The two herdsmen sitting on a nearby hill saw Horse as soon as he appeared at the horizon. Naturally, there couldn't be a doubt who was the rider - nobody in Algaria would ride a horse in gallop without reins. "Tell the king Eriond's here," one of the Algars told the other.
When Eriond arrived in the camp, he was already expected. There was a whole crowd
of Algars, bowing to him and crying "Hail Eriond!". He was slightly amused - the Algars never were
religious fanatics, and Eriond knew that most of them were more likely to worship his horse.
He swung down and looked at one of the Algars. "Athelswein, could you care for my horse, please?"
There was a whisper among the Algars - "Sha-Gan" - and Athelswein couldn't believe that
this was true. It was not only the new, but very honored title. One of his mares was
on heat right now, and if Horse would like her...
The perspective that he'd have a foal - or even a colt - from Horse took away his breath.
He could breed a new noble race of Algarian horses, then! The thought of the prestige he'd
receive for something like that made him gasp.
Eriond concealed a smile. He knew about that mare, of course. Horse would have a
hard job soon, and it wouldn't hurt if he had a reward in advance. The next reward, however,
he'd have to earn.
When Athelswein already wanted to leave with Horse, a calm voice stopped him. "Wait a minute,
Sha-Gan! I'd like to look at this horse, again."
Sha-Gan or not, but Athelswein still had to obey his king.
Hettar greeted Eriond just with a nod and a smile. There wasn't anything else they'd need -
Hettar knew Eriond since he was a child.
Then, Hettar inspected Horse very carefully. He looked at his fur, at his hoofs, and into his teeth.
All this time, he muttered under his breath, and the Algars who stood closer
could understand that
his most frequently used word was "unnatural". When he finished his inspection, he
turned to Eriond.
"Eriond, I attended his birth. But it was twenty-seven years ago, and this isn't
a horse of that age!"
"Of course, not," Eriond agreed. "I'm a God now, I don't need a horse that becomes old and dies.
In fact, Horse stopped to age when Cyradis chose me, so he must appear like a horse of
about twelve years."
Hettar looked very satisfied - this was his estimate exactly. He dismissed Athelswein with a gesture.
"Let's go to my home, Eriond," he suggested, "I'm sure Adara can't wait to see you."
"But I'd like to see your eldest, Garth, as well," Eriond replied seriously.
Hettar gave instructions to one of his clansmen, and he hurried to find Garth.
"He's probably with Gherad," Hettar said, and Eriond nodded. He had heard about
Gherad from Garion after Hettar had told him of the events in Gorgon's
Crown. They walked towards Hettar's "home".
Naturally, it was built of several of the Algarian wagons, with their sides let down.
They formed a hall providing enough space for Hettar to meet guests - and to sleep at night with
all of his family.
When Eriond and Hettar entered the hall, Adara was already waiting for them. Eriond
was glad to see her again. He remembered their talks when he was a child, and he'd
always admire her beauty and her subtle sense of humor. She was over forty by now,
but she still retained a sizeable amount
of her looks. The time and the weather hadn't been very gentle to her
complexion, but her figure still was that of a much younger woman. It didn't show
that she had given birth to eight children, and only two of them died from one of
the many children's illnesses. Her lustrous dark brown hair didn't show any hint of gray,
and her bright gray eyes smiled at Eriond.
"Welcome to our home, Eriond! It's been a long time since we met. Here, sit
down!"
The door through which they had entered opened once again, and Garth stepped
inside. The young man was over twenty by now, as Eriond knew, and he crossed
the floor towards the table and sat down between his mother and father. The
three of them looked a little lost around the big table - the other children
were playing or doing a serious job out there
in midmorning. Hettar looked at Eriond inquiringly - it was clear that he didn't come
here just for the fun of it.
Eriond came to the point immediately. "I'd like to ask you a favor," he said calmly.
Hettar was amused. "Eriond, you're our God, you can simply command!"
"Why should I command if I can ask you?" Eriond objected.
"If you only ask, people can say 'no' - in principle," Garth said silently.
Eriond smiled. "I don't think so. As soon as I explained it, you will do it.
Instead, I'd have a problem if I changed my mind - I'd probably have to chain you, then."
This got their undivided attention, of course.
"You always wanted to tame the Hrulgin," he said to Hettar.
Hettar's eyes went dreamy immediately. "Oh yes! I remember how I sat on that Hrulga
once, and I'll never forget it for the rest of my life. It's a shame that they are mad."
