The Rivan Codex

by David Eddings

  It will come to pass that some among thee will sicken of this endless burden, and with will and mind and the power of the word will they cause themselves to no longer be—for it is a simple thing to say ‘be not’ and to perish. For them I grieve, knowing that which is to come to pass.

  And behold, one among thee shall bend his mind and will and the power of the word to exalt himself above all men, and he too shall perish, and I grieve for him as well.

  In parting I abjure thee, seek not to pit thy will and thy mind and the power of the word against my brother Torak. Know that he is a God, and though thy mind be as strong as his and thine understanding of the power of the word be as perfect, his will is to thine as is thine to that of a child. Know that this it is that makes him a God. In the invincibility of his will is Torak a God, and in that only. In the day that thou seekest to raise thy will against the will of Torak, in that day shalt thou surely perish. But more than this—if it should come to pass that the power of the word be raised against Torak, no power that exists in the endless starry reaches of the Universe can save the world. For I say unto thee, if Torak in his madness turn mind and will and the power of the word against thee, shall the world be shattered, and the shards thereof scattered like dust among the stars.

  Lest ye grow fearful and disconsolate at the enormity of thy task, know that the Orb which I have made hath the power to curb the will of Torak. For it hath confounded him, and not without cost hath he raised it against the world.

  And it shall come to pass that in a certain day shall come the One who is to use the Orb, and if he be brave and pure, shall Torak be overthrown. But if he falter or be tempted by the power of the Orb, shall Torak overcome him and recapture the Orb, and then shall the world be Torak’s forever.

  But behold, the madness of my brother Torak is a disease and a canker unto the Universe, and if it should come to pass that he prevails in this, it must be that my brothers and I raise our hands against him, for the madness of Torak unchecked shall rend the Universe even as he hath cracked this world which we made and which we love. And thus will we come against him with the most fearful power. In sorrow shall we pronounce the dread words—‘Be Not’—and our brother Torak shall be no more, and, as it must needs be, this lovely world also shall be no more.

  Guide well therefore the child and the man who is to be the Appointed One and prepare him for his great task. Know that if he fail, Torak shall conquer, and my voice must be joined with the voices of my Brethren to speak that final— ‘Be Not’—which will unmake all that we have made. And, though it will grieve me beyond thy power to understand, I will bend all of my mind and all of my will into that fateful word, and this world will shimmer and vanish as morning mist beneath the weight of the noon sun.

  Thus I leave the world in thy keeping, my sons. Fail not in thy duty to me and to the world.

  I will go now to seek pleasant fields among the stars and shaded pathways to strange suns; and, if all passeth well, shalt thou join me there when thy task is done.

  —And, so saying, did Aldur turn and ascend into the star-strewn skies, and no man hath seen him more—

  THE BOOK OF ULGO25

  NOTE

  This is the famous southern copy of this disputed work. It differs in certain crucial details from the seven other fragmentary copies, and is considered by certain scholars to be a corrupt, third-hand copy with no historical or theological value. It is, however, the only complete copy we have, and provides the only clues we have to the understanding of the enigmatic Ulgos. How it came to be in the possession of the Dryads in southern Tolnedra is, of course, a mystery.

  At the Beginning of Days when the world was spun out of Darkness by the wayward Gods, dwelt there in the silences of the heavens a spirit known only as UL. Mighty was he, but withheld his power as the younger Gods combined to bring forth the world and the sun and the moon also. Old was he and wise, but withheld his wisdom from them, and what they wrought was not perfect by reason of that. And they had despite unto him that he would not join with them, and turned they their backs upon him.

