Eddings, David - Belgariad 02 Queen of Sorcery

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Aldur and fled, seeking dominion. The Orb resisted, and its fire maimed

him with a dreadful burning. But he would not give it up, for it was pre-

cious to him.

Then Belgarath, a sorcerer and disciple of the God Aldur, led forth

the king of the Alorns and his three sons, and they reclaimed the Orb

from the iron tower of Torak. Torak sought to pursue, but the wrath

of the Orb repelled him and drove him back.

Belgarath set Cherek and his sons to be kings over four great king-

doms in eternal guard against Torak. The Orb he gave to Riva to keep,

saying that so long as a descendant of Riva held the Orb the West

would be safe.

Century followed century with no menace from Torak, until the

spring of 4865, when Drasnia was invaded by a vast horde of Nadraks,

Thulls, and Murgos. In the center of this sea of Angaraks was borne

the huge iron pavilion of one called Kal Torak, which means King and

God. Cities and villages were razed and burned, for Kal Torak came to

destroy, not to conquer. Those of the people who lived were given to

the steel-masked Grolim priests for sacrifice in the unspeakable rites

garian kings was the Stronghold, a man-made mountain with stone walls

thirty feet thick. Against this, the Angaraks hurled themselves in vain

before settling down to besiege the place. The siege lasted for eight

futile years.

This gave the West time to mobilize and prepare. The generals

gathered at the Imperial War College in Tol Honeth and planned their

strategy. National differences were set aside, and Brand, the Warder

of Riva, was chosen to have full command. With him came two strange

advisers: an ancient but vigorous man who claimed knowledge even of

the Angarak kingdoms; and a strikingly handsome woman with a silver

lock at her brow and an imperious manner. To these Brand listened, and

to them he paid almost deferential respect.

In the late spring of 4875, Kal Torak abandoned his siege and

turned west toward the sea, pursued still by Algar horsemen. In the

mountains, the Ulgos came forth from their caverns by night and

wreaked fearful slaughter on the sleeping Angaraks. But still were the

times. Then the gates of Vo Mimbre opened, and the Mimbrate knights

charged out to fall upon the front of the Angarak horde, the iron-shod

hoofs of their chargers trampling living and dead. From the left came

Algar cavalry, Drasnian pikemen, and veiled Ulgo irregulars. And from

the right came the Cherek berserks and the legions of Tolnedra.

Attacked on three sides, Kal Torak committed his reserves. It was

then that the gray-clad Rivans, the Sendars, and the Asturian archers

came upon his forces from the rear. The Angaraks began to fall like

mown wheat and were overcome by confusion.

Then the Apostate, Zedar the Sorcerer, went in haste to the black

iron pavilion from which Kal Torak had not yet emerged. And to the

Accursed One he said, "Lord, throe enemies have thee surrounded in

great numbers. Yea, even the gray Rivans have come in their numbers

to cast defiance at thy might."

as well.

Kal Torak's wrath grew great at these words, and fire spat from his

right eye and from the eye that was not. He ordered his servants to

bind his shield to the arm on which he had no hand and he took up his

dread black sword. With this, he went forth to do battle.

Then came a voice from the midst of the Rivans, saying, "In the

name of Belar I defy thee, Torak. In the name of Aldur I cast my de-

spite in thy teeth. Let the bloodshed be abated, and I will meet thee to

decide the battle. I am Brand, Warder of Riva. Meet me or take the

stinking host away and come no more against the kingdoms of the

West."

Kal Torak strode apart from the host and cried, "Where is he who

dares pit his mortal flesh against the King of the World? Behold, I am

Torak, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I will destroy this loud-voiced

Rivan. Mine enemies shall perish, and Cthrag Yaska shall again be mine."

When Torak saw the wolf, he said, Begone, Belgarath. Flee if thou

wouldst save thy life." And to the owl he said, "Abjure thy father, Pol-

gara, and worship me. I will wed thee and make thee Queen of the

World."

But the wolf howled defiance, and the owl screeched her scorn.

Torak raised his sword and smote down upon the shield of Brand. Long

they fought, and many and grievous were the blows they struck. Those

who stood near to see them were amazed. The fury of Torak grew

great, and his sword battered the shield of Brand until the Warder fell

back before the onslaught of the Accursed One. Then the wolf howled

and the owl shrieked in one voice together, and the strength of Brand

was renewed.

With a single motion, the Rivan Warder unveiled his shield, in the

center of which stood a round jewel, in size like the heart of a child. As

Torak gazed upon it, the stone began to glow and flame. The Accursed

helmet. Those who watched recoiled in terror, for his face was seared

by some great fire and was horrible to behold. Weeping blood, Torak

cried out again as he beheld the jewel which he had named Cthrag

Yaska and for which he had brought his war into the West. Then he

collapsed, and the earth resounded with his fall.

A great cry went up from the host of the Angaraks when they saw

what had befallen Kal Torak, and they sought to flee in their panic. But

the armies of the West pursued them and slew them, so that when the

smoky dawn broke on the fourth day, the host was no more.

Brand asked that the body of the Accursed One be brought to him,

that he might behold him who would be king of all the world. But the

body was not to be found. In the night, Zedar the Sorcerer had cast an

enchantment and passed unseen through the armies of the West,

bearing away the one he had chosen as master.

Polgara answered, "When once again a King of Riva's line sits on his

northern throne, the Dark God will waken to do war with him."

Brand frowned, saying, "But that is neverl" For all knew that the

last Rivan King had been slain with his family in 4002 by Nyissan assas-

sins.

Again the woman spoke. "In the fullness of time the Rivan King will

rise to claim his own, as the ancient Prophecy foretells. More cannot be

said."

Brand was content and set his armies to cleaning the battlefield of

the wreckage of Angaraks. And when that was finished, the kings of

the West gathered before the city of Vo Mimbre and held council.

Many were the voices raised in praise of Brand.

The Gorim of the Ulgos spoke first in a loud voice. "In fulfillment of

the Prophecy, there must be promised a princess of Tolnedra to be

wife unto the Rivan King who will come to save the world. This the Gods

require of us."

Again Mergon protested. "The Hall of the Rivan King is empty and

desolate. No king sits upon the Rivan throne. How many a princess of

Imperial Tolnedra be wed with a phantom?"

Then the woman who was Polgara replied. "The Rivan King will return

to assume his throne and claim his bride. From this day forward,

therefore, each princess of Imperial Tolnedra shall present herself in

the Hall of the Rivan King upon her sixteenth birthday. She shall be

clad in her wedding gown and shall abide there for three days against

the coming of the King. If he comes not to claim her, then she shall be

free to return to her father for whatever he may decree for her."

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摘要：

Aldurandfled,seekingdominion.TheOrbresisted,anditsfiremaimedhimwithadreadfulburning.Buthewouldnotgiveitup,foritwaspre-cioustohim.ThenBelgarath,asorcereranddiscipleoftheGodAldur,ledforththekingoftheAlornsandhisthreesons,andtheyreclaimedtheOrbfromtheirontowerofTorak.Toraksoughttopursue,butthewrathofth...

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Eddings, David - Belgariad 02 Queen of Sorcery

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