"No, they aren't mad already. The pain of the earth is gone, and they returned to
sanity. However, they are still fairly savage, and it's not easy to tame them."
Hettar looked at Eriond thoughtfully. "But you've got an idea, I take it."
"Yes, I have," Eriond agreed. "Imagine a horse would challenge one of their herd stallions
- and win the fight. What would happen?"
Hettar looked slightly confused. "Are you joking? Every child knows the answer - he'd
be herd stallion, then. They seem to control the Hrulgin even more tightly than
the herd stallions of horses. But how can a horse win a fight against the fangs and
claws of a Hrulga?"
"Speed," Eriond explained. "I'm speaking of Horse, naturally. He can always move
out of danger instantly, and appear behind the back of the Hrulga. It is a certain
advantage in a fight, I'd say."
"It is, indeed," Hettar nodded. "But can Horse use it?"
"That's the whole problem," Eriond sighed. "Horses are wonderful animals, but they aren't really
very bright. Somebody'll have to ride Horse during that fight, somebody who can
join his mind with that of Horse, and move together with him - even during those
lurchs".
Hettar looked at Eriond incredulously. "So you're proposing to ride a stallion
while he's fighting another stallion? Eriond, that's absolutely crazy!" His eyes were
very bright, though.
Eriond grinned at him. "I thought you'd like the notion. It must be very close to
the Algarian idea of an interesting afternoon."
"Ah, Eriond," Adara stepped in, "could you show me that chain, please? I mean the
one you want to use if you change your mind. If it's not very much thicker than my arm..."
Eriond looked at her without the hint of a smile. "It won't hold them now, I'm afraid.
But I don't think I'll change my mind - we'll need the Hrulgin," he added with a wink.
Hettar laughed quietly, but then he sighed. "I'm afraid I can't do that already - I'm sixty
by now. Is it that why you wanted Garth to be present?" he asked. Suddenly all was clear to him.
Eriond nodded.
Garth held his breath, he didn't believe his ears. "Not very many people rode Horse beside you, I take it,"
he asked carefully.
Eriond considered the question for a moment. "You're right - only Garion rode him once, when
he followed Zandramas' trail through the Wood of the Dryads," he remembered. "But I don't think
it's much of a problem for a Sha-Dar. There's just one thing - I rode him without reins
and saddle almost all the time, and you'll have to do the same."
Garth shrugged. "Reins wouldn't help me much, anyway - that's too slow for a fight.
When we join our minds, I don't need them. And I rode short rides without a saddle - it's
not really more difficult."
"However, you'll have to learn controlling his lurchs - those special moves when he covers
a distance in an instant," Eriond warned him.
"It's nothing what an ordinary horse could do, so it will take a little getting used to."
Garth didn't show that very much, but Eriond knew that he was excited.
"When shall we get started with the lessons?" Garth asked in an offhand way.
Eriond couldn't help smiling. "First thing tomorrow morning," he decided.
The next morning, Garth was up very early. He couldn't wait sitting on Horse's back.
Following Eriond's advice, he had a good breakfast, though. Then he was standing
at the edge of the camp - at the agreed place, but much too early.
Finally, Athelswein and Eriond brought the chestnut stallion. Naturally, Garth hadn't
a problem to mount even without a saddle and stirrups. It wasn't really like taking
lessons, they just had to get used to each other - both Horse and Garth. Eriond wasn't
a Sha-Dar, but a God, and Horse had to adjust himself to the slightly different commands.
Of course, Garth started with the ordinary paces, with walk, trot and gallop. Then he
added sudden turns in all directions. His mind linked with that of Horse more and
more.
At first, only Athelswein and Eriond watched his progress. The new Sha-Gan looked smug -
Horse had paid attention to his mare. Athelswein had much experience in
breeding horses, and he was fairly sure that his mare would be with foal next year.
He had already put an ox roasting over a slow fire - in the evening, there would be a feast.
Later in the morning, other Algars joined them to look at their exercises. Hettar and Adara
were among them, naturally. Garth was
moving Horse already as easy as his own body - the stallion followed every single
thought. Hettar could feel the contact between their minds, and nodded approvingly.
His son was doing fine. Naturally, Adara was proud of her son as well. She didn't
need any special gift to see that Horse and Garth were moving together as if they
were dancing.
However, Garth knew that this was only the beginning - the most difficult part
was still awaiting him.
