Against All Things Ending Part 19

And he was directly between her and them. She could not fling fire at Roger and the croyel croyel without scathing Covenant. without scathing Covenant.

Stave may have been shouting at her, urging her to strike. He may have believed that Covenant would forgive her.

Nonetheless she froze for a moment.

In that small s.p.a.ce of time, a concussion like a burst of thunder shook the chamber.

The floor split in a dozen places. Stone like geysers of rubble or scree spouted upward. The whole chamber lurched as though it had cracked free of its moorings.

Riding a jolt of theurgy, Esmer appeared between Roger and Jeremiah. "No!" Cail's son roared in a voice of horns and storm. "This I will not permit!"

The blast of his arrival knocked Roger and Jeremiah apart. Fuming, acid leaked away into fissures and upheavals.

Linden had no chance to notice the sudden bile in her throat, the nausea in her guts. Sick with shock, she saw that Esmer's condition had worsened since his last appearance. Clearly he was unable to treat the wounds inflicted on him during the battle of First Woodhelven. The grime and blood that fouled his rent cymar were unchanged; but now the festering burns and tears in his flesh wept rank fluids. The purulent reek of his hurts was both more human and more painful than the stench of Roger's halfhand.

He had told Linden that Kastenessen wanted him to suffer for aiding her. His wrath is boundless His wrath is boundless. But he retained his strength in spite of his bodily distress. He could be as devastating as a hurricane.

"Fool!" he raged at Linden. Spume boiled in the dark seas of his eyes. "You have revealed your discovery of your son to Kastenessen!"

Falling stone hit Linden's head and shoulders; battered Covenant, Stave, and Liand. Belatedly she raised Earthpower to fend off the detritus of Esmer's might. As she had during the earthquake under Melenkurion Melenkurion Skyweir, she protected herself: she s.h.i.+elded her companions. As then, she was hardly aware of what she did. Skyweir, she protected herself: she s.h.i.+elded her companions. As then, she was hardly aware of what she did.

"So what?" she shouted back at Esmer. "You're already here!" Aid and betrayal. "You'll do whatever he wants!"

A hail of rock ruptured more of the skest skest, spilling their substance across the rent floor. The creatures that survived fled into their tunnels.

"In this," retorted Esmer, "I do not serve him! The The skurj skurj will do so! She Who Must Not Be Named will do so!" will do so! She Who Must Not Be Named will do so!"

Shattered rock continued to erupt, tossing Roger and Jeremiah from side to side, coercing them to defend themselves; holding them at bay. With the Staff, Linden deflected granite rain.

Where-? She expected ur-viles and Waynhim to swarm around her. They keep watch against me They keep watch against me. Whenever Esmer had helped or endangered her, the creatures had appeared. They had been profligate with their own lives in her defense.

This time, however, they did not come. Esmer had been too swift for them, or too sudden- While she warded herself and her friends with flame, Esmer surged like a running wave at Roger; crashed like a breaker over Covenant's son.

At once, the two of them vanished. For his own reasons, or Kastenessen's, or Lord Foul's, Esmer carried Roger away.

The fall of rock ceased as abruptly as it had begun.

The croyel croyel's dismay drew a yelp from Jeremiah. Frantically the boy brandished his arms. With one hand, he hailed or harried skest skest back into the chamber. With the other, he slapped Covenant aside as though Covenant's opposition and anguish were trivial. Then he hurled frenzy like a battering ram at Linden. back into the chamber. With the other, he slapped Covenant aside as though Covenant's opposition and anguish were trivial. Then he hurled frenzy like a battering ram at Linden.

She met the burst with Earthpower; blocked it. But it hit her barrier so fiercely that the Staff bucked in her grasp. The creature's fury shoved her backward.

Its desperation matched hers.

Skest rushed to attack. Covenant tumbled away. His hands seemed fused to the rushed to attack. Covenant tumbled away. His hands seemed fused to the krill krill.

