Chapter 2
"Mama!" squealed Beldaran, racing into the royal bedroom and slamming the door behind her. "Geran's chasing me!" She stopped, seeing only her father was in the room.
Belgarion of Riva, Overlord of the West, looked up from the scroll of parchment he held. The tall young man's sandy hair looked ruffled, as if he had been running his hands through it, and he was dressed in a casual blue doublet and hose. "Your mother's nursing X'Adara, Beldaran. What did Geran do to you?"
Six-year-old Beldaran looked up at him innocently. "He was yelling at me and chasing me."
"And why was he doing that?"
The little girl shuffled her feet. "I knocked over his castle."
Garion sighed and rose, putting the parchment aside. Going to the door, he scooped Beldaran up and opened the door. Geran sprang back guiltily from where he had been listening. Garion, pretending not to notice, set Beldaran down. Geran scowled at her. "Beldaran, you need to go help your brother re-build his castle."
He watched the retreating backs of the two children recede down the hall, then turned back into the room, returning to the dispatch. He smiled at the message.
To Belgarion, King of Riva, Overlord of the West, Guardian of the Orb
My greetings to you, Ce'Nedra, Geran, Beldaran, X'Gara, and your newly born X'Adara, Garion. I wasn't sure if I should send you a letter or just send out the formal announcements. You probably know the news anyway, with that hawkeyed little thief Kheldar in constant contact with you.
I'm stalling. Cyradis is pregnant with our first child. Have you ever seen an irritable seer before? Even though that part of her life is over, as Eriond says, it's still not a pleasant sight. And I have to sleep with her. Are pregnant women always like this? I mean, those stretches where they want everything from kiwi fruit to snails with butter? At least you can just magick them out of thin air. I have to go hunting over half the continent to find it. Cyradis doubtless knows what the gender of our child is, but she's not telling me.
Well, eight months left till I find out. I've never been a father before. I'm very nervous. Babies are awfully small, aren't they?
From,
Zakath, Emperor of Mallorea
Is this about right? I don't know if this one is in Eddings style, but I'm trying. Thank you to my three reviewers so far.