Against All Things Ending Part 29

For an instant, Esmer appeared to hesitate. Storms scattered the blood in his eyes. Winds and screaming whipped at his hair, tugged his torn cymar, stung his damaged flesh. Out of nowhere, hail pelted the company like a fall of stones.

Then he wrapped himself in nothingness and disappeared.

The bane's glee seemed to deafen the world. Excoriation and rage reared over the ledge. Covenant did not have time to see the Demondim-sp.a.w.n race away, fleeing for their lives; barking incantations of concealment.

But Esmer was gone.

As though he had spent his entire life waiting for this moment, the Ardent flung his ribbands around the company and s.n.a.t.c.hed them all into darkness.

Part Two

"Only the d.a.m.ned"

Those Who Endure-

Holding Linden against him, Thomas Covenant sat leaning on a boulder half buried in the sandy bottom of a shallow gully. Most of the terrain around him looked barren, stripped of vegetation by thirst and ancient misuse. But a few stunted trees, twisted as cripples, still gripped the edges of the gully. Here and there, tufts of bitter gra.s.s clung to some scant source of moisture. He hoped for aliantha aliantha, but he had not seen any.

His mind was still full of shrieks and fire and torrents: his heart was woe. Whenever he looked at Linden's slack face, he saw Elena's una.s.soiled horror, pursued by She Who Must Not Be Named. He did not know how to lament for his daughter.

In the east beyond the rim of the gully, the sun was rising. When it ascended high enough, he would have to move; use the boulder for shade. But this patch of sand would lie in shadow a little longer. While he could, he remained where he sat, gently stroking Linden's hair.

It was filthy, soiled with sweat and grime and dust. She had been through too much-And in her present condition, she could not care for herself at all. But the state of her hair made no difference to him. His hands were too numb to feel it.

Only one night had pa.s.sed since she had restored him to life, maimed him with mortality, and roused the Worm of the World's End. How much time remained until the Worm brought its hunger here, to feed on the ichor in the depths of Melenkurion Melenkurion Skyweir? Four days? Six? It was not enough. Skyweir? Four days? Six? It was not enough.

If it is not forbidden, it will have Earthpower.

If someone had asked him why he sat in that position, caressing her hair when his own nerves were dead and he had no way of knowing whether she felt his touch, he might have said that he was praying.

As soon as the Ardent had brought the company here from the Lost Deep, Covenant had claimed Linden from Stave. Neither the former Master nor any of Linden's friends had objected when he had seated himself spread-legged against the boulder so that he could hold her, curled into herself and unconscious, against his chest. Then he had lifted the chain holding his ring over his head, and had settled it around her neck.

The Humbled had expressed their disapproval; but he told them, "I never wanted all that power. When I died, I finally succeeded at giving it away." He had tried to surrender it several times before then, and had been refused. "I don't want it back. Not like this."

Most of his companions were weary beyond bearing. None of them argued with him. The Staff of Law they placed on the sand near Linden so that she could reach it if Covenant managed to rouse her. Then they stumbled away to rest.

He recognized where he was. Of course he did. The shock of his reincarnation had not cost him simple things like his knowledge of the Land's geography. He did not need to turn his head and peer past the edge of the boulder to confirm that the jagged cliff of Landsdrop jutted high into the dawn less than half a league away.

Instead of returning the company to Andelain, the Ardent had deposited them on the Lower Land, between Landsdrop and the dour fens and seepage of Sarangrave Flat. The foothills of Mount Thunder-and the dark throat of the Defiles Course-were at least sixty or sixty-five leagues to the northwest. At that distance, the mountain itself was no longer visible.

Vaguely Covenant wondered whether the waters that fed the Defiles Course and Lifeswallower and most of the Sarangrave had been completely cut off. Likely there were other springs within Gravin Threndor, streams that joined the polluted Soulsease beyond its deepest subterranean lakes. And in any case, the Great Swamp and Sarangrave Flat would not soon empty their rank life-blood into the Sunbirth Sea. The Worm of the World's End would find its way to Melenkurion Melenkurion Skyweir long before the vast demesne of the lurker began to run dry. Skyweir long before the vast demesne of the lurker began to run dry.

