"David Eddings - Belgariad 4 - Castle of Wizardry" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eddings David)

The sword remained as Riva had placed it, and the Orb was still affixed to
its pommel, though now the jewel was ever dull and seeming without life.
And men began to feel that so long as the Orb was there, the West was safe,
even though there was no Rivan King. Nor did there seem aught of danger
that the Orb could ever be removed, since any man who touched it would be
instantly and utterly consumed, were he not truly of the line of Riva.

But now that his minions had removed the Rivan King and Guardian of the
Orb, Torak One-Eye again dared begin plans for the conquest of the West.
And after many years, he led forth an enormous army of Angaraks to destroy
all who opposed him. His hordes raved through Algaria and down through
Arendia, to the city of Vo Mimbre.

Now Belgarath and his daughter Polgara the Sorceress came to the one who
was Brand and Warder of Riva to advise and counsel with him. With them,
Brand led his army to Vo Mimbre. And in the bloody battle before that city,
Brand drew upon the power of the Orb to overcome Torak. Zedar spirited the
body of his master away and hid it, but not all the disciple's skill could
again awaken his God. And again men of the West felt safe, protected by the
Orb and Aldur.

Now there came rumors of a prophecy that a Rivan King, true seed of the
line of Riva, should again appear and sit upon the throne in the Hall of
the Rivan King. And in later years, some claimed that each daughter of an
Emperor of Tolnedra appeared on her sixteenth birthday to be the bride of
the new king, should he appear. But few regarded such tales. Time passed
into centuries, and still the West was safe. The Orb remained, quiet and
dark upon the pommel of the sword. And somewhere fearful Torak was said to
sleep until the return of the Rivan King - which came to mean never.

And thus the account should be ended. But no true account can ever end. And
nothing can ever be safe or sure so long as cunning men plot to steal or
destroy.

Again, long centuries passed. And then new rumors came, this time to
disturb those in the highest places of power. And it was whispered that
somehow the Orb had been stolen. Then Belgarath and Polgara were seen to be
moving through the lands of the West again. This time they took with them a
young man named Garion who named Belgarath his grandfather and called
Polgara his aunt. And as they moved through the kingdoms, they gathered
upon them a strange company.

To the Alorn Kings who gathered in council, Belgarath revealed that it was
the Apostate Zedar who had somehow contrived to steal the Orb from the
sword and who was even then fleeing with it to the East, presumably to use
it to awaken sleeping Torak. And it was there Belgarath must go with his
company to rescue it.

Then Belgarath discovered that Zedar had found a boy of total innocence who
could safely touch the Orb. But now the way led to the grim and dangerous