"David Eddings - Belgariad 2 - Queen of Sorcery" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eddings David)

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."

Brand stood forth. He bore a mighty sword and a shield muffled with cloth.
A grizzled wolf marched at his side, and a snowy owl hovered over his head.
Brand said, "I am Brand and I will contend with thee, foul and misshapen
Torak."

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, Polgara, 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 One drew
back from it. He dropped his shield and sword and raised his arms before
his face to ward away the dread fire of the stone.

Brand struck, and his sword pierced Torak's visor to strike into the eye
that was not and plunge into the Accursed One's head. Torak fell back and
gave a great cry. He plucked out the sword and threw off his 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