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Rivan of treasure? We have one treasure already, and our race hath
guarded it with our lives for two thousand years and more. Would
you inflict another treasure upon us to guard? How many lives do
we have?
'The honor which the Kings of Aloria would do me is beyond my
power to bear. I am quite bowed down by the weight of it. But how
might I, in far-off Riva, maintain dominion and Empire? How might
I know when the people in deepest Nyissa hungered, or the herds in
farthest Algaria perished of thirst, or the caverns in Holy Ulgo fell
down, trapping the Children of UL beneath the earth? And what of
the Gods? Will Nedra permit a son of the Bear-God to hold power in
Tol Honeth? Will Chaldan or Issa accept my Overlordship in Arendia
or in the land of the Snake-People? And what of mysterious UL? And
of Aldur, the God who stands apart? Overlordship may not be
bestowed by men, but must come as a duty hnposed by the Gods.
'I may not, therefore, accept this honor. And must we all be wary
here lest in our seeming power we rise up to such height that the
Gods become offended with us; or, if our contentions become too
great, might we not see again the disputation of partisan Gods? And
if the Gods make war, will they not destroy the world?'
Then rose the Aged Man who had counseled the Warder of Riva
and spake, saying, 'Great is the wisdom of Brand. Hear his words,
Oh, Kings and Lords of the West, and offend not the Gods by thine
impiety. And yet, might there not be some token of gratitude to
Brand and to Riva?'
And Gorim of Ulgo looked long at the Aged Man and knew him
and spake, saying, 'Thou knowest, Immortal One, that Torak is
overthrown, but is not slain.'
'Yes,' quoth the Aged One.
'And thou wouldst fulfill the prophecy?' quoth the Gorim.
'It must be,' quoth the Aged One. 'If we bring not the prophecies
into fruition through our own efforts, then will they come to pass in
our despite and oftentimes in strange and unseemly ways. The
outcome of the great battle is still in doubt, and I would do all that
might be done to aid the Champion of the West. If he be not
victorious - if he be slain - foul Torak will overcome the world and master
it, and all men will be his slaves.'
And the Gorim of Ulgo spake, saying, 'The prophecy is old, and
its meaning may have been clouded by the falling of so many dusty
years upon it. Art thou certain, Immortal One, that it hath not been
twisted by some events of the distant past?'
And the Aged One spake, saying, 'The auguries still hold true. The
prophecy is intact. He will rise and will seek out his throne, and a
great princess shall be his to wife. And at his coming shall Torak
shake off his sleep and come again against the West. And the two
shall meet and struggle, and one shall be slain and the other shall be
Overlord of all the World.' And he turned unto the Alorn Kings and
spake, saying, 'This was not well done, Eldrig of Cherek. He who
would twist a prophecy for his own ends casts his impiety into the
teeth of the Gods. The final battle is not yet come, and Torak is not
slain.'
And Eldrig was wroth and rose up as he would smite the Aged
One, but the scales fell from his eyes, and he knew the one before
him, and he trembled before him, and spake, saying, 'Forgive me,
Ancient One, beloved of Aldur and companion of Belar, that I did
offend the Gods and thee. I wished only to live in the days of the
fulfillment of the prophecy.'