Part 66 (1/2)

Esmer and Roger had fought to stop the Harrow; to kill him if they could not remove him from this time. Linden a.s.sumed that moksha Raver's kresh had attacked for the same reason. They wanted to prevent her from reaching Jeremiah.

But Kastenessen could not enter Andelain. The Despiser would not. Perhaps Esmer himself had no power here. Presumably even Roger did not pose a threat. The awakened krill and the Wraiths warded the Hills.

The Harrow was safe. As safe as Linden.

She had nothing to bargain with except her Staff and Covenant's ring. Could she trade them away now? Abandon her purpose? For Jeremiah's sake?

What would that accomplish? Without Earthpower and wild magic, she would have nothing to free him from the croyel The prospect scattered her thoughts like a gust of wind in dried leaves. She had experienced imponderable rescues, miracles of hope. Caerroil Wildwood had completed her Staff. The Mandoubt had retrieved her from the Land's past. And Anele had named other mysteries. Two days ago, he had told her that Morinmoss redeemed the covenant, the white gold wielder. The Forestal sang, and Morinmoss answered.

She needed to believe that she was not done with wonders; that she could accomplish what she had come here to do. That she might find Jeremiah without surrendering any of her strengths. Otherwise she would be helpless to refuse the Insequent.

Now those days are lost.

Instead of answering Liand, Linden turned to Stave.

”Do you know what Anele was talking about?” she asked. ”In Salva Gildenbourne, before the Giants found us, he said that Morinmoss 'redeemed' Covenant. It was a long time ago. Do you remember? Can you tell me what he meant?”

All vastness is forgotten.

If her query surprised Stave, he did not show it. ”There is a tale,” he said carefully. ”Some of its aspects are not known. The ur-Lord himself could not recall them clearly. Having eaten amanibhavam, he was held by delirancy for a time, and retained only fragments of what transpired.”

Beyond the trees, the sun sank lower. Its light left the Soulsease, shrouding the Harrow in gloom.

”In the unnatural winter which High Lord Elena had imposed upon the Land,” Stave continued, ”wielding the Staff of Law in Corruption's service, the Unbeliever sought sanctuary in a Ramen covert. But the covert was beset, and he fled. Freezing and alone, he confronted another servant of Corruption. Aided by a Ranyhyn, Lena mother of Elena saved his life. In the attempt, however, Lena perished, and the ur-Lord's ankle was broken.

”He would not consent to ride the Ranyhyn. Rather he freed them to escape that dire winter.”

”Aye,” Mahrtiir a.s.sented. He and the whole company listened to Stave. ”So the tale is told among the Ramen.”

”At first,” Stave explained. ”he wandered, lost. Yet in some fas.h.i.+on he was guided beyond the Roamsedge into Morinmoss. It appeared to him that he was called by the song of a Forestal-a song which summoned him to the care of an unknown woman.

”There memory failed him. He did not return to himself until his hurts had been healed, both his ankle and his amanibhavam-stricken mind, and the woman lay dead.

”If it is sooth that he was drawn into Morinmoss by a Forestal, and that he was restored at a Forestal's urging, then it may truly be said that he was 'redeemed' by the power of wood and sap and song. Also he was later aided by the brief awakening of the Colossus when he confronted High Lord Elena and was powerless.”

The Giants harkened to Stave with fascination, the Ramen with acknowledgment and approval. The Humbled paid no apparent heed to anything except the crepuscular loom of the Harrow. But Liand chafed at Stave's explanation. As soon as the former Master was done, he protested. ”Linden, I do not comprehend. Often Anele has revealed much which others can not or do not discern. Yet how does this tale pertain to the Harrow?”

Linden felt an obscure relief. Her confusion was fading; dripping away like wave-tossed water from a boulder. There is more in Andelain-and among the Dead-and in your heart-than Lord Foul can conceive. Once again, she discovered that Anele's eerie utterances had substance. Remember that he is the hope of the Land.

”It doesn't,” she told Liand. ”Not directly.” Everything pertained, the doom of the One Forest and the pa.s.sing of the Forestals as much as the Mandoubt's ruin and Esmer's conflicted betrayals. ”I'm just trying to imagine what a bargain with the Harrow might cost.” She intended to redeem her son at any price-but she also intended to choose that price. ”The Wraiths refused Longwrath. But they're ignoring him. That must mean something.”

There is hope in contradiction.

The Law of Life had been broken in Andelain. Elena had broken the Law of Death among the roots of Melenkurion Skyweir. On both occasions, Covenant had found a way to save the Land.

Rime Coldspray's voice was a low rumble. ”In this, we cannot counsel you. Among us, children are precious beyond description. Both the Swordmainnir and the Giants of Dire's Vessel have hazarded their lives for Longwrath's unattained redemption. But you have not named your purpose. Ignorant of what you will attempt, we cannot gauge the import of the Harrow's presence.”

A moment pa.s.sed before Linden realized that all of her companions were waiting for her decision.

”All right.” She had already made up her mind. ”I want to hear what he has to say. But I'm not going to agree to anything until we reach the krill. I don't trust him. I won't take any chances until I know more.”

