CHAPTER SEVEN
The cavern was vast, and there was a city inside. The city looked much like Kell, thousands of feet below, except, of course, for the absence of lawns and gardens. It was dim, since the blindfolded seers needed no light, and the eyes of their mute guides had, Garion surmised, become adjusted to the faint light.
There were few people abroad in those shadowy streets, and those they saw as Toth led them into the city paid no attention to them. Beldin was muttering to himself as he stumped along.
"What is it, uncle?" Polgara asked him.
"Have you ever noticed how much some people are slaves to convention?" he replied.
"I don't quite see what you're getting at."
"This town is inside a cave, but they still put roofs on the houses. Isn't that sort of an absurdity? It isn't going to rain in here."
"But it will get cold—particulaily in the winter. If a house has no roof, it's a little hard to keep the heat in, wouldn't you say?" He frowned. "I guess I didn't think of that," he admitted. The house to which Toth led them was in the very center of this strange subterranean city. Although it was no different from those around it, its location hinted that the inhabitant was of some importance. Toth entered without knocking and led them to the simple room where Cyradis sat waiting for them, her pale young face illuminated by a single candle.
"You have reached us more quickly than we had expected," she said. In a peculiar way her voice was different from the way it had sounded in their previous meetings. Garion uneasily felt that the seeress was speaking in more than one voice, and the result was startlingly choral.
"You knew that we could come, then?" Polgara asked her. "Of course. It was but a question of time before you would complete your threefold task." "Task?"
"It was but a simple endeavor for one as powerful as thou art, Polgara, but it was a necessary test." "I don't seem to recall—"
"As I told thee, it was so simple that doubtless thou hast forgotten it."
"Remind us," Beldin said gruffly.
"Of course, gentle Beldin." She smiled. "You have found this place; you have subdued the elements to reach it; and Polgara hath spoken correctly the words that gained you entry." "More riddles," he said sourly.
"A riddle is sometimes the surest way to make the mind receptive." He grunted.
"It was necessary for the riddle to be solved and the tasks to be completed ere I could reveal to you that which must be revealed." She rose to her feet. "Let us depart from this place then, and go down even unto Kell. My guide and dear companion will bear the great book that must be delivered into the hands of Ancient Belgarath.”
The mute giant went to a shelf on the far side of the dimly lit room and took down a large book bound in black leather. He tucked it under his arm, took his mistress by the hand, and led them back out of the house.
"Why the secrecy, Cyradis?" Beldin asked the blindfolded
girl. "Why do the seers hide up here on the mountain instead of staying at Kell?"
"But this is Kell, gentle Beldin."
"What's that city down in the valley, then?"
"Also Kell." She smiled. "It hath ever been thus among us. Unlike the cities of others, our communities are widespread. This is the place of the seers. There are many other places on this mountain—the place of the wizards, the place of the necromancers, the place of the diviners—and all are a part of Kell."
“Trust a Dal to come up with an unnecessary complication.”
"The cities of others are built for different purposes, Beldin. Some are for commerce. Some are for defense. Our cities are built for study.”
"How can you study if you have to walk all day in order to talk with your colleagues?”
"There is no need for walking, Beldin. We can speak to each other whenever we choose. Is this not the way in which thou and Ancient Belgarath converse?"
"That's different," he growled.
"In what way?"
"Our conversations are private."
"We have no need of privacy. The thoughts of one are the thoughts of all."
It was shortly before noon when they emerged from the cavern into the warm sunlight again. Gently guiding Cyradis, Toth led them back to the gap in the ridge and down the steep path that crossed the high meadows. After about an hour of descent, they entered a cool green forest where birds caroled from the treetops and insects whirled like specks of fire in the slanting columns of sunlight.
The trail was still steep, and Garion soon discovered one of , (he disadvantages of walking downhill for any extended period of time. A large and painful blister was forming atop one of the toes on his left foot, and a few twinges from his right clearly indicated that he would soon have a matched set. He gritted his teeth and limped on.