After some time, Hettar and Adara left. They had enough other business to attend to.
Probably, it was easier for Hettar to rule Algaria - it was ruled mainly by the clans,
after all - than it was for Adara to feed her big family.
Eriond felt a certain relief - what followed now, would be much harder for Garth than
the young Sha-Dar expected. But there wasn't any way how his parents could help him,
he had to go through that himself.
"Try his special pace now - I told you yesterday," he shouted.
Garth nodded, he recalled what Eriond had tried to explain. He concentrated on
the notion of moving very fast. Horse understood him at once, and soon Garth felt
the same as Garion many years ago. Every fourth stride, there was a lurch, and the
surroundings sort of blurred - and then, they were in a different place. There was
a very big difference between Garion and Garth, though. Garion was chasing after
Zandramas, then, and had his mind on other things. And even when he paid attention, there
was no way how he could understand it. Horse knew in a general sort of way what he was
doing, but Garion wasn't a Sha-Dar. Garth was, and his mind was one with that of Horse.
When Horse and his rider returned, the young Algar was very pale. He slid from Horse's back,
and Eriond supported him - Garth's knees trembled violently. Athelswein looked at him
in surprise.
"It's a long way to Aldurford and back," Eriond said calmly.
The Sha-Gan stared at him. To Aldurford and back? In a half hour?! This seemed to
explain a lot, indeed.
The sun was high already, and Eriond decided to make an extensive break. "Would you water
and feed Horse, please," he asked Athelswein politely.
When they were alone, Eriond
helped Garth to sit down in the grass. He looked definitely sick. "How can he live
with that, beside that abyss?" he said eventually in a low voice.
"He's used to it," Eriond replied. "Every living creature stands beside that abyss,
all the time. Most are simply not aware of that - not until the last moment of their
life. Horse was even on the other side of the barrier, and Belgarion brought him
back."
Garth knew the story, of course. Every Algar alive knew that the Holy Horse was born
dead, and then revived by Belgarion in the Cave of the Gods. Then he remembered
something.
"There's the Man with Two Lives - Durnik," he said hesitantly. "He was on the other side,
too. In principle, he should be able..."
Eriond shrugged. "He doesn't remember, horses have a better memory. But even if he did..."
"He'd prefer to walk," Garth continued for him. "Why didn't you warn me?!"
Eriond smiled. "How could I tell you? There aren't any words for that in any human
language."
"You're right," Garth agreed, "and I'm not even sure if I really wanted to know before
what this is like. So this 'lurch' is similar to the very moment of death?"
"No, not exactly. You aren't crossing the barrier - you wouldn't be able to come back -,
you're just sliding along it's edge - it's everywhere in the world, that's why all
distances vanish. Believe me, there's no real danger, Horse does it
all his life. And horses aren't really very brave."
Garth knew that, of course, but... "It will take some time to get used to something
like that, let alone to control it," he sighed. "And I'll never again be the same man as before."
"Why don't we see if we can get some dinner?" Eriond suggested.
The both of them went to Hettar's wagon-house. They'd continue the training only
in the afternoon. Garth was really very hungry now.
When they arrived in the wagon, only Hettar and Adara were there. It wasn't customary
to gather for the midday meal around the table - this was possible only in the evening,
when most of the work was done. The Algars had dinner when they were hungry and had time
for it. So all of Garth's siblings were out, either working or playing - and one
of his sisters was married already and lived far away.
Eriond and Garth sat down at the table, and Adara brought a big plate for her son.
The food was fairly simple - cooked barley with big chunks of meat, but seasoned with
herbs and smelling wonderful. Eriond had spent enough time in Polgara's kitchen
to recognize the flavor of marjoram.
Adara noticed his look. "Do you want to eat, Eriond?"
"No, thanks," he replied with a smile, "Gods don't need to eat, the fragrance will
be enough for me."
Hettar looked at him awkwardly. He had already dipped three tankards of ale from the open keg
in a corner, without even thinking that Eriond didn't need to drink.
"That's all right, Hettar", Eriond said, reached out for one of the tankards and
took a sip. He was a God of Alorns now, too. Belar was right, it wasn't much of a
sacrifice - ale didn't taste bad.
Adara looked at him curiously, but she didn't say anything. Then she noticed that
Garth was not only very pale, but also his hand trembled while he drank. "Is
something the matter with you, Garth?" she asked. "I thought you were doing fine
with Horse when I watched you."