By sheer force of will, Stave wrenched himself to his feet. He still clenched Covenant's ring. Its chain swung between his fingers. Limping on savaged legs, he struggled toward Liand.

"Defend yourself, Chosen," he panted hoa.r.s.ely. "Preserve your son. I cannot combat the skest skest. I will aid Liand."

It was too much. There were too many skest skest. The croyel croyel was too strong. And Linden could not call on the EarthBlood to make her greater than she was. was too strong. And Linden could not call on the EarthBlood to make her greater than she was.

Nevertheless she flung herself forward, driven by love and need-and by a new surge of despair. Covenant and Liand and Stave were about to die; and she could not bear to abandon Jeremiah to the croyel croyel's cruelty.

But her plight required her to strike at her son. In abhorrence, she wielded Earthpower as if she were screaming.

Esmer had aided her. Where was the betrayal required by his conflicted nature? I am made to be what I am I am made to be what I am. Was it this, that she could only save Jeremiah by attacking him? By killing killing him? If so, her horror would delight the Despiser. him? If so, her horror would delight the Despiser.

But she did not believe it. Lord Foul did not desire Jeremiah's death. Esmer had told her, Your son is beyond price Your son is beyond price. No matter how keenly Lord Foul relished her distress, he did not wish her to kill Jeremiah. He still had a use for her son--of my deeper purpose I will not speak.

No, this fight did not serve the Despiser's purposes, or Kastenessen's: not now that the croyel croyel had been prevented from escaping with Jeremiah. Esmer had not yet revealed his treachery; or he had masked it too cunningly for Linden to see it. had been prevented from escaping with Jeremiah. Esmer had not yet revealed his treachery; or he had masked it too cunningly for Linden to see it.

Howling fire, she tried to divide her focus between the croyel croyel and the and the skest skest, and could not. The creature feeding on Jeremiah was too strong. And it appeared able to summon an endless number of misshapen children, glowing and fatal.

Stave had wrestled Liand into his arms, but the damage to his legs crippled his efforts to escape. Rife with hurts, Covenant had climbed back to his feet, bracing himself against the wall where Jeremiah had thrown him. In his ruined hands, the light of the krill krill wavered and pulsed as though it were unsure of its use. For the moment, at least, he was spared Joan's virulence. In that brief reprieve, he staggered arduously toward the lost boy. Like Stave, however, he had been too badly hurt to move quickly. Agony galled his face. Only stubbornness kept him upright. wavered and pulsed as though it were unsure of its use. For the moment, at least, he was spared Joan's virulence. In that brief reprieve, he staggered arduously toward the lost boy. Like Stave, however, he had been too badly hurt to move quickly. Agony galled his face. Only stubbornness kept him upright.

Frantic and failing, Linden alternated her attacks. She hit the croyel croyel's defenses as hard as she could. Then she swept flame through the skest skest until they ruptured and burned. As soon as she had beaten them back, she scrambled to a.s.sail the until they ruptured and burned. As soon as she had beaten them back, she scrambled to a.s.sail the croyel croyel again. again.

If she did not flail Earthpower from place to place fast enough, the monster would have time to muster a lethal blast-or one of the skest skest would touch her companions-or- would touch her companions-or- It was altogether too much. When Covenant stumbled and fell, she could do nothing to save him.

Galt caught Covenant before his knees struck the floor again. A flicker of an instant later, Clyme also reached the Unbeliever. At the same time, Branl committed his whole body to a blow at Jeremiah's head.

Flinching, the croyel croyel punched Branl with a fist of theurgy. The Humbled was knocked backward: he collided with the far wall hard enough to shatter bones. Only his preternatural punched Branl with a fist of theurgy. The Humbled was knocked backward: he collided with the far wall hard enough to shatter bones. Only his preternatural Haruchai Haruchai toughness spared him from injuries worse than Stave's. toughness spared him from injuries worse than Stave's.

