 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
'I would seek to learn why the stars fall, Master.'
'A proper study, my son,' he said, smiling.
'And thou, Master,' I asked. 'What is thy study - if I be not
overbold to ask.'
'I am concerned with this jewel,' he said, pointing at a
moderatesized grey stone on the table before him. 'It may be of some curiosity
in the fullness of time.'
* it was not until the Malloreon that we revealed the Orb's off-world origin. At
first it was
simply a rock Aldur had picked up in a riverbed and modified with the touch of
his hand.
'I am certain it shall, Master,' I assured him. 'If be worthy of thine
attention, it shall surely be a curiosity at least.' And I turned back to
my study of the inconstant stars.
In time, others came to us, some by accident, as I had come, and
some by intent, seeking out my Master that they might learn from
him. Such a one was Zedar. I came upon him one golden day in
autumn near our tower. He had built a rude altar and was burning
the carcass of a goat upon it. The greasy smoke from his offering was
fouling the air, and he was prostrated before the altar, chanting some
outlandish prayer.
'What are you doing?' I demanded, quite angry since his noise
PREFACE
and the stink of his sacrifice distracted my mind from a problem I
had been considering for fifteen years.
'Oh, puissant and all-knowing Cod,'he said, groveling in the dirt.
'I have come a thousand leagues to behold thy glory and to worship
thee.
'Puissant?' I said. 'Get up, man, and stop this caterwauling. I am
not a God, but a man, just as you are.'
'Art thou not the great God, Aldur?' he asked.
'I am Belgarath,' I said, 'his Disciple. What is this foolishness?' I
pointed at his altar and his smoking offering.
'It is to please the God,' he said, rising and dusting off his clothes.
'Dost thou think he will find it acceptable?'
I laughed, for I did not like this stranger much. 'I cannot think of a
single thing you might have done which would offend him more,' I
said.
The stranger looked stricken. He turned quickly and reached out
as if he would seize the burning animal with his bare hands to hide
it.
'Don't be an idiot,' I snapped. 'You'll burn yourself.,
'It must be hidden,' he said desperately. 'I would die rather than
offend Mighty Aldur.'
'Stand out of the way,' I told him.
'What?'
'Get clear,' I said, irritably waving him off. Then I looked at his
grotesque little altar, willed it away and said, 'Go away,' and it
vanished, leaving only a few tatters of confused smoke hanging in
the air.