The story of Belgarath, the great sorcerer learned in the Will and the Word, on whom the fate of the world depends. This is his own account of the struggle that went before "The Belgariad" and "The Malloreon". Only one man could tell of those near-forgotten times. That man is known as the Old Wolf.

Mara of Acoma, Ruling Lady of her house, has now established herself as a force within the Empire. As an expert player of the Game of the Council, she is a master of its bloody political maneuvering. Mara has made gains for her followers, including new lands, but the war effort on the world of Midkemia is draining off manpower, and slaves are difficult to find.. So against advice Mara buys a group of Midkemian prisoners-of-war, only to discover that one of them is a noble: Kevin, third son of...

Auskiere, wizard of wind and water, bound the Mharg-demons with the aid of Ivan, master of fire and earth. But at the moment of his greatest peril Ivan is betrayed and he swears a terrible oath against his betrayer - an oath so powerful that it begins a relentless "cycle of fire".

Alex doesn't know his birthday because he was found abandoned next to Cleopatra's Needle, so instead of a birthday he celebrates his finding.

Caspar and Hal have found the runes of war that will keep the Valakan horde at bay until spring - by then, they must have recovered the power of the Mother Goddess. Accompanied by Keridwen the Maiden they seek a cauldron lodged in the male preserve of the cathedral in Farona.