  And it came to pass that the younger Gods wrought beasts and fowls, serpents and fishes, and lastly, Man. But by reason of the withholding of the power and the wisdom of UL, it was not perfect and was marred. Many creatures were wrought which were unseemly and strange, and the younger Gods repented their making and tried they to unmake that which they had wrought so that all things upon the world which they had made might be fair and seemly. But the Spirit of UL stretched forth his hand and prevented them, and they could not unmake that which they had wrought, no matter how monstrous or illshapen. And he spake unto the younger Gods, saying: ‘Behold, what thou hast wrought thou mayest in no wise unmake, for in thy folly hast thou torn asunder the fabric of the heavens and the peace thereof that thou might bring forth this world of thine to be a plaything and an entertainment. Know, however, that whatsoever ye make, be it ever so monstrous or unseemly, it will abide and be a rebuke unto thee for thy folly. For in the day that one thing which is made is unmade, in that day shall all that is made be unmade.’26

  And the younger Gods were wroth, and in despite spake they unto each monstrous or unseemly thing they made, saying, ‘Go thou even unto UL, and he shall be thy God.’ And UL spake not.

  And the younger Gods wrought men, and each selected that people which pleased him to be God over them. And it came to pass that when each had chosen, there were peoples yet who had no God. And the younger Gods drave them out, saying, ‘Go thou even unto UL, and he shall be thy God.’

  Now these were the generations of the wanderings of the Godless ones. Long and bitter were the years when they wandered in the wastelands and the wilderness of the west.

  And it came to pass that among their number was a just and righteous man named Gorim, and he spake unto the multitudes of the Godless ones, saying, ‘Stay thou and rest from thy wanderings here upon this plain. I will take upon myself the search for the God named UL that we might worship him and find thereby a place in the world. For verily, we wither and fall as leaves by the wayside by reason of the rigors of our wanderings. The children die and the old men also. Better it is that one only die. Abide here against my return.’

  And lo, Gorim went out from the multitude alone and sought the God named UL that his people might find a God to worship and a place in the world.

  Twenty years sought he the God named UL in the wilderness and found him not. And things monstrous and gross assailed him in the wilderness, but he prevailed and was not slain.

  And yet he wearied in his wanderings, and his hair grew grey as the years dropped like leaves upon his head. And upon a certain day Gorim despaired and went up unto a high mountain and spake unto the sky in a great voice, saying, ‘No more! I will search no longer. The Gods are a mockery and a deception; the world is a barren void; there is no UL; and I am sick of my life which is a curse and an affliction unto me.’

  And behold, the Spirit of UL spake unto him, saying, ‘Wherefore art thou wroth with me, Gorim? Thy making and thy casting out were not of my doing.’

  And Gorim was sore afraid and fell down upon his face before the Spirit of UL.

  And UL spake unto him, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim, for I am not thy God.’

  But Gorim rose not. ‘Oh, my God,’ quoth he, ‘hide not thy face from thy people who are sorely afflicted by reason that they are outcast and have no God to protect them.’

  And again UL spake unto him, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim. Seek thou a God elsewhere, for I am God unto no people. I made thee not, and am incurious as to thy fate.’

  But still Gorim rose not. ‘Oh, my God,’ quoth he again, ‘thy people are outcast and they perish as leaves before the cold winds of winter. The children die and the old men also, and there is no place in the broad world where they might find rest.’

  And the Spirit of UL was troubled by the words of Gorim, the just and righteous man, and he rose up in wrath saying, ‘Rise, Gorim, and quit this place. Cease thy drasty com
plaining, and leave me in peace. Seek thou elsewhere a God, and trouble me no more, for I am not thy God.’

  And still Gorim rose not. ‘Oh, my God,’ quoth he, ‘yet will I abide. Thy people hunger and they thirst also. They seek only thy blessing and a place wherein they might dwell.’

  And UL spake, saying, ‘Then will I depart from here, for thy speech wearies me.’

  And yet did Gorim abide in that place and went not away. And, behold, the beasts of the fields brought him to eat, and the fowls of the air brought him to drink by reason of his holiness. And did he abide there a year and more.

  And the Spirit of UL was sore troubled.

  And came unto that place the things monstrous and unseemly that the Gods had made and that the Spirit of UL forbade them to destroy, and sat they at the feet of Gorim. Chimeras and Unicorns were there and Basilisks and Winged Serpents also, and they abode there watching Gorim.

  And UL came unto Gorim and he spake, saying, ‘Abidest thou still?’

  And Gorim fell upon his face, saying, ‘Oh, my God, thy people cry unto thee in their affliction.’

