Chapter 4

A/n: sorry this took so long.  End of the year projects are killing me.

                Urgit, the half-Drasnian King of the Murgos, was absolutely thrilled to hear from Garion.  Immedietly calling upon his mother and Oskat (I think that's his name, sorry if it's not.  Also, I can't remember his mother's name so until someone tells me, I'll call her Lady Mother.  Again, apologies for my horrible memory.), his began reading the letter with such enthusiasm and eagerness it was almost childish.  The grin, however, quickly disappeared from his face as the importance of the letter struck him.  Quickly giving orders to Huraji, his advisor who had finally earned his trust, instructions for running the palace, he gathered a few things and set out of his brother's wedding.

                The huge ship Serendipity was docking.  Sailors came out to unload the stock.  One man of average height stepped out, his ordinary face hardly noticeable among others.  He wore sailor's clothes, all but the collar which he knew would arouse some questions sooner or later.  He had stumbled around in a feigned drunken state the voyage to Cherek, for a drunk sailor never wore proper attire.  However, now that he was a sober man, not having a collar would certainly cause trouble.

                Another ship docked nearby, driven by the famous Captain Greldik.  Greldik raced to his captain and the two embrace warmly and began chatting.  The man was relieved; that would put Captain Kyndar off his track for a while, until he could slip away unnoticed.  Sailors from Greldik's ship also came off and began unloading the cargo there.

                Greldik looked over at him, and he knew that he was in trouble.  Muttering some curse words, putting his hand on the pouch of poisons he carried, grabbing a pinch as Greldik casually steered Kyndar in his direction.

                "Mate," Greldik called, "Do you not know it is customary to wear a collar?"

                Acting quickly, and perhaps too rash, he threw the powder into Greldik's face.  Without looking back, he ran, faster than he had ever ran.  The fleeting stranger disappeared behind a corner and the sailors all went beside Greldik.

                The Captain had collapsed, unable to breathe.  His face grew purple until a sailor splashed some water in his face.  Greldik gasped for air, looking up into Kyndar's face.  His eyes widened in horror and he began babbling in some incoherent language.  Kyndar's face was troubled as he saw his dear friend turn into a blubbering maniac.

                "Send a physician to my quarters!" he yelled, "And prepare a litter to carry the captain on."  Several men scrambled away.  Minutes later, a rather hastily constructed litter, looking quite unusual but working nonetheless, came and Kyndar gently lifted the still muttering Greldik into it.  But he would not stay.  In frustration, Kyndar painstakingly bounded the captain onto the litter, then had his men carry it to his quarters, where a physician lay waiting patiently.  She examined Greldik carefully, her face troubled.

                "What is it?" Kyndar asked.

                "A rare Nyissan poison," she replied, "I do not know its origins or how to cure it.  Please, send for a flower called Adara's rose.  I'm afraid it's the only solution I know."
                "A flower?" Kyndar exclaimed, "A rose while my friend is on his deathbed?"

                "Captain," the physician replied, "Adara's rose is the Sovereign Specific, a universal remedy.   It's fumes will surely help your friend."

                "You heard her!" Kyndar barked, "Go get me that flower now!"  the frightened servant quickly scrambled away.

                The sovereign specific was not as all as grand as Kyndar had expected.  He had expected some exquisite rose that looked healing.  The flower turned out to be a small, lilac-colored flower.  The smell of the small rose, however, did seem to wash away his worries and lift his spirits.  A bouquet of it was placed on Greldik's chest, and Kyndar could not help but think of how that looked as if his dear friend were already gone.

                Greldik's frantic breathing subsided, but he did not seem to be normal quite yet.  The physician's face was troubled, and she left and came back with a hooded woman with long, wavy hair that was as dark as midnight that hung on her left side.

                "May I know the nature of your friend's poisoning, Captain?" Her voice was rich and deep.  He felt as if he should know her, but his concern overwhelmed that thought.

                "There was a sailor," he replied, his voice now shaking with rage, "who had somehow smuggled aboard.  He threw some powder into his face."

                "Then what happened?" the lady pressed.

                "He began to choke, and turn purple.  Then a quick-thinking sailor splashed water into his face, and he began to breathe, and then he saw me, and he looked at me as if I were some – some demon, and he started got a seizure and began to blabble incoherently."

                The hooded woman nodded, and Kyndar stared at her curiously.

                "Excuse me, miss," he asked, "but I feel as if I should know you.  What is your name?"

                The woman pushed back her hood to reveal dazzling emerald green eyes and a marble white skin.  Kyndar frowned, trying to place her face.  Then he remembered.

                "Thalista?" She was her brother's first girlfriend.

                Her rich laugh rang in the room. "Why, Kyndar!" she exclaimed, "what a surprise!"

                "Indeed," he agreed, "How in the world did you become a healer?"

                Her smile faded, "My mother fell ill some years ago," she replied, "It was later found that she had been poisoned.  I devoted my life to finding various antidotes for every existing poison.  It became noticeably easier when I was introduced to Adara's Rose."

                "How is it that a flower has such powers?" Kyndar asked curiously.

                "It was created out of love, so it somehow destroys evil chemicals, as well as feelings."

                "I see," Kyndar said, "I had wondered why I felt so happy when the flower was brought in." he frowned, "But who has such great power as to create a flower like this?"

                "The Godslayer, Belgarion."

                Before he had time to respond, Greldik jerked up, his eyes unfocused but wide.

                "Behold, Belgarion, and beware of the apostate.  When the sorceress is captured, search not for the capturer but for her soul.  For if the not yet divided meet and the party is not complete, it shall surely lead to a division that shall favor the other.  Beware also the imposer, for she shall be the same as the real but for one.  And shall she journey with you then she shall cause incompleteness.  Hasten to find her soul."

                Kyndar stared at his friend with a blank incomprehension; Thalista's eyes opened in horror and she sank to the ground in a deadly faint.

a/n: sorry.  My old English and prophecy-ish writing isn't too good.  Yes, that was a prophecy.  This chapter really sucked cuz I'm experiencing writer's block, BIG TIME.  So before I turn this into something like my other fics where I write pages of nonsense, only to come to a dead end, I really need to read some good fics for inspiration and I would also appreciate any plot suggestions (I already have the basic plot organized, I need details.), plz email them to: lilangelgirl527@hotmail.com.  Thanks everyone for all the reviews!! I've never gotten so many!! (for those of u who've seen the other stories on my account, all the fics with lotsa reviews are written by GeminiGirlz #1, not me L)  The next chapter may take a while.  Oh, and for the whole Cyradis thing, the black cloth does NOT signify evil, I just always kinda imagined that the cloth'd be black, and it is not certain if she is a seer again (I'm still trying to decide).  I think I'll kinda make her a half-seer sorta thing.  See what I mean by I'm going to write a lotta nonsense?   I really need 2 read some good fics.