David Eddings - Belgariad 5 Enchanter's End Game.pdf - David Eddings - margozap

The Belgariad: Enchanter's End GameENCHANTER'S END GAME

And finally,

for Leigh, my beloved wife,

whose hand and thought have touched every page,

and who has joined me in this making - even as she joins me in all that

I do.

PROLOGUE

Being an account of beginnings-and endings

Excerpts from The Book of Torak~

HEAR ME, YE Angaraks, for I am Torak, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Bow

before my Name and worship me with prayers and with sacrifices, for I am your

God and I have dominion over all the realms of the Angaraks. And great shall be

my wrath if ye displease me.

I was, before the world was made. I shall be, after the mountains crumble into

sand, the seas dwindle to stagnant pools, and the world shrivels and is no more.

For I was before time and shall be after.

From the timeless reaches of Infinity, I gazed upon the future. And I beheld

that there were two Destinies and that they must rush toward each other from the

endless corridors of Eternity. Each Destiny was Absolute, and in that final

meeting, all that was divided should be made one. In that instant, all that was,

all that is, and all that was yet to be should be gathered into one Purpose.

#Editor's Note: This version, said to be from the dread Book of Torak, is one of

several circulated among the Nadraks. Since only the high Grolims were permitted

official copies of the work, it is impossible to establish that this version is

authentic, though internal evidence suggests that much of it may be. A true copy

of the complete Book of Torak is believed to be in the library of King Anheg of

Cherek, but this was not available for comparison.

And because of my Vision, I led my six brothers to join hands to make all that

is, in fulfillment of the needs of the Destinies. Thus we set the moon and the

sun in their courses and we brought forth this world. We covered the world with

forests and grasses and made beasts, fowls, and fishes to fill the lands and

skies and waters which we had made.

But our Father took no joy in this creation which I had caused to be. He turned

his face from our labor to contemplate the Absolute. I went alone into the high

places of Korim, which are no more, and I cried out to him to accept what I had

made. But he rejected the work I had caused to be and turned from me. Then I

hardened my heart against him and went down from that place, fatherless

evermore.

Once more I counseled my brothers, and we joined our hands and brought forth man

to be the instrument of our will. We created man as many peoples. And to each

people, we gave a choice to select among us the one who should be their God. And

the peoples chose from us, save only that no people chose Aldur, who was ever

contrary and discontented that we would not grant him dominion. Then Aldur

withdrew himself from among us and sought to entice our servants away from us

with enchantments. But few were they who accepted him.

The peoples who were mine called themselves the Angaraks. I was well pleased

with them and I led them to the high places of Korim, which are no more, and to

them I revealed the nature of the Purpose for which I had caused the world to

be.

Then they worshipped me with prayers and offered burnt offerings unto me. And I

blessed them, and they prospered and grew numerous. In their gratitude they

raised up an altar to me and there made sacrifice to me of their fairest maidens

and a portion of their bravest youths. And I was well pleased with them and

again I blessed them, so that they prospered above all other men and multiplied

exceedingly.

Now the heart of Aldur was filled with envy for the worship that was given to

me, and he was driven with despite for me. Then did he conspire against me

within the secret places of his soul, and he took up a stone and breathed life

into it, that it might thwart my Purpose. And in that stone he sought to gain

dominion over me. Thus Cthrag Yaska came to be. And there was eternal enmity

sealed within Cthrag Yaska against me. And Aldur sat apart with those whom he

called his disciples and plotted how the stone should give him dominion.

I saw that the accursed stone had divided Aldur from me and from his other

brothers. And I went to Aldur and remonstrated with him, begging that he lift

the wicked enchantment from the stone and take back the life he had breathed

into it. This I did that Aldur might no longer be divided from his brothers.

Yea, I did even weep and abase myself before him.

But already the evil stone had gained possession over the soul of Aldur, and he

had hardened his heart against me. And I saw then that the stone which Aldur had

created would forever hold my brother in thralldom. And he spoke slightingly to

me and would have driven me forth.

