Silk enters the bar looking grim, and rather surprised. But he doesn't hesitate. He knows why he's here and immediately starts looking round for his friend.
'Garion!'
He hurries over and a hand goes to his shoulder. Suddenly, there doesn't seem a lot that can be said, expect,
"I... I was a good king, yes? Not a bad one, anyway. I wasn't... wasn't being a tyrant or causing undue trouble or-or-or trying to conquer anyone else. I didn't..."
He shakes.
"Why?"
Not even 'why me' anymore, because it's beyond him. It was about more than him now. It was about his family and his kingdom and his marriage and everything else.
'Are a good king Garion,' he says firmly, because he's not thinking in past tense about anything.
'And...I don't know. But I'll find out. Everything's got a reason and it's what I'm good at - and there's Polgara and Belgarath and Durnik, all the Alorn Kings. Porenn will put the entire Drasnian Intelligence service to finding him if it comes to that...you're not doing this on your own Garion. Everyone will help.'
He doesn't know why. There are a number of theories in his head already, of course, but any one - or none - of them could be true.
There's a ghost of a smile on his face as he turns to Silk.
"I can hope. I only wonder... at what cost?"
The last time he had been swept up in things, many had died. Armies had marched, a god had fallen, and much had changed in the world. What was coming now?
"I... I can't believe he didn't tell me. Ce'Nedra, I suppose I can understand, but..."
He looks to Silk.
"This is my son, Silk. And who's to say I won't lose him at the end of things? The Prophecy isn't absolute. Mistakes happen. What if something happens to Geran?"
Silk thinks about that too and has to admit that in Garion's position, he'd have wanted to know in advance too.
'Maybe there's a reason he couldn't tell you. I don't know. You'll have to ask him, you know what he's like.'
Right now, that feels like a weak thing to say. But he shakes his head firmly - maybe trying to dislodge the thought that maybe the reason Belgarath didn't say anything was because things do go wrong. He refuses to think that way.
'Nothing bad will happen to Geran. We'll make sure of it.'
'Garion!'
He hurries over and a hand goes to his shoulder. Suddenly, there doesn't seem a lot that can be said, expect,
'We'll find him. We will.'
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"Right. Right. Of course."
And then sarcasm leaves him as he flumps back down.
"This is just..."
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'I know. I...'
He doesn't know. Not like Garion does. But he can imagine - and the effect on someone he cares for like this is enough to make him rage.
'Everyone's there. We'll get back to Riva and tear the place apart. We will find him Garion.'
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And he looks up to Silk now.
"I... I was a good king, yes? Not a bad one, anyway. I wasn't... wasn't being a tyrant or causing undue trouble or-or-or trying to conquer anyone else. I didn't..."
He shakes.
"Why?"
Not even 'why me' anymore, because it's beyond him. It was about more than him now. It was about his family and his kingdom and his marriage and everything else.
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'And...I don't know. But I'll find out. Everything's got a reason and it's what I'm good at - and there's Polgara and Belgarath and Durnik, all the Alorn Kings. Porenn will put the entire Drasnian Intelligence service to finding him if it comes to that...you're not doing this on your own Garion. Everyone will help.'
He doesn't know why. There are a number of theories in his head already, of course, but any one - or none - of them could be true.
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And he looks away, almost ashamed with himself for feeling so alone and singled out when he knows that he has all these people with him, behind him.
"I have a sinking feeling that this won't end quickly. I want it to, but..."
He looks back at Silk.
"Someone here told me that they'd Seen this happening, that they Saw an empty cradle... and footprints in a ruined house. Little. Footprints."
Surely Silk can see what he means.
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'Belar!'
He couldn't help that. This isn't good news, after all.
'...well...that doesn't mean it won't end well though. Just...'
...take a long time.
The though is left unsaid, of course. He just reaches across and grips Garion's shoulder once more.
'We'll do whatever has to be done. We will find him.'
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"I can hope. I only wonder... at what cost?"
The last time he had been swept up in things, many had died. Armies had marched, a god had fallen, and much had changed in the world. What was coming now?
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'There's always that to wonder. None of us will know until the time comes but...is there anything you won't do?'
Garion doesn't really need to answer that. Silk knows how much his son means to him.
'Whoever does it needs to know that they can't make the attempt again.'
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'Yes. And I'm sure they'll do it well.'
Silk may be lazy but there are some things he'll gladly get up and fight for. This is one of them.
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'...yes. I know he might not be able to tell you anything but...'
He'll make you feel better.
'...he might be able to hint at something. Geran's family, I'm sure he'll try. And you know he'll want to see how you are.'
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"I... I can't believe he didn't tell me. Ce'Nedra, I suppose I can understand, but..."
He looks to Silk.
"This is my son, Silk. And who's to say I won't lose him at the end of things? The Prophecy isn't absolute. Mistakes happen. What if something happens to Geran?"
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'Maybe there's a reason he couldn't tell you. I don't know. You'll have to ask him, you know what he's like.'
Right now, that feels like a weak thing to say. But he shakes his head firmly - maybe trying to dislodge the thought that maybe the reason Belgarath didn't say anything was because things do go wrong. He refuses to think that way.
'Nothing bad will happen to Geran. We'll make sure of it.'
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