Current Music: Oomph! – "Wahrheit oder Pflicht"
05.07.2005: Answers to reviews removed. See chapter 3 for details.
Disclaimer: None of the characters and names, except Zoltach, Galtan, Nemea, Lugath, and Dorgatan are mine, they are intellectual property of David Eddings.
CHAPTER 5
It took a few minutes for Aldur's disciples to fully grasp the vastness of what Galtan just had disclosed to them; they even forgot to wonder about the fact that they could suddenly communicate with their host. Finally, Belgarath asked the Styric,
"Excuse me, Galtan, but could you specify what exactly those people told you when you first met them? I am curious about what exactly you mean by 'obliteration'."
Galtan shrugged. "Their accounts of what happened differ from person to person. Some have claimed that they have wished at some point that they be taken from the cruel world they lived in – and it happened. Others told us that they had wished a person or thing might simply vanish – and their wish turned on themselves and brought them here. Finally, very few actually claimed magic powers and told us that they had willingly tried to end their existence, but instead wound up in our midst."
Polgara nodded and replied: "That sounds by all means like the Will and the Word we are employing in our world. The first two groups seem to be people whose Will awakened within them without their realizing it. Our kind of sorcery expressively forbids us to unmake things – if we try, the universe turns against us and removes the wrongdoer himself. So, it doesn't matter whether the person tries to will himself or something or somebody else out of existence – the result stays the same."
Her father had been sitting between her and Galtan in silence since his last question, apparently deep in thought. Now Belgarath looked up.
"That would mean that the last group you mentioned would have to be sorcerers who knew what they were doing."
"It is possible," Galtan replied. "However, the powers they claimed were nonexistent when they tried to prove their story here. Since none of them – and you neither – seem to be lying, there must be another explanation. We suspect that, since this world is not governed by the Gods you serve, the ability to use the "Will", as you call it, just does not seem to be a part of the Laws the Gods have set up for the workings of this world. In return, the Styric secrets would not work in your realm, as none of the Younger or Elder Gods of Styricum hold power over it."
Belgarath nodded and asked: "Do you know of any such sorcerers in this vicinity?"
"Not many of them exist, and not all of them stayed with us," came the answer. "Some, however, have taken on Styric beliefs and live among us, protected and adored by our Gods. I believe that one of these people lives in one of our villages about ten leagues from here. His name eludes me at the moment; but if you consent to stay with us for the night, I shall give you horses and directions to his house."
The sorcerer shook his head. "We will take directions gladly – but we cannot take horses from you..." Seeing the questioning look in Galtan's eyes, he explained: "Your people don't seem to be blessed with riches, Galtan, and we would feel bad to take horses from you."
The reaction of the Styric surprised him: Galtan actually started laughing.
"Excuse me, Belgarath, but it seems you fell for the ruse of our appearance, and that of our village. It is true that we don't own a great deal, but we are not as poor as we might appear. This village is set up the way it is to soothe the attitudes of the Elenes around us. As I mentioned, most of them don't like us very much, but as long as we don't appear to be a threat, they largely leave us alone."
"Largely?" Polgara's left eyebrow rose in emphasis of the question.
Lugath's face showed anger when he decided to contribute to the conversation – in perfectly understandable language.
"Here and there, Elene peasants build up their superstitions to a point where they come and raid Styric villages. After all, we are only Heathens and Pagans in their eyes..."
"Lugath!" Galtan's voice lashed out at the man, who stopped his tirade immediately. Then, he turned towards Polgara, who seemed slightly taken aback by Lugath's elaborations.
"Excuse Lugath's rashness, Polgara, but old habits die hard. In fact, in the three years since Queen Ehlana and Prince Sparhawk have returned from Daresia, the militant orders of the Elene Church have spread word about what they would do to people who raided Styric villages. Their announcements have worked wondrously – there haven't been any raids for almost three years. The last groups who tried were made into an example by the knights – a quite gruesome example, I have heard. While I don't condone violence, I have to admit a slight amount of satisfaction about ignorance being set straight in this particular way.
"Anyway, now that you know our initial reasons for living in these conditions, know that we have not changed yet for the simple reason of being used to our village. Other Styric villages have not been so attached to their way of life – They live in better houses now. And Sarsos, the Styric City in Astel on the Daresian continent, is and has been a wonder of the modern world – All houses are sheathed in marble, the roads are broader and cleaner than in any Elene city, there are uncounted little parks and flower patches – it shows Styricum's true face. Furthermore, our small community is not poor; we have everything we need, and we don't strive for wealth. You can take our horses, I wouldn't have offered them, if we couldn't spare them."
Polgara broke into a smile. "Then we accept your offer with thanks, Galtan. I would like to meet these church knights – they seem to be sensible people."
Her smile was infectious; it spread to her father and Galtan, then it made its way to the opposite site of the fire and touched Nemea's and Dorgatan's lips. Finally, and with some timidity, even Lugath joined in.
"Excuse me, lady," he apologized. "I have spoken before I thought. Of course Galtan is right – since the Elene Church has stated explicitly that it wouldn't stand for cruelty in its name, and has made clear that it would force this policy, the attacks have stopped. Furthermore, our Gods have asked us to stop wallowing in endless self-pity – some Styrics were blaming people for things their ancestors did centuries ago – and forget about the past, so that we would be free of the collective bias a lot of us carried in their hearts. They were right – we are greeted with much more friendliness than before. Whether this is because of our change of heart or because the Church Knights promised to turn anybody inside-out who killed a Styric and did not do so in self-defense, I can't say."
Belgarath grinned at his daughter. "Those knights might not be Arends or Alorns – but their methods sound very familiar."
Galtan had gotten up while Lugath had spoken.
"You have to excuse me now, dear guests." He bowed in both their directions and then added: "It is late. You should go to bed now – it is a long way to the magician's house, you will have to ride most of tomorrow. I will wait with your horses ready in front of the house tomorrow morning. Good night."
And with these words, he departed.
There we go, Chapter 5 of the story is here! Might write another one tonight, don't know yet...
Drop me a line if you liked it!