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not young. Her hair was quite tawny, and her eyes were a curious
golden color.
She stood in the doorway as I approached - almost as if she had
been expecting me. She greeted me in a seemly manner and invited
me to come in and sup with her. I accepted gratefully, for no sooner
did she mention food than I found myself ravenously hungry'
The inside of her cottage was neat and cheery. A fire burned
merrily upon her hearth, and a large kettle bubbled and hiccuped
over it. From that kettle came wondrous smells. The woman seated
me at the table, fetched me a stout earthenware plate and then set
before me a meal such as I had not seen in hundreds of years. It
consisted, as I recall, of every kind of food which I liked most.
VVhenWhen I had eaten - more than I should have probably, since as all
who know me can attest, good food was ever a weakness of mine
we talked, the woman and I, and I found her to have most
uncommon good sense. Though my errand was urgent, I found myself
lingering, thinking of excuses not to go. Indeed, I felt quite as giddy
as some adolescent in her presence.
Her name, she told me, was Poledra. 'And by what name are you
known?' she asked.
'I am called Belgarath,' I told her, 'and I am a Disciple of the God
Aldur.'
'How remarkable,' she said, and then she laughed. There was
something hauntingly familiar in that laugh.
THE RIVAN CODEX
I never learned the truth about Poledra, though of course I had
suspicions.
When the urgency of my errand compelled me to leave that fair
grove and the small, neat cottage, Poledra said a most peculiar
thing. 'I will go along with you,' she told me. 'I was ever curious.'
And she closed the door of her house and returned with me to the
Vale.
Strangely, my Master awaited us, and he greeted Poledra
courteously. I can never be sure, but it seemed that some secret glance
passed between them as if they knew each other and shared some
knowledge that I was unaware of.
I had, as I say, some suspicions, but as time went on they became
less and less important. After a while, I didn't even think about them
any more.
That following spring Poledra and I married. My Master himself,
burdened though he was with care and the great task of preparing
for the day of the final struggle between good and evil, blessed our
union.
There was joy in our marriage, and I never thought about those
things which I had prudently decided not to think about; but that, of
course, is another story'
* That is not another story'. It's the core of this one.
The hoLY
-Books
THE BOOK OF ALORN*
Of the Beginnings