The krill responded to wild magic. She had the Staff of Law. And if she found Thomas Covenant among the Dead- One way or another, she meant to end Jeremiah's suffering.

Her answer appeared to satisfy Liand, although he did not relax his distrust of the Harrow.

”So how do we get across?” she asked Stave and Mahrtiir. ”Can the Ranyhyn carry us? Is there a ford?”

She was already familiar with the prowess of the Giants. The weight of their armor and swords would not hinder them.

The Manethrall snorted at the mere suggestion that the horses might not be able to bear their riders through the river; and Stave said, ”In Andelain, the current of the Soulsease is gentle. There will be no difficulty.”

As if to demonstrate his a.s.sertion, he sent Hynyn down the riverbank and into the water. For a few strides, Hynyn kept his footing. Then the stallion began to swim strongly.

Galt followed at once. Crossing the river, the company would be vulnerable. Clearly he and Stave meant to gain the south bank so that they could protect Linden and the others if the Harrow contemplated an attack.

”Swordmainnir!” called the Ironhand with a laugh. ”Here is opportunity for refreshment. Never let it be said that Giants shun clear water and cleansing!”

At once, she plunged into the Soulsease with her comrades behind her, chuckling as they forged ahead. Without warning, Grueburn threw a splash of water in Cabledarm's face. Stonemage responded by drenching Bluntfist. But their play did not slow them. In spite of their mirth, they carried their swords drawn.

Mahrtiir and Narunal entered the river after the Giants. Bhapa and Pahni, and then Clyme and Branl, positioned themselves around Linden, Liand, and Anele as they followed the Manethrall.

When the water hit Linden's legs, she caught her breath. The Soulsease was colder than she had expected. But it did not resemble the winter which she had experienced with Roger and the croyel.

The river was distilled springtime; the eagerness of fertility and flowing after winter's long sleep. Its touch conveyed hints of the world's renewal. And Hyn pa.s.sed through it easily, thrusting ahead when her hooves could find the bottom, swimming with her head held high when they could not.

Surging up from the watercourse, Stave and Galt greeted the Harrow. If he granted them a reply, Linden did not hear it. Motionless on his destrier, he did not so much as incline his head to the Haruchai-or to the Swordmainnir when they splashed out of the river and surrounded him. This is an un looked-for meeting,” Coldspray announced. ”Declare yourself, stranger.” But the Harrow's answer-if he gave one-did not reach Linden. Encircled by swords, he appeared to do nothing except wait for the arrival of his desires.

A fading glow still held the sky as Hyn gained the riverbank; heaved herself and her rider out of the Soulsease. The evening was too early for stars. And the Harrow had placed himself beneath the outspread shadows of a broad oak at the water's edge. Linden saw him as little more than a deeper blackness in the coming night. His leather apparel seemed to m.u.f.fle or diffuse his aura; mask his intentions.

His destrier was more tangible. The beast was a gelding as ma.s.sive and tall as Mh.o.r.n.ym. It champed at its bit and fretted while its master sat without moving. Occasional quivers ran through its muscles like small galvanic shocks, jolts of excitement or terror. But its tension did not trouble the Harrow. Instead his mount's disquiet only made him look more unpredictable and dangerous.

Stave and Mahrtiir moved to escort Linden as she advanced. The Soulsease had carried her eastward: she faced the Harrow with the last of the sunset in her eyes. Some of the Swordmainnir stepped aside to watch over Liand, Anele, and the Cords, but Coldspray, Grueburn, and Stonemage continued to confront the Insequent with their weapons ready.

Poised for battle, the Humbled regarded him impa.s.sively. He had already defeated them once. He had done so without difficulty. Yet Linden recognized that his physical strength did not equal theirs. His prowess was external in some fas.h.i.+on: an expression of acquired theurgy rather than of innate might. He wore his magicks like a form of raiment, as elaborate and distinctive as his leather garb.

When she reached the verge of the oak's shade, she asked Hyn to stop. She wanted to keep her distance. She could not see his eyes, but she was sure that he could see hers-and those of her companions. He had vowed that he would not make a second attempt to swallow her mind. He had called on his fellow Insequent to ensure that he kept his word. However, he had not promised to refrain from threatening her friends.

Mahrtiir and Anele were safe. The intransigence of the Haruchai might protect them from a fall into the Harrow's bottomless gaze. Even the Giants might be able to resist. But Liand, Bhapa, and Pahni had no defense. If the Harrow wanted leverage- Time seemed to stretch as though it might tear. The darkness under the oak became all darkness despite the faint light beyond the shadows. The Giants s.h.i.+fted their feet, waiting for Linden to speak. The destrier stamped one hoof restively.

Linden secured her grip on the Staff.

With one hand, she touched Covenant's ring through the fabric of her s.h.i.+rt.

”Say something,” she demanded. ”I'm here. It's your move.”

The Harrow laughed softly. ”Be welcome in Andelain, lady.” His voice held the fertile depth of damp loam. Unlike Esmer, he had suffered no apparent damage in their earlier struggle. ”You will find much to delight and surprise you in this bourne of peace.”

He may have been mocking her.

”Don't play games with me,” she retorted. -Peace' isn't one of your strengths. Get to the point.”