Yup, this time, it didn't take a week – I have some time on my hands and thought "well, why don't you write some more?"And here it is!
05.09.2005: Answers to reviews removed - see chapter 3 for details.
Current Music: None, don't feel like it.
DISCLAIMER: Worlds and characters are property of David Eddings. I do not claim them as mine and only use them for non-commercial purposes.
CHAPTER 29
It took the better part of two months for the Church Knights, the Styrics and the two Younger Gods to get back to Cimmura, where they had started from. Nobody quite knew why Dorgatan had opted to stay with them, now that his charges had gone back to their own world. He seemed content to stick with them and talk to Aphrael when the Child Goddess was bored – who were they to ask him about it?
Finally, the castle, the highest point of the city, began appearing behind a hilltop. Khalad sniffed the air, then nodded with part disgust, part approval.
"It's Cimmura, alright – no other city smells like this!"
Sparhawk, who had recovered from having been Anakha again by now, smiled.
"Smells like home to me."
After passing the gate and riding through the masses of people moving about Cimmura, they finally reached the castle. Obviously, one of the guards had alerted Queen Ehlana to the return of her husband; they were barely out of the stables where they had brought the horses when the young queen came walking across the courtyard, a delighted smile on her face. Behind them, some more of their friends followed: Mirtai and Kring, Talen, Kalten and Alean.
Ehlana flung herself into Sparhawk's arms, covering his face with kisses.
"Welcome home, Sparhawk!"
Sparhawk looked down into her face; her eyes were glowing, her cheeks flushed. He knew she would bombard him with questions later, but right now, she was happy to have her husband back – just as happy as he was to be home. And had he heard an unspoken promise in her voice...?
He did not have time to ponder on it, because now Kalten had reached the group.
"Welcome back, old friend! I came by to show off our firstborn, just to learn that you had gone off on an adventure again. Couldn't you have waited a few weeks with that? I wouldn't have minded getting around with all of you again..."
Alean's gaze could have melted stone.
"Ride off and leave me alone with the boy? Kalten, you have a responsibility..."
Kalten embraced his wife. "Just kidding, my dear. I wouldn't give my time with you and Degan for anything in the world."
Just then, a small yelp of pain escaped Talen. Obviously, the young man had tried to pick a pocket – "just for old times' sake", as he would hasten to reply if found out. Unfortunately for him, the pocket he had tried to steal from had been Dorgatan's. A small mousetrap now sat on his fingertips, which already began to swell. Khalad laughed.
"Wrong pocket, Talen – you don't steal from Gods."
Talen's eyes narrowed when he looked at Aphrael, then at Dorgatan.
"Family, I gather?"
Aphrael nodded, grinning at him.
"Naturally. And not only that – he is to be the new Patron God of the Alciones."
Tynian, who had been in conversation with Bevier, turned around at that.
"How did that come to be?" he asked with interest.
"Well," Dorgatan began, "I had long talk with Setras one or two years ago. He told me that, while he adores working with you Alcione knights, he would like to, I quote 'take a little time-out for concentrating more on his art'."
Tynian raised an eyebrow at that.
"So you're only filling in for him until he is done with his 'time-out'?"
Dorgatan nodded.
"Yes. But you should know that for us, a 'little time-out' can last centuries. I believe Setras just has enough of the responsibility – he never was a big fan of that, although it sort of comes with Godhood... well, anyway, when you leave, I will be coming with you to speak to your preceptor back in Deira."
Meanwhile, one of Alean's handmaidens had arrived with the child on her arm. The baby boy paid no attention to his surroundings – he was fast asleep. He woke up, however, when the woman turned him over to his mother. His eyes, blue as the sky, opened, and he began talking to his mother in typical baby-pidgin. Alean cooed right back: What a good baby he was, how beautiful a boy he was, and so it went on.
Sephrenia and Vanion stood nearby, watching the young mother.
"You know, my love," Vanion sighed with a smile, "I begin to regret that I was never able to have children of my own. I have been married to the Mother Church for too long. And now, I fear it is too late to think about it anymore."
Sephrenia gazed up at him, her smile radiant as it had never been. That was all it took for the former Pandion preceptor to understand her, without her ever saying a word.
"I thought Polgara's cooking... but you are..."
His wife nodded, which he took for a reason to sweep her up in his arms.
Domi Kring of the Peloi had been waiting for a chance to talk to Bevier. When Tynian was occupied with talking to Dorgatan, he saw his chance, walked over and said under his breath:
"Thank you for sending Aphrael to warn us, Sir Knight. We managed to catch somebody poisoning Mirtai's food and took appropriate action to make sure it doesn't happen again. Please, Sir Knight, don't tell my wife about this – she would start killing people if she knew what some of my people have been up to again, and I would like to avoid further bloodshed. We are indebted to you for what you have done."
Bevier smiled down at the bendy-legged leader of the western Peloi.
"Mirtai won't hear a word from me, I promise – and: Don't mention it, I am glad I could help."
Further conversations were ended abruptly when a servant called out to them.
"Dinner is served, your Majesty, your Highness, Sirs and Ladies..."
Thus, the group entered the castle, happy that another dangerous adventure had come to a good end – and eager to gorge themselves on masses of well- prepared food. Aphrael had vanished, to reunite herself with the mortal shell of Princess Danae – but in all the talking and laughing, nobody had taken notice.
One more chapter left! As a lot of people missed Kalten and Talen, here at least some small glimpses at them! Okay, this crowd is back home... now for Belgarath and Polgara returning to their loved ones. Comments appreciated!