It was nearly sunset when they reached the gleaming city in the valley. Garion noticed with a certain satisfaction that Beldin was also limping as they walked along the marble street that led to the house Dalian had lodged them in. ; The others were eating when they entered. As it chanced to happen, Garion was looking at Zakath's face when the Mallo-rean saw that Cyradis was with them. His oiive-skinned face paled slightly, a pallor made more pronounced by the short black beard he had grown to conceal his identity. He rose to his feet and bowed slightly. "Holy Seeress," he said respectfully.
"Emperor of Mallorea," she responded. "As I promised thee in cloud-dark Darshiva, I surrender myself up to thee as thy hostage.”
"There's no need to talk of hostages, Cyradis," he replied with a slightly embarrassed flush. “I spoke in haste in Darshiva, before I clearly understood what it is that I am to do. I am committed now.”
"I am, nonetheless, thy hostage, for it is thus preordained, and I must accompany thee unto the Place Which Is No More to face the task that awaits me."
"You must all be hungry," Velvet said. "Come to the table and eat."
"I must complete one task first, Huntress," Cyradis told her. She held out both hands, and Toth placed the heavy book he had carried down from the mountain in them. "Ancient Belgarath," she said in that strangely choral voice, "thus do we commend into thy hands our holy book as the stars have instructed us to do. Read it carefully, for thy destination is revealed in its pages.”
Belgarath rose quickly, crossed to her, and took the book, his hands trembling with eagerness. "I thank you, Cyradis. I know how precious the book is, and I will care for it while it is in my hands and return it once I've found what I need." Then he went to a smaller table near the window, sat, and opened the heavy volume.
"Move over," Beldin told him, stumping to the table and drawing up another chair. The two old men bent their heads over the crackling pages, oblivious to all around them.
"Will you eat now, Cyradis?" Polgara asked the blindfolded girl.
"Thou art kind, Polgara," the replied. "I have fasted since thine arrival here in preparation for mis meeting, and mine hunger weakens me."
Polgara gently led her to the table and seated her between Ce'Nedra and Velvet.
"Is my baby well, Holy Seeress?" Ce'Nedra asked urgently.
"He is well, Queen of Riva, although he doth yearn to be returned to thee."
"I'm surprised he even remembers me." Ce'Nedra said it with some bitterness. "He was only a baby when Zandramas stole him.” She sighed. "There's so much I’ve missed—so many things I' 11 never see.” Her lower lip began to tremble.
Garion went to her and put his arms comfortingly around her. "It's going to be all right, Ce'Nedra," he assured her.
"Will it, Cyradis?" she asked in a voice near to tears. "Will everything really be all right again?"
"That I cannot say, Ce'Nedra. Two courses stand before us, and not even the stars know upon which we will place our feet.”
"How was the trip?" Silk asked, more, Garion thought, to get past an uncomfortable moment than out of any burning curiosity.
"Nervous," Garion replied. "I don't fly very well, and we ran into some bad weather.”
Silk frowned. "But
it's been absolutely clear all day."
"Not where we were, it wasn't." Garion glanced at Cyradis and decided not to make an issue of the near-disastrous down-draft. "Is it all right to tell them about the place where you live?" he asked her.
"Of a certainty, Belgarion." She smiled. "They are of thy company, and thou shouldst conceal nothing from them."
"Do you remember Mount Kahsha in Cthol Murgos?" Gar-ion asked his friend.
"I’ve been trying to forget."
"Well, the seers have a city that's sort of like the one the Dagashi built at Kahsha. It's inside a very large cave."
"I'm glad I didn't go there, then."
Cyradis turned her face toward him, a concerned little frown touching her forehead. "Hast thou not yet mastered this unreasoning fear of thine, Kheldar?"
"Not noticeably, no—and I'd hardly call it unreasoning. Believe me, Cyradis, I have reasons—lots and lots of reasons." He shuddered.
"Thou must summon up thy courage, Kheldar, for the time will surely come when thou must enter a place such as thou boldest in dread."