Before the croyel croyel could attack again, Rime Coldspray charged into the chamber with Grueburn and Cabledarm roaring at her back. From the pa.s.sage leading to the palace, ribbands like lurid snakes squirmed outward. They coiled around Stave and Liand, s.n.a.t.c.hed the could attack again, Rime Coldspray charged into the chamber with Grueburn and Cabledarm roaring at her back. From the pa.s.sage leading to the palace, ribbands like lurid snakes squirmed outward. They coiled around Stave and Liand, s.n.a.t.c.hed the Haruchai Haruchai and the Stonedownor back from the and the Stonedownor back from the skest skest. Another strip of cloth retrieved Liand's orcrest orcrest.

As soon as their path was clear, more Giants rushed to join the fray.

They used their swords, iron and stone, instead of their feet. Their native immunity to fire did not s.h.i.+eld them from living acid, although it gave them a measure of protection from the spilth and spray of slain skest skest. They were not burned as badly as Stave had been. The croyel croyel tried to blast them from their feet, but the Swordmainnir were too many and too strong. And when Jeremiah's possessor strove to concentrate its force on any single foe, ribbands slapped at its face, flicked at its eyes. tried to blast them from their feet, but the Swordmainnir were too many and too strong. And when Jeremiah's possessor strove to concentrate its force on any single foe, ribbands slapped at its face, flicked at its eyes.

Bluntfist and then Stonemage unclosed their cataphracts, shrugged the stone from their shoulders. Using their armor like spades or bludgeons, they crushed skest skest; deflected the spatter of green corrosion. In moments, they cleared a s.p.a.ce around Covenant, Galt, and Clyme. The whole floor steamed as acid consumed itself on rock. Together, the Giants guarded Linden.

Feverishly the croyel croyel struggled to fling its powers everywhere; but its blows had less and less effect. Galvanized by the arrival of her friends, Linden lashed the creature with Earthpower. While fumes bit into her lungs, she intercepted the creature's magicks, deflected them, turned them against the struggled to fling its powers everywhere; but its blows had less and less effect. Galvanized by the arrival of her friends, Linden lashed the creature with Earthpower. While fumes bit into her lungs, she intercepted the creature's magicks, deflected them, turned them against the skest skest. From the comparative safety of the corridor, the Ardent extended his raiment to hara.s.s the croyel croyel. Bands of color harried the creature as if they were alive.

Dying, the skest skest filled the chamber with their liquid wails. Chunks of the broken floor boiled and melted, but the lore-hardened stone and iron of the Giants withstood the acid. filled the chamber with their liquid wails. Chunks of the broken floor boiled and melted, but the lore-hardened stone and iron of the Giants withstood the acid.

Abruptly the croyel croyel stopped striking out. In a chorus of frayed screams, the surviving stopped striking out. In a chorus of frayed screams, the surviving skest skest turned and ran, abandoning their master. The Giants seemed to freeze in place. Twisting around each other, bands of viridian and garnet and azure withdrew into the pa.s.sage. turned and ran, abandoning their master. The Giants seemed to freeze in place. Twisting around each other, bands of viridian and garnet and azure withdrew into the pa.s.sage.

Instinctively Linden quenched her fire.

Covenant stood behind Jeremiah. At Covenant's back, Galt supported the Unbeliever. Clyme gripped Jeremiah's shoulders so that the boy could not pull away.

With both marred fists, Covenant had slipped the krill krill between Jeremiah's neck and the between Jeremiah's neck and the croyel croyel's throat. The lore-forged keenness of the dagger had already drawn a thin line of rank blood across the creature's skin.

"Listen!" Covenant panted in the croyel croyel's ear. "Pay attention." Every word was a rasp of pain. "You know I can't kill you without killing Jeremiah. I don't have the right kind of power to keep him alive while I cut your throat. You know that. I know that. But you don't know me me. You don't know how far I'm willing to go. If you you had this knife, you would kill me in a heartbeat. So don't try me." Through his teeth, he repeated, " had this knife, you would kill me in a heartbeat. So don't try me." Through his teeth, he repeated, "Don't try me."

