The Manethrall studied her approach as though he believed-or feared-that she had been changed by Glimmermere. He must have noticed the sudden silence of the birds-She felt his sharp gaze on her, searching for indications that she was unharmed.

He was unaware of what had transpired: she could see that. Both Esmer and the Demondim-sp.a.w.n were able to thwart perception. And the bulk of the hill must have blocked the noises of her encounter with them. If Mahrtiir had felt their presence, he would have ignored her request for privacy.

Yet it was clear that he retained enough discernment, in spite of Kevin's Dirt, to recognize that something had happened to her or changed for her. As she neared him, he bowed deeply, as if he felt that he owed her a new homage. And when he raised his eyes again, his chagrin was unmistakable, in spite of his fierce nature.

"Ringthane-" he began awkwardly. "Again you have surpa.s.sed me. You are exalted-"

"No, Mahrtiir." Linden hastened to forestall his wonder. She was too lost, and too needy, to bear it. "It isn't me. It's Glimmermere. That's what you're seeing." She attempted an unsuccessful smile. You don't need to stay away from it. As soon as you touch the water, you'll know what I mean. It belongs to the Land. To everyone. You won't feel like an intruder. And it cleans away Kevin's Dirt.

"I can't use my Staff right now." She frowned at the wood in frustration. "You know that. I can't protect us from being blinded, any of us. But as long as we can go to Glimmermere-"

When they knew the truth, Liand, Bhapa, and Pahni would be delighted. Anele, on the other hand-Linden sighed. He would avoid the lake strenuously. He feared anything that might threaten his self-imposed plight. And his defenses were strong. He would use every sc.r.a.p of his inborn might to preserve the peculiar integrity of his madness.

As Stave came closer, she promised the Manethrall quietly, "You'll get your chance. I'll make sure of it."

The Raman bowed again. "My thanks, Ringthane." Wryly he added, "Doubtless you have observed that the pride of the Ramen runs hotly within me. I do not contain it well."

Hurrying to put the matter behind her, Linden said again, "Don't worry about it. I respect your pride. It's better than shame. And we have more important problems."

Mahrtiir nodded. He may have thought that he knew what she meant.

A moment later, Stave reached the Manethrall's side. He, too, bowed as if in recognition of some ineffable alteration, an elevation at once too subtle and too profound for Linden to acknowledge. "Chosen," he said with his familiar flatness, "the waters of Glimmermere have served you well. You have been restored when none could have known that you had been diminished."

He had cleaned the blood from his face, but he still wore his spattered tunic and his untended bruises as if they were a reproach to the Masters. His single eye gave his concentration a prophetic cast, as if in losing half of his vision he had gained a supernal insight.

Did he see her accurately? Had she in fact gleaned something sacramental from the lake? Something untainted by her encounter with Esmer's ambiguous loyalties?

She shrugged the question aside. It could not change her choices-or the risks that she meant to take.

Without preamble, she replied, "I was just about to tell Mahrtiir that something happened after I-" She had no words adequate to the experience. "I wanted to talk to somebody who could tell me what's going on, so I called Esmer." Awkwardly she explained, "I have no idea what he can and can't do. I thought that he might be able to hear me."

While Stave studied her, and Mahrtiir stared with open surprise, she described as concisely as she could what Cail's son had said and done.

"Ur-viles," the Manethrall breathed when she was finished, "and Waynhim. So many-and together. Have these creatures indeed come to your aid? Do they suffice against the Teeth of the Render?"

Stave appeared to consult the air. With his tongue, he made a sound that suggested vexation. "The actions of these Demondim-sp.a.w.n are unexpected," he said aloud, "but no more so than those of their makers. If the spirit of Kastenessen is able to possess our companion Anele, much is explained."

Our companion-Linden could not remember hearing Stave speak the old man's name before. Apparently the former Master had extended his friendship to include all of her comrades.

"For that reason, however," he continued, "the peril that the same spirit moves Esmer, and with him the ur-viles and Waynhim, cannot be discounted.

"Did Esmer reveal nothing of the urLord, or of your son?"

"No," she muttered bitterly. "I asked him whether Kastenessen helped Covenant and Jeremiah reach Revelstone, but he just changed the subject."

Mahrtiir opened his mouth, then closed it again grimly. Stave had more to say.

"I mislike this confluence. Plainly the return of the Unbeliever from the Arch of Time holds great import. It appears to promise that the Land's redemption is at hand. Yet his account of his coming troubles me. That he is able to cast a glamour of confusion upon the Demondim, I do not greatly question. However, his avowal concerning distortions of the Law of Time-" He hesitated momentarily, then said, "And Esmer's grandsire connives with Demondim while Esmer himself removes Waynhim and ur-viles from their proper time.

"Chosen, here is cause for concern. It cannot lack meaning that such divergent events have occurred together."

"Stave speaks sooth, Ringthane," the Manethrall said in a low growl. "Esmer has been altered by your return to the Land. He is not as he was when he first gained the friendship of the Ramen. Had he answered you, his words would have held too much truth and falsehood to be of service."

Linden agreed; but the thought did not comfort her. She had suffered too many shocks.

Jeremiah is here, but Foul still has him.

What you can't see is how much it hurts that I'm not just here.

What were Esmer's surprises-or his betrayals-compared to that?

Fiercely she set aside her failures. Supporting her resolve, if not her heart, on the Staff of Law, she met Stave's flat gaze.

"I'm worried about the same things. Maybe Covenant can explain them." Or perhaps the Mandoubt might share her obscure knowledge. "Is he ready to see me yet? Has something else happened? I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"There is no new peril," replied the Haruchai. "The Demondim remain in abeyance, without apparent purpose. But the ur-Lord has indeed announced his readiness to speak with you. I have been instructed to summon you."

His manner suggested that he disliked being "instructed" by either Covenant or the Masters.

"Then let's go." At once, Linden started into motion. "Foul still has my son." Somehow. "If I don't do something about that soon, it's going to tear me apart."

Lord's Keep was at least a league away.

Stave and the Manethrall joined her promptly, walking at her shoulders like guardians. She set a brisk pace, borne along by Glimmermere's lingering potency; but they accompanied her easily. Either one of them could have reached Revelstone far more swiftly without herAs they followed low valleys among the hills and trees, Linden asked Stave, "Did you find the Mandoubt? Will she talk to me?"

The Haruchai shook his head. It is curious. It appears that the Mandoubt has departed from Revelstone. How she might have done so is unclear. Demondim in abundance guard the gates, the pa.s.sage to the plateau is watched, and Lord's Keep has no other egress. Yet neither the Masters nor those who serve the Keep can name her whereabouts.

"I was shown to her chambers, but she was not there. And those who have known her cannot suggest where she might be found." He paused for a moment, then added, "Nor are they able to account for her. Indeed, they profess to know nothing certain of her. They say only that she conveys the sense that they have always known her-and that she seldom attracts notice."

Stave shrugged slightly. "In the thoughts of the Masters, she is merely a servant of Revelstone, unremarkable and unregarded. To me, also, she has appeared to be entirely ordinary. Yet her absence now demonstrates our error. At a time of less extreme hazard, the Masters would seek to grasp her mystery. While Revelstone remains besieged, however, their attention is compelled by the Demondim."

"I also was baffled by her," Mahrtiir put in. In some fashion, she appeared to alter herself from moment to moment, yet I could not be certain of my sight.

Another woman inhabited her place, or she herself inhabited-" He muttered in irritation. "I do not comprehend it."

"Me neither," Linden admitted. But she swallowed her disappointment. If the Mandoubt had not warned her to Be cautious of love, she would never have thought to ask for the older woman's guidance.

"All right," she went on. "Since that doesn't make any sense, maybe you can tell me something that does. How did you convince the Humbled to leave me alone? If they don't trust me, shouldn't they be guarding me?'

Stave considered briefly before saying, "Other concerns require precedence. A measure of uncertainty has been sown among the Masters. They know nothing of the peril which Esmer has revealed. But they have heard Anele speak of both Kastenessen and the skurj. And they are chary of the Demondim. That such monsters front the gates of Revelstone, holding among them the might of the II!earth Stone, and yet do nothing, disturbs the Masters. In addition, the Unbeliever's presence is"-he appeared to search for a description-"strangely fortuitous. It is difficult to credit.

