outraged, but Varana controls the legions, and that is
where the real power in Tolnedra lies. The Honeths, the
Horbites and the Borunes have all (grudgingly) taken
the customary oath of allegiance. The Vordues, however,
steadfastly refuse to swear fealty. I suspect that my friend
will be obliged to clear that up before his claim to the
throne is finally secure.
A returning sailor has informed me that Prince
Kheldar, acting for all the world like a head of state, has
paid an official visit to ‘Zakath at the Mallorean Imperial
capital at Mal Zeth. The sailor was not privy to the details
of their conversations, but his descriptions of Kheldar’s
glee following the meetings can only lead me to believe
that the wily little thief has concluded some very
advantageous trade agreements with the Mallorean throne. I
can only hope that Kheldar won’t forget that he’s an
Alorn.
Trouble in Arendia again. The Baron of Vo Ebor,
seriously wounded at the Battle of Thull Mardu, passed away
this preceding winter. His heir, a nephew, asserted his
authority as the new baron and promised the hand of the
widow Nerina to one of his cronies. Mandorallen, the
Baron of Vo Mandor, chose at that point to intervene. He
marched into the barony of Vo Ebor and took the
sorrowing baroness into ‘protective custody’. Several knights
rashly attempted to impede the great man’s progress. The
casualties, I understand, were extensive. Once again the
Arendish potential for disaster has asserted itself. A state
of war now exists between the two baronies, and the
rest of the mimbrate nobility is choosing up sides.
Mandorallen is forted up at Vo Mador, paying court to his
captive lady, and the new Baron of Vo Ebor, who, it
appears, will recover from his wounds, is howling for his
head. Korodullin is beside himself, and Lelldorin of
Wildantor, ever an enthusiast, is recruiting an army in
Asturia to march to the aid of his old comrade in arms.
Arends can get into more trouble by accident than most of
us can on purpose.
Taiba, wife of Relg the Zealot, gave birth to twin
daughters this fall. She appears to have every intention of
repopulating Maragor singlehandedly. The customary
presents on each such occasion are beginning to cut into
my pocket rather deeply
My son is walking now. In celebration, I gave him one
small cup of mild beer. Now Islena isn’t talking to me.
5382
VARANA’S difficulties in Tolnedra are
multiplying. The Vordues steadfastly refuse to admit his
legitimacy’ and refuse to allow Imperial Tax Collectors
into northern Tolnedra. They have instead usurped
taxgathering, and these technically Imperial funds are
pouring into the treasure-vaults in the cellars of the Vordue
family palaces. The power to tax is the ultimate power of
any government, and any interference with tax-gathering
is tantamount to an open declaration of war upon the
central government. All of Tolnedra holds its breath to see
how Varana will respond to the challenge of the Vordues.
His situation is difficult. He is reluctant, obviously, to
command the legions into the northern provinces to
enforce his authority by the sword. His claim to the throne
is tenuous at best, and harsh measures against the
Vorduvian insurgents would quickly give him a
reputation as a tyrant. He cannot, however, allow this challenge
to pass unanswered. I sympathize with him in this
difficult time.
At the request of King Korodullin of Arendia,
Belgarion of Riva sailed to that kingdom to mediate the
dispute between the Baronies of Mandor and Ebor. He
came upon them as they were engaging upon the plains
of southern Arendia. At first, the din of battle drowned
out our young friend’s voice as he attempted to call a halt
to the hostilities. Presently, he grew irritated. I suspect
this to be a trait of his family. I have noted that same
irritability in Belgarath on numerous occasions. At any rate,
Belgarion drew his sword. Now this is a spectacle which
will stop any man from doing anything in which he
is currently engaged. The sword, of course, immediately
leapt joyously into flame. The sight of Belgarion, his
burning sword held aloft, his face angry and his eyes
ablaze, caused a great consternation among the two armies.
To emphasize his dissatisfaction with their behavior, the
young King of Riva called upon his power of sorcery’ The
first thunder-clap he called down shook the earth as far
as Vo Mimbre and tumbled fully armed knights from
their saddles. The second ripped open the sky and
engulfed the entire battlefield in an unbelievable
downpour of rain and hail. With a single word he stopped the
torrential rain and then spoke to the two armies in a voice
which could be heard clearly three leagues away. His
words are clearly engraved upon the memories of all who
were present.
‘Stop this foolishness at once!’ he commanded them.
He then pointed his sword at the Baron of Vo Ebor. ‘You,’
he said, ‘come here.’ The Baron tremblingly approached
him. ‘You,’ he said then to Sir Mandorallen, ‘I want you
over here, too.’ Palefaced, the great knight obeyed.
Belgarion then proceeded to give the two a blistering
dressing-down. Finally, after he had reduced the pair of
them nearly to tears, he ended their war with a series of
blunt commands. To the Baron of Vo Ebor he said, ‘You
will immediately surrender any and all claims of
authority over the person and future of the Baroness Nerina.’ To
Sir Mandorallen he said, ‘You will return immediately to
Vo Mandor, where you will marry the lady in question.
You will – here and now – relinquish any and all territorial
claims on behalf of the Baroness. In short, gentlemen, the
Baron gets the land, and Mandorallen gets the lady – and
that is that!’ He then glared at them. ‘Now go home,’ he
said. ‘I’m sick of looking at both of you.’ And that ended
the civil war.
The Baroness Nerina, an Arend to the bone, protested
vigorously when Belgarion and Mandorallen advised her
that she was that day to be married to the man she had
loved for all those years. Quite clearly she saw all those
splendid opportunities for tragic suffering flying out the
window. Belgarion, however, would have none of that.
Bluntly he silenced her and then quite literally drove the
pair of them before him to the chapel and stood
threateningly over them while the priest of Chaldan performed
the ceremony. Thus ended one of the great tragic
lovestories of contemporary history. The melancholy Baroness
is now radiant; gloomy Mandorallen now smiles foolishly
all the time; and Belgarion returned to Riva with a
selfcongratulatory smirk on his lips.
The incident provides a certain insight into our
Belgarion’s character which is quite instructive. He is an
extraordinarily long-suffering fellow, but he will only
allow things to go so far before he takes steps. Once he
decides that the time has come to act, nothing in the
world can stand in his path. I must remember never to
cross him.
in Algaria, Hettar and Adara have had their second
child, a girl. Everyone in the whole world seems to be
having children – except for Belgarion and Ce’Nedra. I
wonder if they’re doing something wrong.
5383
‘ZaKATH has returned to his campaign in southern
Cthol Murgos. His absence gave King Urgit time
to gather up the shattered remnants of his army and
to reorganize them. He has no hope, of course, of
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