Linden saw terror bubbling like a witch's brew in the background of the creature's stare.

As Covenant spoke, the gem of the krill krill began to s.h.i.+ne more brightly. Soon its blaze seemed to efface the creature's terrified eyes, its ready fangs, its malice. Exposed by incandescence, Jeremiah's bones became visible through his vulnerable flesh. The heat flooding into Covenant stretched his face in a scream which he refused to utter. began to s.h.i.+ne more brightly. Soon its blaze seemed to efface the creature's terrified eyes, its ready fangs, its malice. Exposed by incandescence, Jeremiah's bones became visible through his vulnerable flesh. The heat flooding into Covenant stretched his face in a scream which he refused to utter.

Scowling as if they, too, were in agony, Galt and Clyme kept Covenant from falling; kept the croyel croyel from pulling away. from pulling away.

Finally Linden's cracked knee failed. If Bhapa and Pahni had not caught her arms, she would have prostrated herself on the wreckage of the floor.

She only knew that Esmer had returned amid a swarm of ur-viles and Waynhim because she felt like vomiting.

By Evil Means

Kept upright only by the Cords, Linden stood like a ruin of herself; a crumbling edifice overgrown with consequences. The possibilities that she had surrendered to the Harrow had been restored. The warmth of the Staff lingered in her hands. While he lived, Stave would return Covenant's ring to no one but her. But she had no idea what to do with such powers now. The cost- The cost was of her own making, and it was too high.

She had exposed all of her friends to the source of Kevin's Dirt. She had allowed Liand to be broken, perhaps killed. She had seen Stave nearly crippled by acid; had witnessed the Harrow's murder. Helpless to stop either of them, she had watched Esmer transport Roger to safety or destruction. She had fought and fought, battling forces which surpa.s.sed her.

Because of her, Covenant's hands- This was the result. The Harrow's remains lay, acid-bitten and melting, among the cracks and rubble of the floor. And Esmer had returned. She had no defense against him. The fact that the last ur-viles and Waynhim had arrived in his wake did not comfort her at all.

She had not slept since her first night in Andelain; had eaten nothing since her last meal of treasure-berries. Her emotional condition resembled her s.h.i.+rt: ripped along one hem to patch the Mahdoubt's gown; plucked and snagged in headlong flight through Salva Gildenbourne; pierced by lead and death. The stains on her jeans mapped her fate:-written in water, the green sap of gra.s.s. Unexpressed tears filled her heart.

Leaning on one leg to spare her damaged knee, she could still feel the tremors of Esmer's power in the marred stone.

On either side, Bhapa and Pahni supported her. Unlike Mahrtiir, the older Cord did not appear to feel diminished by crus.h.i.+ng leagues of gutrock, beyond any prospect of open skies and plains and Ranyhyn. Accustomed to self-doubt, his concern was for his Manethrall and his companions, not himself. But Pahni was not merely daunted by powers and perils which other Ramen had never experienced. She was also terrified for Liand.

"Ringthane," she breathed urgently. "Ringthane, heed me. Liand is grievously hurt. He nears death. Ringthane-Linden Avery-I love him. I implore your healing."

Linden understood. Liand needed her. As did Stave. And perhaps Branl as well, although the Master would refuse her aid. The burns of the Giants tugged at her attention. But her heart wept for Jeremiah, who stood like a limp manikin in the croyel croyel's grasp. His bones shone as if they were on fire. She regarded the keen edge of the krill krill at the creature's throat, and the killing brilliance of the gem, and Covenant's unbearable courage, and could not move. at the creature's throat, and the killing brilliance of the gem, and Covenant's unbearable courage, and could not move.

