Many thousands of years ago, two prophecies came into being and a moment was fixed, when only one would determine the future. This moment, a clash between the maimed god Torak and the descendant of the Rivan king, is approaching. Garion, was brought up as a farm lad but is now beginning to understand the extent of his part in the prophecy.

Garion and his companions have the Orb of Aldur, carried by an innocent young boy, and must return it to its rightful home on the pommel of the sword in the Great Hall on the island of Riva. As they journey across the lands, Murgo soldiers and Grolim sorcerers try to stop them.

In this third book of The Malloreon , the company now knows that Garion's baby son has been kidnapped by Zandramas and is to be used in a ritual which will make the Dark Destiny supreme. The group, however, has been detained by Zakath, Emperor of Mallorea, and taken to Mal Zeth.

A confrontation that has been prophesied for thousands of years is racing towards a conclusion. For as Garion comes into his heritage as the Rivan King, Overlord of the West, and takes up the Orb of Aldur to protect the land, Torak awakes and his evil hordes of Murgo soldiers and Grolim priests march in his name.

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?

Legends tell how Belgarath the sorcerer and his daughter Polgara defeated the evil God Torak, imprisoning him in an endless sleep. But now a priest of Torak is racing to his God with the Orb of Aldur and is racing to reawaken him. Belgarath and Polgara are on his trail. With them is Garion, a simple farm boy.