I’ll even let you watch.’
‘You’d better hire an expendable torturer, then. Haven’t you realized yet just what I’m capable of? And all this time I thought you were intelligent.’
‘I think that’s quite enough, Belgarion,’ Zakath snapped. ‘Make ready. You’re leaving for Mal Zeth; and to make sure you behave yourself, I’m going to separate all of you people. That should give me plenty of hostages in the event you decide to do something rash. I think that covers everything. This conversation is concluded.’
Belgarath covered his mouth with one hand and coughed. Toth nodded and lowered his head.
Zakath stepped back in startled amazement as a shimmering apparition suddenly appeared directly in front of him. He glared at Garion. ‘Is this some kind of trick?’ he demanded.
‘No tricks, Zakath,’ Garion replied. ‘She has some things to tell you. I suggest that you listen.’
‘Wilt thou hear my words, Zakath?’ the glowing form of the blindfolded Seeress of Kell asked him.
Zakath’s face was still taut with suspicion. ‘What is it, Cyradis?’ he asked bluntly.
‘My time with thee must needs be short, Emperor of Mallorea. I spoke to thee once concerning a crossroad in thy life. Thou hast reached that point now. Put aside thine imperious manner and submit willingly to the task which I must lay upon thee. Thou hast spoken here of hostages.’
He drew himself up. ‘A custom, Cyradis,’ he told her. ‘It’s a simple means of insuring good behavior.’
‘Dost thou indeed feel so feeble that thou must threaten the innocent to impose thy will upon others?’ Her tone was lightly touched with scorn.
‘Feeble? Me?’
‘Why else wouldst thou choose so cowardly a course? But hear me well, Kal Zakath, for thy life hangs in the balance. In the instant that thou dost raise thy hand against the Child of Light or any of his companions, thy heart shall burst, and thou shalt die between two breaths.’
‘So be it then. I rule in Mallorea, and to change or falter because of any threat—even yours—is to become as nothing in my own eyes, and I will not do that.’
‘Then shalt thou surely die, and in thy death shall thy mighty empire crumble into dust.’ She said it with a dreadful finality.
He stared at her, his pale face growing even more livid.
‘Thou wilt not hear my warnings, Emperor of Mallorea, so I will make thee an offer instead. If thou dost require a hostage, I will be thy hostage. The Child of Light doth know that should I depart from this life ere my task is complete, his quest will surely fail. What better restraint canst thou place upon him?’
‘I will not threaten you, Holy Seeress,’ he said, sounding a bit less sure of himself.
‘And why not, mighty Zakath?’
‘It would not be appropriate,’ he said shortly. ‘Was that all you had to say to me? I have certain duties to attend to.’
‘They are of no moment. Thine only true duties are to me and to the task which I shall lay upon thee. The completion of that task is the purpose of thy life. It was for that and for
that only that thou wast born. Shouldst thou refuse it, thou wilt not live to see another winter.’
‘That’s the second time you’ve threatened my life since you arrived, Cyradis. Do you hate me so much?’
‘I do not hate thee, Zakath, and I made no threats. I merely revealed unto thee that which fate has in store for thee. Wilt thou accept thy task?’
‘Not until I know a little more about it.’
‘Very well, then. I will reveal unto thee the first part of thy task. Thou must come to me at Kell, where I shall submit to thee. I shall be thy hostage, but thou art also surely mine. Come thou then to Kell with the Child of Light and his other chosen companions; for, as hath been foretold since the beginning of days, thou art of their company.’
‘But—’
She held up one slim hand. ‘Leave behind thee thy retinue and thine army and thy symbols of power. They will be of no use to thee.’ She paused. ‘Or art thou fearful, O mighty Zakath, to go about in thy vast realm without thy soldiers clustered about thee to compel the stubborn knee to bend and to coerce the rebellious to submit to thy will?’
Zakath flushed angrily. ‘I fear nothing, Holy Seeress,’ he replied in a cold voice, ‘not even death.’
