The Seeress of Kell

Queen of Riva. "I’ve been waiting for you."
    Something deep in Ce'Nedra's mind tried to scream at her that this was wrong—that the tall Rivan girl could not possibly be here. But Ce'Nedra could not remember why, and the moment passed. "Good morning, Arell," she said to her dear friend. "What on earth are you doing here?"
    "I came to help you, Ce'Nedra. Look at what I’ve found." She turned back the comer of the blanket to reveal a tiny face.
    "My baby!" Ce'Nedra exclaimed, almost overcome with joy. She ran forward, her arms extended hungrily, and took the sleeping infant from her friend and held him to her body, her cheek pressed against his soft curls. "How did you possibly find him?" she asked Arell. "We’ve been looking for him for the longest time now."
    "I was traveling alone through this forest," Arell replied, "and I thought I smelled the smoke of a campfire. I went to investigate and I found a tent set up beside a little stream. I looked inside the tent, and there was Prince Geran. There was no one else around, so I picked him up and came looking for you."
    Ce'Nedra's mind was still trying to scream at her, but she was too deliriously happy to pay any attention. She held her baby, rocking back and forth and crooning to him.
    "Where is King Belgarion?" Arell asked.
    "Back there someplace." Ce'Nedra gestured vaguely.
    "You should go to him and let him know that his son is safe."
    "Yes. He'll be very happy."
    "I have something that I really have to attend to, Ce'Nedra," Arell said. "Do you think you'll be able to find your way back alone?"
    "Oh, I'm sure I could, but couldn't you come along? His Majesty is sure to want to reward you for restoring our son to us."
    Arell smiled. "The happiness on your face is all the reward I need, and this matter I must take care of is extremely important. I may be able to join you later, however. Which way will you be traveling?''
    "South, I think," Ce'Nedra replied. "We have to get to the seacoast."
    "Oh?"
    "Yes. We're going to an island—Perivor, I think the name is."
    "There's supposed to be a meeting of some kind very soon, isn't there? Is Perivor the place where it's going to happen?"
    "Oh, no." Ce'Nedra laughed, still cuddling her baby. "We're just going to Perivor to get some more information about it. We'll be going on from there."
    '' I may not be able to join you at Perivor,'' Arell said, frowning slightly. "Perhaps you could tell me where the meeting's supposed to take place. I'm sure I'll be able to meet you there."
    "Let me see," Ce'Nedra pondered. "What did they call it? Oh, now I remember. It's someplace that's called Korim."
    "Korim?" Arell exclaimed in astonishment.
    "Yes. Belgarath seemed dreadfully upset when he first found out about it, but Cyradis told him that everything would be all right. That's why we have to go to Perivor. Cyradis says that there's something there that will make everything clear. It seems to me that she said something about a chart or something.'' She laughed a bit giddily. "To be honest with you, Arell, I’ve been so sleepy for the last few days that I can barely keep track of what the people around me are saying."
    "Of course," Arell said absently, her face creased in thought. "Why would Perivor be the key?'' she mused to herself.' 'What could possibly be there to explain an absurdity? Are you absolutely certain the word was Korim? Perhaps you misunderstood."
    "That was the way I heard it, Arell. I didn't read it for myself, but Belgarath and Beldin kept talking about 'the High Places of Korim, Which Are No More,' and isn't the meeting supposed to be at the Place Which Is No More? I mean, it does sort of fit together, doesn't it?"
    "Yes," Arell replied, frowning strangely. "Now that I think about it, it does." Then she straightened, smoothing her gown. "I'll have to leave you now, Ce'Nedra," she said. "Take your baby back to your husband. Give him my regards." Her eyes seemed to glint in the sunlight. "Give my best to Polgara, as well," she added. There seemed to be something slightly malicious in the way she said it. She turned then and walked away, crossing the flowery meadow toward the dark edge of the forest.
    "Good-bye, Arell," Ce'Nedra called after her, "and thank you so much for finding my baby."
    Arell neither turned nor answered.
    Garion was frantic. When he first discovered that his wife was missing, he leaped into his saddle and rode Chretienne off into the forest at a gallop. He had gone three hundred yards before