The servant who admitted me was civil enough, though impatient. He led me through the gloomy corridors of the grim house to a great dining hall with a huge table upon which sat a single plate, and he bade me sit at the table and brought me meat and drink. And as I ate, I questioned him closely concerning the house and its owner, and he replied most strangely, saying:
venture not near the window lest the void beyond it destroy thy mind
‘The house hath been here since before the beginning of time, and it hath two owners—the same two who caused it to be built.’
His words amazed me, and I protested that no house can endure so long and that certainly no mortal hath lived since before the beginning of time. But he received my protests in silence as if they were unworthy of reply, and he bade me make haste at my meal since I was to be taken immediately to the owners of the house.
When I had finished, he led me once again through the dim corridors and brought me at last to a strange room. Behold, a great window formed one wall of the room and overlooked the void upon which the house sat, and by that window stood a table, and at the table sat two robed and hooded figures. And on the table was laid a game of enormous complexity.
Now the servant cautioned me in whispered tones, saying: ‘Speak not, lest ye disturb the game which these two have played for all eternity, and venture not near the window lest the void beyond it destroy thy mind.’
I replied with some asperity, stating that I had viewed chasms before and that my mind was therefore in little danger. And the servant looked at me in amazement and said, ‘Knowest thou not to what house thou hast come? This is the house which stands at the very edge of creation. Beyond that window lies no mere chasm, but absolute nothing-ness. I know not why thou hast been brought unto this lonely house. I know only that thou art to observe the game until the storm which brought thee here abates, and then thou art to go thy way.’
when one piece is moved, all other pieces also move
And so it was that throughout the long night I watched the two faceless players at the game which I could not begin to comprehend. And the moves which they made had no meaning to me. If the one moved a king, the other countered by moving a comet or a sun or a grain of sand. And there were beggars and thieves and harlots on the board as well as kings and knights and queens. And sometimes the players moved rapidly and sometimes they pondered long between moves. And I watched their play and spake not throughout the long night.
And when morning came, the servant returned and led me down the gloomy halls of the house which stands at the edge of creation. And when he opened the door I saw that the storm had passed. And I turned to the servant and I said, ‘What is the game they play?’
And he answered, saying, ‘It is the game of the two Fates. All the pieces contain two possibilities and all are interconnected. When one piece is moved, all other pieces also move. The two players no longer even strive to win the game, but merely attempt to maintain the balance between them.’
‘Why do they continue to play then?’
‘Because they must. The game must be played to its conclusion, though it last until the end of days. Thou wert brought to this place because it may be that thou or one who might come after thee will one day make some move in this eternal game. I know not, and I care not. My care is to tend the house, and I have done so since it was built. Now go thy way.’ And so saying, he closed the door, leaving me standing alone upon the doorstep.
Now the morning was bright, and the birds sang sweetly, and I strode across the heath at a goodly pace, and by midafternoon I found the path which led me back to my own country.
79At a certain time I found myself weary and alone in a dusky wood, having strayed, it seems, from the true path. Yet I knew not why I was there nor whither I had been bound when I lost my way. As night descended upon that gloomy wood, I despaired of finding the path again ere it grew dark, and as best I could I composed myself for sleep, wrapped in my cloak and with my back resting against the bole of a great tree.
If I slept or no, I shall never know, for it seemed that I came awake of a sudden in the broad street of a populous city, and excited crowds were all hurrying toward the central square, and I, perforce, was borne along with them, so great was the press. Turning to the man pushing along beside me, I asked as politely as possible what event had so moved this multitude of people that they should strive all at once to gather in the square.
‘She comes,’ he replied in ardent tones.
I confessed to him that I was a stranger in his city and that I knew not to whom he referred.
‘Why, she, of course,’ quoth he, ‘– the paramount Lady of all the world. Men say she is a thousand years old, and wise beyond belief.’
‘Is it wise of us, then,’ I said to him, ‘to intrude ourselves upon her in such numbers? For if it be true that she is so deeply sunk in eld, she will surely be frail and infirm, and will not welcome the noise and confusion of so great a multitude.’
My companion, however, was swept from my side by the press of the crowd, and I heard not his reply.
At length I reached the great square, whither all in that city had been hastening, and to my disappointment, I found that the venerated lady had not yet arrived. And I concluded that my informant may have spoken in jest, for as I had leisure to consider his words, I realized that what he had told me was an absurdity, for no man or woman, however noble or powerful, could endure the weight of a thousand years. And almost I laughed that I had for a single instant considered it possible.
And then from out an azure sky there came on silent wings the form of a great snowy owl, and to my surprise she descended from aloft into the very center of the populous square. And at the last moment she flared her great pinions, and at the same time a strange shimmering seemed to engulf her— not unlike the disturbance of air above heated rock. Now when that peculiar shimmering had passed, I beheld with astonishment that the owl had vanished and that in its place stood the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Gowned all in blue, she swept the square with imperious gaze, and all present bowed and abased themselves before her. I alone, struck dumb and motionless by her beauty, bowed not nor acknowledged her with any display of respect. Seeing this, she approached me, her expression quizzical and the faintest trace of a smile hovering about her lips. And as she came nearer, I saw that her raven hair was touched at the brow by a single lock of snowiest white. Her glorious eyes fell full upon me, and I confess that my heart stopped within me.
