The Malloreon

First published:Guardians of the West (1987), King of the Murgos (1988), Demon Lord of Karanda (1988), The Sorceress of Darshiva (1989), and The Seeress of Kell (1991)

Type of work: Novels

Type of plot: Fantasy—high fantasy

Time of work: Undefined, several years after the events of the Belgariad

Locale: Various locations in the Kingdoms of the West, the Kingdom of the Angaraks, and the continent of Mallorea

The Plot

David Eddings’ five-book Malloreon series (1987-1991) continues the story of Garion and his friends several years after the events detailed in the Belgariad series (1982-1984). The story revolves around the final confrontation between the power of good, as seen in the Child of Light, and the power of evil, as seen in the Child of Dark. As the tale unfolds, Garion and his comrades must overcome many challenges to rescue his son and, at the end, confront the Child of Dark. During the quest, friendships and romances are created, truths are revealed about several characters, and the conflict between light and dark is resolved. After the light triumphs, balance is restored to the universe and a promise of peace emerges between races and countries that had long been enemies.

In Guardians of the West (1987), Garion, also called Belgarion and the Child of Light, is the new King of Riva, Overlord of the West. He confronts the challenges of learning how to rule. A serious threat arises when Garion and his young friend, Errand, learn of the existence of Zandramas, the new Child of Dark, from the Orb of Aldur, a powerful artifact. Soon thereafter, Garion’s wife, Ce’Nedra, becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, Geran. Garion then visits his grandfather, the wizard Belgarath, and his aunt, the sorceress Polgara, to inform them of the identity of Zandramas.

Garion leaves to fight the Bear-cult after its members murder Brand, the Rivan warder. While Garion is away, Zandramas kidnaps Geran. Evidence points to the Bear-cult. At the end of the novel, however, a seeress named Cyardis appears to Garion and his friends and tells them that Zandramas kidnapped Geran and that they must pursue her. Cyardis also will make the final choice between the Child of Light and the Child of Dark.

Garion’s pursuit begins in King of the Murgos. He is accompanied initially by Ce’Nedra; Belgarath; Polgara and her husband, Durnik; Silk, also known as Prince Kheldar; Errand, now renamed Eriond; Cyardis’ mute giant, Toth; and Velvet, also known as Liselle. The group finds the trail of Zandramas in Nyissa, where they are joined by Sadi, the former chief eunuch of Queen Salmissra. Disguised as slave traders, they pursue Zandramas into Cthol Murgos, where they encounter Urgit, the King of the Murgos. Urgit is waging a desperate war against the Malloreans and their emperor, Kal Zakath. While in Cthol Murgos, the group learns that Urgit is not the son of Taur Urgas, the dead king, and is a distant relation of Silk. As the group prepares to depart for Mallorea, its members are captured by the emperor’s troops.

Garion and his comrades confront Zakath in the early portion of Demon Lord of Karanda. Zakath is waging war against Urgit, who he believes to be a descendant of Taur Urgas, to gain revenge for the death of a young woman he loved. When he learns that Urgit is not a descendant of Taur Urgas, Zakath agrees to allow Garion’s group to accompany him to Mallorea. Upon arriving in Mal Zeth, the capital, Garion discovers that Zakath is not the tyrant he imagined. In Mallorea, they discover an army of demons under the leadership of Urvon, an evil man who desires to possess the Sardion, the evil twin of the Orb of Aldur. Garion’s company escapes Mal Zeth and travels into Karanda. They confront Urvon and his demoniac master, Nahaz, and succeed in defeating their forces. The novel ends as Garion’s group continues to pursue Zandramas into southern Mallorea. They discover that Poledra, Belgarath’s wife who was believed dead, is still alive.

The Sorceress of Darshiva details Garion’s journey into Melcena, where he competes with Zandramas and Urvon to find the Sardion. As the group continues to pursue Zandramas, it again encounters Zakath. Cyardis, in one of her appearances, tells Zakath that he must join Garion’s group and support it in its quest. At the end of the novel, the group encounters a battle between two armies led by demons, Nahaz and Mordja. Durnik, in a display of immense magical power, banishes Nahaz and Urvon, his human ally, back to hell and drives off Mordja.

The Seeress of Kell describes the culmination of the quest as Garion recovers his son, Cyardis chooses the Child of Light, and Zandramas is destroyed in the final confrontation between light and dark. Eriond becomes the new god of the Angaraks as the power of the Child of Light passes from Garion to him. Toth sacrifices himself during the final battle with Mordja in order to save his comrades. Peace is established between Mallorea and Cthol Murgos and between Mallorea and the Kingdoms of the West. Zakath marries Cyardis, Silk weds Velvet, Belgarath and Poledra are reunited, and both Polgara and Ce’Nedra are pregnant at the end of the novel.