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Omens； hell！ Covenant muttered to himself。 Rape and betrayal。 He sensed that Lena was gathering herself to make some kind of avowal。 To prevent her； he pushed glaring to his feet。 〃That's not all；〃 he grated。 〃Tamarantha and Prothall and Mhoram and who knows how many others thought that I was chosen for this by the Creator or whoever's responsible in the end。 Take consolation in that if you can。 Never mind that it's just another way of saying I chose myself。 The idea itself isn't so crazy。 Creators are the most helpless people alive。 They have to work through unsufferable…they have to work through tools as blunt and misbegotten and useless as myself。 Believe me； it's easier just to burn the world down； reduce it to innocent or clean or at least dead ash。 Which may be what I'm doing。 How else could I…？〃
With an effort； he stopped himself。 He had already iterated often enough the fundamental unbelief with which he viewed the Land； he had no reason to repeat that it was a delusion spawned by his abysmal incapacity for life。 He had gone beyond the need for such assertions。 Now he had to face their consequences。 To begin； he broached a tangent of what was in his heart。 〃Did any of you see a break in the clouds…sometime…maybe a couple nights ago？〃
Triock stiffened。 〃We saw；〃 he said gruffly。
〃Did you see the moon？〃
〃It was full。〃
〃It was green！〃 Covenant spat。 His vehemence cracked his swollen lip； and a trickle of blood started down his chin。 He scrubbed the blood away with his numb fingers； steadied himself on the stone visage of his purpose。 Ignoring the stares of the Stonedownors； he went on； 〃Never mind。 Never mind that。 Listen。 I'll tell you what we're going to do。 I'll tell you what you're going to do。〃
He met Triock's gaze。 Triock's lips were white with tension； but his eyes crouched in their sockets as if they ached to flinch away from what they beheld。 Covenant scowled into them。 〃You're going to find some way to let Mhoram know I'm here。〃
For an instant； Triock gaped involuntarily。 Then he drew himself up as if he were about to start yelling at Covenant。 Seeing this； Foamfollower interposed； 〃Ur…Lord； do you know what you ask？ Revelstone is three hundred leagues distant。 In the best of times； even a Giant could not gain the high halls of Lord's Keep in less than fifteen days。〃
〃And the Plains are a swarm with marauders！'' barked Triock。 〃From here to the joining of the Black and Mithil rivers； a strong band might fight and dodge its way in twenty days。 But beyond…in the Center Plains…are the fell legions of the Gray Slayer。 All the Land from Andelain to the Last Hills is under their dominion。 With twenty thousand warriors； I could not battle my way even to the Soulsease River in twice or ten times fifty days。''
Covenant began； 〃I don't give a bloody damn what…〃
Flatly； Quirrel interrupted him。 〃Further； you must not call upon the Ranyhyn for aid。 The creatures of the Gray Slayer prize Ranyhyn…flesh。 The Ranyhyn would be taken and eaten。〃
〃I don't care！〃 Covenant fumed。 〃It doesn't matter what you think is possible or impossible。 Everything here is impossible。 If we don't start doing the impossible now； it'll be too late。 And Mhoram has got to know。''
〃Why？〃 Anger still crackled in Triock's voice； but he was watching Covenant closely now； scrutinizing him as if he could see something malignant growing behind Covenant's belligerence。
Under Triock's gaze； Covenant felt too ashamed to admit that he had already refused a summons from Mhoram。 He could taste the outrage with which all the Stonedownors would greet such a confession。 Instead； he replied； 〃Because it will make a difference to him。 If he knows where I am…if he knows what I'm doing…it'll make a difference。 He'll know what to do。〃
〃What can he do？ Revelstone is besieged by an army as unanswerable as the Desert。 High Lord Mhoram and all the Council are prisoners in Lord's Keep。 We are less helpless than they。〃
