Okay, here's the next Polgara chapter. I was hoping to have this done ages
ago (and that there would be a bit more of it), but I hit a block.
It didn't take me that long to get all of our affairs in the Vale in order. Within about a day I had almost everything ready (including a few things that the twins wanted me to take to my recalcitrant father) and I told my children "Pack your things, we're going to take a short trip to Riva."
Killane, who is the more assertive of my twins, chose to respond. "Really mother? That's great. We haven't seen Geran in ages. Come on, Ontrose. We've got to get ready." And with that, they set off to prepare for the journey.
Within an hour, they were ready and we had set off. While my twins are quite capable of riding, I didn't really want them to ride all the way to Riva so we ended up driving a rickety old cart that I had happened to find around the Vale one day. Isn't that a coincidence?
We had been on the road for a few days when coincidence reared its head yet again. We were of course going through Algaria (there was no way I was going to go through Ulgoland, even if it is less dangerous than normal and I did not want to try going through the Tolnedran mountains during winter) and when we had gotten a few leagues from the Stronghold, by coincidence Hettar and several of his children happened to chance across us. While I'm certain that he had no plans of his own, I am equally certain that somebody was tampering with things (and I have a pretty good idea who it was too. If Garion's friend ever decides to take up residence in my head I think I'll have a word or two with him about that habit of his). "Polgara," Hettar called out when he caught sight of us. "What brings you and your lovely children this way? I was planning to come visit you fairly soon."
"We're going to see Geran, uncle Hettar." Killane said.
"Are you? Well, I was just about to head over to Riva myself. It's just about time for the next meeting of the Alorn Council and my father wants me to represent Algaria this time. Would you like some company?"
"We don't need an escort, Hettar."
"Of course you don't. If there's any trouble out there, I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle. But surely it wouldn't do any harm if Algar, Islena and I went with you."
"Tag along if you must. We'll probably slow you down though."
"Torin, would you ride home with Sholana and tell your mother that we are going to Riva now? Tell her that she can come along with the rest of you if she wants. We shouldn't be that hard to find."
"Very well, father." With that, two of Hettar's children rode off.
"What brought you out this way, Hettar?" I asked him after we had set up camp for the night.
"I've heard some disturbing rumours recently. There are reports of fires being set and horses stolen. Indisputably several cows have vanished. If I didn't know better, I'd say that the Murgos are raiding again."
"But you do know better?"
"Yes. Urgit's got the border Murgos thoroughly in hand. Zakath had them pretty much cowed before he pulled out, and Urgit's carried on where he left off. Surprisingly, some of them are pretty decent sorts. We've even allowed a few to come and live peacefully in Algaria. They seem to be taking to the nomadic life well."
"Did you find any clues as to who's responsible?"
"No. Whoever it is, they seem to have vanished into thin air."
"Uncle Hettar," Ontrose put in unexpectedly, "could it be a man with a splotchy face and a lot of men in fur?"
"Ontrose? What do you mean?" I asked him.
"I had a dream a few nights ago. There was a man with a splotchy face talking to several men in fur. He said a lot, but I couldn't make it out. Afterwards, the fur wearers went out and came back with lots of meat. It felt . odd I suppose."
"Don't worry about it, Ontrose. I'm sure it's nothing," I said.
"Yes," Hettar agreed. "I haven't come across any evidence of fur clad men."
"Time for you to go to bed."
"Okay. Night mother. Night uncle Hettar."
Well, that's the end of this chapter. I have no clue when the next part will be done as I still haven't got over the block and there are other things I need to do.
It didn't take me that long to get all of our affairs in the Vale in order. Within about a day I had almost everything ready (including a few things that the twins wanted me to take to my recalcitrant father) and I told my children "Pack your things, we're going to take a short trip to Riva."
Killane, who is the more assertive of my twins, chose to respond. "Really mother? That's great. We haven't seen Geran in ages. Come on, Ontrose. We've got to get ready." And with that, they set off to prepare for the journey.
Within an hour, they were ready and we had set off. While my twins are quite capable of riding, I didn't really want them to ride all the way to Riva so we ended up driving a rickety old cart that I had happened to find around the Vale one day. Isn't that a coincidence?
We had been on the road for a few days when coincidence reared its head yet again. We were of course going through Algaria (there was no way I was going to go through Ulgoland, even if it is less dangerous than normal and I did not want to try going through the Tolnedran mountains during winter) and when we had gotten a few leagues from the Stronghold, by coincidence Hettar and several of his children happened to chance across us. While I'm certain that he had no plans of his own, I am equally certain that somebody was tampering with things (and I have a pretty good idea who it was too. If Garion's friend ever decides to take up residence in my head I think I'll have a word or two with him about that habit of his). "Polgara," Hettar called out when he caught sight of us. "What brings you and your lovely children this way? I was planning to come visit you fairly soon."
"We're going to see Geran, uncle Hettar." Killane said.
"Are you? Well, I was just about to head over to Riva myself. It's just about time for the next meeting of the Alorn Council and my father wants me to represent Algaria this time. Would you like some company?"
"We don't need an escort, Hettar."
"Of course you don't. If there's any trouble out there, I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle. But surely it wouldn't do any harm if Algar, Islena and I went with you."
"Tag along if you must. We'll probably slow you down though."
"Torin, would you ride home with Sholana and tell your mother that we are going to Riva now? Tell her that she can come along with the rest of you if she wants. We shouldn't be that hard to find."
"Very well, father." With that, two of Hettar's children rode off.
"What brought you out this way, Hettar?" I asked him after we had set up camp for the night.
"I've heard some disturbing rumours recently. There are reports of fires being set and horses stolen. Indisputably several cows have vanished. If I didn't know better, I'd say that the Murgos are raiding again."
"But you do know better?"
"Yes. Urgit's got the border Murgos thoroughly in hand. Zakath had them pretty much cowed before he pulled out, and Urgit's carried on where he left off. Surprisingly, some of them are pretty decent sorts. We've even allowed a few to come and live peacefully in Algaria. They seem to be taking to the nomadic life well."
"Did you find any clues as to who's responsible?"
"No. Whoever it is, they seem to have vanished into thin air."
"Uncle Hettar," Ontrose put in unexpectedly, "could it be a man with a splotchy face and a lot of men in fur?"
"Ontrose? What do you mean?" I asked him.
"I had a dream a few nights ago. There was a man with a splotchy face talking to several men in fur. He said a lot, but I couldn't make it out. Afterwards, the fur wearers went out and came back with lots of meat. It felt . odd I suppose."
"Don't worry about it, Ontrose. I'm sure it's nothing," I said.
"Yes," Hettar agreed. "I haven't come across any evidence of fur clad men."
"Time for you to go to bed."
"Okay. Night mother. Night uncle Hettar."
Well, that's the end of this chapter. I have no clue when the next part will be done as I still haven't got over the block and there are other things I need to do.