Free Demon Lord of Karanda by David Eddings

its hands in anguish. "It cannot be so," Cyradis wailed. "Hast thou even applied the sovereign specific?"
    Polgara looked up quickly. "Sovereign specific? A universal remedy? I know of no such agent."
    "But it doth exist, Lady Polgara. I know not its origins nor its composition, but I have felt its gentle power abroad in the world for some years now."
    Polgara looked at Andel, but the healer shook her head helplessly. "I do not know of such a potion, my lady."
    "Think, Cyradis," Polgara said urgently. "Anything you can tell us might give us a clue."
    The blindfolded Seeress touched the fingertips of one hand lightly to her temple. "Its origins are recent," she said, half to herself. "It came into being less than a score of years ago -some obscure flower, or so it seemeth to me."
    "It's hopeless, then," Sadi said. "There are millions of kinds of flowers." He rose and crossed the room to Belgarath. "I think we might want to leave here -almost immediately," he murmured. "At the first suggestion of the word 'poison,' people start looking for the nearest Nyissan -and those associated with him. I think we're in a great deal of danger right now."
    "Can you think of anything else, Cyradis?" Polgara passed. "No matter how remote?"
    The Seeress struggled with it, her face strained as she reached deeper into her strange vision. Her shoulders finally sagged in defeat. "Nothing," she said. "Only a woman's face."
    "'Describe it."
    "She is tall," the Seeress replied. "Her hair is very dark, but her skin is like marble. Her husband is much involved with horses."
    "Adara!" Garion exclaimed, the beautiful face of his cousin suddenly coming before his eyes.
    Polgara snapped her fingers. "And Adara's rose!" Then she frowned. "I examined that flower very closely some years back, Cyradis," she said. "Are you absolutely sure? There are some unusual substances in it, but I didn't find any particular medicinal qualities in any of them -either in any distillation or powder."
    Cyradis concentrated. "Can healing be accomplished by means of a fragrance, Lady Polgara?"
    Polgara's eyes narrowed in thought. "There are some minor remedies that are inhaled," she said doubtfully, "but-"
    "There are poisons that can be administered in that fashion, Lady Polgara," Sadi supplied. "The fumes are drawn into the lungs and from there into the heart. Then the blood carries them to every part of the body. It could very well be the only way to neutralize the effects of thalot."
    Belgarath's expression had grown intent. "Well, Pol?" he asked.
    "It's worth a try, father," she replied. "I've got a few of the flowers. They're dried, but they might work."
    "Any seeds?"
    "A few, yes."
    "Seeds?" Andel exclaimed. "Kal Zakath would be months in his grave before any bush could grow and bloom."
    The old man chuckled slyly. "Not quite," he said, winking at Polgara. "I have quite a way with plants sometimes. I'm going to need some dirt -and some boxes or tubs to put it in."
    Sadi went to the door and spoke briefly with the guards outside. They looked baffled, but a short command from Andel sent them scurrying.
    "What is the origin of this strange flower, Lady Polgara?" Cyradis asked curiously, "How is it that thou art so well acquainted with it?"
    "Garion made it." Polgara shrugged, looking thoughtfully at Zakath's narrow cot. "I think we'll want the bed out from the wall, father," she said. "I want it surrounded by flowers."
    "Made?" the Seeress exclaimed.
    Polgara nodded. "Created, actually," she said absently. "Do you think it's warm enough in here, father? We're going to want big, healthy blooms, and even at best the flower's a bit puny."
    "I did my best," Garion protested.
    "Created?" Cyradis' voice was awed. Then she bowed to Garion with profound respect.
    When the tubs of half-frozen dirt had been placed about the stricken Emperor's bed, smoothed, and dampened with water, Polgara took a small leather pouch from her canvas sack, removed a pinch of minuscule seeds, and carefully