Covenant alone gave her any hope. With Loric's blade, he had found a way to control the croyel croyel. But he was failing. Joan's power had done him irremediable harm, and it burned brighter with every pa.s.sing moment- G.o.d, Joan must hate him! Or perhaps he represented everything that she loathed in herself. Even turiya turiya Herem's possession hardly sufficed to account for her focused vehemence now. The Raver could only keep her alive, and fan the fires of her rage, and blaze with delight. He had not caused her long years of self-inflicted anguish. Herem's possession hardly sufficed to account for her focused vehemence now. The Raver could only keep her alive, and fan the fires of her rage, and blaze with delight. He had not caused her long years of self-inflicted anguish.

Linden did not know why Covenant had not already screamed and fallen. To some extent, his leprosy s.h.i.+elded him. His proximity to the source of Kevin's Dirt accentuated his affliction. The essential pathways of agony had been killed or cauterized. But still- Was that his secret? The keystone of his impossible valor? Had alienation and numbness somehow made him more than human?

Around Linden, the rest of her companions gathered. Galesend bore Anele, who had fallen asleep again. Latebirth still carried Mahrtiir, while Onyx Stonemage cradled Liand's unconscious form. Limping on gnawed legs, in feral pain which he refused to acknowledge, Stave preceded the Ardent. Wreathed in ribbands, the Insequent approached unsteadily. Stifling his confessed fears, he forced himself to join Linden's friends. In a knot of cloth, he gripped Liand's orcrest orcrest.

Among the Giants, ur-viles and Waynhim stood upright, or braced themselves on all fours, barking quietly: a low clamor of objurgation or alarm. The Ironhand gripped her stone glaive, poised to cut, against Esmer's neck. But Esmer ignored her as if her great size and strength were trivial; meaningless. Distress seethed in his gaze: he seemed to weep like Linden's heart.

He did not move-and Rime Coldspray did not. Her eyes were fixed on Jeremiah and Covenant and the krill krill.

Hoa.r.s.ely Mahrtiir asked, "Do we confront the croyel croyel?" Apparently the Staff in Linden's hands had restored a portion of his health-sense. "Does this malice possess the Ringthane's son?"

No one answered him. Like Pahni, Esmer studied Linden. The Ardent watched Cail's son fearfully. Everyone else seemed transfixed by Covenant's struggle to withstand Joan.

His hands would never be healed.

His scar reflected argent like a scream cut into the flesh of his forehead. His silver hair resembled flames of wild magic: his mind may have been on fire. In spite of his illness, he was wracked by so much pain- As if he did not expect anyone to hear him, he gasped, "Joan knows what I'm doing." His voice implied a wailing defeat. "Or turiya turiya does. She's stronger now. I'm not protecting the Arch. I can't hold on." does. She's stronger now. I'm not protecting the Arch. I can't hold on."

Linden would have been willing to maim herself for his sake; but she did not know how to block Joan's madness. She had never known.

Covenant held the croyel croyel. Clyme held Jeremiah.

Clarion and commanding, Stave demanded, "Branl! Galt!"

The Humbled must have heard Stave's thoughts, understood his instructions. Striding forward quickly, Branl wrenched a wide band of ochre cloth from the hem of his tunic. Then he took Galt's place supporting Covenant, gave the fabric to Galt.

At once, Galt folded the cloth over his right hand and reached to remove the krill krill from Covenant's grasp; to a.s.sume Covenant's threat against the from Covenant's grasp; to a.s.sume Covenant's threat against the croyel croyel.

Linden caught her breath, bit her lip. She feared that Covenant's hands were too badly burned to open. She expected his flesh to peel off the bones when he tried to unclose his fingers-or when Galt pried them loose. Unaware that she had moved, she stood at Covenant's shoulder with the kind fire of Earthpower flowering from the Staff. While Galt extended his hand to replace Covenant's, she sent rich flames to curl around Covenant's forearms, fill his veins, save his fingers.

For the moment, she ignored the horror of her son's straits. Instead she concentrated utterly and solely on the challenge of preserving Covenant's hands so that he would be able to let go.

The effort tore a cry past Covenant's restraint: a shocking howl. But Galt nudged gently at his fingers while Linden laved his suffering with Earthpower. One joint at a time, he released his grasp.

