Zereel is the Tolnedran court wizard, described as "one of the best" and the late Ran Borune XXIII considered his opinion the best authority on mythology. He is described as a lean, bushy-browed man in a red mantle covered with mystic symbols. Initially he thought that Belgarath and Polgara were just myths and that no such people existed. Polgara, however, corrected that understanding. "You see," the Emperor said to Aunt Pol. "You don't exist. I have it on the very best authority. Zereel's a wizard himself, you know."