‘Death is a small thing, Kal Zakath. Methinks it is life which thou dost fear. As I have said, thou art my hostage, and I command thee to come to me at Kell and there to take up thy burden.’
The Emperor of Mallorea began to tremble. Garion knew this man and he knew that Zakath would normally reject Cyradis’ imperious command instantly, but he appeared seized by some overpowering compulsion. His trembling grew more violent, and his pale face broke out in a sweat.
Cyradis, despite her blindfolded eyes, seemed to be aware of the turmoil which had seized her ‘hostage’. ‘Thy choice is well made, Kal Zakath,’ she declared. ‘Thou wilt submit to me willingly—or with reluctance—but thou must submit, for it is thy destiny.’ She drew herself up. ‘Speak now, Emperor of Mallorea, for thy fate requires thine acceptance of it. Wilt thou come to me at Kell?’
He seemed to choke on it. ‘I will come,’ he croaked.
‘So be it then. Take thy foreordained place at Belgarion’s side and come to the Holy City. There shall I instruct thee further in thy task and tell thee why it is not merely thy life which doth hinge upon it, but the life of all this world.’ She turned slightly so that her blindfolded eyes seemed to be looking at Garion. ‘Bring him to me, Child of Light,’ she told him, ‘for all of this is a part of what must come to pass ’ere the final meeting.’
She stretched out her hand to Toth in a gesture of longing.
And then she vanished.
‘And now we are twelve,’ Sadi murmured.
The most recent recruit to their company, however, stood ashen-faced in the center of the tent, and Garion was astonished to see unshed tears standing in the eyes of the Emperor of Mallorea.
Chapter Eighteen
‘The Empty One,’ Eriond said with a slight note of satisfaction in his voice. ‘It’s almost complete now.’
‘I don’t quite follow you,’ Sadi confessed.
‘Cyradis came to us at Rheon,’ the young man explained. ‘She told us who would come with us to the Place Which Is No More. I’ve been wondering who the Empty One would be. Now I know.’
‘And how did she describe me?’ the eunuch asked.
‘Are you really sure you want to know?’
‘I have a certain curiosity about it, yes.’
‘She called you the Man Who Is No Man.’
Sadi winced. ‘That’s direct enough, isn’t it?’
‘You did ask.’
Sadi sighed. ‘It’s all right, Eriond,’ he said. ‘The procedure took place when I was a baby, so I’ve never known what it might be like to be different. Actually, I find all this interest in that particular function slightly amusing. Mine is a much less complicated way of life.’
‘Why did they do it to you?’
Sadi shrugged, rubbing his hand over his shaved scalp. ‘My mother was poor,’ he replied. ‘It was the only gift she could give me.’
‘Gift?’
‘It gave me the chance for employment in Queen Salmissra’s palace. Otherwise, I’d have probably been a street beggar like the rest of my family.’
‘Are you all right?’ Garion asked the ashen-faced Zakath.
‘Just leave me alone, Garion,’ Zakath muttered.
‘Why don’t you let me deal with it, dear?’ Polgara suggested to Garion. ‘This is very difficult for him.’
‘I can understand that. It didn’t come too easily for me, either.’
‘And we broke it to you gently. Cyradis didn’t have time to be gentle. I’ll talk with him.’
‘All right, Aunt Pol.’ Garion walked away and left her alone with the shaken Zakath. This particular turn of events gave him some misgivings. Although he liked the Mallorean Emperor personally, he could foresee any number of difficulties arising from the inclusion of this man in their party. Quite often in the past, their very survival had depended entirely upon the absolute oneness of purpose of every member of the group, and Zakath’s motives were never really clear.
‘Garion,’ the voice in his mind said wearily, ‘don’t tamper with things you don’t understand. Zakath has to go with you, so you might as well get used to the idea.’
‘But—’
‘No buts. Just do it.’
Garion muttered a few oaths under his breath.
‘And don’t swear at me, either.’
‘This is an absurdity!’ Zakath burst out, slumping into a chair.
‘No,’ Polgara disagreed. ‘You just have to get used to looking at the world in a different way, that’s all. For most people, that’s not necessary. You’re a member of a very select group now, and different rules apply.’
