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Of the six Gods who had with their people gone unto the west
thus was their disposition. To the south and west to jungles dank
and rivers sluggish went Issa, the serpent God and the snake people.
And Nedra went even unto the fertile land to the north of jungle,
and Chaldan took his people, the Arends, unto the northwest coast,
and Mara sought the mountains above the Tolnedran plain.
THE HOLY BOOKS
But Aldur, in the pain of the loss of the Orb and the shame over
what the jewel that he had made had wrought upon the world
retreated even unto the Vale which lay at the headwaters of the river
bearing his name, and shut himself away from the sight of men and
of Gods - and none came nigh him but Belgarath, his first Disciple.
Now it came to pass that Belar, the youngest of the Gods and most
dear to Aldur, took his people unto the north and sought they for a
thousand years and yet another thousand years a way by which
they might come upon the Angaraks and overthrow them and
regain the Orb that Aldur might come forth again and men and
Gods be rejoined in fellowship one with the other.
And the Alorns, the people of Belar the Bear-God, were a hardy
people and warlike, and clad themselves in the skins of bears and
wolves and shirts cunningly wrought of rings of steel, and terrible
were the swords and axes of the Alorns. And they ranged the north
- yea, even unto the land of eternal ice, to find the way they might
follow into Mallorea to come upon their ancient foes and destroy
them and to restore the Orb unto Aldur. And in his pride did each
Alorn warrior upon his passage into manhood raise sword or axe
unto the deathless stars and call forth his challenge even unto Torak
himself. And in the iron tower of Cthol Mishrak did the mai^tned
God hear the challenge of the Alorns and did see the cold light of the
north flickering from their sword edges, and the pain of Kal-Torak
did increase ten-fold, and his hatred of his youngest brother and of
the rash people who followed him and cast their threats even in the
teeth of the stars cankered in his soul.
THE RIVAN CODEX
Now, of all the kings of the Alorns, the bravest and most crafty
twas Cherek of the broad shoulders, and went he even unto the Vale
of Aldur and sought out Belgarath, Disciple of Aldur and spake unto
him, saying, 'Now are the ways of the north open, and I have sons
exceedingly bold. The signs and the auguries are propitious. The
time is ripe to seek our way to the city of endless night and to regain
the Orb from the usurper.'
But Belgarath was loath to go from the Vale of Aldur for behold,
his wife Poledra was exceedingly great with child, and her time was
nigh.
And yet did Cherek prevail upon him, and by night they stole
away and were joined a thousand leagues to the north by the sons of
Cherek.