"Your power to create Falls, or to efface the ur-Lord by other means, troubles the Masters deeply. However, I have reminded the Humbled that your love for both the Unbeliever and the Land is well known-and that your son will be lost by any act of theurgy. Further, I have a.s.sured them that you are not a woman who will forsake those companions who remain in Revelstone. This your fidelity to Anele confirms.

"Also"-Stave shrugged eloquently- "the Humbled will not willingly forego their duty to the Halfhand, regardless of their disquiet. Therefore they heeded my urging."

Stave's tone reminded Linden that the Humbled would not otherwise have listened to him.

"They are fools," growled Mahrtiir.

"They are Haruchai," Stave replied without inflection. "I thought as they do. Had I not partaken of the horserite, I would do so still."

He deserved grat.i.tude, especially because of his own bereavement; and Linden thanked him as well as she could. Then she asked a different question. "You mentioned the skurj. Why didn't you say anything about them before we came here'?"

"Chosen'?" Stave c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at her question.

"You've heard Anele talk about them. You were there when that Elohim appeared in Mithil Stonedown,"

warning Liand's people that a bane of great puissance and ferocity in the far north had slipped its bonds and had found release in Mount Thunder. "And you told me yourself that 'Beasts of Earthpower rage upon Mount Thunder.' But you haven't said anything else."

Until now, she had not needed to know more- "Your people are the Masters of the Land. If something that terrible has been set loose," something which resembled fiery serpents with the jaws of krakens, something capable of devouring stone and soil, gra.s.s and trees, "someone must have at least noticed. I a.s.sume that the Masters can't fight the skurj, but they must be watching, studying, trying to understand."

Now Stave nodded. "There has been misapprehension between us. The Masters have no knowledge of the skurj which has not been gleaned from Anele. We-" He stopped himself. "They have beheld no such evil upon the Land. If the skurj have come, they have done so recently, or without exposing themselves to the awareness of the Masters.

"When I spoke of 'beasts of Earthpower,' I should perhaps have named the FireLions of Mount Thunder. I did not because I believed them unknown to you. Their life within Gravin Threndor is ancient, far older than the history of Lords in the Land. They came first to human knowledge in the time of Berek Halfhand, the LordFatherer, who called upon them to destroy the armies of his foes. So the tale was later told to the Bloodguard during the time of Kevin Landwaster. Indeed, it has been sung that the Landwaster himself once stood upon the pinnacle of Gravin Threndor and beheld the FireLions. Thereafter, however, they were not again witnessed until the time of the Unbeliever's first coming to the Land, when he called upon Gravin Threndor's beasts for the salvation of his companions."

"So it is remembered among the Ramen," Mahrtiir a.s.sented, "for Manethrall Lithe accompanied the Ringthane and his companions into the Wightwarrens, though we loathe the loss of the open sky. She it was who guided the defenders of the Land from those dire catacombs to the slopes of Gravin Threndor. She witnessed the Ringthane's summoning of the FireLions-and of the Ranyhyn who bore the Ringthane's companions to safety."

"That also the Haruchai have not forgotten," said Stave. "The courage of the Raman enabled hope which would otherwise have been lost utterly."

Linden bit her lower lip and waited for Stave to continue his explanation.

"Now, however," he said, "the FireLions are restive. After millennia of concealed life, they may be observed at any time rampaging upon the slopes of Mount Thunder. They present no peril to the Land, for they are beings of Earthpower, as condign after their fashion as the Ranyhyn. But the cause of their restlessness must be a great peril indeed. When the unnamed Elohim spoke of 'a bane of great puissance and ferocity' from the far north which had 'found release' in Mount Thunder, no Master knew the form or power of that evil, though all presumed it to be the source of the FireLions' unrest.

"Upon that occasion, the Elohim also named the skurj."

"As they did among the Ramen also," Mahrtiir put in.

The Haruchai nodded again. And Anele has indeed uttered that name repeatedly. But his words revealed nothing of what the skurj might be, or of the FireLions' unrest. Only when he spoke in the Close did he declare beyond mistake that Kastenessen had been Appointed to contain the skurj, that he has now broken free of his Durance, and that therefore the skurj are a present danger to the Land.

