Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it belongs to David/Leigh Eddings. Unfortunately.

Rating: G

Summary: A series of nine drabbles spanning the childhood, teenage, and early twenty years of Crown Prince Garan of Riva. People come, people go, and all leave a distinct mark on our persons. This explores some of the more important figures in Garan's life, and the lasting effects they had on him.

All right, I admit it. Bad-bad-bad-bad-bad. I spelled Garan's name wrong. Hannah looked at the papers and screeched, "Mini-balrog!" (even though I suppose in this case it would be 'mini-eldrak', or something equally offensive). So I have corrected all of the spelling crimes and shall be very careful from now on. My only excuse is that the only copies of the books that I read belong to Hannah.

I suppose it's slightly ironic that I won't be able to update tomorrow because I'll be competing at the Regional Spelling Bee. ::coughs:: Yes. Well. Carry on!

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Part Two: Poledra

Poledra surveyed the pups before her bemusedly. The Prince and the Scamp roughhoused on the ship's top deck amidst panting and giggles. Finally, the wolf pup grew weary of the game and sat back on his haunches, tongue lolling.

What shall we do next? he inquired. Poledra smiled.

"He asks if you wish to continue your game," she translated.

That is not what I said, the young wolf objected.

"It is time to eat, Grandmother. I'm hungry."

"Why don't you tell him that?"

"I don't know how!"

"Then learn."

"What shall I say?"

"Start with 'wolf'. Say it like this."