Part 60 (2/2)
Perhaps he was not waiting. Perhaps he had already prepared an ambush in Andelain.
The possibility that the skurj were feasting among the Hills of Andelain made Linden feel sick. But she swallowed her trepidations.
”You're probably right. In any case, I don't have a better suggestion. I could use the rest. And I need a chance to pull myself together.”
At once, the Ironhand sent one of her unburdened comrades ahead to talk to Pahni and Bhapa. Stave and the other Giants continued along the depths of the ravine.
Vaguely Linden wondered how much ground Longwrath and his guards had lost-and how long he would delay before he tried to kill her again. But she could not afford to distract herself with such concerns. The Swordmainnir would protect her. She needed to focus her attention on power and the skurj; on Thomas Covenant's ring and his illimitable resolve. Not for the first time, her circ.u.mstances pressed her to surpa.s.s herself.
A grieved and frightened part of her insisted that she was not Covenant, she was not. She had never been his equal. It was folly to pretend that she could match his capacity for extravagant and unforeseen victories.
But if Roger and the croyel had given her time to think in the cave of the EarthBlood, she would have said the same; and by doing so, she would have helped them destroy her. At least in part, she had succeeded against them because they had left her no room for self-doubt. Jeremiah's wounded helplessness and the croyets cruelty had made her certain.
That certainty remained deep in her, as unshaken as buried stone. As long as she did not dwell on her inadequacies, she would be able to fight for what she loved; oppose what she loathed. She would find a way.
She had done so after the destruction of First Woodhelven.
Resting in Grueburn's arms, Linden searched herself for sc.r.a.ps of Covenant's power.
Gradually the walls of the ravine slumped away, releasing the company into a wide valley bordered on the south by an overgrown escarpment, high and thick with trees. Glimpsed through the jungle, the skyward thrust of the scarp looked too sheer to be climbed. But Bhapa and Pahni found a path upward by angling across the rise, bracing themselves on tree trunks and clinging to bushes. The roots of the trees and brush were deeply knotted in the escarpment's fissured bones: they held the Swordmainnir as easily as the Ramen. Linden's company made the ascent with less difficulty than she would have thought possible.
Beyond the crest, Salva Gildenbourne lost elevation by slow increments; and the Giants quickened their pace. Here the soil lay more thinly over its bedrock. Wider s.p.a.ces separated the trees: undergrowth no longer clogged the ground. At irregular intervals, rocks mantled with grey-green lichen jutted among Gilden, sycamore, and oak. For the first time since dawn, Linden could look around her and see all seven of the Swordmainnir. When she glanced at Liand, he smiled to rea.s.sure her.
Pahni remained out of sight ahead, hidden by broad-boughed trees and the heavy shoulders of the Giants; but now Linden caught hints of the Cord with her other senses. Although Pahni moved fluidly down the gentle slope, she emanated an unmistakable pang of fatigue. Linden could feel the Cord's muscles trembling.
Soon, Linden thought. Bhapa would have to find a place that suited Mahrtiir soon.
Abruptly Stave's head jerked. An instant later, he announced to Coldspray, ”The skurj, Ironhand. Galt has discerned them.”
Fear clutched at Linden as the Swordmain asked, ”Is he able to count their number?”
He cannot. They blur at the limit of his senses. However, they advance as though they are certain of us. And their pace exceeds ours. Soon Galt will endeavor to number them.”
Coldspray glanced back at Mahrtiir and Linden. ”Shall we run, then? Is there hope in flight'?”
Presumably the Giants could carry Pahni and Bhapa.
”Galt deems that there is not,” replied Stave flatly. ”Trees and terrain do not hinder the skurj. And they appear capable of great speed. Can you outrun them at need? Can you do so until we have gained Loric's krill?”
The Ironhand shook her head. ”We have run too much. Already weariness weighs upon us, though we are Giants, and proud of our strength. If it can be done, we must abide by the Manethrall's counsel.”
”Then my Cords must be forewarned,” growled Mahrtiir. ”They cannot hear the minds of the Humbled.”
”Cabledarm!” Coldspray called to one of the Giants. ”This falls to you. Overtake the Cords. Aid them in their search.”
