“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 dryly 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,” «he 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.”
“Belgarath, that’s pure gibberish.”
“I didn’t come up with the name, so don’t blame me,”
“Why didn’t you say something back at Mat Zeth? I have a copy of the Gospels in my library.”
“In the first place, I didn’t know about it when I was at Mal Zeth. I only found out recently. In the second place, your copy wouldn’t have done me any good. They’re all different, I’m told, and the only one that contains the passage I need is at Kell.”
“It all sounds very complicated.”
“It is. These things usually are.”
Zakath went to the door of the tent and spoke briefly with one of the guards posted there. Then he came back. “I’ve sent for Atesca and Brador,” he said. He smiled a bit ruefully. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they objected rather violently to this whole thing.”
“Don’t give them time to object,” Garion advised.
“They’re both Melcenes, Garion,” Zakath pointed out. “Melcenes object to things out of habit.” He frowned. “Speaking of that, why did you go to Melcena? Wasn’t it a bit out of your way?”
“We were following Zandramas,” Garion replied.
“Why did she go there?”
“She had to pick up your cousin, Archduke Otrath.”
“That silly ass? What for?”
“She took him to Hemil and crowned him Emperor of Mallorea.”
“She did what?!” Zakath’s eyes bulged.
“She needs an Angarak king with her when she gets to the Place Which Is No More. As I understand it, the coronation ceremony had a certain validity.”
“Not after I get my hands on Otrath, it won’t!” Zakath’s face was scarlet with anger.
**There was another reason for our going to Melcena— although we didn’t know it at the time,” Belgarath said. “There was an unmutilated copy of the Ashabine Oracles there. I had to read that in order to find out that our next Step is the trip to Kell. I’m following a trail that was laid down for me thousands of years ago.” ‘. Atesca and Brador entered. “You sent for us, your Majesty?” Atesca said with a crisp salute.
“Yes,” Zakath replied. He looked at the two of them speculatively. “Please listen carefully,” he instructed, “and try not to argue with me.” Oddly he said it not so much in the tone of imperial command, but rather as a man appealing to two old friends. “There’s been a change of plans,” ^Ss went on. “Certain information has come into my pos-session, and it’s absolutely imperative that we not interfere with Belgarion and his friends. Their mission is vital to the security of Mallorea.”
Brador’s eyes came alight with curiosity. “Shouldn’t I perhaps be briefed on this matter, your Imperial Majesty?” he asked. “State security is my responsibility, after all.”
“Ah—no, Brador,” Zakath said regretfully, “I’m afraid not. It might require too great an adjustment in your thinking. You’re not ready for that. As a matter of fact, I’m not f sure I am, either. At any rate, Belgarion and these others absolutely must go to Dalasia.” He paused. “Oh, one other thing,” he added. “I’ll be going with them.”
Atesca stared incredulously at his Emperor. Then, with some effort, he got himself under control. “I’ll notify the commander of the Imperial Guard, your Majesty,” he said stiffly. “They’ll be ready to leave within the hour.”
“Don’t bother,” Zakath told him. “They won’t be going with us. I’ll be going with Belgarion alone.”
“Alone?” Atesca exclaimed. “Your Majesty, that’s unheard of.”
Zakath smiled wanly. “You see,” he said to Garion. “What did I tell you?”
“General,” Belgarath said to Atesca, “Kal Zakath is simply following orders. I’m sure you can understand that. He was told not to bring any troops along. Troops wouldn’t do him any good where we’re going anyway.”
“Orders?” Atesca said in amazement. “Who has the authority to give his Majesty orders?”
“It’s a long story, Atesca,” the old man told him, “and we’re pressed for time.”
“Ah—your Imperial Majesty,” Brador said diffidently, “if you’re going to Dalasia, that means you’ll have to cross the whole of Darshiva. Might I remind you that Darshiva is hostile territory at the moment? Is it wise to risk the imperial person under such circumstances? Might not an escort at least as far as the border be prudent?”
Zakath looked at Belgarath.
The old man shook his head. “Let’s just do it the way we were told to,” he said.
“Sorry, Brador,” Zakath said. “We can’t take an escort with us. I think I’ll need some armor, though, and a sword.”
“Your Majesty has not held a sword for years,” Atesca objected.
“Belgarion can give me some instruction.” Zakath shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll pick it up again. Now then, Urvon’s going to cross the Magan. I have it on very good authority that there won’t be very much we can do to stop him. I imagine that the Darshivan Army won’t be very far behind him, and they have elephant cavalry with them. I want you to keep all those people off my back. Delay Urvon long enough for the Darshivans to catch up with him. After that, they can annihilate each other, for all I care. Once those two armies are fully engaged, pull back your forces. Don’t get any more of my soldiers killed than you absolutely have to.”