Then for the love I bore him and to save him from the evil course which my

Vision revealed, I struck my brother Aldur down and took from him the accursed

rock. And I bore Cthrag Yaska away to bend my will upon it and to still the

malice within it and quell the wickedness for which it was created. So it was

that I took the burden of the thing which Aldur had created upon myself.

Aldur was wroth with me. He went to our brothers and spoke to them falsely

against me. And each of them came to me and spoke slightingly to me, commanding

that I return to Aldur that which had twisted his soul and which I had taken to

free him from the enchantment of it. But I resisted.

Then they girded for war. The sky was blackened with the smoke of their forges

as their peoples beat out weapons of iron to spill the blood of my Angaraks upon

the ground. When the year turned, their hosts marched forth and onto the lands

of the Angaraks. And my brothers loomed tall in the forefront of the hosts.

Now was I greatly loath to lift my hand against them. Yet I could not permit

that they should despoil the lands of my people or loose the blood of those who

worshipped me. And I knew that from such war between my brothers and me could

come only evil. In that struggle, the Destinies I had seen might be sent against

each other before it was time, and the universe be shaken apart in that meeting.

And so I chose that which I feared, but which was less evil than the danger I

foresaw. I took up the accursed Cthrag Yaska and raised it against the earth

itself. And in me lay the Purpose of one Destiny, while the Purpose of the other

was affixed within the stone Aldur had created. The weight of all that was or

will be was upon us, and the earth could not bear our weight. Then did her

mantle rend asunder before me, and the sea rushed in to drown the dry land. Thus

were the peoples separated one from the other, that they might not come upon

each other and their blood be spilled.

But such was the malice which Aldur had wrought within the stone that it smote

me with fire as I raised it to divide the world and prevent evil bloodshed. Even

as I spoke the commands unto it, it burst into dreadful fire and smote me. The

hand with which I held it was consumed and the eye with which I beheld it was

blinded. One half of my face was marred by its burning. And I, who had been the

fairest among my brothers, was now abhorrent to the eyes of all, and I must

cover my face with a living mask of steel, lest they shun me.

An agony filled me from the evil that was done me, and pain lived within me,

which could never be quenched until the foul stone could be freed of its evil

and could repent of its malice.

But the dark sea stood between my people and those who would come against them,

and my enemies fled in terror of that which I had done. Yea, even my brothers

fled from the world which we had made, for they dared no longer come against me.

Yet still did they conspire with their followers in spirit form.

Then I bore my people away to the wastelands of Mallorea and there caused them

to build a mighty city on a sheltered place. They named it Cthol Mishrak, as a

remembrance of the suffering I had undergone for them. And I concealed their

city with a cloud that should ever be above it.

Then I had a cask of iron forged, and in it I bound Cthrag Yaska, that the evil

stone should never again be free to unleash its power to destroy flesh. For a

thousand years and still another thousand years I labored, contending with the

stone that I might release the curse of malice which Aldur had laid upon it.

Great were the enchantments and words of power which I cast at the obdurate

stone, but still its evil fire burned when I came near to it, and I felt its

curse lying ever upon the world.

Then Belar, youngest and most rash of my brothers, conspired against me with

Aldur, who still bore hatred and jealousy within his soul toward me. And Belar

spoke in spirit to his uncouth people, the Alorns, and set them against me. The

spirit of Aldur sent Belgarath, the disciple in whom he had most wholly

instilled his despite, to join with them. And the foul counsel of Belgarath

prevailed upon Cherek, chief of the Alorns, and upon his three sons.

By evil sorcery, they passed the barrier of the sea I had caused to be and they

came like thieves in the night to the city of Cthol Mishrak. By stealth and low

cunning, they crept through my tower of iron and made their way to the chest

that held the evil stone.

The youngest son of Cherek, whom men called Riva Iron-grip, had been so woven

about with spells and enchantments that he could take up the accursed stone and

not perish. And they fled with it to the west.

With the warriors of my people I pursued them, that the curse of Cthrag Yaska

not again be loosed upon the land. But the one called Riva raised the stone and

loosed its evil fire upon my people. Thus the thieves escaped, bearing the evil

of the stone with them into their lands of the west.

