How long ago was it? When Ghend hired you, I mean?
Emmy says it was twenty-five hundred years ago. From what she tells me, people dont age in the House. Its just as well, really. If Id aged normally, Id have a white beard about twelve miles long by now.
Is Emmy really the sister of God?
Thats what she tells me. Her names Dweia, but she says she doesnt actually look much like that statue in her temple in Maghu.
You worship a female God? Bheids eyes bulged in outrage.
I dont worship her, Bheid. I love her, but I dont worship her. Worship means absolute obedience, and it involves a lot of groveling. I do what Emmy tells me to do most of the time, but I dont spend much time on my knees. We argue all the time, actually. Emmy likes to argue almost as much as she likes to sneak up and pounce on me.
May I touch her? Bheid asked in an almost reverent tone.
Emmy, Althalus said back over his shoulder. Wake up. Bheid wants to rub your ears.
Emmy poked her sleepy-eyed face up out of his hood. That would be nice, she murmured.
Althalus reached back, lifted her out of his hood, and held her out to Bheid. Go ahead and hold her, Bheid, he said. Shell steal your soul, of course, but why should you be any different from Eliar and me?
Bheid jerked his hand back.
Im only joking, Bheid, Althalus said.
Are you really all that certain, pet? Emmy asked, her green eyes turning sly.
Bheids hands were trembling as he took her from Althalus, but he relaxed when Emmy started purring.
When are we going to stop for lunch? Eliar called from behind them.
They rode on across western Medyo, keeping off the main roads whenever possible. The sudden appearance of the cock-eyed man back in Awes indicated a likelihood that Ghend had agents everywhere. Althalus knew that they could deal with those agents, but unnecessary killings went against his grain. A really good thief shouldnt have to kill people.
It was midsummer by the time they approached the bridge across the west fork of the River Osthos, and Althalus prudently turned aside from the road and led Eliar and Bheid into a grove of trees some distance upstream.
Em, he said silently after theyd dismounted, just exactly who are we supposed to find there in Osthos?
Guess, she replied rather smugly.
Dont do that, he scolded.
Youve already met her, pet.
He blinked. Youre not serious! He almost said it out loud.
Oh, yes.
How are we supposed to get inside her palace?
Youre the thief, Althalus, she replied. If you can steal things, Im sure youll be able to steal one little girl.
Emmy, her palace is guarded by an army. One little squeak out of her and Ill have thirty armed men climbing all over me.
Then well just have to make sure she doesnt squeak, wont we? She considered it. I think wed better leave Eliar and Bheid here and your horse. Well want to move very quietly. Im a cat, and youre a thief. We know how to be quiet. They dont.
How long have you known that Andine would be joining us?
Since the moment Eliar read the Knife.
Why didnt we pick her up before we went to Awes?
That would have been out of sequence, pet. Everything must be in its proper place and time.
Althalus glanced at Eliar, and he remembered the way Arya Andine had looked at the boy. I think your brothers got a very warped sense of humor, Em, he said.
Why, Althalus, she said, Im shocked at you. Shocked.
It was well past midnight when Althalus and Emmy slipped into Andines palace in the center of Osthos. This time, Emmy chose to walk rather than ride, and she moved on silent feet ahead of the thief, passing warnings back to him. Once they were inside the massive palace, she led him to the Aryas private quarters. Shes asleep, Emmy advised. There are two guards outside her door. Encourage them to take a little nap.
How?
Try leb.
Will that work?
It always has before. After we leave, youd better wake them up again, though. People might think its a little peculiar if they slept for fifty or sixty years the way you used to do back in the House.
Is that the way you did it?
Of course. Step right along, Althalus. The night wont last forever, you know.
The pair of guards at Andines door were still standing, but their chins had sagged down onto their chests and they were snoring softly. Althalus reached past them and took hold of the door handle.
Then Emmy hissed.
Whats the problem? he whispered.
Argan!
Whats an Argan?
Its a who, not a what. This guard on the left is Argan.
Is that name supposed to mean anything to me?
I mentioned him before. Argans another one of Ghends underlings.
Thats convenient. Althalus reached for his dagger.
Put that away, Emmy said in a disgusted tone.
Its a nice simple solution, Em.
Perhaps, but how do you plan to solve the problem thatll come up later?
Which problem is that?
Returning him to life when he absolutely must be alive and well.
I didnt follow that.
I didnt really think you would. Put the knife away, Althalus. You arent the one whos supposed to deal with Argan any more than you were the one whos supposed to deal with Pekhal or Khnom. Just leave him alone.
Hold it, Em. Doesnt this mean that Ghend knew that we were coming here?
Probably, yes.
How did he find out?
Probably because Daeva told him.
How did Daeva find out?
The same way I did, of course. We hear things that you cant, Althalus. I know about people like Khnom and Pekhal and Argan, and Daeva knows about people like Eliar and Bheid and Andine. Theyre significant people, and significant people give off a certain sound that we can hear. Just leave Argan alone. Lets get Andine and get out of here before he wakes.
THE
REDEMPTION
OF ALTHALUS
COPYRIGHT
HarperVoyager
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
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London SE1 9GF
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First published in Great Britain by Voyager 2000
Copyright © David and Leigh Eddings 2000
David Eddings and Leigh Eddings assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work
A catalogue record for this ebook is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780006514831
Ebook Edition © NOVEMBER 2013 ISBN: 9780007375097
Version: 2019-09-27
MAP
DEDICATION
For the sisters, Lori and Lynette, who have made our lives so much more pleasant.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! ! ! ! ! !
CONTENTS
COVER
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
MAP
DEDICATION
PROLOGUE
PART ONE The House at the End of the World
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
PART TWO The Gathering
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
PART THREE Dweia
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
PART FOUR Eliar
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
PART FIVE Andine
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty