“Hadn’t Belgarath already created beings?” I asked, confused.
“He did not, his sole creation focused around the earth. The waters, the rocks, even gravity and the movement around the sun, the seasons, the moon, you name it. But he never wanted living beings to roam around his work and damage it. So when the two goddesses came to him and dragged him to the waters, to show him what had happened, the god became enraged and destroyed it all. Everything that had been alive till then were all destroyed by Belgarath.”
“Oh gods,” I said, trying to imagine what that meant.
“As expected, the goddesses did not take his fury lightly and while he was away once more, they developed a plan. To entrap him and rebuild the world. In their perspective, Belgarath stood in the way of his own creation, loving it so much that he proved incapable of letting anyone enjoy it. So while he slept, Marynnah shackled him in iron chains, the only metal that hurt their skin, and along with Zaleen, they trapped him deep under the earth, so close to the centre that the heat alone would cause too much pain and it would make him incapable of finding the strength to escape.”
He paused, to my benefit, giving me a minute to collect myself before he continued.
“With Belgarath trapped, the two goddesses ruled the earth. They created water-life and Zaleen played with her powers to create waves, made the birds fly, and blew over the trees to make their roots stronger. But they had been so used to a third god, that at times, loneliness overpowered them. So one day, Zaleen came with the idea and asked Marynnah to use the powers Belgarath gave her to create another sister. A goddess who could rule over the plants and trees. That is how Catalina appeared. The three goddesses created more life, and the humans came to be and everything was happy and peaceful until their final breaths.”
“So what does it have to do with the deal that we’re supposed to make and Ansgar?” I asked with confusion.
“Everything. We’re just about to get into politics now,” he pointed.
“Oh goodie,” I replied humourlessly.
“Even though it looks like Marynnah was the strongest goddess, Catalina had the highest number of subjects, which is why, today, the Earth Kingdom is the strongest one. The Water Kingdom comes in second, very close to the power and the Wind Kingdom simply exists, they do not have any real power anymore. They have tried to get alliances for centuries, but the other two kingdoms like to keep everything locked in.”
“And the Fire Kingdom?” I questioned.
“Even though we are not a kingdom officially, as per their rules, summits, treaties, and whatnot, my people have always been present, trying to escape into the earth and find a home for ourselves,” he explained.
I would not be fooled. I knew how they tried to find homes, how they killed pregnant women and unborn children. Ansgar had told me everything.
“We agreed not to lie to each other,” I grunted.
“Our methods are not favoured by the other kingdoms, but we have only one mission in mind, ever since the beginning of time.”
“Which is?” I pressed for the truth.
“Avenge our god. Before his death, Belgarath created the firelings, thousands of us, born from his pain and wrath. With the sole purpose to overcome the earth and restore his creation to what it once was.”
“Is that why you are not burnt by iron?” My mind jumped from one memory to another, from the image of the god to Rhylan trapping Ansgar in the sitting room of the mansion I used to live in, back in Evigt.
“Not all of us, but yes, we inherited the ability since we grew strength from our god’s pain.”
“What does it have to do with anything?” I still did not understand my role in this battle that seemed to have gone on for thousands of years.
“The goddesses lived a long and happy life together, but even though they were strong, and loved their creation, they did not have the power to survive Belgarath’s death. All three of them had a dash of his power, which received a summoning back into the earth when our god faded, taking the three goddesses along with him and forcing them to give up their eternity. They turned into mortals, each one forced to live her last years on earth powerless. Marynnah chose to return to the waters and lived with the sirens, Zaleen chose a solitary death and Catalina married her mortal lover and lived her last years as a queen in the Earth Kingdom.”
“She was smart, I would have done the same,” I pointed out.
“When Belgarath’s strength left them, so did the power he had placed into them, offering immortality. It escaped their bodies and turned back to what it initially was. A tear. One for each goddess. The last remnants of Belgarath’s power. The most protected three objects in the entire world. Together, they can bind the energy of the earth and restore our god’s life.”
“So where are they?” I asked, starting to become aware of the plan Rhylan had drawn for me.
“With each of the royal families,” he expelled defeated.
I took a long minute to digest everything, the story he had told me, the origin of their gods, and the history of hate among their people and kingdoms. Of course, the truth is in the eyes of the beholder and my brain struggled to piece together the conflicting information I had received from Ansgar during his stay in Evigt with what Rhylan told me just then.
I did not understand our place in this and part of me still hoped that I would wake up somehow and all of it, Erik’s death and consequently my trip to the earth goddess’ burial place could fade away as if nothing ever happened. But that would mean negating my feelings towards Ansgar and everything we had lived together. And also…
“What does this all have to do with my brother?” I suddenly asked, my brain unveiling the information Rhylan dropped in the car.
It might tell you a thing or two about your brother.
“Maybe it’s not the best moment to find out more,” Rhylan stopped and moved to grab the world map where he had circled specific points with a black marker. “It is something that can affect your senses and we are not done talking yet,” he expressed his determination.