Then I pulled down the mighty city of Cthol Mishrak, that my people must flee

from its ruins. And I divided the Angaraks into tribes. The Nadraks I set in the

north to guard the ways in which the thieves had come. The Thulls, broad of back

for the bearing of burdens, I set in the middle lands. The Murgos, fiercest of

my people, I sent to the south. And the most numerous I kept with me in

Mallorea, to serve me and multiply against a day when I should have need of an

army against the west.

Above all these peoples I set the Grolims and instructed them in enchantments

and wizardry, that they be a priesthood to me and watch over the zeal of all

others. And them I instructed to keep my altars burning and to be unceasing in

their sacrifices to me.

Belgarath, in his wickedness, had sent Riva with the accursed stone to rule an

island in the Sea of Winds. And there Belar caused two stars to fall to earth.

From these, Riva forged a sword and set Cthrag Yaska into its pommel.

And when Riva gripped that sword, the universe shuddered about me, and I cried

out, for my Vision had opened to me, revealing much that had been hidden before.

I saw that Belgarath's sorcerous daughter should in time be my bride, and I

rejoiced. But I also saw that a Child of Light would descend from Riva's loins,

and he would be an instrument of that Destiny which opposed that other Destiny

which gave me my Purpose. Then would come a day when I must wake from some long

sleep to face the sword of the Child of Light. And upon that day, the two

Destinies would clash, with only one victor alive and one Destiny thenceforth.

But which was not revealed.

Long I pondered this Vision, but no more was revealed. And a thousand years

passed, and even more.

Then I called to me Zedar, a wise and just man who had fled from the malice of

Aldur's teachings and had come unto me with an offer of service. And I sent him

to the court of the Serpent People who dwelt among swamps in the west. Their God

was Issa, but he was ever lazy and he slept, leaving the people who called

themselves Ny-Issans to the sole rule of their queen. And to her Zedar did make

certain offers, which were pleasing to her. And she sent her assassins as

emissaries to the court of Riva's descendants. There did they slay all of that

line, save only one child who chose to drown himself in the sea.

Thus did the Vision err, for what Child of Light can be born when none remain to

bear him?

And thus have I assured that my Purpose shall be served and that the evil of

Aldur and his brothers shall not destroy the world which I caused to be created.

The Kingdoms of the West which have harkened unto the counsel and beguilements

of wicked Gods and evil sorcerers will be brought unto the dust. And I will

harry those who sought to deny me and confound me and multiply their suffering.

And they shall be brought low and they shall fall before me, offering themselves

as a sacrifice upon my altars.

And the time shall come when I have Lordship and dominion over all the earth,

and all peoples shall be mine.

Hear me, ye peoples, and fear me. Bow down before me and worship me. For I am

Torak, forever King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and God alone to this world which I

have caused to be.

Part One

GAR OG NADRAK

Chapter One

THERE WAS, GARION decided, something definitely mournful about the sound of mule

bells. The mule was not a particularly loveable animal to begin with, and there

was a subtle difference to his gait that imparted a lugubrious note to a bell

hung about his neck. The mules were the property of a Drasnian merchant named

Mulger, a lanky, hard-eyed man in a green doublet, who - for a price - had

allowed Garion, Silk, and Belgarath to accompany him on his trek into Gar og

Nadrak. Mulger's mules were laden with trade goods, and Mulger himself seemed to

carry a burden of preconceptions and prejudices almost as heavy as a fully

loaded mule pack. Silk and the worthy merchant had disliked each other at first

sight, and Silk amused himself by baiting his countryman as they rode eastward

across the rolling moors toward the jagged peaks that marked the boundary

between Drasnia and the land of the Nadraks. Their discussions, hovering just on

the verge of wrangling, grated on Garion's nerves almost as much as the tiresome

clanging of the bells on Mulger's mules.

Garion's edginess at this particular time came from a very specific source. He

was afraid. There was no point in trying to conceal that fact from himself. The

cryptic words of the Mrin Codex had been explained to him in precise detail. He

was riding toward a meeting that had been ordained since the beginning of time,

and there was absolutely no way he could avoid it. The meeting was the end

result of not one, but two distinct Prophecies, and even if he could persuade

one of them that there had been a mistake someplace, the other would drive him

to the confrontation without mercy or the slightest consideration for his

personal feelings.

