"That was damn stupid, Pol," I said, still incredulous over the tale my daughter had just relayed to me.

 "I..I couldn't help myself, Father," replied Polgara, sitting hunched over on the edge of Garion's bed, face buried in her hands.

 "Can you find her, Grandfather?" asked Garion, looking out the bedroom window while rain slammed against the sturdy glass.

 "I don't know.  She's got a good lead on me, and it'll be hell tracking her in this storm," I shrugged.

 "Find her, Grandfather, no matter how long it takes," whispered Garion without expression.

 "Think you two can keep your hands off each other?" I inquired waspishly.

 "Father!" exclaimed Polgara, snapping her head up to look at me with tear-filled eyes.

 "Deal with this situation, Pol.  If necessary, pack up and leave Riva.  I want this thing settled by the time I bring Ce'Nedra back," I said firmly, my face cold.
 I left Garion's bedroom, walking down the torch-lit hallway of the fortress.  The air was chill from the raging storm outside, I pondered whether I should try leaving now or wait until the storm broke.  Figuring that the longer I waited the harder it would be to track Ce'Nedra, I decided to leav
e immediately.

 Emerging onto one of the fortress' battlements, I was nearly blown off by the howling gale coming off the Sea of the Winds.  My plain grey robes flapped around my legs as I wiped rain vainly away from my squinting eyes.  I couldn't take falcon form, that was obvious as I watched lightning split
the sky and thunder shake the stone beneath me.  I rubbed my bearded chin, considering each of the ports that Ce'Nedra might try to reach.  I quickly ruled out the northern Alorn kingdoms, that left Tolnedra.  Logically, she would go home to her father, so I would start my search there.

 I rarely use Translocation, not only is it risky, it's like creating a small sun, anyone with the Talent can feel you from half a hemisphere away.  Unfortunately, I had no other choice, so I closed my eyes, tried to shut out the screaming storm around me, and pictured the port city of Tol Horb.
 I gathered my Will, let it build within my body.  Just when I thought my body would burst like a grape, I whispered the Word, and I was no longer upon the battlements of the fortress.

*****

 I opened my eyes, blinking when the sun nearly blinded me.  I shook off the water from my soaked robes, noticing that several of the dockhands were giving me strange looks.  Smiling disarmingly, I left the pier quickly, melding into the crowd passing back and forth across the docks.
 I ducked into an alley that smelled like dead fish and urine.  A drunk lay comfortably on a pile of trash, snoring loudly with a bottle held lightly in his gnarled right hand.  I focused my mind, searching for a trace of Ce'Nedra.  Like Garion, I could sense the young queen, she had a peculiar "
mark" that any adept like me could detect if you know what to look for.  After probing around the city for several minutes, I snorted and opened my eyes, Ce'Nedra wasn't here.

 I left the reeking alley and went to the closest dock tavern for a much needed drink.  The place I found was adequate, the wine was watered-down but palatable, and the serving girl gave me a warm smile.  I sipped my wine, trying to figure out where Ce'Nedra might flee to if she didn't come home
to her father.  I finished my first cup and had a second.  On my third I snapped my fingers, I knew where she had gone!  Leaving two silver crowns on the table, one for the drinks and one for the girl, I rushed out of the tavern and headed toward the east gate.  The gate was crowded, as I expecte
d, but I was able to leave the city with a minimum of difficulty from the guards.  When I could no longer see the city or anyone else, I went falcon and flew south, towards the Wood of the Dryads.

*****

 The night was clear and cool when I was finally able to land and take back my human form.  I shivered slightly, wishing for a warm, dry cloak while I walked into the thick forest.  I just walked, wary of predators, watchful for Dryads.  They could appear at any time, I never knew where, so I jus
t wandered until I came upon a small, swift-running stream.  I knelt by the bank to slack my thirst, and when I looked up from the water, a Dryad stood on the opposite bank, a loaded bow aimed at my chest.
 

 I raised my arms slowly and smiled, "I'm looking for the Queen."

 "She knew you'd probably show up.  She says Ce'Nedra doesn't want to talk to you," replied the Dryad, her lovely face stern.

 "Then she can just listen, I have to see her."

 "No."

 I sighed, Ce'Nedra was going to be difficult, as usual.
 I didn't want to hurt the girl, so I used my Will lightly, coaxing the Dryad to fall asleep.  She collapsed onto the stream bank, bow clattering next to her.  I crossed the shallow stream, picked up the Dryad, and carried her to a stand of trees.  Laying her next to a tree's base, I rested my ha
nd against her cool forehead, carefully entering her slumbering mind.  Finding what I needed, I brushed the pretty Dryad's blonde hair away from her temples before turning falcon to leave the stream.

*****
 

 The Dryads were very surprised to see me when I emerged into their midst.  Dozens of bows were aimed at me, much to my discomfort.  I was led to the Queen, who sat in a glade talking quietly with my distraught granddaughter.

 "Belgarath!" exclaimed Ce'Nedra, roughly wiping her red, wet eyes.

 "Ce'Nedra," I nodded, ignoring my armed escort and sitting next to the young Rivan queen.

 "I won't go back to..HIM!" snarled Ce'Nedra, her green eyes blazing.

 "You don't have to, not right away," I said, laying my right hand on her small left shoulder.
"Take your time."

 "How could he?  With Aunt Pol?" sniffled Ce'Nedra, fresh tears threatening to burst free.

 "I..I don't know, Ce'Nedra," I admitted helplessly.  "We'll just have to talk about it."

 "I'm never going back!  I don't want to be the Rivan Queen!" declared Ce'Nedra, glaring up at me, daring me to argue with her.

