It was bitter, and I momentarily thought that it might be poison. What a perfect solution. All the pain would go away now. I drank eagerly, and my weeping gradually subsided as I sank down into blank oblivion in Arell’s arms.
I was in my own bed when I awoke, and I can’t really say how much time had passed. Arell sat at my bedside, and I vaguely noticed that the windows had been barred while I slept. ‘Your father’s here, Pol,’ Arell told me when my eyes opened.
‘How nice of him to take the trouble,’ I replied bitterly. Arell had not poisoned me, and I felt somehow betrayed by that fact.
‘That’s about enough of that, Polgara.’ Arell’s tone was crisp. ‘People die. It happens. This isn’t the time for accusations or recriminations. The death of a loved one can either tear a family apart or it can bind the survivors closer together. Which do you want it to be, Pol?’ Then she stood up, smoothing the front of her grey dress. ‘Don’t go looking for anything sharp, dear. I’ve had your room purged of everything with an edge, and stay away from the windows. Now get dressed, wash your face in cold water, and comb your hair. You’re a mess.’ Then she left, and I got out of bed to lock the door behind her.
It was evening again, though I couldn’t tell you what day it was, and father came knocking at my door. ‘It’s me, Pol. Open up.’
‘Go away,’ I told him.
‘Open the door, Pol. I need to talk to you.’
‘Get away from me, father.’ Even as I said it, I knew that it was more than a little silly. No lock in this world will keep my father out if he really wants in. I gave up and opened the door.
He was all business, though his face was bleak. He bluntly reminded me that our overriding responsibility now was the Rivan line. Riva himself was totally incapacitated by his grief, and somebody had to assume his duties – both as king and as the guardian of the Orb. Daran was only twenty, but he was Riva’s heir and therefore the only possible choice. ‘The Angaraks have eyes everywhere, Pol,’ father reminded me, ‘and if there’s any sign of weakness here, you can expect a visit from Ctuchik – or maybe even from Torak himself.’
That brought me up short. I pushed my grief and desolation back. ‘What do we do?’
‘You’re going to pull yourself together and take charge here. I’m putting Daran into your hands. I’ve talked with Brand, and he fully understands the situation. He’ll help you as much as he can, but the ultimate responsibility’s still yours. Don’t fail me, Pol. I’ll take you to Brand’s quarters. He’s talking with Daran there right now. They’re Alorns, Pol, so keep a tight rein on them.’
‘You’ll be here, won’t you?’
‘No. I have to leave.’
‘You’re not even going to stay for the funeral?’ That shocked me for some reason. Father’s always been a bit informal, but –
‘I’ve got the funeral in my heart, Pol, and no amount of ceremony or preaching by some tiresome priest is going to make it go away.’
It was only an off-hand remark, but it reminded me that I had a score to settle with a certain priest of Belar. If Elthek, the Rivan Deacon, hadn’t pretended to be so hysterically afraid of witchcraft, my sister might have received proper medical attention soon enough to save her life. A desire for revenge isn’t really very admirable, but it does tend to stiffen one’s back in the face of sorrow. Now I had two reasons to get hold of myself – Elthek and Ctuchik. I had enemies on both sides of the theological fence.
Father took me to Kamion’s book-lined study, and then he left us.
There are precedents for a regency,’ Kamion told my sorrowing nephew and me, ‘quite a few, actually. The fact that a man’s a king doesn’t automatically exempt him from ordinary human incapacity.’
‘Lord Brand,’ Daran objected, ‘the people won’t accept me as their ruler. I’m too young.’
‘Your father was even younger than you are when he established the kingdom, Daran,’ I reminded him.
‘But he had the Orb, Aunt Pol.’
‘Right. And now you have it.’
He blinked. ‘Nobody but father can touch the Orb.’
I smiled at him. I suppose it was a sad smile, but the fact that I could do it at all surprised me. ‘Daran,’ I said, ‘your father put your hand on the Orb before you were twenty-four hours old. It knows who you are.’
‘Could he take the sword down off the wall?’ Kamion asked me intently.
‘I’m not entirely positive. I’ll look into it.’
That would give his Highness’ regency a visible sign of legitimacy and head off objections from any quarter.’
‘I think I’m getting a glimmer of an idea here, gentlemen,’ I told them. ‘I’ll have to speak with my Master about it – and with Riva himself – but if I’m right, there won’t be any objections to Daran’s regency from anyone.’
‘And then I can deal with the Rivan Deacon,’ Daran said, his young face hardening.
‘Would you care to define “deal with”, your Highness?’ Kamion asked politely.
‘I haven’t entirely decided yet, Lord Brand. I’m torn between running a sword into his belly and twisting it or burning him at the stake. Which do you prefer, Aunt Pol?’
Alorns! ‘Let’s get your authority firmly established before the blood-bath, Daran,’ I suggested. ‘Let Elthek worry for a while before you run your sword into him or start using him for firewood. We have other things to take care of first.’
‘I guess you’re right, Aunt Pol,’ he conceded. ‘Do you have the authority to close the harbor, Lord Brand?’
‘I suppose so, your Highness,’ Kamion replied, ‘but why?’
‘This is an island, Lord Brand. If we close the harbor, Elthek can’t get away from me.’
‘Oh, dear,’ I sighed.
It was much later when I was alone in my chambers that I was finally able to reach out with my mind. ‘Mother, I need you.’ Then I waited, growing more apprehensive by the moment.
‘Yes, Pol?’ Her voice was filled with fathomless sorrow.
‘Can Daran take up his father’s sword?’
‘Of course he can, Pol.’
‘And will the sword respond to him in the same way it responds to Riva?’
‘Naturally. What’s this all about, Pol?’