Part 59 (1/2)

”I have spoken.” Chuckling again, she asked, ”Does our doubt content you?

Will you now accept our comrades.h.i.+p, come good or ill, joy or woe?”

At Coldspray's words, some of the fear lifted from Linden's heart. Although she could not laugh, she smiled warmly. ”Thank you. The First and Pitchwife would be so proud-” The Giants may have had few children-too few-but they bred true. That was their birthright. ”Meeting you is the best thing that's happened to us since we left Revelstone.”

Her voice broke as she finished. ”G.o.d, I've missed you.”

She believed now that none of her many enemies would be able to prevent her from reaching the Hills of Andelain.

Struggles over Wild Magic During the remainder of that night, Linden slept little. Her story was strange to the Swordmainnir: it raised more issues than it explained. Although they expressed concern for the weariness of their new companions, the Giants needed to talk.

They asked nothing more about Linden's intentions. For a while, they discussed the actions of the Sandgorgons, pondering what those creatures would do now that they had satisfied their ancient ”grat.i.tude.” Then, with elaborate delicacy, Rime Coldspray indicated the bullet hole in Linden's s.h.i.+rt and inquired about the relations.h.i.+p between death in her former world and life in the Land.

Linden could not explain it: she could only relate what she had experienced. Like the lightning which had taken Joan, bullets were too violent for doubt. Therefore Linden could only a.s.sume that she, Jeremiah, and Roger had perished in the instant of their pa.s.sage to the Land. In some sense, their presence here was permanent: they would endure until they were slain.

She had seen her son's wounds, and Roger's; but she did not want to remember them.

Clearing his throat, Mahrtiir turned toward Stave. Softly, as if he were prompting the Haruchai, he said. ”There are tales better known to the Bloodguard-”

Stave nodded. To Coldspray, he said, ”Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever was not the only man of the Chosen's world summoned to the Land. In the time of the new Lords, when Elena daughter of Lena was High Lord of the Council, a man named Hile Troy appeared, invoked by Atiaran Trell-mate. He it was who led the Warward into Garroting Deep, bartering his soul to Caerroil Wildwood in exchange for the ruin of moksha Fleshharrower's forces. Thus he ceased to be himself, for he was transformed, becoming CaerCaveral, the last Forestal. For more than three millennia thereafter, he endured as the guardian of Andelain.”

In spite of her fatigue, Linden listened closely. Long ago, Covenant had told her about Hile Troy and Caer-Caveral; but Stave offered details which were new to her.

”The First of the Search and Pitchwife were present,” remarked Coldspray.

We know their tale. If we understand events aright, Caer-Caveral's final sacrifice did much to enable Covenant Giantfriend's victory over the Despiser.”

Stave shrugged. It may be so. The Masters and all Haruchai distrust violations of Law. We are not persuaded that the ur-Lord would have failed to achieve his victory by some other means if the Law of Life had remained unmarred.

”However, it is of Hile Troy that I would speak, rather than of Caer-Caveral.”

The Manethrall murmured his approval. Liand and the Cords listened as they had since the tales began, rapt and troubled.

With his usual flatness, Stave said, She who invoked him, Atiaran Trellmate, perished when she had completed his summons. By the common understanding of the Lords, the death of the summoner ended the summons. So it transpired three times for the ur-Lord, the Unbeliever. Yet when Atiaran Trell-mate died in fire, Hile Troy remained.

”The Council of Lords believed that his summons was not undone because in his own world his death preceded that of his summoner. Therefore his spirit could not return to its former life, and his place in the Land was fixed.

”I cannot know if Hile Troy's example is pertinent to the plight of the Chosen and her son. Their summoner yet lives, though she is tormented and possessed.

”Nonetheless,” the Haruchai stated with an air of increased concentration. ”there is hope in Hile Troy's tale. The woman Joan wields wild magic. With High Lord Loric's krill, the Chosen may be able to confront her, and yet remain among us. If so, the Land will be spared much, and perhaps Linden Avery's son also.”

The Giants considered Stave's a.s.sertion for a long moment. Then their leader chuckled grimly.

”You are cunning as well as valorous, Stave of the Haruchai. Indirectly you seek to allay both our doubts and those of the Humbled. At another time, perchance, my comrades and I will applaud your service to Linden Giantfriend. For the present, however, we can do no more than acknowledge that the magicks which rule the pa.s.sage between worlds lie beyond our comprehension.”

The Ironhand's expression tightened as she continued. ”Of other foes and powers, we know only that they do not appear to threaten us here. But the peril of Kastenessen and his skurj is immediate and urgent. If Linden Giantfriend seeks the krill, Kastenessen must oppose her. And I do not doubt that he will strike with all the ferocity he may command.”

He hasn't brought very many of them down from the north yet. But he can get more whenever he wants them. Roger had lied about any number of things-but occasionally he had told the truth.

A score of those monsters would devour Linden's entire company as easily as breathing.

”By my reckoning,” said Coldspray. ”Andelain lies perhaps eight or nine leagues distant. But we cannot know whether Andelain has been overrun with skurj. If the krill has been neither taken nor unmade, it stands beyond the Soulsease. And Salva Gildenbourne's abundance hinders us. I foresee frantic battle and desperate flight ere we may hope to approach our goal.”

And while the company fought, Longwrath would strive for Linden's death. Two or three Giants would have to guard him at all times, regardless of the scale of Kastenessen's attacks.