And then she spake unto me, saying, ‘Why art thou pale, youth? Hast thou never before seen such simple sorcery?’
‘My lady,’ I stammered, ‘forgive me. It is not thy sorcery which hath robbed my limbs of their ability to move, it is thy beauty.’
And she smiled at me and said, ‘Thou art a well-spoken youth.’
Emboldened by her encouragement, I blurted, ‘Truly, my Lady, thou art the most beautiful of all women.’
I beheld upon the coverlet of my bed a single soft white feather
And a secret little glow of pleasure touched her eyes at my words, and she reached forth and gently touched my cheek, and she replied, saying, ‘Yes, fond youth, I know.’
And then she looked at me gravely, and she spake further, saying, ‘Thou art a stranger here, and thou knowest not how or why thou camest to this place. It will not be long ere thou awaken.’
‘Ah,’ I said, my heart wrenching within me. ‘Is this then but a dream?’
‘Nay, dear youth,’ she replied, ‘this is more real than the world from which thou hast come. Return to thy people and tell them what thou hast seen, and tell them that they may know that the time for the Choice hath arrived when they see me abroad in their lands. For I shall not come into the lands of thy people until it is time for them to choose, and they may take my coming as a sign.’ And so saying, she touched my cheek again, turned and vanished. And so great was my emotion that I fell down in a swoon.
And Behold, when I awoke, I was not in the populou
s city nor in the dismal wood where I had lost my way, but was once again in mine own house and mine own bed. And I concluded that what I had seen had been but a dream—but then I beheld upon the coverlet of my bed a single soft white feather, and I knew that the Lady of my vision had spoken the truth and that I had truly seen her and that one day she would come down into the country of my birth to demand a choice of my people.
Once, when I had gone into the West upon certain duties, it came to me that I must journey up unto the Isle of the Winds to behold a wonder that I might tell my brothers and sisters of it when I returned at long last to Kell.
It was the worst time of the year for a journey, for the sea raged and the wind oft-times threatened to drive the boat which bore me to the distant isle beneath the hungry waves. At length, however, I landed upon the strand at the city of Riva upon the very eve of that holiday which all men in the west observe. And the city was alive with the news that the Orb of Aldur, which had been stolen away, was to be restored on the morrow, and I contrived to be present in the Hall of the Rivan King to witness the restoration, for I believed that this was the wonder I had been sent to witness.
But lo, as the child who bore the Orb and the young Sendar who guided the child’s steps entered the Hall, a rapture seized me and all unbidden, the Vision descended upon me, and I saw that the young Sendar was clothed all in light, and when the child presented the Orb to him, I heard a chorus of a million voices resounding from the farthest star, and I knew that Belgarion had come at last. And as the young man affixed the Orb to the pommel of the great sword, and the blade leaped into flame to declare his identity to those in the Hall and to all of mankind as well, my vision continued, for lo, all unnoticed, the child who had carried the Orb turned, and I saw his face bathed in ineffable glory, and I knew that I beheld the face of one of the two Gods between whom we must one day choose. And because of what I had just seen, my eyes grew dark and I fell down in a swoon.
there in the dimness I beheld the ruins of an ancient temple
I wandered as in a dream through the marshes of Temba and came at last to the shore where a small boat awaited me. And all unbidden I stepped aboard the boat which then without oars or sails bore me out to sea. At length the boat brought me to a shoal, and I saw ahead of me a grim reef of ancient rock where the sullen sea beat itself to frothy tatters. And, as one compelled, I debarked upon that reef to wander through a wilderness of brine-crusted rock until I came at last to a fissure which tended downward into the darkness beneath.
Fearfully I descended into that grim cavern, and there in the dimness I beheld the ruins of an ancient temple, and on the steps thereof I beheld the hooded and veiled form of a woman. And her aspect chilled my blood within me. Wordlessly she pointed to the door of the temple, commanding me to enter, and, unable to resist, I did as she ordered.
Within the temple I beheld an altar and resting thereupon I beheld a dark stone of some size. And I wondered why I had been brought to this place. But as I stood, the woman came forward, and in her arms she bore a newborn infant. And as she approached the altar, the stone thereon began to glow with a dim fire, and it seemed that of a sudden I could see within the stone and what I saw there terrified me. And the woman reached forth the newborn child as if she intended to press it into the stone itself, and Behold, the stone opened to accept the child. But of a sudden I beheld the grim form of Belgarion the Godslayer standing before the woman. With his face contorted in anguish and with tears streaming from his eyes, he raised his flaming sword to smite down the woman and the child in one dreadful blow. And as I cried out to stop him, the sound of my voice shattered the vision which had come unbidden to me and I awoke shrieking in terror.