"For that reason, we"-again he stopped himself-"the Masters, and I as well, conceive that the skurj are not the bane which has been released in Mount Thunder. The FireLions have been too long restless, and such devouring harm as Kastenessen was Appointed to imprison would surely have become manifest to our senses. Rather I deem, as do the Masters, that the bane of which the Elohim spoke, and the cause of the FireLions' unrest, is Kastenessen himself. We surmise that when he had broken free of his Durance, he came alone to Mount Thunder, preceding his former prisoners. Those creatures are the skurj, as Anele has plainly proclaimed. Only now does Kastenessen summon them to his aid."

Kastenessen again, Linden thought darkly. She did not doubt Stave: his explanation fit Anele's cryptic references to the skurj, the Durance, and the Appointed. Nor did she doubt that when Lord Foul had whispered a word of counsel here and there, and awaited events, he had been speaking to Kastenessen. He may even have told Kastenessen how to shatter or evade his Durance.

Whether or not the Despiser had also advised Esmer, she could not begin to guess.

But Lord Foul had Jeremiah. Her son had constructed images of Revelstone and Mount Thunder in her living room.

And the Masters had reason to think that Kastenessen now inhabited Mount Thunder.

Perhaps he was also responsible for Kevin's Dirt- Such speculations left her sick with frustration. They were too abstract: she needed a concrete explanation for what had happened to Covenant and Jeremiah. And she feared the storm of her own emotions when she stood before them again. If they still rejected her touch, she might not be able to think at all.

Still searching for some form of insight, she asked Stave what he remembered of the Elohim's portentous visit to Mithil Stonedown. Surely he had heard or understood more than Liand was able to recall?

He replied with p.r.o.nounced care, as though she had asked him to touch on subjects that would cause her pain.

"I can add little to that which the Ramen have revealed, or to the Stonedown's memory of the event. I saw the Elohim for what he was, oblique and devious. Such names as merewives, Sandgorgons, and croyel were known to me, as they are to you, though they conveyed naught to the Stonedownors. Also the Haruchai have heard it said, as you have, that there is a shadow upon the heart of the Elohim.

"But of the skurj we knew nothing. The Masters do not grasp the purpose of the Elohim's appearance, for they cannot comprehend his warning against the halfhand. Indeed, they honor those who have been t.i.tled Halfhands, both Berek Lord-Fatherer and ur-Lord Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. The Humbled are a token of that honor, as they are of the fault which doomed the Bloodguard."

A premature twilight dimmed the air as Linden and her companions strode among the low hills. She had been on the plateau longer than she realized. The sun was not yet setting; but the peaks of the Westron Mountains reached high, and the dark clouds behind them piled higher still. She seemed to cross into shadow as Stave answered her.

"Yet, Chosen-" The Haruchai hesitated, apparently uncertain that he should continue. However, he had declared his loyalty to her. His tone remained dispa.s.sionate as he said, "I have been cast out from the Masters, but they cannot silence their thoughts. They merely refuse to heed me if I do not speak aloud. For that reason, I know that they are disturbed by the knowledge that your son also is a halfhand."

Linden flinched involuntarily; but she did not interrupt.

In the time of the new Lords," Stave continued, the Unbeliever was considered by some the reincarnation of Berek Heartthew, for their legends said that Berek would one day return. It may be that the Elohim fear the Unbeliever because his presence, the rebirth of High Lord Berek's potent spirit, will dim their own import in the Earth. Or it may be that the Elohim seek to warn the Land against your son, seeing in him a peril which is hidden from us."

No, stop, Linden protested inwardly. I can't think-Without noticing what she did, she dragged her fingers roughly through the tangles of her hair: she needed that smaller hurt to contain her larger shock. What, you suspect that my son is a threat to the Land? Now what am I supposed to do? Jeremiah had recovered his mind. He had recovered his mind. How could she bear to believe that he had become dangerous? That the Elohim saw danger in him?

Or in Covenant-?

Where had Jeremiah's mind been while she had tried and failed for years to reach it?