  And the Spirit of UL fled.

  And there did Gorim abide and was brought meat by dragons and water to drink by creatures unnamed. And the days and months did rain down, and another year passed.

  And again came UL unto Gorim and spake, saying, ‘Abidest thou still?’

  And again Gorim fell upon his face, saying, ‘Oh, my God, thy people perish in the absence of thy care.’

  And again did the spirit of UL flee from the righteous man.

  And there still did Gorim abide, and food and drink were brought unto him as an offering unto his holiness and his righteousness by things that have no name and things that are unseen. And passed yet another year.

  And the Spirit of UL came again unto the high mountain where Gorim abode, and the creatures monstrous, named and unnamed, seen and unseen, made great moan.

  And UL spake, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim.’

  And Gorim fell upon his face and spake, saying, ‘Oh, my God, have mercy.’

  And UL spake, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim. I am UL—thy God, and I command thee to rise and stand before me.’ And reached he down and lifted Gorim up with his hands.

  ‘Then wilt thou be my God?’ Gorim asked of UL, ‘and God unto my people also?’

  And UL spake, saying, ‘I am thy God and the God of thy people also.’

  And Gorim looked down from the high place whereon he had abode and beheld the unseemly creatures which had fed him and comforted him during his travail, and he spake unto the God UL, saying, ‘And what of these, oh, my God? Who will be God unto the Basilisk and the Minotaur, the Dragon and the Chimera, the Unicorn and the Thing Unnamed, the Winged Serpent and the Thing Unseen?’

  And the Spirit of UL spake not and was wroth.

  ‘For also are these outcast, oh, my God,’ quoth Gorim. ‘The younger Gods cast them out in thy despite because they were monstrous and unseemly. Yet is there beauty in each. The scales of the Basilisk are like jewels. The head of the Chimera is lofty and noble. The Unicorn is of exceeding beauty, and its single horn is intricately twisted and graceful. The wings of the Dragon are majestic, and the body of the Minotaur magnificent. Behold them, oh, my God. Turn not thy face from them, for in them is great beauty and delight unto the eye if thou be but willing to look. Unto thee was each sent by the younger Gods and was told to seek thee out to be their God. Who will be their God if thou turnest thy face from them?’

  ‘It was done in my despite,’ quoth UL, ‘and these monstrous beings sent unto me to bring shame upon me that I had rebuked the younger Gods. I am not God unto monsters.’

  And Gorim looked upon his God and spake, saying, ‘Oh, my God, mayhap the space of a little time will give thee leisure to reconsider. Yet will I abide here a little while, trusting in thy justice and thine infinite mercy.’ And so saying, he sat himself again upon the earth.

  And the God UL spake unto Gorim, saying, ‘Tempt not the patience of thy God, Gorim. I have consented to be God unto thee and thy people, but in no wise will I be God unto monstrous things.’

  And the creatures who sat at the feet of Gorim made great moan.

  ‘Yet will I abide, oh, my God,’ Gorim said and rose not from the earth.

  ‘Abide if it please thee,’ quoth UL and departed from that place.

  And it was even as before. Gorim abode, and the creatures sustained him, and UL was troubled.

  And it came to pass that the Great God UL relented even as before by reason of the holiness of the righteous man, Gorim, and he came unto Gorim and spake, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim, that thou mayest serve thy God.’ And he reached down and lifted up Gorim with his hands, and commanded him, saying, ‘Bring unto me in turn each of the creatures who sit before thee that I might consider them, for if it is as thou sayest and each hath beauty and worthiness, then will I consent to be their God also.’

  And Gorim brought each creature before his God, and UL marveled at the beauty of each and that he had not seen it before. And the creatures prostrated themselves before the Great God UL and made great moan and besought his blessing.

  And the Spirit of UL raised up his hands and blessed them, saying, ‘Behold, I am UL, and I find great beauty and worthiness in each of you, in the Dragon and the Minotaur, in the Dwarf and the Basilisk, in the Unicorn and the Chimera, in the Dryad and the Troll, in the Centaur and in the Thing Unnamed, and even find I beauty in the Thing Unseen. And I will be thy God, and thou shalt prosper, and peace shall prevail among you.’

