David Eddings – The Seeress of Kell

The mute giant went to a shelf on the far side of the dimly lit room and took down a large book bound in black leather. He tucked it under his arm, took his mistress by the hand, and led them back out of the house.

“Why the secrecy, Cyradis?” Beldin asked the blindfolded

girl. “Why do the seers hide up here on the mountain instead of staying at Kell?”

“But this is Kell, gentle Beldin.”

“What’s that city down in the valley, then?”

“Also Kell.” She smiled. “It hath ever been thus among us. Unlike the cities of others, our communities are widespread. This is the place of the seers. There are many other places on this mountain—the place of the wizards, the place of the necromancers, the place of the diviners—and all are a part of Kell.”

”Trust a Dal to come up with an unnecessary complication.”

“The cities of others are built for different purposes, Beldin. Some are for commerce. Some are for defense. Our cities are built for study.”

“How can you study if you have to walk all day in order to talk with your colleagues?”

“There is no need for walking, Beldin. We can speak to each other whenever we choose. Is this not the way in which thou and Ancient Belgarath converse?”

“That’s different,” he growled.

“In what way?”

“Our conversations are private.”

“We have no need of privacy. The thoughts of one are the thoughts of all.”

It was shortly before noon when they emerged from the cavern into the warm sunlight again. Gently guiding Cyradis, Toth led them back to the gap in the ridge and down the steep path that crossed the high meadows. After about an hour of descent, they entered a cool green forest where birds caroled from the treetops and insects whirled like specks of fire in the slanting columns of sunlight.

The trail was still steep, and Garion soon discovered one of , (he disadvantages of walking downhill for any extended period of time. A large and painful blister was forming atop one of the toes on his left foot, and a few twinges from his right clearly indicated that he would soon have a matched set. He gritted his teeth and limped on.

It was nearly sunset when they reached the gleaming city in the valley. Garion noticed with a certain satisfaction that Beldin was also limping as they walked along the marble street that led to the house Dalian had lodged them in. ; The others were eating when they entered. As it chanced to happen, Garion was looking at Zakath’s face when the Mallo-rean saw that Cyradis was with them. His oiive-skinned face

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paled slightly, a pallor made more pronounced by the short black beard he had grown to conceal his identity. He rose to his feet and bowed slightly. “Holy Seeress,” he said respectfully.

“Emperor of Mallorea,” she responded. “As I promised thee in cloud-dark Darshiva, I surrender myself up to thee as thy hostage.”

“There’s no need to talk of hostages, Cyradis,” he replied with a slightly embarrassed flush. ‘ ‘I spoke in haste in Darshiva, before I clearly understood what it is that I am to do. I am committed now.”

“I am, nonetheless, thy hostage, for it is thus preordained, and I must accompany thee unto the Place Which Is No More to face the task that awaits me.”

“You must all be hungry,” Velvet said. “Come to the table and eat.”

“I must complete one task first, Huntress,” Cyradis told her. She held out both hands, and Toth placed the heavy book he had carried down from the mountain in them. “Ancient Belgarath,” she said in that strangely choral voice, “thus do we commend into thy hands our holy book as the stars have instructed us to do. Read it carefully, for thy destination is revealed in its pages.”

Belgarath rose quickly, crossed to her, and took the book, his hands trembling with eagerness. “I thank you, Cyradis. I know how precious the book is, and I will care for it while it is in my hands and return it once I’ve found what I need.” Then he went to a smaller table near the window, sat, and opened the heavy volume.

“Move over,” Beldin told him, stumping to the table and drawing up another chair. The two old men bent their heads over the crackling pages, oblivious to all around them.

“Will you eat now, Cyradis?” Polgara asked the blindfolded girl.

“Thou art kind, Polgara,” the Seeress of Kell replied. “I have fasted since thine arrival here in preparation for mis meeting, and mine hunger weakens me.”

Polgara gently led her to the table and seated her between Ce’Nedra and Velvet.

