Belgarath and Errand leave for Belgarath's tower. Beldin arrives abd tells Belgarath that Zakath is attempting to destroy the Murgos and that the apostrophe in his name stands for Kal. He also asks if Belgarath has heard of Cthrag Sardius. Errand goes to visit Aldur.

Durnik experiments with his new talents. Errand meets the seer Cyradis. Belgarath returns from his journeys with news of what is happening around the world. Polgara complains that Garion has not written and Errand tells her he did but the letter was lost at sea. Somehow he knows what was written in the letter and tells Polgara that Garion and Ce'Nedra are having problems. Polgara decides to go to Riva.

Polgara, Durnik, Belgarath and Errand arrive in Riva. Errand goes to see Horse. Polgara resolves the problem between Garion and Ce'Nedra. That night Errand hears the dry voice telling him to go to the throne room, where Garion is already waiting. While they are there the Orb turns red and tells them to 'Beware Zandramas'.

Garion and Errand tell Belgarath about the Orb and Belgarath shows them the Darine Codex. He tells Garion that the prophecy did not die woth Torak and that there is a new Child of Dark. He also tells Garion to read through his library. Barak arrives and reports that the bear cult is unified under one man and it's antagonism is directed at Garion for marrying a Tolnedran. The visitors leave and Garion tells Errand to take Horse with him, much to the satisfaction of the dry voice.

Errand begins to ride Horse. They go to visit the tree which explains to Errand the futility of man's attempt to compartmentalise time. Riding back he meets a shadowy figure in the woods who threatens him.

Hettar and Adara come to visit Polgara. Porenn sends Silk to ask Polgara to come to Boktor and try to help Rhodar, whose health is failing fast. Polgara tells Porenn there is nothing she can do for him. On a visit to Drasnian intelligance Errand asks Javelin who Zandramas is and Javelin tells him it is a Darshivan name. Javelin's neice, Liselle, arrives, followed swiftly by the news of Rhodar's death.

The kings gather together for Rhodar's funeral and Kheva's coronation. Errand and Belgarath return to Belgarath's tower. Errand meets Poledra and makes the startling revelation that she did not die. She directs him to Relg, who tells him that the Gorim needs to see Belgarath. It becomes apparant that the new Gorim is Relg's son. The Gorim tells Belgarath that the Sardion is a living stone, like the Orb, and is shocked when Belgarath mentions Zandramas, as this is a curse in the Ulgo language. Errand tells Belgarath about the shadowy figures that appeared to him - Cyradis and Zandramas.

At the behest of Korodullin Garion goes to Arendia to prevent a war between Mandorallen and Sir Embrig, successor to the late Baron of Vo Ebor, over the Lady Nerina. Garion forces both knights to give up all territorial claims to the lady and then has Mandorallen and Nerina married under his watchful eye.

Garion tells Ce'Nedra of his trip to Arendia and she complains that he never actually proposed to her. Garion visits Joran to gauge public opinion. Varana sends word that Ran Borune is very ill. Ce'Nedra and Garion go to Tol Honeth to visit him but during their visit Ran Borune dies.

Garion and Ce'Nedra attend Ran Borune's state funeral and Varana's coronation as Emperor. The harlot Bethra comes to warn the new Emperor of a plot against his son. The Alorn Council meets. Brand warns Garion that many elements in Alorn society are hostile to Ce'Nedra and think he should divorce her and that some may try to kill her. He also suggests that Ce'Nedra may be barren, a fact which greatly worries the Rivan Queen after her rage at the suggestion of divorce has subsided.

Polgara arrives, followed by Xera, in order to solve Garion and Ce'Nedra's problem. Belgarath arrives in a towering fury after having spent six months correcting the weather after Garion used sorcery to bring down a storm in Arendia. Polgara and the other visitors leave. Garion and Ce'Nedra go for a day in the woods surrounding Riva. Ce'Nedra becomes pregnant.