  And the heart of Gorim was made glad, and he called the name of the high place where all of this had come to pass ‘Prolgu’, which is ‘holy place’. And he departed from that place and returned he unto the plain to bring his people unto UL, their God. And behold, they recognized him not, for the hands of UL had touched him, and all color had fled from the touch of UL, and the body and the hair of Gorim were as white as new snow. And his people feared him and drave him from their midst with stones.

  And Gorim cried out unto UL, saying, ‘Oh, my God, thy touch hath changed me, and my people know me not.’

  And the Spirit of UL raised his hand, and behold, the people were all made even as Gorim. And the Spirit of UL spake unto the people in a great voice, saying, ‘Hearken unto the words of thy God. This is he whom ye have called Gorim. He it was who came unto me and by reason of his great holiness prevailed upon me to accept ye as my people, and watch over thee and provide for thee and to be God over thee. And henceforth shall this man be called UL-GO in remembrance of me and in token of his holiness. In him am I well-pleased. Thou shalt do even as he commands thee, and thou shalt go even where he leads. And behold, any who fail to obey him or to follow him will I cut off even as the limb is cut from the tree, and they shall wither and perish and be no more.’

  And he who had been Gorim and was now called UL-GO spake unto the people and commanded them to take up their goods and their cattle and to follow him into the mountains before them.

  And behold, the elders of the people believed him not, nor that the Voice which they had heard had been the Voice of UL, and they spake unto him in great despite, saying, ‘If thou be the servant of the God UL, perform thou a wonder in proof thereof.’

  And UL-GO answered them, saying, ‘Behold thy skin and thy hair. Is this not wonder enough for thee?’

  And they were troubled and went away. And again they came unto him, saying, ‘Lo, the mark upon us is by reason of a pestilence which hath fallen upon us and which thou hast brought unto us from some unclean place. Still see we no wonder in proof of the favor of the God UL.’

  And UL-GO grew weary of them and spake in a great voice, saying, ‘Verily I say unto the people, ye have heard the Voice of the Great God UL. Much have I suffered in thy behalf, and now will I return even unto Prolgu, the holy place. Let him who would follow me do; let him who would not, remain.’ And he spake no more, but turned and went even toward the mountains. And some few of the people took up
their goods and their cattle and followed him. But behold, the greater part of the people remained, and they reviled UL-GO and those who followed him, saying, ‘Where is this wonder which proves the favor of UL? We defy the Voice which spake unto us. We will not follow UL-GO, neither will we obey him, and behold, we wither not, neither do we perish.’

  And UL-GO looked upon them with a great sadness and spake unto them for the last time, saying, ‘Verily, ye have besought a wonder from me. Behold, then, the wonder. Even as the Voice of UL hath said are ye witherèd as the limb of the tree which is cut off. In this day have ye perished.’ And he led the few who would follow him up into the mountains even unto Prolgu.

  And the multitude of the people mocked him and then returned they unto their tents and laughed at the folly of those who had followed UL-GO.

  ‘Behold,’ they said, ‘howso are we witherèd, and by what token might we know that we have perished?’ And they laughed at this great folly for the space of a year, and then laughed no more, for behold, their women were barren and bore no more, and the people witherèd as the limb that is cut off, and, in time, they perished and were no more.

  But the people who followed UL-GO came with him unto Prolgu, the holy place, and built there a city, and the Spirit of UL was with them, and they dwelt in peace with all the creatures who had sustained UL-GO.

  And the Peace of UL was with them for a thousand years, and yet another thousand, and they were troubled not. And they deemed that the Peace of UL should abide forever, but it was not so, for lo, the younger Gods quarreled over a stone that one had made, and in their quarrel was the earth broken asunder and the seas did come in. And the earth was maddened by reason of her wounding. And behold, the creatures which had dwelt in peace with the people of UL-GO were maddened also by the wounding of the earth, and rose they up against the fellowship of UL and cast down their cities and slew the people, and few only escaped.