"I think you're missing the point, Ambar," Mulger was saying to Silk with that

kind of acid precision some men use when talking to someone they truly despise.

"My patriotism or lack of it has nothing to do with the matter. The well-being

of Drasnia depends on trade, and if you people in the Foreign Service keep

hiding your activities by posing as merchants, it won't be long before an honest

Drasnian isn't welcome anywhere." Mulger, with that instinct that seemed inborn

in all Drasnians, had instantly recognized the fact that Silk was not what he

pretended to be.

"Oh, come now, Mulger," Silk replied with an airy condescension, "don't be so

naive. Every kingdom in the world conceals its intelligence activities in

exactly the same way. The Tolnedrans do it; the Murgos do it; even the Thulls do

it. What do you want me to do - walk around with a sign on my chest reading

'spy'?"

"Frankly, Ambar, I don't care what you do," Mulger retorted, his lean face

hardening. "All I can say is that I'm getting very tired of being watched

everyplace I go, just because you people can't be trusted."

Silk shrugged with an impudent grin. "It's the way the world is, Mulger. You

might as well get used to it, because it's not going to change."

Mulger glared at the rat-faced little man helplessly, then turned abruptly and

rode back to keep company with his mules.

"Aren't you pushing it a little?" Belgarath suggested, lifting his head from the

apparent doze in which he usually rode. "If you irritate him enough, he'll

denounce you to the border guards, and we'll never get into Gar og Nadrak."

"Mulger's not going to say a word, old friend," Silk assured him. "If he does,

he'll be held for investigation, too, and there's not a merchant alive who

doesn't have a few things concealed in his packs that aren't supposed to be

there."

"Why don't you just leave him alone?" Belgarath asked.

"It gives me something to do," Silk replied with a shrug. "Otherwise I'd have to

look at the scenery, and eastern Drasnia bores me."

Belgarath grunted sourly, pulled his gray hood up over his head, and settled

back into his nap.

Garion returned to his melancholy thoughts. The gorse bushes which covered the

rolling moors had a depressing gray-green color to them, and the North Caravan

Route wound like a dusty white scar across them. The sky had been overcast for

nearly two weeks, though there was no hint of moisture in the clouds. They

plodded along through a dreary, shadowless world toward the stark mountains

looming on the horizon ahead.

It was the unfairness of it all that upset Garion the most. He had never asked

for any of this. He did not want to be a sorcerer. He did not want to be the

Rivan King. He was not even sure that he really wanted to marry Princess

Ce'Nedra - although he was of two minds about that. The little Imperial Princess

could be - usually when she wanted something - absolutely adorable. Most of the

time, however, she did not want anything, and her true nature emerged. If he had

consciously sought any of this, he could have accepted the duty which lay on him

with a certain amount of resignation. He had been given no choice in the matter,

though, and he found himself wanting to demand of the uncaring sky, "Why me?"

He rode on beside his dozing grandfather with only the murmuring song of the Orb

of Aldur for company, and even that was a source of irritation. The Orb, which

stood on the pommel of the great sword strapped to his back, sang to him

endlessly with a kind of silly enthusiasm. It might be all ver well for the Orb

to exult about the meeting with Torak, but it was Garion who was going to have

to face the Dragon-God of Angarak, and it was Garion who was going to have to do

all the bleeding. He felt that the unrelieved cheerfulness of the Orb was - all

things considered - in very poor taste, to say the least.

The border between Drasnia and Gar og Nadrak straddled the North Caravan Route

in a narrow, rocky gap where two garrisons, one Drasnian and one Nadrak, faced

each other across a simple gate that consisted of a single, horizontal pole. By

itself, the pole was an insubstantial barrier. Symbolically, however, it was

more intimidating than the gates of Vo Mimbre or Tol Honeth. On one side of the

gate stood the West; on the other, the East. With a single step, one could move

David Eddings - Belgariad 5 Enchanter's End Game.pdf

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