〃Triock； you're making a big mistake if you ever assume that Mhoram is helpless。〃
〃The Unbeliever speaks truly；〃 Foamfollower said。 〃The son of Variol is a man of many resources。 Much that may appear impossible is possible for him。〃
At this Triock looked at his hands； then nodded sharply。 〃I hear you。 The High Lord must be told。 But still I know not how such a thing may be acplished。 Much which may appear possible to Giants and white gold wielders is impossible for me。〃
〃You've got one of those lomillialor rods；〃 rasped Covenant。 〃They were made for munication。〃
Triock growled in exasperation。 〃I have told you that I lack the lore for such work。 I did not study the speaking of messages in the Loresraat。''
〃Then learn。 By hell！ Did you expect it to be easy？ Learn！'' Covenant knew how unfairly he was treating Triock； but the exigency of his purpose countenanced neither consideration nor failure。
For a long moment； Triock glared miserably at Covenant； and his hands twitched with anger and helplessness。 But then Quirrel whispered to him； and his eyes widened hopefully。 〃Perhaps； 〃he murmured。 〃Perhaps it may be done。'' He made an effort to steady himself； forced a measure of calmness into his face。 〃It is said''…he swallowed thickly…〃it is said that an Unfettered One lives in the mountains which protect the South Plains from Garroting Deep。 Uncertain word of such a One has been whispered among the southron villages for…many years。 It is said that he studies the slow breathing of the mountains…or that he gazes constantly across Garroting Deep in contemplation of Melenkurion Skyweir…or that he lives in a high place to learn the language of the wind。 If such a One lives…if he may be found…perhaps he can make use of the High Wood as I cannot。〃
A rustle of excitement ran through the circle at this idea。 Triock took a deep breath and nodded to his panions。 〃I will make this attempt。〃 Then a sardonic hue colored his voice。 〃If it also goes astray； I will at least know that I have striven to fulfill your choices。
〃Unbeliever； what word shall I send to High Lord Mhoram and the Council of Revelstone？〃
Covenant looked away； raised his face to the leaden sky。 Snow had started to fall in the valley； a scattering of flakes drifted on the breeze like instants of mist； dimming the day even further。 They had an early look about them； as if they presaged a heavy fall。 For a moment； Covenant watched them tumble through the Stonedown。 He was acutely conscious of Triock's question。 It confronted him starkly； challenged the untried mettle of his purpose。 And he feared to answer it。 He feared to hear himself say things which were so insane。 When he returned his gaze to the waiting Stonedownors； he replied obliquely； seeking fuel for his courage。
〃Foamfollower； what happened to your people？〃
〃My friend？〃
〃Tell me what happened to the Giants。〃
Foamfollower squirmed at Covenant's scowl。 〃Ah； ur…Lord； there is no need for such stories now。 They are long in the telling； and would better suit another time。 The present is full。〃
〃Tell me！〃 Covenant hissed。 〃Bloody hell； Foamfollower！ I want to know it all！ I need…everything； every damned despicable thing that
Foul…〃
Without warning； Triock interrupted him。 〃The Giants have returned to their Home beyond the Sunbirth Sea。〃
Covenant whirled toward Triock。 The lie in his words was so palpable that it left Covenant gasping； and around him the Stonedownors gaped at Triock。 But Triock met Covenant's aghast stare without flinching。 The cut along his jaw emphasized his determination。 In a hard； steady voice that cut through Covenant's superficial ire to the rage growing within him； Triock said； 〃We have sworn the Oath of Peace。 Do not ask us to feed your hate。 The Land will not be served by such passions。〃
〃It's all I've got！〃 Covenant answered thickly。 〃Don't you understand？ I don't have anything else。 Nothing！ All by itself； it has got to be enough。〃
Gravely； almost sorrowfully； Triock said； 〃Such a foe cannot be fought with hate。 I know。 I have felt it in my heart。〃
