"David Eddings - Malloreon 3 Demon Lord of Karanda" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eddings David)

yet been able to explain this storm, which was clearly not of
natural origin. Whatever the cause, the southern army
perished. The few survivors who struggled back to the East
told tales of horror that were truly unthinkable.
The northern force was also beset by various disasters,
but eventually laid siege to Vo Mimbre, where they were
completely routed by the combined armies of the West.
And there Torak was struck down by the power of Cthrag
Yaska (there called the Orb of Aldur) and lay in a coma that
was to last centuries, though his body was rescued and taken
to a secret hiding place by his disciple Zedar.
In the years following these catastrophes, Mallorean
society began to fracture back into its original components of
Melcene, Karanda, Dalasia, and the lands of the Angaraks. The
Empire was saved only by the emergence of Korzeth as Emperor.
Korzeth was only fourteen when he seized the throne from
his aged father. Deceived by his youth, the separatist regions
began to declare independence of the imperial throne. Korzeth
moved decisively to stem the revolution. He spent the rest of
his life on horseback in one of the greatest bloodbaths of
history, but when he was done, he delivered a strong and
united Mallorea to his successors. Henceforth, the descendants
of Korzeth ruled in total and unquestioned power from Mal
Zeth.
This continued until the present Emperor, Zakath, ascended
the throne. For a time, he gave promise of being an
enlightened ruler of Mallorea and the western kingdoms of the
Angaraks. But soon there were signs of trouble.
The Murgos were ruled by Taur Urgas, and it was evident
that he was both mad and unscrupulously ambitious. He
instigated some plot against the young Emperor. It has never
been established clearly what form his scheming took. But
Zakath discovered that Taur Urgas was behind it and vowed
vengeance. This took the form of a bitter war in which Zakath
began a campaign to destroy the mad ruler utterly.
It was in the middle of this struggle that the West
struck. While the Kings of the West sent an army against the
East, Belgarion, the young Overlord of the West and descendant
of Belgarath the Sorcerer, advanced on foot across the north
and across the land bridge into Mallorea. He was accompanied
by Belgarath and a Drasnian and he bore the ancient Sword of
Riva, on the pommel of which was Cthrag Yaska, the Orb of
Aldur. His purpose was to slay Torak, apparently in response
to some prophecy known in the West.
Torak had been emerging from his long coma in the ruins of
his ancient city of Cthol Mishrak. Now he roused himself to
meet the challenger. But in the confrontation, Belgarion
overcame the God and slew him with the Sword, leaving the
priesthood of Mallorea in chaos and confusion.