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PROLOGUE

Being an Account of the Battle of the Kingdoainst the most heinous Invasion and Evil of Kal Torak

-based upon The Battle of Vo Mimbre

IN THE YOUTH of the world, the evil God Torak stole the Orb of Aldur and fled, seeking dominion The Orb resisted, and its fire ive it up, for it was precious to hiarath, a sorcerer and disciple of the God Aldur, led forth the king of the Alorns and his three sons, and they reclaiht to pursue, but the wrath of the Orb repelled hiarath set Cherek and his sons to be kings over four great kingdoave to Riva to keep, saying that so long as a descendant of Riva held the Orb the West would be safe

Century followed century with noof 4865, when Drasnia was invaded by a vast horde of Nadraks, Thulls, and Murgos In the center of this sea of Angaraks was borne the huge iron pavilion of one called Kal Torak, which es were razed and burned, for Kal Torak came to destroy, not to conquer Those of the people who lived were given to the steel-masked Groliaraks None survived save those who fled to Algaria or were taken from the mouth of the Aldur River by Cherek warships

Next the horde struck south at Algaria But there they found no cities The noarian horsemen fell back before them, then struck in vicious hit-and-run attacks The traditional seat of the Algarian kings was the Stronghold, a ainst this, the Angaraks hurled thee the place The siege lasted for eight futile years

This gave the West tiathered at the Iy National differences were set aside, and Brand, the Warder of Riva, was chosen to have full coorous doly handsome woman with a silver lock at her brow and an imperious manner To these Brand listened, and to them he paid almost deferential respect

In the late spring of 4875, Kal Torak abandoned his siege and turned west toward the sea, pursued still by Algar horseos cahter on the sleeping Angaraks But still were the forces of Kal Torak beyond counting After a pause to regroup, the host proceeded down the valley of the River Arend toward the city of Vo Miaraks deployed for the assault upon the city

On the third day of the battle, a horn was heard to blow three tihts charged out to fall upon the front of the Angarak horde, the iron-shod hoofs of their chargers traar cavalry, Drasnian pikeht caions of Tolnedra

Attacked on three sides, Kal Torak coray-clad Rivans, the Sendars, and the Asturian archers caan to fall like moheat and were overcome by confusion

Then the Apostate, Zedar the Sorcerer, went in haste to the black iron pavilion froed And to the Accursed One he said, "Lord, throe eneray Rivans have coht"

Kal Torak arose in anger and declared, "I will co Yaska, the jehich was s"

"Great Lord," Zedar told his are no more The battle hath claimed their lives and those of a multitude of thy Grolireat at these words, and fire spat froht eye and from the eye that was not He ordered his servants to bind his shield to the arm on which he had no hand and he took up his dread black sword With this, he went forth to do battle

Then ca, "In the name of Belar I defy thee, Torak In the name of Aldur I cast my despite in thy teeth Let the bloodshed be abated, and I will meet thee to decide the battle I a host away and codoms of the West"

Kal Torak strode apart from the host and cried, "Where is he who dares pit hisof the World? Behold, I as and Lord of Lords I will destroy this loud-voiced Rivan Mine eneain be hty sword and a shield rizzled wolf marched at his side, and a snol hovered over his head Brand said, "I am Brand and I will contend with thee, foul and one, Belgarath Flee if thou wouldst save thy life" And to the owl he said, "Abjure thy father, Polgara, and worship me I ed thee and make thee Queen of the World"

But the wolf howled defiance, and the owl screeched her scorn Torak raised his sword and sht, and rievous were the blows they struck Those who stood near to see thereat, 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 atched recoiled in terror, for his face was seared by so blood, Torak cried out again as he beheld the jehich he had naht his war into the West Then he collapsed, and the earth resounded with his fall

A great cry went up froaraks when they sahat 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