"David Eddings. Castle of wizardry enchanters' end game (The Belgariad, Part two)" - читать интересную книгу автора

it was done, the blade and hilt could not be joined. Then Riva cried out,
"Behold, I have marred the work, for the sword will not become one."
A fox, which had sat nearby to watch him, said to Riva, "The work is
not marred, Riva. Take the hilt and place the Orb upon it as a pommel
stone." And when Riva did as the fox instructed, the Orb became one with
the hilt.
But blade and hilt were still unjoined. Again the fox counseled him.
"Take the blade in your left hand and the hilt in the right and join them."
"They will not join. It is not possible," Riva said.
"Wise are you, indeed," the fox said, "to know what is not possible
before you have made the attempt."
Then Riva was ashamed. He set blade and hilt together, and the blade
passed into the hilt as a stick slides into water. The sword was joined
forever.
The fox laughed and said, "Take the sword and smite the rock which
stands before you."
Riva feared for the blade, lest the blow shatter it, but he smote the
rock. The rock broke in two, and water gushed forth in a river and flowed
down to the city below. And far to the east in the darkness of Mallorea,
maimed Torak started up from his bed as a chill coursed through his heart.
Again the fox laughed. Then it ran away, but stopped to look back. Riva
saw that it was a fox no longer, but the great silver wolf form of
Belgarath.
Riva had the sword placed upon the face of the black rock wall that
stood at the back of his throne with its blade downward so that the Orb at
its pommel stood at the highest point. And the sword cleaved itself to the
rock.
None but Riva could take it down.
As the years passed, men saw that the Orb burned with a cold fire when
Riva sat upon the throne; and when he took down the sword and raised it,
it became a great tongue of blue flame.
In the early spring of the year after the sword was forged, a small
boat came across the dark waters of the Sea of the Winds, moving without
oars or sails. Alone within the boat was the fairest maid in all the
world. Her name was Beldaran, beloved daughter of Belgarath, and she had
come to be a wife to Riva. And Riva's heart melted with love for her, as
had been ordained from the beginning of time.
In the year that followed the wedding of Beldaran to Riva, a son was
born to them upon Erastide. And upon the right hand of this son of Riva
was the mark of the Orb. Straightaway, Riva carried his infant manchild to
the Hall of the Rivan King and placed the tiny hand upon the Orb. The Orb
knew the child and glowed with love for him. Ever afterward, the hand of
each descendant of Riva bore the mark of the Orb that it might know him
and not destroy him when he touched it, for only one of Riva's line could
touch the Orb in safety. With each touch of infant hand upon the Orb the
bond between Riva's line and the Orb grew stronger. And with each joining,
the brilliance of the Orb increased.
Thus it was in the city of Riva for a thousand years. Sometimes
strangers sailed into the Sea of Winds, seeking trade, but the ships of
Cherek, bound to defend the Isle of the Winds, fell upon the strangers and