〃Hellfire； Triock！ Don't preach at me。 I'm sick to death of being victimized。 I'm sick of walking meekly or at least quietly and just putting my head on the block。 I am going to fight this。〃
〃Why？〃 Triock asked in a restrained voice。 〃What will you fight for？〃
〃Are you deaf as well as blind？〃 Covenant wrapped his arms around his chest to steady himself。 〃I hate Foul。 I've had all I can stand of…〃
〃No。 I am neither deaf nor blind。 I see and hear that you intend to fight。 What will you fight for？ There is matter enough to occupy your hate in your own world。 You are in the Land now。 What will you fight for？〃
Hell and blood！ Covenant shouted silently。 How much of me do you want？ But Triock's question threw him back upon himself。 He could have replied： I hate Foul because of what he's doing to the Land。 But that sounded like a disclaimer of responsibility； and he was too angry to deny his own convictions。 He was too angry； also； to give Triock any forting answer。 In a brittle voice； he said； 〃I'm going to do it for myself。 So that I can at least believe in me before I lose my mind altogether。〃
This response silenced Triock； and after a moment Foamfollower asked painfully； 〃My friend； what will you do with your passion？〃
Snow slowly thickened in the air。 The flakes danced like motes of obscurity across Covenant's vision； and the strain of his fierce stare made his unhealed forehead throb as if his skull were crippled with cracks。 But he did not relent； could not relent now。 〃There's only one good answer to someone like Foul。〃 Yet in spite of his anger； he found that he could not meet Foamfollower's gaze。
〃What answer？〃
Involuntarily； Covenant's fingers bent into claws。 〃I'm going to bring Foul's Creche down around his ears。〃
He heard the surprise and incredulity of the Stonedownors； but he ignored them。 He listened only to Foamfollower as the Giant said； 〃Have you learned then how to make use of the white gold？〃
With all the intensity of conviction he could muster； Covenant replied； 〃I'll find a way。〃
As he spoke； he believed himself。 Hatred would be enough。 Foul could not take it from him； could not quench it or deflect its aim。 He； Thomas Covenant； was a leper； he alone in all the Land had the moral experience or training for this task。 Facing between Foamfollower and Triock； addressing them both； he said； 〃You can either help me or not。〃
Triock met him squarely。 〃I will not aid you。 I will undertake to send word of you to High Lord Mhoram…but I will not share in this defamation of Peace。〃
〃It is the wild magic； Triock；〃 Foamfollower said as if he were pleading on Covenant's behalf； 〃the wild magic which destroys Peace。 You have heard the song。 White gold surpasses all Oaths。〃
〃Yet I will retain my own。 Without the Oath； I would have slain the Unbeliever seven and forty years ago。 Let him accept that； and be content。〃
Softly； the Giant said； 〃I hear you； my friend。 You are worthy of the Land you serve。〃 Then he turned to Covenant。 〃Ur…Lord； permit me to acpany you。 I am a Giant…I may be of use。 And I…I yearn to strike closer blows against the Soulcrusher who so appalled my kindred。 And I know the peril。 I have seen the ways in which we bee what we hate。 Permit me。〃
Before Covenant could reply； Lena jumped to her feet。 〃Permit me also！〃 she cried excitedly。
〃Lena！〃 Triock protested。
She paid no attention to him。 〃I wish to acpany you。 I have waited so long。 I have striven to be worthy。 I have mothered a High Lord and ridden a Ranyhyn。 I am young and strong。 Ah； I yearn to share with you。 Permit me； Thomas Covenant。〃
The wind hummed softly between the houses； carrying the snow like haze into Covenant's eyes。 The flakes flicked cold at his sore lip； but still he nodded his approval of the gathering flurries。 A good snowfall would cover his trail。 The snow muffled the sounds of the village； and he seemed to be speaking to himself as he said； 〃Let's get going。 I've got debts to pay。〃
SEVEN
Message to Revelstone
Though his jaws ached with protests； Triock gave the orders which se