The Belgariad
The Belgariad is a five-book fantasy epic written by David Eddings.
Volumes include:
- Pawn of Prophecy (1982)
- Queen of Sorcery (1982)
- Magician's Gambit (1983)
- Castle of Wizardry (1984)
- Enchanters' End Game (1984)
Another five-book series, The Malloreon, is the sequel to the Belgariad. Belgarath the Sorcerer (1995) and Polgara the Sorceress (1997) are prequels that share the setting and most characters. The Rivan Codex (1998) features annotated background material.
The books tell of the journey and coming of age of Garion, an orphaned farmboy (later known as Belgarion). Garion is accompanied by his guardian Polgara the Sorceress, and the ancient sorcerer Belgarath and a number of other important characters.
Each book's title combines a chess term with fantasy term. The concept of a Game of Destiny is a significant motif in the story.
Works in the series
Pawn of Prophecy
The farmboy Garion, Polgara (known to Garion as Aunt Pol), the sorcerer Belgarath disguised as an old storyteller (called Mister Wolf by Garion and Old Wolf by Polgara), and the blacksmith Durnik set out from Faldor's farm to pursue a mysterious stolen object. On the journey they are joined by Silk (a.k.a Prince Kheldar who is a Drasnian prince, spy and thief) and Barak (a Cherek warrior and Earl of Trellheim).
The story begins with a brief prologue concerning all that had transpired from the creation of the world by the seven gods through the recovery of the Orb of Aldur by Belgarath the Sorcerer and the careful watching of the family by Polgara and Belgarath.
The story then tells of "the boy Garion's" earliest experiences of the kitchen and the smells and "Aunt Pol," how he met Durnik the blacksmith, his early games and friends. It tells something of the romance between himself and a young love named Zubrette. It introduces his contact with "The Storyteller" who, of course, is Belgarath himself, his vision of a man robed in black who casts no shadow, and a "dry voice" (later we come to find that this is the voice of prophecy which would sometimes talk to him and advise him.
Called out of Faldor's Farm by an emergency, a "thief" who had stolen something of great value and whom "Mister Wolf" and "Aunt Pol" had to chase down, Garion finds himself in diverse and mysterious companionship. He visits several cities as "Mister Wolf" follows this invisible trail. Eventually he and his companions are arrested and taken to a meeting of monarchs. Garion proves himself uniquely useful through all of this and shows his great potential, which is followed through upon in the subsequent books and series.
Garion also begins to have doubts about his relation to "Aunt Pol," especially when he discovers that "Aunt Pol" is 3000 years old known alternatively as Polgara the Sorceress and calls "Mr Wolf," who is known likewise as Belgarath the Sorcerer and who is 7000 years old.
Queen of Sorcery
Garion and friends chase after the stolen Orb of Aldur. They are joined by two more companions whilst travelling through Arendia, the Mimbrate Knight Mandorallen and the Asturian archer Lelldorin.
After Arendia the companions travel to Tolnedra, seeking audience with the Emperor Ran Borune XXIII. Whilst in the imperial palace, Garion meets meets the imperial Princess Ce'Nedra, who is seen throwing a tantrum at her father for limiting her freedom to leave the palace due to fears over her safety. Upon leaving the capital, the group once again encounter Princess Ce'Nedra while she is trying to run away from her father, the flighty Princess joins them on their quest.
In an encounter in the Wood of the Dryads, it is revealed that Garion also has the power of the Will and the Word. This is done in an encounter with Chamdar, a Grolim high priest who has been posing as a Murgo merchant named Asharak, where Garion kills him by setting his face on fire after learning he is the man responsible for his parents' death.
Garion is later kidnapped when travelling through Nyssia by Queen Salmissra; he is subsequently rescued by Polgara and Barak in his form as a bear. As retribution Polgara transforms Salmissra into an immortal snake. After this Barak can no longer hide his secret, so reveals to Garion that he is fated to be Garion's protector and guardian, turning into a giant bear whenever Garion becomes endangered.