“Is my baby well, Holy Seeress?” Ce’Nedra asked urgently.

“He is well, Queen of Riva, although he doth yearn to be returned to thee.”

“I’m surprised he even remembers me.” Ce’Nedra said it with some bitterness. “He was only a baby when Zandramas stole him.” She sighed. “There’s so much I Ve missed—so many things I’ 11 never see.” Her lower lip began to tremble.

Garion went to her and put his arms comfortingly around her. “It’s going to be all right, Ce’Nedra,” he assured her.

“Will it, Cyradis?” she asked in a voice near to tears. “Will everything really be all right again?”

“That I cannot say, Ce’Nedra. Two courses stand before us, and not even the stars know upon which we will place our feet.”

“How was the trip?” Silk asked, more, Garion thought, to get past an uncomfortable moment than out of any burning curiosity.

“Nervous,” Garion replied. “I don’t fly very well, and we ran into some bad weather.”

Silk frowned. “But it’s been absolutely clear all day.”

“Not where we were, it wasn’t.” Garion glanced at Cyradis and decided not to make an issue of the near-disastrous down-draft. “Is it all right to tell them about the place where you live?” he asked her.

“Of a certainty, Belgarion.” She smiled. “They are of thy company, and thou shouldst conceal nothing from them.”

“Do you remember Mount Kahsha in Cthol Murgos?” Gar-ion asked his friend.

“I Ve been trying to forget.”

“Well, the seers have a city that’s sort of like the one the Dagashi built at Kahsha. It’s inside a very large cave.”

“I’m glad I didn’t go there, then.”

Cyradis turned her face toward him, a concerned little frown touching her forehead. “Hast thou not yet mastered this unreasoning fear of thine, Kheldar?”

“Not noticeably, no—and I’d hardly call it unreasoning. Believe me, Cyradis, I have reasons—lots and lots of reasons.” He shuddered.

“Thou must summon up thy courage, Kheldar, for the time will surely come when thou must enter a place such as thou boldest in dread.”

“Not if I can help it, I won’t.”

“Thou must, Kheldar. No choice is open to thee.”

His face was bleak, but he said nothing.

“Tell me, Cyradis,” Velvet said then, “were you the one who interrupted the progress of Zith’s pregnancy?”

“Thou art shrewd to have perceived the pause in that most natural of events, Liselle,” the Seeress told her, “but nay, it was not I. The wizard Vard on the Isle of Verkat bade her to wait until her task at Ashaba was completed.”

“Vard is a wizard?” Polgara asked in some surprise. “I can usually detect them, but in his case, I didn’t sense a thing.”

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“He is most subtle,” Cyradis agreed. “Things stand so in Cthol Murgos that great care must be exercised in the practice of our arts. The Grolims in the land of the Murgos are ever alert to the disturbances such acts inevitably cause.”

“We were quite put out with you on Verkat,” Durnik told her. “That was before we understood the reason for what you did. I’m afraid I treated Toth very badly for a while. He was good enough to forgive me, though.”

The big mute smiled at him and made a few gestures.

Durnik laughed. “You don’t really have to do that anymore, loth,” he told his friend. “I finally figured out how you were talking to me.”

loth lowered his hands.

Dumik seemed to listen for a moment. “Yes,” he agreed. “It’s much easier this way—and faster, too—now that we don’t have to wave our hands at each other. Oh, by the way, Eriond and I found a pond a little ways below the city here. It has some very nice trout in it.”

loth grinned broadly.

“I thought you might feel that way.” Durnik grinned back.

“I’m afraid we’ve corrupted your guide, Cyradis,” Polgara apologized.

“Nay, Polgara.” The Seeress smiled. “This passion hath been upon him since boyhood. Ofttimes in our travels he hath found excuse to linger for a time by some lake or stream. I do not chide him for this, for I am fond of fish, and he doth prepare them exquisitely.”

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