I clearly remember the moment the world changed once again. Poledra had
left so she could be in Riva when Ce'Nedra gave birth. Polgara wanted to
go, but she was overruled by her mother. That's one of the things I most
like about having my wife back. With her assistance I've finally got some
control over my daughter. I was happily sitting in my tower, researching
something or other (it's odd, but I've already forgotten what) in order to
pass the time until Poledra returned. Suddenly, I felt a great disturbance.
It felt very similar to the time Garion played with the weather, but far
more extreme. I fell out of my chair in shock. The only thing I could think
of was that somebody had played about with the weather and the consequences
would likely be disastrous. The only problem was who and where? Garion
wouldn't do it - I'd fully impressed the dangers of that upon him. None of
the Grolims would either - they were too well taught, even if their
training was very limited by my standards. That only left spontaneous
sorcerers, but none of them to my knowledge had the necessary ability -
they all needed to be angry or otherwise emotionally charged for their
abilities to work. Even Beldin when he first arrived in the Vale couldn't
have done this, and he was the most powerful spontaneous sorcerer I've ever
come across. I was baffled as to who could possibly be responsible, so I
put aside whatever I was working on to search through the records of every
sorcerer that my brothers or I have encountered. After a few days without
luck, I went up to Durnik's tower (what there was of it so far). "How are
things going so far, Durnik?" I asked him.
"Fairly well, Belgarath," he responded. "I've managed to get the foundations laid. Soon I can begin to build the walls."
"You know that you could be done a lot quicker if you'd just use your talent once in a while." I told him.
"Belgarath, we're not going through this again. You persuaded me to build this thing, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. I won't use a shortcut."
"All right, Durnik," I said resignedly. "That's not why I'm here, though. Did you notice the disturbance four days ago?"
"How could I miss it? I felt queasy for hours afterwards. Also, it took hours to get the twins to sleep. I think they felt it too."
"Very possible. I'm, trying to work out what happened and who was responsible for it. If Beldin were still here, I'd ask him what I'm about to ask you, but he isn't." I felt a pang once again when I thought of Beldin. He'd been in my life for thousands of years, longer even than Poledra, and now he was gone.
"You still miss him, don't you Belgarath. I know Pol does too, and so do the Twins, but it seems to have hit you hardest. You show it less most of the time, but you don't fool me. Do you want to talk about it?" Durnik can be so perceptive sometimes. We've had this conversation dozens of times, and still he notices that I haven't let Beldin go yet. He's also right about the others. We all miss Beldin, but I miss him most. I still rarely talk about him. Unfortunately, much as I would have liked to talk about it again I didn't think then was the right time.
"I'm afraid we don't have time right now Durnik. I'm trying to find out about any sorcerer who could have caused the disturbance. I've already roped the Twins into helping me look through the records. Unfortunately, we've only got access to the records of sorcerers we've found in the West. Beldin had records of the Mallorean sorcerers, Grolims and non-Grolims both. Would you please search those records for me?"
"Alright Belgarath. I'll get on it after I've laid this stone."
"Thank you Durnik. Oh, and you don't necessarily have to tell Pol about this. There's no point worrying her just yet," I told him mischievously.
"Belgarath! You know I won't lie to her," Durnik responded, shocked. Every now and then I really enjoy tweaking the nose of my son-in-law. I guess I'll never lose that mischievous streak.
"You don't have to. Just tell her nothing."
"Belgarath, she needs to know. I could probably use her help when she's free."
"Very well, Durnik. Tell her what you need to. I'll tell you if I find anything." With that, I left Durnik to return to my research.
"Fairly well, Belgarath," he responded. "I've managed to get the foundations laid. Soon I can begin to build the walls."
"You know that you could be done a lot quicker if you'd just use your talent once in a while." I told him.
"Belgarath, we're not going through this again. You persuaded me to build this thing, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. I won't use a shortcut."
"All right, Durnik," I said resignedly. "That's not why I'm here, though. Did you notice the disturbance four days ago?"
"How could I miss it? I felt queasy for hours afterwards. Also, it took hours to get the twins to sleep. I think they felt it too."
"Very possible. I'm, trying to work out what happened and who was responsible for it. If Beldin were still here, I'd ask him what I'm about to ask you, but he isn't." I felt a pang once again when I thought of Beldin. He'd been in my life for thousands of years, longer even than Poledra, and now he was gone.
"You still miss him, don't you Belgarath. I know Pol does too, and so do the Twins, but it seems to have hit you hardest. You show it less most of the time, but you don't fool me. Do you want to talk about it?" Durnik can be so perceptive sometimes. We've had this conversation dozens of times, and still he notices that I haven't let Beldin go yet. He's also right about the others. We all miss Beldin, but I miss him most. I still rarely talk about him. Unfortunately, much as I would have liked to talk about it again I didn't think then was the right time.
"I'm afraid we don't have time right now Durnik. I'm trying to find out about any sorcerer who could have caused the disturbance. I've already roped the Twins into helping me look through the records. Unfortunately, we've only got access to the records of sorcerers we've found in the West. Beldin had records of the Mallorean sorcerers, Grolims and non-Grolims both. Would you please search those records for me?"
"Alright Belgarath. I'll get on it after I've laid this stone."
"Thank you Durnik. Oh, and you don't necessarily have to tell Pol about this. There's no point worrying her just yet," I told him mischievously.
"Belgarath! You know I won't lie to her," Durnik responded, shocked. Every now and then I really enjoy tweaking the nose of my son-in-law. I guess I'll never lose that mischievous streak.
"You don't have to. Just tell her nothing."
"Belgarath, she needs to know. I could probably use her help when she's free."
"Very well, Durnik. Tell her what you need to. I'll tell you if I find anything." With that, I left Durnik to return to my research.