Prince Kheldar

**Prince Kheldar**, otherwise known as **Silk**, was born a prince in the royal family of Drasnia. He was second-in-line to the throne, behind his uncle, King Rhodar, until the birth of Rhodar and Porenn's son, Prince Kheva.

Little is known about his childhood, but he entered the Drasnian academy at a young age and trained in espionage and intelligence gathering. Belgarath visited his family when he was ten (5345) and mentioned that "he was already too clever by half" and that "he was smarter than most full-grown men." Afterwards, his mother, a renowned beauty, contracted a disease (5346) that left her horribly disfigured and thankfully blinded, as she could not see what happened to her. It was around this time that he began avoiding Drasnia, and specifically, her, being unable to deal with the pain it caused him and his father. He was then employed by the Drasnian Intelligence Service, performing numerous missions and developing a renowned reputation in the espionage world, developing numerous aliases including Radek of Boktor and Ambar of Kotu. His first field assignment was at Tol Honeth, and Khonar/Hunter at the time mentioned that Silk was working for Javelin and that they had high hopes for him as soon as he settles down. Interestingly, during this period, he claimed to having lost the real "Silk" and that Prince Kheldar was just as much of a fiction as Ambar and Radek — he also met Liselle, at the time a young girl, for the first time, teased her outrageously, setting the scene for their later romance. It is most likely during this period that he killed Dorak Urgas (circa 5362-5367), the first-born son of Taur Urgas. He also developed a reputation for dishonesty, cheating, lying, stealing, and sleeping with other men's wives. Before *the Belgariad*, his uncle King Rhodar remarried, and Kheldar fell in love with Porenn, the King's wife — for which he expressed serious self loathing.

His most common alias is Silk. In the Mrin Codex he is known as **The Guide** or **The Rat**. He first met Garion in the woods when Garion fled, thinking he and Barak were bandits. He began teaching Garion the Drasnian Secret Language, and almost unwittingly began to teach the less worldly young boy in the realities of life outside Sendaria. He was vital in escaping several dangerous situations, and in tracking the Orb. He was selected by Garion to travel with him in his final confrontation with Torak, and during this part of the journey most of his history was revealed, as was the fact his Aunt knew of his feelings for her, but didn't return them. He was in Cthol Mishrak when Torak was slain. He was last seen in the *Belgariad* dancing with his Aunt at Garion's wedding, with a look of self hatred on his face.

In the Malloreon, he was seen to have established a huge business empire, partnering with the Nadrak Yarblek. He traveled with the main party and again used his knowledge of intelligence gathering to help them on their quest. During their travels and despite his worldly nature, he was slowly and surely but unwittingly seduced by Liselle, who had been in love with him since she was a child, despite the 20-year age gap. After the final Event, he introduced her as his fiancée, without actually asking her, but she accepted anyway and the two married. At the end of *Polgara the Sorceress*, it was revealed they were expecting their first child.