The sword of the Rivan King slid into Torak's chest like a stick into water, and as it ran into the God's suddenly stiffening body, the power of the Orb surged up the flaring blade. Garion made no attempt to ward off the blow, but gripped the hilt of his flaming sword in both hands and, extending his blade before him, he lunged at his charging enemy. With an animal howl of anguish and rage, the Child of Dark raised Cthrek Goru above his head and ran at the Rivan King. This was why Garion had come to this decaying ruin - not to fight Torak, but to reject him. This was the EVENT for which the Universe had waited since the beginning of time. Garion's words struck the maimed God like blows, and the Orb, as if echoing those words, blazed anew, lashing at the Dragon-God with its consuming hatred. Unloved and despised, you will howl out your miserable life to the end of days.' You are alone and empty, and even if you kill me, I will still win. In all the universe there is not one person - not one thing - that loves you. You tried to deceive me into loving you you tried to force Aunt Pol to love you but I refuse you even as she did.

Your people fear you, but they do not love you. 'Hear me, maimed and despised God,' he grated from between clenched teeth. Everything was clear now, and he knew at last how he could win. 'No!' Garion shouted, and, taking advantage of Torak's chagrin at that violent rejection, he rolled out from under the shadow of Cthrek Goru and sprang to his feet. Torak's face twisted as if his perpetual agony had been doubled by Garion's refusal. 'I will not,' Garion gasped, wrenching away from that awful compulsion. 'Throw down thy sword, Child of Light, and bow before me,' the God commanded, and the force of his mind was like a crushing weight. Torak's driving need was for domination! This was where the real struggle between them lay! His enemy was not trying to kill him, but was striving instead to force him to submit. 'Yield and I will spare thy life.'ДЄnd then Garion understood. 'I have no wish to kill thee, boy,' Torak said, almost pleading. Garion stared up at the huge form towering over him, his mind racing. When the swords struck, edge to edge, a huge shower of sparks cascaded down over Garion.ДЄgain Torak raised Cthrek Goru, but a strange hunger flickered across his steel-encased face. But, seizing his sword hilt in both hands, Garion raised his burning blade to meet that vast blow. Torak's single eye blazed in triumph as he raised the dark sword. Despite his scrambling attempt to keep his balance, he fell. Retreating before a sudden flurry of massive blows, he felt one heel catch on a heap of tumbled rock, and the rotten stones crumbled and rolled beneath his feet. It was the uneven ground that betrayed Garion. Torak's advantage of size had been erased when they had both swelled into immensity, and Garion's inexperience was offset by Torak's maiming.

They were more evenly matched than Garion had imagined possible. Garion's blows were directed at Torak's blind side, and the Dark God flinched from the fire of the Orb each time the flaming sword struck, but the shadow of Cthrek Goru put a deathly chill into Garion's blood each time it passed over him. The Grolims, both human and nonhuman, aghast at the towering struggle that had suddenly erupted in their very midst, fled shrieking in terror. Great patches of stars appeared and disappeared in the roiling middle of the surging cloud.

The featureless cloud that had concealed the City of Night beneath its dark mantle for five millenia began to boil and race above them. The earth rumbled and shook beneath their massive feet. Lightning seethed about them, glaring and flickering. The wind shrieked through the rotting city, tearing at the trembling stones. The elements themselves erupted as the fight continued. Beyond thought, beyond any emotion but blind hatred, the two swung and parried and lurched through the broken ruins, crushing all beneath them. The sword of the Rivan King danced in blue flames, and Cthrek Goru, Torak's blade of shadows, swept a visible darkness with it at every blow. Rocks shattered beneath the colossal force of deflected blows. Torak, also released, raised Cthrek Goru, his lips drawn back in a snarl of hate. These two have sufficient capacity for what must be brought to bear upon them.'ДЄnd with that Garion felt a sudden release as all constraint was removed from him.

Sword of the rivan king