Magician's Gambit
After learning that Ctuchik, the evil Angarak sorcerer, has stolen the orb from Zedar, Garion and friends plan to go after him, but first take a detour to the Vale of Aldur. On their way, they see the last of the dragons. In a cave on the way, Garion brings a dead colt (which he had helped birth minutes before) back to life. This event is of great significance as both Polgara and Belgarath maintain that before this, it was impossible to use the Will and the Word to restore life to the dead. The group passes through the haunted land of Maragor, which the insane god Mara and the ghosts of his people have haunted since Tolnedra massacred the Marags. All of these events are of great importance later in the series.
While in the Vale, Garion learns more about his powers. The group enters Ulgoland, and, after some dispute, recruits an Ulgo zealot named Relg to serve as a guide to Cthol Murgos. Ce'Nedra is left behind as a guest of the Gorim, because the Codices state that if she enters the city of the Murgos, she will die.
Garion and friends enter the city of the Murgos and infiltrate Ctuchik's headquarters. Belgarath and Ctuchik fight an epic battle that ends with Ctuchik's destruction as he attempts to will the Orb out of existence. The group escapes, with the now unconscious Belgarath, Errand (the boy who carries the Orb), and an escaped slave named Taiba.
Castle of Wizardry
Leadership is thrust upon Garion for the first time when Belgarath and Polgara are incapacitated, the former by his battle with Ctuchik and the latter by maintaining a shield to protect the party as they escape. Garion destroys the focal point of the power of the Hierarchs of Rak Cthol in retaliation of an attack upon Durnik.
Garion is revealed as the heir to the line of Riva Iron-grip and King of the Isle of Winds on Erastide (the Winter solstice festival and his sixteenth birthday) which infuriates Ce'Nedra. Since, as a Princess of imperial Tolnedra, this destines them to be betrothed on her sixteenth birthday (incidentally, the first day of Spring).
Shortly after the betrothal, Garion learns of what the Mrin and Darine Codices really say about him, namely that he must slay the god Torak or be slain. Garion, Belgarath and Silk set out to fight Torak, leaving only a small note to Polgara and Ce'Nedra with instructions not to pursue them, and sneak off in the night with the Sword of the Rivan King, Orb of Aldur included. Ce'Nedra immediately assumes she has been jilted by Garion and destroys her apartments within the Citadel, while Polgara knows the truth and proceeds to destroy anything she can get her hands on (and is significantly more effective at doing so).
After much sulking and finally learning the truth, Ce'Nedra overhears a conference of the Alorn kings and devises a plan to raise an army to distract the Angaraks from Garion's quest so that he may reach Cthol Mishrak safely and destroy Torak.
Enchanters' End Game
Garion proceeds through Gar Og Nadrak, and despite a few incidents (such as being forced to join the army at one point, having been mistaken for a Nadrak), reaches Mallorea. Despite being tempted by Torak to accept him as a father, he rejects the temptations and manages to reach Cthol Mishrak.
Ce'Nedra's plan, however, is less successful. Despite a victory at Thull Mardu, she, Polgara, Durnik, and Errand are captured by Mallorean forces and taken to Kal Zakath, who turns them over to Zedar. This is particularly disastrous because Torak wishes for Polgara to be his bride, and with her power, not even Garion can stop them.
Inside Cthol Mishrak, Zedar holds his prisoners in Torak's chamber. Durnik charges Zedar, but Zedar kills him. Belgarath then seals Zedar alive inside the stone of the room. Torak revives, and attempts to sway Polgara, but Durnik's spirit helps her to withstand the temptation. In the final battle, during which Garion and Torak cause themselves to dramatically increase in size, Garion and Torak fight with their swords. Garion prevails, and Torak is finally defeated.
The gods arrive and take away Torak's body. UL agrees to revive Durnik, but Mara objects, yet relents on the condition that Relg and Taiba (who is a Marag) help restore the Marag people. The child Errand bewilders the god UL with his use of the word "father."
Upon the company's return to Riva, Garion and Ce'Nedra plan (and survive) their wedding and reception, but not before Polgara and Durnik marry in a private chapel on the same morning. Durnik reveals that he was gifted with the Will and the Word when he was brought back to life, and Polgara is at a loss for words when she realizes that her powers were not gone after all (she was quite unsure whether to hate or love her father for the surprise).