 "It's rather important, for the survival of the whole world," I explained.  "But we won't think about that now.  Stay here for a few weeks, talk with your mother, I'll be around."

 "Thank you, Belgarath," smiled Ce'Nedra's beautiful mother, a small, pale woman, just like her daughter.

 I nodded gravely, regaining my feet and leaving Ce'Nedra with her people.

 Dryads don't have cities or settlements like humans, they live in their trees, take their food and water from the forest's bounty.  I was somewhat at a loss, where would I stay while Ce'Nedra pulled herself together?  I thought briefly about staying in the Vale for a short time and then returnin
g to take Ce'Nedra back to Riva.  I dismissed the idea, Ce'Nedra would need a guardian in case something or someone came along that the Dryads wouldn't be able to handle.
 

 "Old man!" shouted a Dryad from behind me.

 I cringed, turning slowly to see the blonde Dryad I had put to sleep looking at me with murder in her eyes, her bow aimed at my heart.

 "Let's not do anything hasty!" I said, raising my open palms.

 "That wasn't fair!" accused the Dryad girl, pulling her bowstring taut.

 "You're right, it wasn't!" I agreed.  "I apologize for doing it, but I had to see the Queen and Ce'Nedra!"

 "The Queen asked for someone to look after you, I volunteered!" said the girl with a cruel smile.

 "Uh, that's okay, I'll be fine on my own," I hedged.

 "You're in OUR forest, you'll do as we say!"

 The girl had me, there was nothing I could do.

 "I will obey your Queen's wishes," I replied, bowing low at the waist.

 The blonde Dryad snorted, slowly lowering her bow.  "Follow me."

 I followed the slender Dryad deep into the trees, until we reached a single tree with wide, strong branches adorned with gleaming green leaves tinged with gold.

 "This is my home," said the girl reverently, stroking the tree's rough bark.

 "Um, where do I stay?" I asked tentatively.

 "With me," grinned the Dryad, snatching my left hand and pulling me into the tree after her.
 We appeared in a oval-shaped room that seemed to be dug from the ground.  Leafy rugs covered the floor.  There were thick leaf mats for sitting and sleeping, some small leather bags filled with what smelled like tea, herbs and vegetables hung from the ceiling, and pieces of clothing were strewn
everywhere.
 

 "We prepared this place for you on the Queen's orders," explained the Dryad girl, hands on her shapely hips.  "I've been staying here while we waited for you."

 "I can tell," I remarked, picking up one of the girl's simple green tunics from the floor.

 The Dryad blushed, snatching the tunic away from me.

 "Do you drink tea?" I asked, examining one of the pouches against the wall.

 "No, the Queen thought you would like those," frowned the girl.  "What is it?  Food?"

 "No, a drink," I smiled.  "I'll need to boil some water to prepare it."

 "That means you'll need fire!" gasped the Dryad, backing away fearfully.

 "Is there a safe place outside, away from your tree, where I can make a small fire?"

 "Near the stream," nodded the girl, relaxing slightly.

 "I'll make some for us later, right now, I need some sleep," I yawned, walking towards one of the sleeping mats.  "I had a long flight."

 The Dryad watched me curiously while I unrolled a mat and stretched out on top of it.

 "What's your name?" I asked drowsily, exhaustion already laying claim to me.

 "Xara," replied the girl, making sure her bow was nearby, set against one of the sloped walls.

 I closed my eyes, my mind on the verge of sleep when I felt the Dryad snuggle against my left arm.

 I snapped my eyes open, looked to my left, and found the Dryad stretched out naked next to me, looking up at me with wide, hazel eyes.

 Dryads are arguably one of the most beautiful species in our world.  Gazing down at that Dryad's nude, ripe body, I was speechless, my eyes sliding over every curve of the alluring girl.

 "This might not be a good idea, Xara," I stammered out, trying unsuccessfully not to stare at her full, creamy white breasts.

 "Why not?" asked Xara innocently.

 "Um, uh," I groped helplessly, my cock aching beneath my robes.

 Xara glanced down, smiled when she saw my erection.

 "Do you want to play?" giggled Xara mischievously.

 Xara climbed on top of me, pulling off my robes.

 "I'm getting too old for this," I groaned.
 My prick evidently didn't share the same opinion, it was very attentive as Xara stroked it with her small hands, the Dryad grinning at me the whole time like a playful cat with a helpless mouse.  She raised herself up, then lowered her fuzzy blonde pussy onto my cock, letting it push up into her
 stomach.  Xara moaned softly, closing her eyes, rising and falling smoothly.  The girl's cunt was tight around my shaft, I groaned, running my hands up her flat stomach to her warm tits.

I gently squeezed her breasts, rubbing her brown nipples with my thumbs.  Xara moaned louder, arched her back, thrust forward with her hips as she placed her hands over mine.
 I moved my hands behind Xara, slid them down her smooth back to her firm little ass.  I pulled lightly on her buttocks, shoving my cock into her hot, clenching hole.  Xara bit her dainty lip, panting softly, thrusting her pelvis forward.  The Dryad fell on top of my grey-haired chest, licking my
 nipples with her tiny pink tongue.  I hugged the thin girl around the waist, pumping up into her cunt, her juices covering my shuddering member.  We kissed hungrily, surrendering to passion, tongues stroking wetly.  Xara hugged my neck, moaning weakly, slamming her pelvis against mine.  I stabbe
d into the girl, pounding her cervix, her vagina squeezing my engorged cock.

I climaxed inside Xara, grunting while my seed shot into her young womb.  She whimpered, kissing my bearded chin, her breath warm and sweet against my face.

 "You have to do that whenever I want," ordered Xara, kissing my mouth softly.

 "You're the boss," I smiled, planting another kiss on the Dryad's tender, pink lips.
*****