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And a fox which had sat near, watching the work, spake unto
Riva, saying, 'The work is not marred, Iron-grip. Take up the hilt
and place the Orb thereon even as a pommel-stone.'
And Riva knew that he was in the presence of an enchantment
and did even that which the fox had commanded. And behold, the
Orb became as one with the hilts which Riva had forged from the
star Belar had caused to fall. And even the strength of Riva's hand
could not sunder them one from the other.
And Riva spake, saying, 'Still is the work marred, for the blade
and the hilts still remain unjoined.'
THE HOLY BOOKS
And the fox spake again, saying, 'Take the blade in thy left hand,
Iron-grip, and the hilts in thy right and join them.'
'It may not be,' quoth Riva, 'for they will not join.'
And the fox laughed, saying, 'How is it that thou knowest that
they will not join when thou hast not yet attempted it?'
And Riva was ashamed, and took up the blade in his left hand
and the hilts in his right and did set them together, and behold, the
blade passed into the hilts even as a stick into water, and the sword
was joined and even the strength of Riva's hand could not unjoin it.
And the fox laughed again, saying, 'Take up the sword, Iron-grip,
and go forth with it and smite with it the great rock which doth
stand upon the highest mountain upon this Isle.'.
And Riva took up the sword and went unto the mountain and
raised up the sword against the great rock which stood thereon.
And he smote once and clave the rock in twain, and the water
gushed forth therefrom and formed a river which flowed down even
unto the city of Riva.
And the fox laughed again and ran away, but stopped once and
looked back, and Riva beheld that the fox was a fox no longer, but
the great silver wolf, Belgarath, whom he had known before. .
And men called the river that flowed from the rock which Riva
had clave The River of Veils by reason of the n-dsts which ever
surrounded it as it descended into the valley where lay the city of
Riva.
And Riva caused the sword to be placed upon the great black rock
that stood at the back of his throne. And it did hang point
downward with the Orb which was now the pommel-stone at the highest
Point, and did the sword cleave itself unto the rock, and none save
Riva could remove it therefrom. And such was the virtue of the Orb
that it did bum with cold fire when Riva sat upon the throne. And
when he took down the sword and raised it did the sword itself
become as a great tongue of blue flame, and all who beheld this
great wonder were amazed and understood it not.
And thus was wrought the Hall of the Rivan King, and thus his
throne and thus was forged his sword. And ever after were the
descendants of Riva marked with the mark of the Orb upon the
palm of their hands, and the manchild who would become king was
borne at his birth unto the throne-chamber and the hand that was so
marked was placed upon the Orb that it might know him and
destroy him not when he came into his inheritance.
And with each such joining did the bond between the Orb of
Aldur and the line of Riva become stronger. And the Orb waxed