Garth sighed. There wasn't much hope to hide something from his mother. "That was
when I just rode him. But he has this special way to devour large distances, and it
takes a little getting used to to be connected to his mind during that pace."
Garth took another gulp from his tankard and started eating. Adara was content that he obviously
liked it - the plate emptied at a surprising speed.
"I've never noticed anything unusual in his mind," Hettar mused. "Of course, I've
never watched his mind during those lurchs Garion told me about - and it'd probably
be difficult to do that without sitting on his back."
"More than just difficult," Eriond corrected, "you'd lose contact immediately. That's
why Garth will have to ride him during the fights we plan - that's the only way to control
him even during those lurchs. Otherwise, it would be safer to do it from some distance."
"But less fun," Garth objected, "I'll just have to learn to forget about how
unnatural it is."
He seemed to have regained his composure by now, and even Eriond couldn't be sure
what had the greater effect here - the food or the ale. He tended toward the
latter, though. Alorns!
Hettar looked at Garth proudly. These words were far more becoming than his look
some time ago. "You know, Athelswein's new title 'Sha-Gan' - Herdman of the Holy Horse - seems to
be gone to his head. I've heard he plans a big feast today in the evening".
Eriond laughed silently. "It's not the title, Hettar. Horse had some fun with one of his mares,
and Athelswein expects that she'll have a foal next year. He's right, by the way."
Hettar grinned. "That's Athelswein for you, all right! Probably, he hopes that it's
a colt. If he has a stallion from the line of Horse, he'll be famous - people will
bring their mares from all over Algaria."
"It will be a stallion," Eriond confirmed. "But the special qualities of Horse aren't
hereditary!" Of course, he knew Hettar's answer in advance.
"People don't know that, and it won't matter. Their belief will make those horses
very special," he said.
When Eriond and Garth came to the agreed on place later, Athelswein already waited with Horse.
He looked a bit lost. "Ah, Garth, I wanted to invite you to a feast today in the evening
at my home - I've got a roasted ox and a few barrels of the finest ale..." There was an
awkward pause - Athelswein had no clue how to continue. How do you invite a God to
"your" feast, if the whole world is his?
Eriond helped him out. "I see you have something to celebrate, Athelswein - my congratulations
for the colt to be! I'll be happy to join you - I'm glad when my people are successful
in their business and enjoy their life," he said with a faint smile.
"Thank you, Lord Eriond!" was all what Athelswein managed to reply. He was deliriously happy.
Garth swung on Horse's back with new confidence. He had to learn this!
Again, he started with walk and trot, and then with gallop. When his mind was connected
with that of Horse completely, he prepared for the lurchs. However, there was no point to go to
Aldurford, again - Horse would simply keep the direction during the jumps.
Then, he had an idea. He nudged Horse into smaller and smaller circles, and then concentrated
concentrated on the idea of moving very fast, again. He felt Horse's
confusion, and he was right in principle - it didn't make much sense. However, a mount isn't
supposed to argue, but to obey, and Garth made clear that he ruled here. He felt
the lurch again, and this time Horse had to make a turn to stay on the circle. He didn't manage
completely, but he came fairly close, and Garth thanked him. He tried very hard
to concentrate on the images Horse used for orientation, and he stressed the importance of staying
exactly on the circle. Horse tried very hard, he was proud that his rider seemed to be content.
Soon, Garth began to understand which image he had to create in their joint mind
to direct Horse exactly to a certain point on that circle. It was still far to go,
but it was a start.
After some time, Hettar came to watch the progress of his son. Athelswein invited him
- this was far easier, of course. After all, a king in Algaria is just a chief
of clan chiefs, and his authority certainly did not come just from the title.
Hettar listened to him not very attentively. He tried to watch Horse's mind. He felt
the presence of Garth's mind, but he couldn't look into it. He would have to make a very
difficult step to do that. Hettar shuddered when he remembered the only time in
his life when he made that step, he wouldn't do that again. What he felt in Horse's mind
was ghastly even without that. Eriond was right - he lost contact to Horse during every
jump. But immediately before, he had the feeling to stand at the very brink of a cliff.
What was even worse - he knew that this cliff was always there, he just couldn't
see it normally... Those short instants were enough for his taste already, and Garth felt
it all the time, as he realized suddenly. He shuddered again - this explained a lot, of
course.