”Linden Avery,” the Ironhand p.r.o.nounced formally. ”Chosen and Giantfriend, you have spoken of white gold. We have no other clear hope. If we cannot trust to the Staff of Law, then only wild magic may preserve us.”

Linden felt the focused attention of the Giants. Even Longwrath paused to listen. While her friends watched, she reached under her s.h.i.+rt and drew Covenant's ring into the firelight.

Trying to be precise, she said, ”It isn't literally true that Covenant gave this to me, but it's probably fair to say that he left it for me. I've certainly claimed it.” And used it. ”You might think that I already have enough power to accomplish almost anything. G.o.d knows I've astonished myself-” She still did not understand how she had saved herself and Anele from the collapse of Kevin's Watch. ”But it doesn't come easily. I have to work hard for it.

”Maybe I'm afraid of it.” Covenant had taught her that wild magic tended to surge out of control; that with each use it grew more rampant and ungovernable. ”Or maybe I don't really have the right to wield it.” According to Roger, only the person to whom white gold truly belonged could call forth its full strength. ”All I know is that I can't chance it when I'm holding the Staff. Apparently Law and wild magic are ant.i.thetical.”

She believed this even though she had once exerted both argent fire and Earthpower. With Covenant's ring, she had melded Vain and Findail to form a new Staff of Law; her Staff. Then she had wielded both wild magic and Law to remain in the Land while she ended the Sunbane, began healing its ravages, and restored her friends. And since that time, her Staff had been annealed in EarthBlood; refined with runes. Caerroil Wildwood had granted her new possibilities which she did not fully comprehend.

Nonetheless Esmer and Stave together had a.s.sured her that no ordinary flesh could withstand such forces. In Kiril Threndor, when she had taken up Covenant's ring, his spirit had protected her. His love and her own grief had enabled her to perform feats which should have been impossible. And her summons to the Land had already been half undone: she had not been entirely corporeal. Now her health-sense insisted that she was simply inadequate-too human and frail-to contain or manage Earthpower and white gold simultaneously.

Like her struggles under Melenkurion Skyweir, the Forestal's runes had not made her strong enough to overcome the hindrance of Kevin's Dirt.

”On top of that,” she finished bitterly. ”I'm helpless whenever Esmer decides to put in an appearance. I don't know how he does it, but his presence blocks me. I can't touch wild magic while he's around.”

Abruptly Anele spoke from the cradle of Coldspray's armor. Stroking the rock, he murmured. ”This stone is unaware that Kevin's Watch has fallen. The knowledge is too recent-and too far removed. The stone believes. It will hold, ignorant of ruin.”

With Liand and Pahni, Linden stared at the old man. She wanted him to say more-and to say it so that she could understand him. Seek deep rock. Only there the memory remains. But he ignored her yearning. Nestled in the cataphract, he lapsed into incoherence again.

Oh, h.e.l.l. With a sigh, Linden turned back to face Coldspray.

The Ironhand was grinning, but her eyes were empty of humor as she said, ”Take no umbrage, Linden Giantfriend, when I observe that you do not nurture confidence. Considering your many uncertainties, do you yet insist that you must gain Andelain and the krill?”

Linden glared up at the Swordmain. ”Lord Foul has my son. I'm certain of that.” She had been fused to her purpose: her heart held no room for doubt. ”If you don't want to risk it, I'll go by myself.”

For the second time, Coldspray and her comrades laughed joyfully. Linden might have thought that they were mocking her; but they were Giants, and their laughter held rich affection rather than scorn.

”Ah, risk,” the Ironhand said as she subsided. ”Linden Avery, life is risk. All who inhabit the Earth inhale peril with each breath. Though some hazards inspire more alarm than others, the truth remains, as sure as stone and sea. We are Giants and adore life. We do not baulk at mere risk.”

Comforted, Linden sighed again. ”I know. I just forget sometimes. Covenant might say something about laughing yourselves to death. Me, I'm just glad that you're here.”

At that moment, Longwrath's desire for her blood seemed a small price to pay for the warmth and aid of Giants.

Later Liand and the Cords opened the bedrolls so that Linden's company could try to find a little sleep before dawn. As she stretched out in her blankets, however, the Stonedownor squatted beside her. ”I wish rest for you, Linden,” he said softly. ”but I also fear it. The Giants are mighty, and they fill me with gladness. But if we are a.s.sailed by more than two or three skurj together- ”Why do they not attack now? If Kastenessen directs them, does he not grasp that delay is perilous to him? Surely he must harry us while we remain far from the krill.”

In the background of his voice, Linden heard that his concern was more for Pahni than for himself. Like Linden's, his pa.s.sage through Salva Gildenbourne had been comparatively easy, while Pahni's efforts had tested her Ramen toughness.

”I don't know, Liand.” Linden lay holding the Staff, although it did not rea.s.sure her. ”He's waiting for something, but I have no idea what.” Roger and Cavewights? Moksha Raver and kresh? Sandgorgons? ”Maybe he just needs time to gather more skurj.” Or maybe Lord Foul had other plans for Kastenessen. She had been given hints which revealed nothing. ”I can't worry about it right now. I'll just paralyze myself.”

Face it, Covenant had once told her. Go forward. Give yourself a chance to find out who you are. But he had also said to Liand through Anele, I wish I could spare you. Yet Liand was more afraid for Pahni, Linden, and the others than for himself.

His courage was less conflicted than Linden's.