05.07.2005: Answers to reviews removed. See third chapter for reason.
Current music: System of a Down – "Toxicity"
CHAPTER 8
The little group, led by Dorgatan on his giant black stallion Zandail, cantered north for the better part of the day. Finally, exhaustion tugged at Belgarath and his daughter, so they opted for setting up shelter and calling it a day. Soon, a cooking fire crackled merrily in front of two canvas tents, and Polgara roasted a slab of meat while Belgarath, half-dazed with tiredness, sat next to her and stared into the flames. Dorgatan, however, was wide awake – after all, he had spent most of the night sleeping while they had been in a final conversation with their host Makor.
After they had eaten, the boyish God surprised them with a statement: "Tomorrow we're gonna turn west. I appreciate Makor's advice and think his knowledge of the Gods is commendable, but I have my reasons for not believing that this whole thing originated with the Troll Gods – not obvious enough, if you get my drift. The Troll Gods were never very good at concealing their schemes for long, and this would be rather atypical. Furthermore, there's bound to be dangers Styric secrets won't be able to avert if this really is originating with one God or the other – for they won't look at you thwarting whatever they're trying to accomplish with gathering energy in your world without doing anything. I know the perfect place to meet some friends who could be very helpful to our cause, especially since..."
"Since what?" Belgarath asked yawning.
"Well, since they hold their annual meeting next week. It would be the best time to arrange for a bigger traveling party."
"And what is so special about these people, if one may ask?" Polgara added a question of her own.
"One of them is the crown prince of Elenia, the interim preceptor of the Pandion Order of Church Knights and Anakha, the Man Without Destiny and Slayer of Gods, for starters."
Polgara chuckled a little bit at that. "Somehow we always seem to end up in the company of somebody who has killed at least one God, Old Wolf."
Belgarath's only comment on that was a grunt.
"And who are the other people you want to team us up with?"
Dorgatan opened his mouth, as if to continue his explanations, but then he seemed to reconsider. Finally, he said with a grin: "You will see when we get there. Just know that they're all pretty illustrious fellows."
"Have it your way, boy," Belgarath mumbled sourly.
A few hours later, night had finally claimed their part of the world, Belgarath lay in his tent and thought about things while he listened to the restrained, ladylike snore of Polgara in the tent next to his.
'She would never admit that she snores, even if I could prove it.' The thought amused him for some reason.
Dorgatan had promised to keep watch, as he wasn't particular tired, but when Belgarath had left the tent for nature's call, the boyish God was nowhere to be seen. The old sorcerer was guessing that he wasn't too far though – after all, he had no reason to lie to them about keeping watch and then sneak away.
He wondered why Aldur had chosen him and Polgara specifically for this mission. Why not Poledra, his wife? Why not the twins, one or both of them? Why did he not sent Durnik along with Polgara?
'Well, Durnik is easy... somebody has to watch over the twins', he mused. 'Poledra... I wonder... I know he could not have known what exactly was behind the gate; after all, this is not part of his realm. But did he know somehow that our magic might not work here? Maybe he saw himself unable to predict what would become of her. Yes, she has spent as much time as a human as she has as a wolf, but who knows what might have happened in the transition between the worlds... she might have reverted to her wolf-form, for all we know right now, and although I would have been able to talk to her – knowledge of the wolfish language is no magic, after all – it would have been impossible for her to learn the secrets or even talk to other people...'
After an hour of contemplation, he gave up on the question whether Aldur had had some deeper motives in sending him and Pol, of all the possible pairs he could have sent, and settled for the simpler theory that Aldur had most likely sent him and his daughter, because the God was used to them solving his problems when he called on them.
After he had reached this conclusion, he decided to step outside and take a breath of fresh air. He got to his feet and inhaled the slightly chilly night air deeply, stretching as he did so. Then, something caught his attention: In the small group of trees close to their tents, he could make out two glowing figures. They seemed to be conversing with each other, but he could not tell for sure; he was too far away to be certain.
Fighting with himself whether he should go closer and take a look, or whether he should go back to sleep, his curiosity won. He crept up to the first row of trees. There, he could see that he had been right: Two persons, one female, one male, glowing in a pale pastel light, perfect beauty displayed in their ageless faces, and they were talking to eath other.
"... I am not sure I can bully him into this, Dorgatan," the female blurted out, her voice soft as birdsong.
Belgarath lifted an eyebrow. THIS was Dorgatan?
"You have to anyway, if my theory proves true, dear sister," the incredibly handsome male who did not seem at all like the always-grinning boy they had come to know as Dorgatan answered sternly in a sonorous baritone.
"IF it proves to be true, Dorgatan," the female – a Goddess? – replied testily. "Our brothers and sisters are still not quite inclined to believe the things you say about the Elder Gods."
"Please, Aphrael!" Dorgatan's voice had a definite pleading ring to it now. "Even if I am wrong – what does it hurt to pursue the possibility? Nothing, right?"
Aphrael seemed to think about his proposal for a minute, then she sighed in mock anger, unable to fully conceal a smile that crept up on her face. "All right, Dorgatan – as you have always been one of my favorite siblings, and as we have had some rather interesting adventures in the past, I'll see what I can do – for old time's sake."
She flashed him a display of pearly-white teeth in a sudden grin. "And who knows – it might just be a lot of fun! I don't think they will object too much; after all, they all adore me!"
And with these words, she vanished.
Belgarath grinned as he made his way back to his tent, trying to be back inside before Dorgatan caught a glimpse of him. These Younger Gods sure were an interesting bunch, whatever they had talked about back there.
There you go – a new chapter! Will try to finish another one before they shut down the servers for maintenance...
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