”Aye,” Cabledarm responded. ”Who else?” She bared her teeth in a willing grin. ”When wisdom and cunning exhaust themselves, simple strength must prevail.
”Observe and learn, Linden Giantfriend!” she shouted as she broke into a run. ”It is with good cause that Cabledarm is acknowledged as the mightiest of the Swordmainnir!”
a.s.sisted by the slope, she seemed to bound after Pahni.
”Mightiest, ha!” muttered Grueburn to her comrades. ”I claim that t.i.tle. Free my arms, and I will 'acknowledge' any might that strives to prove itself against me.”
Several of the Giants chuckled; but Coldspray commanded sternly, ”Quicken your strides, Swordmainnir. Haste now may earn a measure of respite ere the skurj a.s.sail us.”
The women picked up their pace. Linden expected them to race after Cabledarm, but they did not. Instead the Ironhand held them to a swift walk. After a moment, Linden realized that Coldspray did not want to overrun the Cords' search for an abundance of loose stones*the ancient litter of scarps and tors-When-or if-Bhapa found a place that satisfied Mahrtiir's requirements, Coldspray wished to head toward it without needing to double back.
Trembling as if she, too, had run for leagues, Linden touched her pocket to confirm that she still had Jeremiah's racecar. Then she drew out Covenant's ring.
Irregular splashes of suns.h.i.+ne caught the small metal circle as the sun rose toward midday. Whenever Covenant's wedding band flared silver in her hand, Linden winced involuntarily. Please, G.o.d, she prayed without hearing herself. Please. The ring looked puny against the pale skin of her palm; too little to encompa.s.s either hope or contradiction.
Wild magic is only as powerful as the will, the determination, of the person it belongs to. The rightful white gold wielder.
With it, Covenant had mastered Nom; faced Kasreyn of the Gyre; denatured the virulence of the Banefire. Wielded by the Despiser, its savage ecstasy had exalted Covenant's spirit to secure and sustain the Arch of Time. And Linden herself had caused a caesure. In the wrong hands, it's still pretty strong. Nevertheless this immaculate instance of white gold was not hers.
It doesn't really come to life until the person it belongs to chooses to use it.
Roger could have been lying; but she did not think so. Too much of what he had said matched her memories, her experiences.
d.a.m.n it. She clenched her fist around the ring. She had created one caesure: she could form another; catch the skurj in a mad whirl of instants and send them hurtling toward an imponderable future. If she were willing to take the risk- When she had asked Roger about Falls, he had replied, Eventually they'll destroy everything.
On that subject as well, she could believe that he had told the truth.
All right, she promised herself grimly. No more caesures. I'll try something else.
But she did not know what she would be able to attempt.
In the distance ahead, she felt Cabledarm reach Pahni; felt the Giant sweep Pahni into her arms and go on running. They sought Bhapa, but they pa.s.sed beyond Linden's range without finding him.
Moving at Coldspray's side, Stave spoke so that Linden and the Manethrall could hear him. ”Branl reports no threat. It appears that Longwrath and his escort will not be a.s.sailed. And Clyme also descries no presage of harm. Therefore he and Branl come to join our defense.
”Galt will do likewise. However, he intends first to number the skurj. At present, he perceives less than a score. If he discovers no increase in their force, he will endeavor to learn if they may be made to turn aside.”
Linden flinched. One of those monsters could swallow Galt whole- ”Then he is a fool,” snapped the Ironhand.
Stolidly Stave replied, ”He is Haruchai as well as Humbled, neither slow of wit nor weak of limb. He will not sacrifice himself except in our direct aid. Rather he will seek only to determine whether the skurj may be slowed or diverted.”
Coldspray started to respond, but a distant shout interrupted her. m.u.f.fled by trees and foliage, Cabledarm's bellow was barely audible.
”A place is found! Alter your heading somewhat eastward!”
Eastward-Closer to the skurj.
The Ironhand stopped; turned to face Mahrtiir. ”Manethrall,” she said tensely. our esteem for the Ramen grows ever greater. To say that your Cords have served us well is scant praise. We cannot delay for true grat.i.tude. Know, however, that we are honored to claim the friends.h.i.+p of a people who possess such fort.i.tude and skill.”
Before he could answer, she spun away and began to run. At once, her comrades followed, angling slightly to the left as they rushed between the trees.
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