Garion has trouble trying to reconcile two seemingly contradictory prophecies, one of which has a blotted word. Silk arrives to visit. Arell is stabbed and Ce'Nedra is nearly drowned while bathing by a mysterious assassin who then kills herself.

Polgara arrives and nurses Ce'Nedra back to health. She identifies the assassin's clothing as north-east Drasnian. Prince Geran is born and Garion's friends arrive to celebrate the birth. Garion asks Belgarath about the blotted incomprehensionable passage and Belgarath tells him to investigate it.

The dry voice tells Garion that the prophecies were meant for him alone and if he simply skimmed the page his eyes would stop at the relevant passages. It also tells him that there are several words under the blot but he needs to look at it in the right light. Influenced in her sleep Ce'Nedra tries to kill Geran but Poledra stops her. Garion goes to view the original copy of the Mrin Codex.

Garion tries to read the prophecy but is overcome with a feeling of disgust every time he looks at the parchment, until he realises he must use the Orb. An entire passage is revealed under the blot. He goes to tell Belgarath but the old man launches into an uncharacteristic rage. Garion uses the Orb to force Belgarath to read the passage. Hettar arrives and tells Garion that Brand has been murdered.

Garion and his family return to Riva. Garion learns that the assassins were Chereks with a formal letter from King Anheg. The general populace begins to place the blame on Anheg.

Belgarath discovers that the letter implicating Anheg had been tampered with and it's original message deleted. Silk brings news of a new bear cult leader, Ulfgar, who seems to be mobilising for open war. He and Javelin examine the one surviving assassin and discover that he had been branded with the bear cult emblem. Garion decides to launch a campaign against Jarviksholm and Rheon.

The Alorn Kings and their armies lead a three pronged attack on Jarviksholm, capturing the city. Javelin crucifies Liselle, then explains to Silk that the purpose was to infiltrate the bear cult. Ce'Nedra cries out to Garion that someone has stolen their baby.

Garion, Durnik, Polgara and Belgarath fly back to Riva. They learn that the baby was stolen in the early hours of the morning. The Orb leads them along Geran's trail where they are ambushed by bear cultists who tell Garion that his son will be raised by the cult. When Belgarath suggests that the messanger who told the cultists of the plan was the actual abducter, the cultist kills himself.

The kings decide to move upon Rheon, with the exception of Anhag's men who will search Cherek for the missing prince. Belgarath goes to search in the prophecies. Garion and his army begin the trek to Rheon, being followed by the Drasnians and intending to meet the other armies at Rheon. However, Beldin arrives and tells Garion that the Drasnians have set up camp in the shallowa of the Mrin rather than following the Rivan army.

Garion and his companions realise that the Drasnian commander, Haldar, is a bear cultist. The army is ambushed and defeat seems almost certain when Silk arrives with an army of Nadraks at his back whom he has paid to fight. Garion and his army progress to Rheon where they learn from Beldin that Haldar has mobilised the Drasnian army against them and it is simply a matter of chance as to whether they or the Algars arrive first.

Liselle returns and reports that the city fortresses are weak on the north side. Durnik and Garion find water to wash away the foundations and the army issues a night assault with the primary aim of occupying a section of the city for protection should Haldar's men arrive.

Garion's army successfully takes the north quarter of the city. Errand arrives, followed quickly by Hettar and Brendig. Belgarath returns, having found little of use in the prophecies. Brand's sons arrive and report that the ship which took Geran away was Nyissan. Garion's troops take the rest of the city and Garion and Durnik capture the sorceror, Ulfgar.

Errand reveals that Ulfgar is actually one of Urvon's grolims, named Harakan, who was sent to make sure Garion and Ce'Nedra had no children. Ulfgar escapes. The seer Cyradis arrives and tells Garion that he must take Belgarath, Polgara, Errand, Durnik, Ce'Nedra and Silk with him on the quest for his son, as well as her guide Toth. Despite their protestations Garion and his companions are left with no choice but to concede

To Be Continued...

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