Many centuries ago, the gods went to war - and the evil god, Torak, was defeated and hurled into an ageless slumber. The sorcerer Belgarath took command of the Orb - an object of immense power, which has the power to reawaken Torak - and made it safe in the hands of the Rivan king. And as the prophecy specifies, only the descendants of this king could hold the Orb and withstand the power of Torak should be awaken. But who is this descendant? Garion, a young farm lad, loves the old story, but it has nothing to do with him, does it? And the old storyteller can't possibly be the ancient sorcerer Belgarath, can he? Suddenly Garion is hurled into a fantastic quest - a race across the lands of the West on the trail of a sinister priest who has stolen the Orb...Long ago, the evil God Torak fought a war to obtain an object of immense power – the Orb of Aldur.But Torak was defeated and the Orb reclaimed by Belgarath the sorcerer. Garion, a young farm lad, loves the story when he first hears it from the old storyteller. But it has nothing to do with him. Or does it?For the stories also tell of a prophecy that must be fulfilled – a destiny handed down through the generations.And Torak is stirring again...