Garth, thinking it was time to try and broaden the excercises, decided that it was time to leave that circle, and to move freely. It was
almost a disaster at first. The circle hat given Horse a hint in which position
he had to appear at the given point - now Garth had to do that, and he had only
a vague idea, how. It was crucial, though - no Hrulga would be particularly impressed
by Horse's teeth, but his hind hoofs could have some effect.
It was hard going, but they understood each other better and better. Garth praised
Horse for every successful move, and he was very careful with rebuke - it wasn't always
Horse's fault.
Finally, Garth got the knack of it. It showed even for the now more numerous Algars
watching his training - Horse and his rider didn't vanish and re-appear chaotically,
but followed a certain pattern. It looked like a very complicated dance, again.
The Algars looked at the sophisticated moves with awe, and Hettar was not the only one
who muttered something like "Unnatural..." under his breath. However, Hettar was proud -
he could see the triumphant smile on the face of his son, and he knew that Garth had won.
Eriond looked at Garth with a deep satisfaction. The young Algar had more than
fulfilled his expectations. Of course, this was only the first step. Garth controlled
Horse, but he needed the whole of his consciousness for that. For a fight, he had to have
free a big part of it, to react to attacks and to make their own plans. His control
had to be mostly subconscious, as easy as one controls his own body.
But this would come with time, the deciding first step was made. "That's enough for
today, Garth," he said, and Garth could hear him clearly, even though Eriond did
not shout.
Eriond could feel Athelswein's relief - he had to look after Horse, and he had to make
preparations for his feast. The sun was low, already.
Some hours later, Hettar, Garth and Adara sat among all the others in front of Athelswein's
wagon - of course, he couldn't invite that many people inside. There was no need
to join wagons for a big hall, it was a nice evening in early summer. It was warm,
but they sat around a big fire. The ox was already almost eaten, but the ale barrels
would last for some more hours.
Adara sat together with the other women on the other side of the fire. They had their
own things to talk about, and they had no wish to join the serious drinking of the men.
Now and then, a woman looked at her husband or son, and those looks were sometimes
amused, but sometimes worried or even not altogether friendly. Adara saw that her
son drank just a bit more than was probably good for him - he wasn't nearly as
closed-mouthed as usually. Of course, he had a very hard day, and that was the reason
why the ale had a bit more effect on him than usually. Eriond stood nearby, and he watched the
scene with a smile. At first, the Algars were shy in the presence of their God,
but this changed fairly soon. The ale played a role there - and the fact that Eriond
not only held a tankard in his hand, but took a good draught from it now and then.
This time, Adara decided to ask him about it - her curiosity was too big, and she
knew him since he was a child, after all.
Eriond's smile brightened when Adara stood up and came to him. He knew what she wanted to
ask, and he remembered their talks almost in the same place, but many years ago
very well. She was a young woman, and he was a child, but she had taken him seriously -
most of the time.
"The Alorns seem to have a bad influence on you," Adara said with a nod in the direction
of his tankard. "Are you developing bad habits?"
Eriond winked. "I told Garion already that I'll have to replace all my brothers
here - including Belar."
Adara couldn't help smiling, but she didn't know how to formulate her next question.
"I've always wondered if the ale... I mean... Do you have to cheat..."
Eriond laughed silently. "No, there's no need for that - alcohol doesn't have any
effect on a God. Don't worry - I won't get drunk."
The fruits Silk had once seen in the Cave of the Gods were an entirely different matter,
of course. Belgarath didn't know that, but his warning not to try them was prudent
enough. Silk would have seen the world very different for the rest of his life -
which would have been only a couple of minutes probably. The Gods were
inspired when they made the monsters. Eriond felt ashamed when he thought of what they had done to the
Dryads. He had no part in that, but he was the heir of their guilt in a sense.
Of course, he wouldn't tell Adara about that - she didn't ask.
Adara looked at her son. He quite obviously had some trouble with sitting. He changed his
position often, but that didn't help much. His friends were having a great time
teasing him about his almost constant movement.
"What's wrong, Garth?" Gherad asked him, trying to hide a smirk "Having
problems after your training today?"
Garth winced. "Very funny, Gherad. Saddles were invented for a reason, you know.
Try riding without for several hours! I don't have the indestructible behind of a God!"
Adara gasped, and some of the Algars - suddenly almost sober - looked at Eriond.
Then the silence was broken by Eriond's laughter. Garth sighed with relief - it was a bit
disrespectful, probably.