After a moment, Mahrtiir said gruffly, "This gains nothing, Stave. That we have cause for concern is plain enough. But the youth is no son of ours. We cannot gaze upon him as the Ringthane must. And the burden of determination is not ours, for we hold neither white gold nor the Staff of Law. She will speak with the Unbeliever and her son, and her wisdom and valor will guide her. The speculations of the Masters-mere imaginings, for the truth remains shrouded-serve only to tarnish her clarity."

The Manethrall's words offered Linden a way to calm her turmoil. He was right: she could not guess the truth of Jeremiah's condition-or of Covenant's. She needed to fight her impulse to jump to conclusions.

"She will learn what she can," Mahrtiir said, "and do what she must. This the Ramen understand, who have spent their lives in the service of the Ranyhyn. But the Masters have lost such wisdom, for they conceive themselves equal to that which they serve. Among your people, you alone recognize their fault"-the Manethrall grinned sharply-"humbling my pride as you do so, for the Ramen also are not without fault. We have permitted ourselves to forget that at one time, when the Bloodguard had ended their service to the Lords, some few of them chose instead to serve the Ranyhyn among the Ramen. Foolishly we have nurtured our disdain toward the sleepless ones across the centuries, and so we have proffered distrust where honor has been earned.

"Together we must now be wary that we do not teach the Ringthane to share our ancient taints. We may be certain that she will serve the Land and her own loves. No other knowledge is required of us."

Although her heart trembled, Linden pushed aside the warning of the Elohim. She could not afford to be confused by fears that had no name.

She and her companions were nearing the wide pa.s.sage that angled down into Lord's Keep. There she stopped so that she would not be overheard by the Masters who presumably guarded the pa.s.sage. Resting her free hand on Stave's shoulder, she turned to meet the Manethrall's whetted gaze.

"Thank you," she said gravely. "That helps." Then she faced Stave. "And thank you. I need to know anything that you can tell me. Even if it makes me crazy." She grimaced ruefully. "But Mahrtiir is right. I can't think about everything right now. We have too many problems. I need to take them as they come.

"We're running out of time. I know that. Those Demondim aren't going to wait much longer." And when they resumed their siege, they would unfurl the full virulence of the II!earth Stone from its source in the deep past. "But I can't worry about them yet." She knew what she had to do. "First I need to talk to Covenant and Jeremiah."

The gloom on the upland continued to darken as storm clouds hid the sun.

"I hope that you'll forgive me," she told Stave. "There might be things that I can't talk about in front of you." Not until she knew more about the Unbeliever and her son-and about where she stood with them. "If you can still hear the Masters' thoughts, I have to a.s.sume that they can hear yours. And if they even half believe that Jeremiah is a threat-" She swallowed a lump of distress. "I can't take the chance that they'll get in my way."

Stave faced her stolidly. "No forgiveness is needful. I do not question you. The Masters are indeed able to hear my thoughts-should they deign to do so. Speak to me of nothing which may foster their opposition."

Mutely Mahrtiir gave the former Master a deep Ramen bow. And Linden squeezed his shoulder. She wanted to hug him-to acknowledge his understanding as well as his losses-but she did not trust herself. Her emotions gathered like the coming storm. If she could not emulate his stoic detachment when she confronted Covenant and her son-and if they still refused her touch-she would be routed like a scatter of dry leaves.

Millennia ago, Covenant had promised that he would never use power again. But he was using power now: he was folding time. He might ask for his ring. Why else had he come so unexpectedly? He might demand- And somehow Jeremiah had obtained his own magic.

If either of them accepted Linden's embrace now, she would certainly lose control of herself. And she feared the costs of her vulnerability.

At the end of the long tunnel down into the ramified convolutions of Revelstone, Linden, Stave, and Mahrtiir were met by Galt of the Humbled. He greeted them with a small inclination of his head, hardly a nod, and announced that he would guide the Chosen to speak with ur-Lord Thomas Covenant.

Linden paused to address Mahrtiir and Stave again. "I have to do this alone." Her voice was tight with trepidation.

"But I hope that you'll stay nearby, Stave.

"Mahrtiir, it might be a good idea to take Liand and the others to Glimmermere. Drink the water. Go swimming. Anele won't, but the rest of you will be better off." Unnecessarily she added, "There's a storm coming, but it doesn't feel like the kind of weather that can hurt you."