"Not if I can help it, I won't."
"Thou must, Kheldar. No choice is open to thee."
His face was bleak, but he said nothing.
"Tell me, Cyradis," Velvet said then, "were you the one who interrupted the progress of Zith's pregnancy?"
"Thou art shrewd to have perceived the pause in that most natural of events, Liselle," the Seeress told her, "but nay, it was not I. The wizard Vard on the Isle of Verkat bade her to wait until her task at Ashaba was completed."
"Vard is a wizard?" Polgara asked in some surprise. "I can usually detect them, but in his case, I didn't sense a thing."
"He is most subtle," Cyradis agreed. "Things stand so in Cthol Murgos that great care must be exercised in the practice of our arts. The Grolims in the land of the Murgos are ever alert to the disturbances such acts inevitably cause."
"We were quite put out with you on Verkat," Durnik told her. "That was before we understood the reason for what you did. I'm afraid I treated Toth very badly for a while. He was good enough to forgive me, though."
The big mute smiled at him and made a few gestures.
Durnik laughed. "You don't really have to do that anymore, loth," he told his friend. "I finally figured out how you were talking to me."
loth lowered his hands.
Dumik seemed to listen for a moment. "Yes," he agreed. "It's much easier this way—and faster, too—now that we don't have to wave our hands at each other. Oh, by the way, Eriond and I found a pond a little ways below the city here. It has some very nice trout in it."
loth grinned broadly.
"I thought you might feel that way." Durnik grinned back.
"I'm afraid we've corrupted your guide, Cyradis," Polgara apologized.
"Nay, Polgara." The Seeress smiled. "This passion hath been upon him since boyhood. Ofttimes in our travels he hath found excuse to linger for a time by some lake or stream. I do not chide him for this, for I am fond of fish, and he doth prepare them exquisitely."
They finished their meal and sat, talking quietly to avoid disturbing Belgarath and Beldin who still sat poring over the Mallorean Gospels.
"How is Zandramas going to find out where we're all going?" Garion asked the Seeress. "Since she's a Grolim, she can't come here."
"That I may not tell thee, Child of Light. She will, however, arrive at the appointed place at the proper time."
"With my son?"
"As it hath been foretold."
"I'm looking forward to that meeting." He said it bleakly. ' "There are a great many things Zandramas and I have to settle.”
"Let not thy hatred blind thee to thy tasks," she told him quite seriously.
"And what is my task, Cyradis?"
"That thou wilt know when it doth face thee."
"But not before?"
"Nay. Thy performance of that task would be marred shouldst thou consider it overlong."
"And what is my task, Holy Seeress?" Zakath asked her. "You said you would instruct me here at Kell."
"I must reveal that to thee in private, Emperor of Mallorea. Know, however, that thy task will begin when thy companions have completed theirs, and it will consume the balance of thy life.”
"As long as we're talking about tasks," Sadi said, "perhaps you could explain mine to me."
"You have already begun it, Sadi."
"Am I doing it very well?"
She smiled. "Passing well, yes."
“I might do a little better if I knew what it is.”
"Nay, Sadi. Even as Belgarion's, thy task would be marred shouldst thou know of it."
"Is this place we're going to very far?" Durnik asked her.
"Many leagues, and there is yet much to be done."
"I'll need to talk with Dalian about supplies, then. And I mink I'll want to check the horses' hooves before we start. This might be a good time to get them shod again."
"That's impossible!" Belgarath suddenly burst out.
"What is it, father?" Aunt Pol asked him.
"It's Korim! The meeting is supposed to take place at Korim!"
"Where's that?" Sadi asked in puzzlement.
"It's no place," Beldin growled. "It's not there anymore. It was a mountain range that sank into the sea when Torak cracked the world. The Book of Atom mentions it as The High Places of Korim, which are no more.' "
"There's a certain perverted logic to it," Silk observed. "That's what these assorted prophecies have meant all along when they talked about a Place Which Is No More."