Eriond waved and took another sip from his tankard. "He's very good," he said to
Adara, "he has done more today than I hoped. He deserved some rest - but he won't feel
very good tomorrow in the morning."
Adara chuckled. "I thought so myself," she agreed.
They looked at the drinking men. It was a warm night, and it was downright hot
near the fire. Some of the Algars looked fairly savage - they had taken off their vests,
and their half-naked bodies sweated. Many had only scalp locks, some had
wild-looking moustaches. Their talk was fairly loud again, and now and then even little
fights happened - nothing serious, of course.
"Belar loves his Alorns very much, and I can see why. It will not be easy for him to leave,"
Eriond continued in a low voice.
Then he smiled. "They are like children, and they are often cruel, like most children.
But it's not evil - it's more ignorance. And they are not aware of the dangers
threatening them, some more horrible than they can face alone. I'll do anything to save
them from the most terrible threat of all. They are my children, now."
Adara didn't answer, she just laid her hand on his arm. It was a bit unusual to
look that way on her kinsmen, but it certainly wasn't unnatural for her - she was a
mother, after all.
From now on, Garth rode Horse almost every day. He knew the secret of his special pace now,
but he had to control it as casually as the others, without even thinking - and this
took time.
Eriond wasn't present all the time now. In the beginning, he left only at night, when the Algars
slept - he didn't need sleep, and it wasn't dark in other parts of the world. But
as days and weeks went by, he showed up only occasionally to judge Garth's progress.
Quite obviously, he didn't need Horse to move around in the world.
When Garth asked him once about it, the young God only shrugged. "Horse and I are just
friends, and then it's a matter of style, as Belgarath would say. But it's not really
difficult for a God to appear in another place instantly - but it is difficult
to explain how I do that."
Of course, Garth grew very close to Horse during those weeks. The new Sha-Gan, Athelswein,
didn't have much trouble with the Holy Horse - Garth more and more often took care of that himself.
Following Eriond's advice, he gave him days of rest now and then. He used the time
to make rides with his friends - mainly with Gherad, naturally - on his own mount,
he helped to herd the cattle,
and every now and then there was a reason to drink a tankard of ale with the other
Algars in the camp. Not only Hettar and Adara were pleased that the contact with the God
and his Holy Horse didn't seem to go to Garth's head.
It was during one of these rides that Gherad asked him how he felt about
what he was being asked to do. They had ridden all morning, and they sat on
a grassy bank overlooking the upper course of the Aldur.
"That's hard to explain," Garth answered thoughtfully. "Once, I rode from our camp to
Aldurford and back - within a half hour. Actually, it wasn't Aldurford itself - if I showed up there
on Horse, people probably would have thought it's Eriond. But it was near - some distance
to the east."
"That's where the Gorgon landed," Gherad said quietly, "where I saw him first."
Garth grunted.
"I'd rather not talk about that," he said. "I never understood why I was
left behind."
Gherad shook his head with a rueful smile.
"There was no time to send for any help, and you wouldn't have liked it
anyway."
Garth frowned.
"I wouldn't be a question of enjoying it, there was serious business to be
done."
"Oh, of course," Gherad smiled - at first he hadn't taken Garth seriously when
he had spoken in this way, but now he knew him better. The fact of missing
such an adventure was at least half the reason why not having gone to the
Gorgon's Crown irritated Garth so much. "What's it like," he asked, wisely
changing the subject. "You know, riding Horse?"
He had sat forward now,
resting his elbows on his knees, and Garth could tell he was really
interested.
"Not much different from any other horse," he said carefully, thoughtfully.
"Apart from the lurches of course. I'd rather not go into that," he said
quickly, cutting off the question he knew Gherad would ask next. "It's
not the riding part that feels so strange. It's his mind I have trouble
with."
Gherad frowned.
"I thought you said you'd got the hang of it?" he said, and Garth nodded.
"Yes, I know how it works, in some ways he's not very different from other
horses, but in others..." He sighed.
"I've heard your father talk about
those horses some Grolims ride..." Gherad said tentatively.
"It's not like that,
it's not an evil feeling - and those aren't horses at all...," Garth struggled
for the right words for a moment. "I think... Horse remembers how he died
during those lurchs."
Gherad shuddered.
"You can ignore it long enough to do what you must?" he asked. Garth nodded.
"Then why are you worried?"
"I never said I was," Garth replied shortly.
Gherad grinned.
"No, you're right, you didn't say it."
Garth looked at his friend, then
sighed.
