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meeting 'Zakath on the open plains of southeastern Cthol
Murgos. Such an encounter would be disastrous for him
and would mark the end of the Murgo nation. He has
instead, wisely I think, retreated into the mountains
of Araga and of Urga on the west coast. Murgos are
splendid mountain fighters, but, as Cho-Hag found on
the plains of Algaria and as we all discovered at Thull
Mardu, they do not do so well in open country. 'Zakath
will be forced to chase the Murgos in terrain of their
choosing. Such campaigning is likely to take
generations. I'm rather pleased about that idea, and I wish both
sides enormous success in their efforts to exterminate
each other.
Varana has approached the Vordues in a conciliatory
fashion, obviously hoping to head off civil war in
Tolnedra. They have coldly rejected his offer. It is quite
rapidly reaching the point where he will have to move
decisively or his entire nation will disintegrate before his
eyes.
Belgarath passed through on his way to Riva. I have
seldom seen hhnhim so angry. Belgarion's impromptu
thunderstorm last year appears to have had some far-reaching
and near-disastrous effects on the continental
weatherpatterns, and Belgarath is furious. I do not envy my young
friend the upcoming meeting with his grandfather. When
provoked, the old man can peel off whole yards of skin,
and he is at present mightily provoked.
Prince Kheldar, still behaving for all the world like a
visiting monarch, has visited Melcene, the home of the
Mallorean Bureaucracy. He has established relations with
the Bureau of Commerce there. If he is not so already, I
suspect that it will not be long before the little bandit is the
wealthiest man in the world. It makes me positively sick
to think about it.
Taiba and Relg have moved with their growing family
to Maragor for reasons far too obscure for me to
comprehend. The Tolnedrans, who have lurked hungrily on the
borders of that haunted region, took this as a sign that the
ghosts had departed. When they dashed in to gather up
the gold lying all over the ground, however, they
discovered that they had been grossly in error. The few who
returned were all hopelessly insane. It appears that Mara
still stands watch over Maragor.
I
I
5384
iT IS NOW eight years since the marriage of
Belgarion and Ce'Nedra, and they remain childless.
The business is rapidly becoming a matter of urgency.
The Rivan King is the Keeper of the Orb, and he must
have an heir. Even though Torak is gone, the forces
ranged against us are too powerful for us to even