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I traveled this summer to Riva for the meeting of the
Alorn Council. Since Torak is dead, our meeting had none
of the urgency which had marked those previous, and the
entire affair was something more in the nature of a social
get-together rather than a council of war. How strange it is
to return to Riva now that peace is finally here. Belgarion
appears to be maturing, growing as it were, into his crown.
I like that young man. If I had a son, I would wish him to
be no different. Perhaps if Islena had not that morbid fear
of childbirth, I might have had such a son. We all gently
jibed at the young King for his failure to produce an heir to
his throne, and our jesting put him, I think, a bit out of
sorts. He is, perhaps, a bit too sensitive about jokes at his
expense, but time will toughen his soul. Belgarath, who
came late, was the same as always, as unchanging as the
very rocks, but Rhodar appears to be declining. He suffers
from shortness of breath and has become dropsical. He can
no longer negotiate stairs, though his mind remains alert.
While we were at Riva, a messenger arrived from
Arendia to inform Belgarion that his close friend Lelldorin
and his Mimbrate bride had just had their first child, a
girl. In the celebration which followed, I managed to get
the somewhat overly sober young monarch roaring drunk.
It's important to see how a man behaves when he's drunk,
if you really want to get to know him. Once you get a
gallon or so of good ale into Belgarion, he's quite a
different young fellow. He sings abominably, however. The
following morning, his suffering was truly pitiable. The
boy obviously needs practice. Social drinking is an
important part of a monarch's repertory.
5379
WAS greatly saddened early this year to learn of
the sudden death of my friend, Rhodar of Drasnia.
We were brother Alorn monarchs, comrades in arms and
dear personal friends. His sly wisdom, his unfailing good
humor and his true courage made him a rock upon which
we all leaned in troubled times. There is of a sudden a
huge vacancy in the world. and I feel it profoundly
Porenn has undertaken the regency in behalf of her young
son. This causes me some concern, since Porenn is a trifle
too much a creature of the Drasnian Intelligence service to
make me altogether comfortable.
Meanwhile, we have learned that 'Zakath is retreating
northward, having abandoned the city of Rak Hagga and
apparently intending to winter in Rak Cthan near the
equator. To compound his difficulties, there are rumors
that civil war has broken out in Mallorea. There appear to
be strong separatist sentiments in the Seven Kingdoms of
Karanda in north central and east-central Mallorea.
Should this oblige him to return home to mend his fences,
I believe it will mark the end of his adventures on this
continent.
I visited Fulrach early this summer to consult with
him concerning events in Drasnia and southern Cthol
Murgos. Sendaria is of enormous strategic and logistic
importance in the overall posture of the Alorn Kingdoms,