‘Rules have never applied to me, Lady Polgara. I make my own rules.’
‘Not any more.’
‘Why me?’ Zakath demanded.
‘That’s always the first question they ask,’ Belgarath said drily to Silk.
‘Has anybody ever answered it?’
‘Not to my knowledge, no.’
‘We can instruct you as we go along,’ Polgara assured Zakath. ‘The only important thing right now is whether or not you intend to honor your commitment to Cyradis.’
‘Of course I do. I gave my word. I don’t like it, but I don’t have any choice. How can she possibly manipulate me the way she does?’
‘She has very strange powers.’
‘She does it by sorcery, you mean?’
‘No. By truth.’
‘Did you understand any of that gibberish she was speaking?’
‘Some of it, but certainly not all. I told you that we look at the world in a different way. The seers look at it in yet another. No one who does not share their vision can fully understand it.’
Zakath stared at the floor. ‘I suddenly feel very helpless,’ he admitted, ‘and I don’t like the feeling. I’ve been rather effectively dethroned, you know. This morning I was the emperor of the largest nation on earth; this afternoon, I’m going to be a vagabond.’
‘You might find it refreshing,’ Silk told him lightly.
‘Shut up, Kheldar,’ Zakath said almost absently. He looked back at Polgara. ‘You know something rather peculiar?’
‘What’s that?’
‘Even if I hadn’t given my word, I’d still have to go to Kell. It’s almost like a compulsion. I feel as if I’m being driven, and my driver is a blindfolded girl who’s hardly more than a child.’
‘There are rewards,’ she told him.
‘Such as what?’
‘Who knows? Happiness, perhaps.’
He laughed ironically. ‘Happiness has never been a driving ambition of mine, Lady Polgara, not for a long time now.’
‘You may have to accept it anyway.’ She smiled. ‘We aren’t allowed to choose our rewards any more than we are our tasks. Those decisions are made for us.??
?
‘Are you happy?’
‘Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I am.’
He sighed.
‘And why so great a sigh, Kal Zakath?’
He held up his thumb and forefinger spread an inch or so apart. ‘I was that close to becoming the master of the entire world.’
‘Why would you want to be?’
He shrugged. ‘No one’s ever done it before, and power has its satisfactions.’
‘You’ll find other satisfactions, I’m sure,’ she smiled, laying one hand on his shoulder.
‘It’s settled?’ Belgarath asked the Mallorean.
‘Nothing is ever really settled, Belgarath,’ Zakath replied. ‘Not until we’re in our graves; but yes, I’ll go to Kell with you.’
‘Why don’t you send for Atesca, then? You’ll need to tell him where you’re going, so he can at least cover our rear. I don’t like having people sneak up behind me. Has Urvon made it across the Magan as yet?’
‘That’s very hard to say. Have you looked outside today, Belgarath?’
‘The tent door is guarded, and Atesca’s soldiers don’t encourage sight-seeing.’
‘The fog’s so thick you could walk on it. Urvon could be anyplace out there.’
Polgara rose and quickly crossed to the tent flap. She opened it, and one of the guards outside said something to her sharply.
‘Oh, don’t be silly,’ she told him. Then she took several deep breaths and closed the flap. ‘It’s not natural, father,’ she said soberly. ‘It doesn’t smell right.’
‘Grolims?’
‘I think so, yes. Probably Chandim trying to conceal Urvon’s forces from Atesca’s patrol boats. They should be able to cross the Magan without much difficulty.’
‘Once they get across, the trip to Kell might just turn into a horse race.’
‘I’ll talk to Atesca,’ Zakath said. ‘He might be able to delay them a bit.’ He looked speculatively at the old man. ‘I know why I’m going to Kell,’ he said, ‘but why are you?’
‘I have to read the Mallorean Gospels to find out what our ultimate destination is.’
‘You mean you don’t know?’
‘Not yet, no. I know what it’s called, though. They keep calling it the Place Which Is No More.’