‘The choice hath not yet been made,’ she said simply. ‘It may not be made until I stand in the presence of the Child of Light and the Child of Dark. Until that moment, the outcome doth still hang in the balance.’
‘What good is it being a Seeress if you can’t predict the future?’
‘This particular Event is not susceptible to prediction, Kheldar,’ she said tartly.
‘I think we’d all better get some sleep,’ Belgarath said. ‘The next couple of days are going to be hectic.’
The she-wolf followed Garion and Ce’Nedra to their room and entered with them. Ce’Nedra looked a bit startled at that, but the wolf went directly to the bed and put her forepaws up on it to look critically at the puppy, who lay sleeping on his back with all four of his paws in the air.
The wolf gave Garion a slightly reproachful look. ‘One notes that he has grown fat,’ she said. ‘Your mate has ruined him with overfeeding and pampering. He is no longer fit to be a wolf. He no longer even smells like a wolf.’
‘One’s mate bathes him from time to time,’ Garion explained.
‘Bathes,’ the wolf said in a tone loaded with contempt. ‘A wolf should be bathed only by the rain or in the course of swimming across a river.’ She dropped to her haunches. ‘One would ask a favor of your mate.’
‘One will convey your request to her.’
‘One had hoped you might. Ask your mate if she will continue to care for the young one. One believes you need not add that she has spoiled him so badly that he is unfit to be anything but a lap dog.’
‘One will phrase your request cautiously.’
‘What’s she saying?’ Ce’Nedra asked.
‘She wants to know if you’d be willing to take care of the puppy.’
‘Of course I will. I’ve wanted to do that all along.’ Then she knelt and impulsively put her arms about the she-wolf’s neck. ‘I will care for him,’ she promised.
‘One notes that her scent is not unpleasant,’ the wolf said to Garion.
‘One has also noticed that.’
‘One was fairly certain that you had.’ Then the wolf rose to her feet and silently left the room.
‘She’s going to leave us now, isn’t she?’ Ce’Nedra said wistfully. ‘I’m going to miss her.’
‘What makes you think that?’
‘Why else would she give up her baby?’
‘I think there’s a bit more to it than that. She’s preparing for something.’
‘I’m very tired, Garion. Let’s go to bed.’
Later, in the velvet darkness as they lay close together in the bed, Ce’Nedra sighed. ‘Two more days and I’ll see my baby again. It’s been so very, very long.’
‘Try not to dwell on it, Ce’Nedra. You need your rest, and thinking too much about it will keep you awake.’
She sighed again, and after a few moments, she drifted off to sleep.
‘Cyradis is not the only one who has to make a choice,’ the voice in his mind told him. ‘You and Zandramas also have choices to make.’
‘What choices are those?’
‘You have to choose your successors. Zandramas has already chosen hers. You should be giving some thought to your last task as the Child of Light. It’s going to be fairly significant.’
‘I suppose that in a way, I’ll sort of miss having that to carry around, but I’ll be glad to get rid of it. Now I’ll be able to go back to being ordinary again.’
‘You never were ordinary, you know. You’ve been the Child of Light since the moment you were born.’
‘I know I’m going to miss you.’
‘Please don’t get sentimental, Garion. I may stop by from time to time, just to see how you’re doing. Now get some sleep.’
When he awoke the next morning, Garion lay in bed for quite some time. He had tried for very long not to think about something, but now he had no choice but to face it squarely. He had every reason in the world to hate Zandramas, but …
Finally, he slipped out of bed, dressed himself and went looking for Belgarath.
He found the old man in the central room, seated with Cyradis. ‘Grandfather,’ he said, ‘I’ve got a problem.’
‘There’s nothing unusual about that. What’s got you worked up this time?’
‘Tomorrow, I’m going to meet Zandramas.’
‘Why, do you know? I think you’re right.’
‘Please don’t do that. This is serious.’
‘Sorry, Garion. I’m feeling whimsical today.’
‘I’m afraid that the only way we’re going to be able to stop her is to kill her, and I ‘m not sure I’ll be able to do that. Torak was one thing, but Zandramas is a woman.’
‘Well, she was. I think her gender has become irrelevant now, though – even to herself.’
‘I still don’t think I’ll be able to do it.’
‘There will be no need, Belgarion,’ Cyradis assured him. ‘Another fate doth lie in store for Zandramas, no matter what my choice may be. Thou wilt not be required to shed her blood.’
A vast wave of relief came over Garion. ‘Thank you, Holy Seeress,’ he said. ‘I’ve been afraid to face up to that. It’s good to know that it’s not one of the tasks I’ve got ahead of me. Oh, by the way, Grandfather, my friend up here—’ He tapped his forehead. ‘– has been visiting again. Last night he told me that my final task will be to choose my successor. I don’t suppose I could get you to help me, could I?’
‘No Garion, I’m afraid not. I don’t think I’m supposed to, am I, Cyradis?’
‘Nay, Ancient Belgarath. That task lieth on the Child of Light alone.’
‘I was afraid you might look at it that way,’ Garion said glumly.
‘Oh, one thing, Garion,’ Belgarath said. ‘The one you choose has a fair chance of becoming a God. Don’t choose me. I’m not suited for the job.’
The others drifted in singly or in pairs. As each one entered, Garion considered their faces, trying to picture each of his friends as a divinity. Aunt Pol? No, that didn’t seem right somehow, and that automatically excluded Durnik. He could not deprive her of her husband. Silk? That idea very nearly caused Garion to collapse in helpless laughter. Zakath? It had some possibilities. Zakath was an Angarak, and the new God would be the God of that race. Zakath was a bit unpredictable, however. Until recently, he had been obsessed with power. A sudden onset of Godhood might unsettle his mind and make him revert. Garion sighed. He’d have to think about it some more.