The party leaves the caves. Belgarath is still unconcious. Silk tricks the Murgos into letting them pass. Durnik makes Errand a leather pouch to carry the Orb in. The Grolims attack, trying to kill Errand. Polgara draws a protective circle around herself and Errand and tells Garion that he has to protect the party.

Garion leads the party towards their destination. The Grolims attempt to attack Polgara and errand but he stops them. While he is talking to Durnik about not being afraid of who you are Durnik is attacked by the Heirarchs. Garion puts himself into his shadow and flies back to where the Heirarchs are. He attacks them and destroys the jewel they are using to focus their attacks. Belgarath wakes up.

With Murgos on their trail the party head down the ravine. The Murgos start to roll rocks on them but Garion and Belgarath deflect them. When they reach the bottom Durnik suggests lighting a fire so that the ravine will act as a chimney.

The party ford the Algar river but then their horses collapse. The situation looks hopeless bit suddenly the Algars appear and decimate the Murgos. Belgarath begins to tell Cho-Hag what happened but suddenly collapses, on the point of death never having recovered from his fight with Ctuchik. Polgara treats him and the party sets off for the Algar Stronghold

The party reach the Stronghold. Polgara tells Garion there is a possibility that Belgarath may never recover his power. The Bear Cult tries to get the Orb. Garion meets his cousin, Adara.

Belgarath continues to recover. Garion and Adara go riding, and Garion creates a flower for Adara who is upset because she wanted Garion to make someone fall in love with her.

Back at Prolgu Ce'Nedra is anxiously awaiting the return of her companions. When they arrive she is horrified to see Garion with another girl and storms out. Polgara tells her this girl is Garion's cousin and Ce'Nedra finally admits to herself that she loves him. She tries to refuse to go to Riva but Errand distracts her and eventually she agrees.

The party travels to Sendaria. Polgara, Durnik, Garion and Ce'Nedra visit Faldor's Farm where Garion tricks Zubrette into rejecting him. They arrive at Fulrach's palace. Queen Layla has a crying fit about going to sea but Polgara forces her aboard the ship.

Garion and his companions arrive in Riva. Lelldorin tells Garion how he managed to wreak havoc across Arendia. Barak meets his new son.

Erastide arrives and Garion's true identity is revealed - he is Belgarion, King of Riva, a revelation which horrifies Ce'Nedra.

Garion finds out that he is supposed to marry Ce'Nedra. Silk, Lelldorin and Garion go down to explore the city incognito. Garion is crowned King of Riva.

While walking throught the palace a strnager tries to assasinate Garion. He tells Lelldorin but no-one else. Garion talks to Brand about his discomfort at usurping the warder's position but Brand tells him not to worry about it. Polgara shows him his parents and Poledra and Beldaran come to see him

Sadi arrives as Salmissra's emissary. Ce'Nedra presents herself to Garion who, in a break with tradition, decrees that they shall rule jointly. He gives Ce'Nedra Beldaran's amulet which, once put on, cannot be removed.

Garion goes to see Polgara and realises that everyone likes to come to her with their problems. Queen Islena comes and gives Polgara some disturbing news about the bear cult's attempts to expand.

Garion discovers that it was Brand's son Olban who tried to kill him. He is haunted by the image of getting millions of people killed in a war with the Angaraks. The dry voice tells him that the only battle that will matter is between Garion and Torak. Garion decides to slip away with only Belgarath and Silk to avoid unnecessary deaths.

Belgarath, Silk and Garion sneak away under cover of night. They travel across Sendaria and arrive at the fens in Drasnia, much to Silk's disgust.

Garion Silk and Belgarath are trapped in the fens by Vordai the witch. She refuses to let them leave unless Belgarath gives the fenlings, whom she has adopted as her children, the power of speech so that man will not hunt them.

Belgarath agrees to do what Vordai asks. Garion tells her he may have lost his power and this could kill him, but it is too late to stop him. The fenlings are given the ability to speak. Garion asks why Belgarath did as Vordai asked when they could have used their power to escape despite her and Belgarath reveals his compassionate side. They arrive in Boktor.

Garion and his companions go to visit Porenn who tells them Polgara is searching for them. Belgarath convinces her to let them pass. Silk learns that his mother is at the palace and goes to visit her, despite the fact that it is a painful experience for him. They leave Boktor and head for Gar og Nadrak.

Garion begins to feel very afraid about his meeting withTorak. To distract him Belgarath tells about how he met Poledra. Garion and Belgarath turn into wolves. While in wolf form Garion meets his grandmother, who reassures him.

Meanwhile in Rive Ce'Nedra and Polgara rage over the sneaky departure of Garion, Silk and Belgarath. Layla explains to Ce'Nedra what Garion has to do. Ce'Nedra discovers the powers of Beldaran's amulet and tells the Alorn kings she wishes to assume control in Garion's place in accordance with the power he vested in her.

Ce'Nedra has some armour made. The Alorn kings accept her as a figurehead. Polgara is made aware of Ce'Nedra's plan to lead the army.

Ce'Nedra explains to Polgara that she needs to lead the army because a committee cannot inspire the people. Polgara tells the Queens not to do anything extravagent while their husbands are away. Ce'Nedra overhears the kings talking and learns that Taur Urgas mobilised his forces months ago and the armies of the West are about to enter into a war where they are vastly outnumbered and have lost the advantage of time.

Ce'Nedra and the Alorns arrive in Arendia. Ce'Nedra discovers that she has to speak to the crowds to raise an army and cries in panic that she can't. She does however, and eloquently, inspiring the listening Asturians to join the army

Polgara tells Ce'Nedra she is going to have to speak publicly for several months. The army moves across Arendia, with Ce;Nedra inspiring more and more people to join, even serfs by offering them food. Ce'Nedra overhears Polgara talking to Belgarath. A Murgo tries to shoot the princess but Olban kills him. As the army reaches Tolnedra Ce'Nedra tells people to collest Angarak gold for her speech to the legions.