"I suppose I'm worried that... Well, I...," he struggled to find the right
words. "It's not an ordinary horse," he began. "I'm pretty sure he'll do what I
want if I ask - but how to ask so he'll do what I want exactly..." He
saw Gherad
frowning and chuckled. "Horses aren't really very bright, as you know. But during
the fight, he'll have to move in a way I don't fully understand, and appear at the
right distance - not too far from his enemy, and not within the reach of his claws
and fangs. Now how do you explain that?!"
Gherad thought about that, staring across the waters.
"Well, Eriond seems pretty sure," he said. "If anyone can do it, you can."
As his grip of Horse's mind tightened, Garth grew more and more impatient, but
Eriond headed this off with uncharacteristic firmness during one of his inspections.
"Your control of Horse is very good already, Garth - but it has to be perfect. Your very life
depends on that. You Alorns tend to take chances, but I can't afford this. I wouldn't
only lose a friend if you die during the first fight - I'd lose very much time. Not even I
can know when I'd be able to find another Sha-Dar with your abilities."
There was only a hint of the enormous will of a God in his voice, but this was enough.
Garth never again asked when this first fight would be finally - this was entirely
Eriond's decision.
And then, one wonderful day in late summer, Eriond appeared again toward the end of Garth's training. He didn't comment on it, and when Garth swung down and looked inquiringly at him, Eriond sighed, and then he smiled. "Tomorrow!" was the only word he said, and Garth's reaction was fairly predictable - his eyes brightened. Alorns! The problem with them was not that they were too stupid to see the danger in a fight, Eriond thought - but that they were convinced that a certain risk was the major part of the fun.
Eriond and Garth departed ealy in the next morning. Eriond had insisted in leaving
behind all the others.
"I know that you worry," he said to Adara and Hettar, "and you're right that it's
dangerous, but I think Garth and Horse will win. If anybody in the world can do that,
it's Garth - if he isn't distracted by anybody. There's nobody who could help him,
anyway."
They had accepted this grudgingly, as had Garth, who had at least wanted to
bring Gherad along. Now the two of them rode toward the edge of the
Ulgo mountains.
They reached their destination only at noon - they were near, but out of sight of a fairly large herd of Hrulgin. There, they had an extensive rest in the shadow of the trees, they ate their dinner and drank from the cristalline water of a nearby brook. Garth breathed deeply - the air was full of the fragrance of the flower Belgarion made for Adara. Garth felt that he calmed down - he was confident that everything would turn out well.
"It's time," Eriond said finally. Without a word, Garth swung on Horse's back now,
and Eriond led Garth's mount. They walked through the group of trees hiding them
from the sight of the Hrulgin. When the herd stallion on the top of the hill noticed them,
he gave a sharp warning. It wasn't meant for them, though. The Hrulgin wouldn't
attack humans - they weren't that mad now. They would hunt horses, and horses
would know better than to approach Hrulgin, normally. However, they felt safe in
Eriond's presence, and that was the reason for the alert.
"I can't go closer, the herd would flee," Eriond said. "Your turn, Garth!"
Garth grinned. Finally! His confidence infected Horse as well - their minds were like one.
He tapped Horse's flanks and they moved slowly, cautiously
forward, as Garth tried to work out what the Hrulgin would do, how they
would react to his presence.
As they came closer, Garth noticed that Horse was obviously interested in a few
Hrulgin mares standing near to the herd stallion - they were on heat. The Hrulga noticed
that, too - and, unlike Garth, he was not amused. Those were his mares!
The shrill warning of the Hrulgin stallion was full of contempt, though - Horse was
only a feeble caricature of a Hrulga in his eyes. Horse answered with a challenging
whinny - meant for the mares, he ignored the herd stallion. The contempt of the
Hrulga for this only faintly Hrulgin-like creature tolerating a human on its back
turned into rage immediately. The animal tensed and then galloped down
from the hilltop, reaching his adversary halfway up the slope.
Of course, this was exactly what Garth wanted. Horse shimmered, the terrible claws of the Hrulga met only empty air, and Horse's heavy hind hoofs hit the flanks of the Hrulga when he appeared beside him. The Hrulga spun around in fury, his fangs snapping at Horse's legs - but again Horse vanished before him, and another heavy hit informed the Hrulga about his changed location. The confusion of the Hrulga even increased his fury - but this didn't help. He didn't seem to be able to hurt his enemy, but he received many hard blows. They weren't hard enough to break bones, but the bruises and the pain hindered the movements of the Hrulga, and it was only a matter of time when some of his organs would get injured. Unfortunately, Garth didn't have all the time of the world. Horse wouldn't get tired very soon, but he did. Already a couple of times, his reaction was a bit late. Horse didn't have serious wounds, but Garth had a gaping cut in his right leg. Only the heat of the fight didn't let him feel the pain, but the loss of blood would weaken him very soon.
