Polgara the Sorceress
David and Leigh Eddings
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Part Two: Father
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Part Three: Vo Wacune
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Part Four: Ontrose
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Part Five: Geran
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Part Six: Vo Mimbre
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Part Seven: Annath
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Epilogue
Keep Reading
About the Author
By David Eddings
About the Publisher
Prologue
KAIL, THE RIVAN WARDER, objected strenuously when King Belgarion told him that he and his queen planned to make the journey to the northern end of the Vale of Aldur unattended, but Garion uncharacteristically put his foot down. Its a family gathering, Kail. CeNedra and I dont need a cluster of servants underfoot. Theyd just be in the way.
But its dangerous, your Majesty.
I rather doubt that anythingll turn up that I cant handle, old friend, Garion told him. Were going alone. The Rivan Queen was a bit startled by the firmness in Garions voice.
Then there was the argument about fur. Queen CeNedra was Tolnedran by birth and Dryad by heritage. Those backgrounds were both southern, and the notion of wearing animal skins made CeNedras flesh creep. Garion, however, was at least partially Alorn, and hed traveled extensively in the north in the winter-time. Youre going to wear fur, CeNedra, he adamantly told his tiny wife, because if you dont, we arent going anywhere until the weather warms up. Garion seldom delivered ultimatums to her, and CeNedra was shrewd enough not to argue about the matter any further. She obediently dressed herself in Alorn fur garments, spoke at some length with the nurse who would oversee the royal children during her absence, and then she and her husband left the Isle of the Winds aboard the disreputable Captain Greldiks dubious ship on the morning tide.
They purchased horses and supplies in Camaar and set out toward the east. The regularly spaced Tolnedran hostels along the highway to Muros provided adequate lodgings each night, but after Muros, they were largely on their own. The Rivan King, however, had spent a great deal of time living out in the open, and his little wife was forced to concede that he was adequate when the time came to set up camp.
The Rivan Queen was realistic enough to know just how ridiculous she looked while gathering firewood in those camps. The bulky fur garments she wore gave her a roly-poly appearance, her flaming red hair streamed down her back, and because of her size she could only carry a few sticks at a time. The unwanted image of a red-haired beaver trudging through the snow came to her quite often.
The snow was deep in the Sendarian mountains, and it seemed to CeNedra that her feet would never be warm again. She could not give her husband the satisfaction of admitting that, however. This trek was her idea, after all, and shed have sooner died than admit that it might have been a mistake.
CeNedra was like that sometimes.
It was snowing lightly and was bitterly cold when they came down out of the mountains and rode south across the snowy plains of Algaria. Although it definitely went against the grain to confess it, even privately, CeNedra was actually glad that her husband had been so insistent about fur clothing.
And then as a chill evening was settling over southern Algaria and when lowering clouds were spitting tiny pellets of snow, they topped a rise and saw the little valley on the northern edge of the Vale of Aldur where Poledras cottage and the surrounding outbuildings lay. The cottage had been there for eons, of course, but the barns and sheds were Durniks additions, and they gave the place the appearance of a Sendarian farmstead.
CeNedra wasnt really interested in comparative architecture at that point, however. All she really wanted to do was to get in out of the cold. Do they know that were coming? she asked her husband, her breath steaming in the biting cold.
Yes, Garion replied. I told Aunt Pol that we were on the way a couple of days ago.
Sometimes youre a very useful fellow to have around, your Majesty, CeNedra smiled.
Your Majesty is too kind. His reply was a bit flippant.
Oh, Garion. They both laughed as they pushed on down the hill.
The cottage theyd always called it that, though in actuality it was growing to be a fairly large house nestled at the side of an ice-bound little stream, and the snow was piled up to the bottom of the windows. There was a kind of golden invitation about the way the soft lamplight spilled out across the snow, and the column of blue smoke from the central chimney rose straight up toward the threatening sky. The Rivan Queen definitely approved of that indication that warmth and comfort were no more than a quarter mile away.
And then the low door opened, and Durnik stepped out into the dooryard. What kept you? he called up to them. We were expecting you along about noon.
We hit some deep snow, Garion called back. It was slow going there for a while.
Hurry on down, Garion. Lets get CeNedra in out of the cold. What a dear man he was!
CeNedra and her husband rode into the snowy dooryard and swung down from their saddles.
Go inside, both of you, Durnik instructed. Ill see to your horses.
Ill help with that, Garion offered. I can unsaddle a horse almost as well as you can, and I need to stretch my legs anyway. He took CeNedra by the arm and guided her to the doorway. Ill be right back, Aunt Pol, he called inside. I want to help Durnik with the horses.
As you wish, dear, the Lady Polgara replied. Her voice was rich and filled with love. Come in here, CeNedra. Lets get you warm.
The Rivan Queen almost ran inside, hurled herself into the arms of Polgara the sorceress, and kissed her soundly.
Your nose is cold, CeNedra, Polgara observed.
You should feel my feet, Aunt Pol, CeNedra replied with a little laugh. How can you stand the winters here?
I grew up here, dear, remember? Im used to the weather.
CeNedra looked around. Where are the twins?
Theyre down for their afternoon nap. Well get them up for supper. Lets get you out of those furs and over to the fireplace. As soon as you warm up a little, Ive got water heating, and you can have a nice hot bath.
Oh, yes! the Rivan Queen replied fervently.
Part of the difficulty with Alorn fur garments lies in the fact that they dont have buttons, so theyre customarily tied on. Undoing frozen knots can be quite a chore, particularly if ones fingers are stiff with cold. And so it was that CeNedra was almost forced to simply stand in the center of the room with her arms outstretched while Polgara removed her outer garments. Then, once the furs were off, the Rivan Queen went to the fireplace and stretched her hands out to the crackling flames.
Not too close, dear, Polgara warned. Dont burn yourself. How does a nice hot cup of tea sound?
Heavenly!
After CeNedra had drunk her tea and soaked in a tub of steaming water for about a half-hour, she actually began to feel warm again. Then she dressed in a plain gown and returned to the kitchen to help feed the twins. Polgaras children were a year old now, and theyd begun to walk although not very well. They also seemed to have some difficulty managing their spoons, and quite a bit of their supper ended up on the floor. The twins had flaxen, curly hair, and they were absolutely adorable. Their vocabulary was very limited at least in any language CeNedra could understand. They talked to each other extensively in some strange tongue, however.