Now, it might go on slowly for another week or so, because I plan to speed through the Tamuli as well, just so I am sure that I am not missing any important information. But after that, I might just pick up my 2-chaps-a- day-routine again g
05.07.2005: Answers to reviews removed. See chapter 3 for reasons.Current Music: Nightwish – No Album in particular, just a mix of their first three albums... still just beautiful! Can't wait for their concert in August!
CHAPTER 11
"Hold on for a minute," Prince Sparhawk interrupted Aphrael's musings. "Before you and your friend make plans for our voyage, first you might want to come up with an excuse for Archprelate Dolmant and your mother, because I don't think they will accept the story Dorgatan has just told us. I don't even know yet whether I can accept the concept of a world where they breathe the same air we do, talk like we do and do magic like we do."
The Child Goddess gave it some thought and then reluctantly agreed. "You are right, Sparhawk. First of all, we should make up a story about their background. Then we have to find a reason to go with them when they leave Cimmura."
Ulath scratched his temple with one of his giant hands. "We could say that Stragen and Melidere sent them from Thalesia. They could be thieves working for them."
Stragen and Melidere were married by now, and managing the underside of Emsat, the capital of Thalesia, in a joint effort. Platime often made the Queen laugh with the accounts of their outrageous exploits.
Dorgatan nodded. "Good idea. It has just one little fault: Belgarath and Polgara are unarmed right now. We should change that to make them look their role."
Polgara looked at the boy who had consented to be their Patron God for the time of their stay in this world, slightly surprised. "But wouldn't most weapons be made of steel? I thought we weren't supposed to touch it while under your patronage."
The Styric God shook his head. "I agreed to watch over you in exchange for worship – there's nothing in our contract that says you have to turn Styric. While I don't particularly enjoy the stench of steel and refuse to eat pork, you do not have to do the same. And I believe it is a good idea to arm you, because while you have picked up more magic than the average Church Knight, it will not be enough to ward off all enemies. Who knows when you might get into a situation where our travel companions won't be there, and you have to defend yourself?"
"Then it's settled," Aphrael declared. "Ulath, please guide them to the armory and help them pick out a weapon, while we think up how to explain our search for the source of the draining to Sarathi and Mother."
The Genidian Knight nodded wordlessly and motioned the two disciples of Aldur to follow him out of the room.
Belgarath and Polgara had followed the tall Thalesian through a few hallways and had climbed or descended flights of stairs for some minutes until they arrived at a thick wooden door. There had been no conversation on their way there – Ulath did not seem a man of many words.
The Genidian opened the door and motioned them to come inside. The room was filled with dozens of rapiers, short and long swords, light and heavy daggers, shields, lances and armor of various colors and builds.
"Do you have any proficiency with a particular type of weapon, friend Belgarath?", he asked the old sorcerer.
"A simple one-handed sword will do nicely, Sir Ulath," Belgarath replied with a smile. "It has been a while since I last practiced, but I figure it will be the easiest weapon to deal with for me."
He strode over to the wall where a collection of swords was displayed and swung some of them to determine which one would be the best blade to wield for him. Ulath nodded approvingly and turned to Polgara. "And a light dagger for the lady...?" he began, but stopped talking when he saw that the beautiful woman with the incandescent white lock in her dark hair had already helped herself; she had chosen a set of four heavy daggers with rows of long vicious-looking hooks halfway up the blade. She had fastened two of the hilts to her lower legs, and two of them hung on a belt around her waist. Polgara held two of the polished, double-bladed knives in her hands, testing their sharpness with her fingers.
Ulath walked up to her, starting to say: "Do you think those blades are manageable for a..." He didn't get to finish his sentence, however, because one of the blades Polgara had just looked at idly suddenly was at his throat, and the other one's point hovered an inch away from his stomach. She grinned up at him. "Let us just say that I've had my share of practice with blades like these, Sir Ulath."
Belgarath, who hadn't missed his daughter's little demonstration of her skills with the daggers, laughed and stepped over to them. The sword he had chosen dangled in an elegant hilt at his side. "Pol, I just knew that deep down in your heart, you always have been a Nadrak woman."
Polgara let her two blades slide back into the hilts at her belt in one fluid movement. "I've lived among them long enough to pick up the finer points of dagger fighting – and what can I say? Those women just know how to train their men!"
"Poor Durnik," was all Belgarath had to say to that.
But Ulath, obviously greatly interested, inquired: "Are all the women in this Nadrak country as proficient with the daggers as you are, Lady Polgara?"
"Some of them even more so, Sir Ulath," the sorceress answered. "Nadrak women grow up learning to fight with them – for they will need it later to fend off men until they consent to be the property of one."
"Nadrak women are property?" Ulath seemed to warm up to the topic.
"Yes, but on their terms, Sir Ulath. They can not be bought or sold without their agreeing to it, and they get half their price to keep for themselves. Furthermore, owning a Nadrak woman does not bestow any rights on their owner – if he puts his fingers on the woman without her consent, she will not hesitate to use the daggers on him, as well."
Ulath's eyes widened. "Nadrak men seem to lead a dangerous life," he concluded.
"Yes," Belgarath agreed, "but most of them seem to think it is worth it. The dance of the Nadrak women is legendary in our world, and it is said that their prowess extends to other areas as well."
"I hope you did not make this experience first hand, Old Wolf," Polgara teased. "Mother might not like to hear about it."
Belgarath chose to ignore that comment. "We should return to the others," he said to Ulath. "Maybe they have come up with a plausible explanation for our quest yet, and we can start further preparations for the journey."
Okay, that's it for Chapter 11. I hope you like it – it's hard getting into writing again after having been away from it for a week... but I'll manage ;-)
Might try to write another right now... after that, it might be a few more days' break until I am through the Tamuli. Please drop me a line!