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

established de facto rule of all Angarak. Lacking their former
preeminence, the priests set up an opposing center of power at
Mal Yaska, near the tip of the Karandese mountain range.

At this point, Torak roused himself to prevent the imminent civil
war between priesthood and military rule. But he made no move
against the military headquarters at Mal Zeth; instead, he
marched to the extreme northwest of Mallorea Antiqua with a
quarter of the Angarak people to build the Holy City of Cthol
Mishrak. There he remained, so absorbed by efforts to gain
control of Cthrag Yaska that he was oblivious to the fact that the
people had largely turned from their previous preoccupation
with theological matters. Those with him in Cthol Mishrak were
mostly a hysterical fringe of fanatics under the rigid control of
Torak's three disciples, Zedar, Ctuchik, and Urvon. These three
maintained the old forms in the society of Cthol Mishrak while
the rest of Angarak changed.

When the continuing friction between the Church and military
finally came to Torak's attention, he summoned the military High
Command and the Grolim Hierarchy to Cthol Mishrak and
delivered his commands in terms that brooked no demur.
Exempting only Mal Yaska and Mal Zeth, all towns and districts
were to be ruled jointly by the military and priesthood. The
subdued Hierarchy and High Command immediately settled
their differences and returned to their separate enclaves. This
enforced truce freed the generals to turn their attention to the
other peoples living in Mallorea.

The origins of these people are lost in myth, but three races had
predated the Angaraks on the continent: the Dalasians of the
southwest; the Karands of the north; and the Melcenes of the
East. It was to the Karands the military turned its efforts.

The Karands were a warlike race with little patience for cultural
niceties. They lived in crude cities where hogs roamed freely in
the muddy streets. Traditionally, they were related to the
Morindim of the far north of Gar og Nadrak. Both races were
given to the practice of demon worship.

At the beginning of the second millennium, roving bands of
Karandese brigands had become a serious problem along the
eastern frontier, and the Angarak army now moved out of Mal
Zeth to the western fringes of the Karandese Kingdom of Pallia.
The city of Rakand in southwestern Pallia was sacked and
burned, and the inhabitants were taken captives.

At this point, one of the greatest decisions of Angarak history
was made. While the Grolims prepared for an orgy of human
sacrifice, the generals paused. They had no desire to occupy