Beldin tugged thoughtfully at one ear. "There's something else, too," he noted. "You remember the story Senji told us back at Melcene? About the scholar who stole the Sardion? His ship was last seen founding the southern tip of Gandahar, and it never came back. Senji said he thought that it had gone down in a storm off the Dalasian coast. It's beginning to sound as if he was right. We have to go where the Sardion is, and I've got the uncomfortable feeling that it's resting on top of a mountain that sank into the sea over five thousand years ago."
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Queen of Riva was in a pensive mood as they set out from the glowing marble city of Kell. A peculiar kind of languor seemed to come over her as they rode through the forest to the west of Kell, a languor that grew more pronounced with each passing mile. She took no part in the general conversation, but was content merely to listen.
"I don't see how you can be so calm about this, Cyradis," Belgarath was saying to the blindfolded Seeress as they rode along. “Your task will fail the same as ours will if the Sardion is lying at the bottom of the sea. And why are we making this side trip to Perivor?"
"It is there that the instruction thou received from the Holy Book will be made clear to thee, Ancient Belgarath."
"Couldn't you just explain it to me yourself? We're a little pressed for time, you know."
"That I may not do. I may not give thee any aid that I do not also give to Zandramas. It is thy task—and hers—to unravel this riddle. To aid one of thee and not the other is forbidden.”
"Somehow I thought you might look at it that way," he said glumly.
"Where's Perivor?" Garion asked Zakath.
“It's an island off the south coast of Dalasia,” the Mallorean replied. "The inhabitants there are very strange. Their legends say that they're descendants of some people from the west who were aboard a ship that was blown off course and wrecked on the island about two thousand years ago. The island's of little value, and the people there are fearsome fighters. The general opinion in Mal Zeth has always been that the place wouldn't be worth the trouble it would take to subdue it, and Urvon didn't even bother to send Grolims there.”
"If they're so savage, won't it be sort of dangerous for us to go there?"
"No. Actually they're civil and even hospitable—as long as you don't try to land an army there. That's when things start to take a turn for the worse.”
"Have we really got the time to
go to this place?" Silk asked the .
"Ample time, Prince Kheldar," she replied. "The stars have told us for eons that the Place Which Is No More awaits the coming of thee and thy companions, and that thou and thy companions will come there upon the day appointed for die meeting."
"And so will Zandramas, I suppose?"
She smiled a gentle little smile. "How can there be a meeting if the Child of Dark be not also present?" she asked him.
"I think I detected a faint glimmer of humor there, Cyradis,” he bantered. "Isn't that a bit out of character for one of the seers?"
"How little you know us, Prince Kheldar." She smiled again. "Ofttimes we have been convulsed with laughter at some message writ large in the stars and at the absurd lengths to which others go to ignore or avoid that which is preordained. Submit to the instruction of the heavens, Kheldar. Spare thyself the agony and turmoil of trying to evade thy fate.”
"You throw the word 'fate' around awfully lightly, Cyradis," he said disapprovingly.
"Hast thou not come here in response to a fate laid down for thee at the beginning of days? All thy concern with commerce and espionage have been but a diversion to occupy thee until the appointed day."
"That's a polite way to tell someone he's been behaving like a child."
"We are all children, Kheldar."
Beldin came soaring through the sun-dappled forest, avoiding tree trunks with deft shifts of his wings. He settled to earth and changed form.
"Trouble?" Belgarath asked him.
"Not as much as I'd expected." The dwarf shrugged. "And that worries me a bit."
"Isn't that a tittle inconsistent?"
"Consistency is the defense of a small mind. Zandramas couldn't go to Kell, right?"
"As far as we know."
"Then she has to follow us to the meeting place, right?"
"Unless she's found some other way to find out where it is."
"That's what worries me. If she had to follow us, wouldn't it be logical for her to have ringed this forest with troops and Grolims to find out which way we were going?"
"I suppose so, yes."
"Well, there's no army out there—only a few patrols, and they're just going through the motions."
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