"David Eddings. Pawn of prophecy queen of sorcery magician's gambit (The Belgariad, Part one)" - читать интересную книгу автора

Garion glanced at the others who were listening. Their faces were rapt
with attention. Durnik's eyes were wide, and old Cralto's hands were
clasped on the table in front of him. Faldor's face was pale, and tears
stood in his eyes. Aunt Pol stood at the rear of the room. Though it was
not cold, she too had drawn her mantle about her and stood very straight,
her eyes intent.
"And it came to pass," the storyteller continued, "that the God Aldur
caused to be made a jewel in the shape of a globe, and behold, in the
jewel was captured the light of certain stars that did glitter in the
northern sky. And great was the enchantment upon the jewel which men
called the Orb of Aldur, for with the Orb could Aldur see that which had
been, that which was, and that which was yet to be."
Garion realized he was holding his breath, for he was now completely
caught up in the story. He listened in wonder as Torak stole the Orb and
the other Gods made war on him. Torak used the Orb to sunder the
earth and let in the sea to drown the land, until the Orb struck back
against misuse by melting the left side of his face and destroying his
left hand and eye.
The old man paused and drained his tankard. Aunt Pol, with her mantle
still close about her, brought him another, her movements somehow stately
and her eyes burning.
"I've never heard the story told so," Durnik said softly.
"It's The Book of Alorn. * It's only told in the presence of kings,"
Cralto said, just as softly. "I knew a man once who had heard it at the
king's court at Sendar, and he remembered some of it. I've never heard it
all before, though."
The story continued, recounting how Belgarath the Sorcerer led Cherek
and his three sons to regain the Orb two thousand years later, and how the
western lands were settled and guarded against the hosts of Torak. The
Gods removed from the world, leaving Riva to safeguard the Orb in his
fortress on the Isle of the Winds. There he forged a great sword and set
the Orb in its hilt. While the Orb remained there and the line of Riva sat
on the throne, Torak could not prevail.
Then Belgarath sent his favorite daughter to Riva to be a mother to
kings, while his other daughter remained with him and learned his art, for
the mark of the sorcerers was upon her.
The old storyteller's voice was now very soft as his ancient tale drew
to its close. "And between them," he said, "did Belgarath and his
daughter, the Sorceress Polgara, set enchantments to keep watch against
the coming of Torak. And some men say they shall abide against his coming
even though it be until the very end of days, for it is phophesied that
one day shall maimed Torak come against the kingdoms of the west to
reclaim the Orb which he so dearly purchased, and battle shall be joined
between Torak and the fruit of the line of Riva, and in that battle shall
be decided the fate of the world."
And then the old man fell silent and let his mantle drop from about his
shoulders, signifying that his story was at an end.
There was a long silence in the hall, broken only by a few faint cracks
from the dying fire and the endless song of frogs and crickets in the
summer night outside.