But truly I tell thee, my brother, my vision was not a misty imagining but a truth as solid as the earth upon which thou standest. Hear my words, for they are truth. The shoal and the reef are there, and the temple within the cavern doth truly exist. And within the temple lies the stone. One day will the woman and the child and the Godslayer himself come to that dim place, and at that moment must the choice be made, for that is the EVENT toward which all hath been moving since before the beginning of time.80
VI
A SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS
5376-5387
From the Personal Journal of King Anheg of Cherek 81
5376
IN THE SPRING of the year following the Battle of Thull Mardu and the enormous events which took place at Cthol Mishrak, we gathered— all of us—at Riva for the wedding of young King Belgarion and the Imperial Princess Ce’Nedra. I have some personal reservations about the wisdom of so closely allying the house of the Keeper of the Orb with the Imperial House of the Tolnedran Empire; but, since Ran Borune is elderly and the last of his line, I suppose no great harm can come of it. Moreover, despite her occasional flightiness, I found Ce’Nedra to be a remarkable young woman. It may well prove that the strong-willed girl will complement Belgarion’s somewhat diffident nature, which has given us all some concern. Their marriage promises to be stormy, but I expect that my young friend will seldom be troubled with boredom. As for me, I’d sooner shave off my beard than have such a wife.
In the summer of this year word reached us that ’Zakath had brought his siege of Rak Goska to a successful conclusion. His capture of the city, by all reports, was particularly savage, even for an Angarak. I have no great sympathy for Murgos, but I suspect that ’Zakath may live to regret his butchery of the inhabitants of Rak Goska. King Urgit, the son of Taur Urgas, unfortunately escaped, and he is certain to use the atrocity to fan Murgo sentiments to a white heat. I plan to sit quietly on the sidelines, cheering both sides on in their war of mutual extinction and permitting myself the private luxury of gloating. I know that gloating is an unattractive thing for a king to do, but a man needs some vices, after all.
Late in the fall, I received a letter from my good friend, General Varana, which gave me almost as much pleasure. The insufferable ass whom the Honeths were touting as Ran Borune’s successor was neatly poisoned by a Horbite assassin, may Belar bless him! The Honeths are confounded, and Ran Borune is almost beside himself with glee. For once, I wholeheartedly share in the Emperor’s delight. I think I could almost grow to like that sly little old fox.
Word has reached us that the strange fellow, Relg, and the Marag woman Belgarath found in the caves beneath Rak Cthol have produced their first child, a son. The boy, we are told, has blue eyes—a fact which for some reason has sent the Ulgos into a frenzy of celebration. My cousin Barak tells me that this has something to do with their religion. I didn’t pursue the matter further, since questions of religion have always made my head ache. Barak, incidentally, has shown no further indications that he plans to turn into a bear on a regular basis. I’m profoundly grateful for his restraint in this regard. The difference between Barak and a bear is not really that extensive, but it’s a bit embarrassing to admit close kinship to something that really belongs out in the forest.
5377
ISLENA and I spent Erastide with Rhodar and Porenn at Boktor and have only just returned to Val Alorn. Rhodar seems even more mellowed, and he dotes on his new son, of course. He tells me that his vagrant nephew, Kheldar, has joined forces with one Yarblek, a Nadrak who appears to be almost as big a thief as himself. In a brilliant stroke the pair of them have managed to capture the Nadrak fur market.
Also while we were at Boktor, Cho-Hag sent us the news that Hettar and Belgarion’s cousin, Adara, had produced him a grandson. Everyone seems to be having children lately. One hopes that Belgarion and his little queen will get into the spirit of things. I know that we’ll all rest more securely once the line of Riva is perpetuated.
In the kingdoms of the south events, as always, turn on politics. My cousin Grinneg, our ambassador at Tol Honeth, advises me that General Varana, acting as Ran Borune’s special envoy, has concluded a very advantageous trade agreement with Sadi, Chief Eunuch at Queen Salmissra’s court in Sthiss Tor. I’m sure the Empire wi
ll grow richer, but I don’t envy them the pleasure of dealing with the snake people.
Young King Korodullin, with surprising astuteness, has appointed Count Reldegen Governor General of Asturia. I’ve met Reldegen, and he seems to have normal good sense—which in Arendia makes him an absolute genius. One can hope that the appointment will ease the tensions between Mimbre and Asturia—at least to the point where there is no longer open war on the Arendish plain.
This summer, our young Belgarion and his queen are making the grand tour, visiting all the capitals of the west. The move is politically sound, I think. Belgarion has made no effort to emphasize his title, Overlord of the West, and it’s probably time to remind a few people that he’s still there. The advantage of having done nothing, however, is that he’s made no mistakes and hence no enemies. Moreover, a great deal of good will for him still exists. Personal visits will enhance that good will. I look forward to seeing them. I am particularly interested in Ce’Nedra’s waist-line. One hopes that she has begun to pick up a bit of weight. Ten or fifteen pounds on that girl would set my mind at ease considerably.
The visit of the royal pair was pleasant. Garion (Belgarion actually—it’s hard to remember the formal name when you’ve just talked with him) seems to have matured a bit and to have become more decisive. I suspect that a part of his retiring nature may have been the result of Polgara’s presence. That lady can be rather overpowering at times. I’m sure that the necessity of asserting his authority over his wife has given his backbone a bit of steel. Ce’Nedra, alas, remains as slender as a willow.
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