However, Garth had already enough experience with his enemy to come up with a better plan. Hrulgin are more intelligent than horses - they are hunters. This time, their hunting instincts would turn out fatal. The Hrulga obviously tried to attack Horse's legs - probably the preferred method of the Hrulgin to prevent escapes of their pray. This could make it possible for Horse to hit the head of the Hrulga - theoretically. The problem was - Horse couldn't see what his hind hoofs where hitting, this made it difficult to aim. Two times he missed obviously, then Garth found the solution. He could see what was behind, when he looked over his shoulder. It was the most complicated thing he'd ever done - to look back, relying on Horse's eyes for seeing what was in front, and at the same time controlling the lurch to appear at the right distance of the Hrulga's head. The tedious exercises paid off, now - Garth could do at least the last part half asleep. And his clever move was successful! Even if he hadn't seen it - he could hear Horse's right hoof crashing at the skull of the Hrulga with its full might, while the other hoof hit the side of his neck.
The Hrulga fell like a poled ox. He made a faint attempt at getting on his feet again,
but he didn't seem to be able to keep balance. His body convulsed, and he vomitted violently
- obviously, the blow had hurt his brain.
Eriond sighed. The Hrulga wasn't dead, but he would die. He wasn't able to hunt, and the
other Hrulgin wouldn't help him. He was no longer herd stallion - defeated, he was
nothing.
Horse whinnied triumphantly - he had won. Garth could feel that their linked mind sent
out to the Hrulgin the same message - I'm the leader, now! And the Hrulgin submitted.
No other stallion felt like challenging the winner of that ghastly fight.
Garth sighed with relief, and then he winced. Now he felt the pain in his leg,
and his growing weakness. Eriond went to him, and Horse calmed down his herd - he's no danger,
but leave alone the horse. The mares looked at him admiringly now.
Eriond helped Garth to slide from Horse's back and to sit down. Then, he touched
his leg. Under Eriond's hand, the wound closed - there wasn't even a scar, and there was no
pain. The weakness remained, though.
Eriond didn't have a chance to do the same for Horse - ignoring his bleeding wounds,
he accepted the challenge of his Hrulgin mares to chase them. Garth worried about his friend.
"Isn't that dangerous, Eriond?"
Eriond smiled. "Do you want to help him even with that? You aren't planning to ride him
in the process, with your mind linked with his, are you?" He twinkled.
Garth blushed. "No, not really. But he's wounded, and those mares don't look very
gentle."
"The mating rituals of Hrulgin are a bit rough," Eriond admitted, "but
Horse will be able to keep it under control. The authority of a Hrulgin herd stallion
is almost absolute."
"But will he be clever enough to use that?" Garth still doubted.
"Please, Garth," Eriond's voice actually sounded slightly offended, "he isn't that
stupid."
When Horse returned after some time - deliberately ignoring his now even more numerous
little wounds -, he did look a bit stupid, though. He seemed to be very
proud of himself, and Garth and Eriond couldn't help laughing while the God took
care of the cuts and bruises.
"What do you think, Eriond - is cross-breeding between Hrulgin and horses possible?" Garth asked.
He knew that his father tried it, but none of the horses had survived those experiments.
"I don't think so, but I can't be sure," Eriond confessed. "It's very difficult to
get information about the monsters from my brothers, who made them. For some reason,
they are reluctant to talk about them."
He knew the reason, of course. UL had told him in some detail about the unpleasant talk he had with
them afterwards. Eriond had the faint suspicion that this was meant as a warning for him.
However, he wouldn't speak about it to Garth or any other human - he loved his brothers,
with all their faults. He preferred to change the topic.
"Tomorrow, Horse can lead his herd out of these hills, closer to your people - but not
too close to your cattle", he said. "They won't attack men already, but they wouldn't tolerate
a rider on their back - unless Horse commands them to do so. Soon, you and your father will know
how it feels to ride them."
With a smile, he saw the glint in Garth's eyes - he loved his Algars.