Immediately Branl pulled Covenant aside while Galt claimed High Lord Loric's krill krill; accepted the task of restraining the croyel croyel. With his left hand, Galt gripped Jeremiah's shoulder so that Clyme could step away.

As soon as Covenant's touch was withdrawn, Joan's savagery faltered. She or turiya turiya Raver must have sensed his absence: her efforts were useless now. Flickering, the gem faded to its more ordinary radiance. The Raver must have sensed his absence: her efforts were useless now. Flickering, the gem faded to its more ordinary radiance. The krill krill's heat remained, but it did not wound Galt's wrapped hand.

Through the silence of the company, and the raw residue of acid in the air, Stave said flatly, "Well done."

The Humbled appeared to ignore his approval.

Branl kept Covenant on his feet; but Linden closed her arms around him nonetheless, enfolding him in Earthpower and grat.i.tude. How had he known that she needed him? That his own son had come to preserve Jeremiah's victimization? She could not imagine how or why Covenant had responded. Yet somehow he had found his way through the maze of his memories as well as the bewildering wonders of the arcane palace for her sake, or for Jeremiah's.

"Linden." Covenant's voice was a mere husk of sound. His pain ached in her arms. "Help Liand. We need him." He was too weak and damaged to move. Nevertheless he seemed to push her away from him. "We need him."

I wish I could spare you. But I can't see any way around it But I can't see any way around it.

Pahni tugged as firmly as she dared at Linden. "Ringthane, I beseech you." She may have been weeping. "If you will not heed me, harken to the Timewarden. Liand must have healing."

Mahrtiir said something to Pahni-a reprimand? an admonition?-but Linden could not hear him. He was too far away; or her senses were deafened by Covenant's extremity and the croyel croyel's thwarted ferocity and Jeremiah's helplessness.

Abruptly Esmer blared, "Wildwielder, this is madness! Is it nothing to you that I have come, or that these Demondim-sp.a.w.n have pursued me to their doom in your name? Will you waste the remnants of your life thus, accepting the ruin which my betrayals prepare for you? Is this death your heart's true desire?"

The Ironhand pressed her sword against the side of Esmer's neck. "Be still, mere mere-son," she rasped through her teeth. "Some respite Linden Giantfriend must have. Many of us who name ourselves her friends have failed her. We will grant her this brief pause.

"I do not doubt that you are proof against my blade. But if I cannot have your life, I will have your silence."

Esmer did not grant Coldspray the courtesy of a glance. "By my hand and your own folly," he told Linden, "the slaughter of all whom you hold dear is imminent. Soon none of this company will remain to lament the ravage of the Earth. Will you condone this outcome merely because I propagate futility? Are you now content that all love and life must perish?"

Cursing, the Ironhand lowered her sword and raised her fist. With all of her bulk and muscle, she punched Esmer in the face.

She was a warrior: she had a warrior's instincts.

Linden heard the sodden smack of knuckles on bone. Esmer's head jerked back; snapped forward again. Blood oozed from a deep contusion on his cheek. The muscles at the corners of his jaw bunched and released, bunched and released, as if he were withholding a thunderstorm. But he did not acknowledge Rime Coldspray with so much as a flick of his eyes.

Nevertheless he fell silent.

Linden sagged as if she had suffered a new defeat.-see any way around it. The thought of leaving Covenant's wounds without further care rent her. She had only begun-Still she compelled herself to step away.

Now she did not look at Jeremiah and Galt, the croyel croyel and the and the krill krill. Help Liand. We need him. She wanted to hold Jeremiah in her arms before the world ended. She had come for that when she had failed or sacrificed every other purpose. But she could not touch him: not while the croyel croyel ruled him. In this one respect, her health-sense was a weakness. The creature's evil was too intimate: it would sicken her. And the ruled him. In this one respect, her health-sense was a weakness. The creature's evil was too intimate: it would sicken her. And the croyel croyel might extend its mastery into her if she embraced her son. might extend its mastery into her if she embraced her son.