David Eddings
Magician’s Gambit
For Dorothy, who has the enduring grace to put up with Eddings men, and for Wayne, for reasons we both understand but could never be put into words.
Prologue
Being an Account of how Gorim sought a God for his People and of how he found UL upon the sacred Mountain of Prolgu.
At the Beginning of Days, the world was spun out of darkness by the seven Gods, and they also created beasts and fowls, serpents and fishes, and lastly Man.
Now there dwelt in the heavens a spirit known as UL who did not join in this creation. And because he withheld his power and wisdom, much that was made was marred and imperfect. Many creatures were unseemly and strange. These the younger Gods sought to unmake, so that all upon the world might be fair.
But UL stretched forth his hand and prevented them, saying: “What you have wrought you may not unmake. You have torn asunder the fabric and peace of the heavens to bring forth this world as a plaything and an entertainment. Know, however, that whatsoever you make, be it ever so monstrous, shall abide as a rebuke for your folly. In the day that one thing which you have made is unmade, all shall be unmade.”
The younger Gods were angered. To each monstrous or unseemly thing they had made they said: “Go thou unto UL and let him be thy God.” Then from the races of men, each God chose that people which pleased him. And when there were yet peoples who had no God, the younger Gods drove them forth and said: “Go unto UL, and he shall be your God.” And UL did not speak.
For long and bitter generations, the Godless Ones wandered and cried out unheard in the wastelands and wilderness of the West.
Then there appeared among their numbers a just and righteous man named Gorim. He gathered the multitudes before him and spoke to them: “We wither and fall as the leaves from the rigors of our wanderings. Our children and our old men die. Better it is that only one shall die. Therefore, stay here and rest upon this plain. I will search for the God named UL so that we may worship him and have a place in this world.”
For twenty years, Gorim sought UL, but in vain. Yet the years passed, his hair turned gray, and he wearied of his search. In despair, he went up onto a high mountain and cried in a great voice to the sky: “No more! I will search no longer. The Gods are a mockery and deception, and the world is a barren void. There is no UL, and I am sick of the curse and affliction of my life.”
The Spirit of UL heard and replied: “Why art thou wroth with me, Gorim? Thy making and thy casting out were none of my doing.”
Gorim was afraid and fell upon his face. And UL spoke again, saying:
“Rise, Gorim, for I am not thy God.”
Gorim did not rise. “O my God,” he cried, “hide not thy face from thy people who are sorely afflicted because they are outcast and have no God to protect them.”
“Rise, Gorim,” UL repeated, “and quit this place. Cease thy complaining. Seek thou a God elsewhere and leave me in peace.”
Still Gorim did not rise. “O my God,” he said, “I will still abide. Thy people hunger and thirst. They seek thy blessing and a place where they may dwell.”
“Thy speech wearies me,” UL said and he departed.
Gorim remained on the mountain, and the beasts of the field and fowls of the air brought him sustenance. For more than a year he remained. Then the monstrous and unseemly things which the Gods had made came and sat at his feet, watching him.
The Spirit of UL was troubled. At last he appeared to Gorim. “Abidest thou still?”
Gorim fell on his face and said: “O my God, thy people cry unto thee in their affliction.”
The Spirit of UL fled. But Gorim abode there for another year. Dragons brought him meat, and unicorns gave him water. And again UL came to him, asking: “Abidest thou still?”
Gorim fell on his face. “O my God,” he cried, “thy people perish in the absence of thy care.” And UL fled from the righteous man. Another year passed while nameless, unseen things brought him food and drink. And the Spirit of UL came to the high mountain and ordered: “Rise, Gorim.”
From his prostrate position, Gorim pleaded: “O my God, have mercy.”
“Rise, Gorim,” UL replied. He reached down and lifted Gorim up with his hands. “I am UL—thy God. I command thee to rise and stand before me.”
“Then wilt thou be my God?” Gorim asked. “And God unto my people?”
“I am thy God and the God of thy people also,” UL said.
Gorim looked down from his high place and beheld the unseemly creatures which had cared for him in his travail. “What of these, O my God? Wilt thou 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? For these are also outcast. Yet there is beauty in each. Turn not your face from them, O my God, for in them is great worthiness. They were sent to thee by the younger Gods. Who will be their God if you refuse them?”
“It was done in my despite,” UL said. “These creatures were sent unto me to bring shame upon me that I had rebuked the younger Gods. I will in no wise be God unto monsters.”
The creatures at Gorim’s feet moaned. Gorim seated himself on the earth and said: “Yet will I abide, O my God.”
“Abide if it please thee,” UL said and departed.
It was even as before. Gorim abode, the creatures sustained him, and UL was troubled. And before the holiness of Gorim, the Great God repented and came again. “Rise, Gorim, and serve thy God.” UL reached down and lifted Gorim. “Bring unto me the creatures who sit before thee and I will consider them. If each hath beauty and worthiness, as thou sayest, then I will consent to be their God also.”
Then Gorim brought the creatures before UL. The creatures prostrated themselves before the God and moaned to beseech his blessing. UL marveled that he had not seen the beauty of each creature before. He raised up his hands and blessed them, saying: “I am UL and I find beauty and worthiness in each of you. I will be your God, and you shall prosper, and peace shall be among you.”
Gorim was glad of heart and he named the high place where all had come to pass Prolgu, which means “Holy Place.” Then he departed and returned to the plain to bring his people unto their God. But they did not know him, for the hands of UL had touched him, and all color had fled, leaving his body and hair as white as new snow. The people feared him and drove him away with stones.
Gorim cried unto UL: “O my God, thy touch has changed me, and my people know me not.”
UL raised his hand, and the people were made colorless like Gorim. The Spirit of UL spoke to them in a great voice: “Hearken unto the words of your God. This is he whom you call Gorim, and he has prevailed upon me to accept you as my people, to watch over you, provide for you, and be God over you. Henceforth shall you be called UL-Go in remembrance of me and in token of his holiness. You shall do as he commands and go where he leads. Any who fail to obey him or follow him will I cut off to wither and perish and be no more.”
Gorim commanded the people to take up their goods and their cattle and follow him to the mountains. But the elders of the people did not believe him, nor that the voice had been the voice of UL. They spoke to Gorim in despite, saying: “If you are the servant of the God UL, perform a wonder in proof of it.”
Gorim answered: “Behold your skin and hair. Is that not wonder enough for you?”
They were troubled and went away. But they came to him again, saying: “The mark upon us is because of a pestilence which you brought from some unclean place and no proof of the favor of UL.”
Gorim raised his hands, and the creatures which had sustained him came to him like lambs to a shepherd. The elders were afraid and went away for a time. But soon they came again, saying: “The creatures are monstrous and unseemly. You are a demon sent to lure the people to destruction, not a servant of the Great God UL. We have still seen no proof of the favor of UL.”