He wanted to ask the Ardent why the compelled Insequent had delivered the company here. But he could wait. The Ardent had been profligate with his given strength. The exertion of translating everyone except the Demondim-sp.a.w.n out of Mount Thunder's depths had left him chalk-faced and trembling. As soon as he had set his charges down in the dry streambed, he had wrapped his garments around his whole body, swaddled himself until even his face was covered. Then he had collapsed where he stood.

Covenant let him rest. The Ardent had earned it. And Covenant could guess at one or two explanations for the Insequent's choice. Kevin's Dirt did not impend over the Lower Land. Kastenessen-or moksha moksha Raver-had foreseen no need to cast the brume eastward. Here Linden, Liand, and the Ramen would retain their natural percipience. And the Staff would be stronger. Raver-had foreseen no need to cast the brume eastward. Here Linden, Liand, and the Ramen would retain their natural percipience. And the Staff would be stronger.

In addition, the Ardent had placed the whole bulk of Mount Thunder between the company and both the skurj skurj and the Sandgorgons. Speaking of the Sandgorgons, Esmer had said, and the Sandgorgons. Speaking of the Sandgorgons, Esmer had said, Already they have begun the slaughter of Salva Gildenbourne Already they have begun the slaughter of Salva Gildenbourne. And he had promised worse-But the threat they posed was not immediate: they were too far away. Kastenessen could send his skurj skurj more quickly, but even those monsters would need time to travel through so much earth. more quickly, but even those monsters would need time to travel through so much earth.

The Ardent had given Covenant and Linden and their friends the necessary gift of a respite.

Still they had no defense against the Worm of the World's End. Perhaps no defense was possible.

And the problem of Roger remained. Even now, he summons an army of Cavewights to join his efforts Even now, he summons an army of Cavewights to join his efforts-If he knew where the Ardent had taken Jeremiah, he might be able to muster an attack more swiftly than Kastenessen could. Certainly he would do everything in his considerable power to recapture Jeremiah and the croyel croyel. They were his portal to eternity.

But Covenant did not dwell on such concerns. Though she hardly moved, except to breathe, Linden held his attention.

He saw echoes of Joan in her aggrieved face. The small muscles at the corners of her closed eyes winced occasionally, implying pains which she could not escape. Because of him, Elena had been consumed by She Who Must Not Be Named. Reminders of his ex-wife seemed to demand more from him than did the last crisis of the Earth. Her efforts to destroy his hands demonstrated that she was a burden which he could not refuse.

Therefore he would need Loric's krill krill. If he confronted Joan without some potent weapon, she would incinerate him. But the krill krill was also needed here. It alone controlled the was also needed here. It alone controlled the croyel croyel. Freed, the creature would escape in an instant, taking Jeremiah with it-and killing everyone it could.

Restoring Covenant to life, Linden had sacrificed the Earth. He refused to sacrifice both her and her son merely to ease his own responsibilities.

Torn within himself, he stroked her hair, and prayed, and waited.

Apart from Clyme, Branl, and Stave, who watched the horizons from the rims of the gully, and Galt, who had accepted the task of restraining the croyel croyel and Jeremiah so that Rime Coldspray could rest, Mahrtiir was the only member of the company still standing. Earlier he had sent out his Cords to scout the terrain and search for water in spite of their weariness. They had not yet returned; and everyone else had stretched out on the sand to sleep while they could. Now, alone, the Manethrall faced the east as though he expected the touch of the sunrise on his eyeless face to offer him an obscure revelation. and Jeremiah so that Rime Coldspray could rest, Mahrtiir was the only member of the company still standing. Earlier he had sent out his Cords to scout the terrain and search for water in spite of their weariness. They had not yet returned; and everyone else had stretched out on the sand to sleep while they could. Now, alone, the Manethrall faced the east as though he expected the touch of the sunrise on his eyeless face to offer him an obscure revelation.

Fortunately Stormpast Galesend had not neglected to remove her cataphract and set it out as a cradle for Anele: protected by stone armor, he slept like the Giants. And Liand slept as well. His efforts with his orcrest orcrest so soon after Linden had healed him had exhausted even his youth and Stonedownor stamina. so soon after Linden had healed him had exhausted even his youth and Stonedownor stamina.

Stoic as a plinth of brown marble, Galt held Loric's dagger against the throat of the croyel croyel. The blade prevented the fatal creature's teeth from reaching Jeremiah's neck; prevented the croyel croyel from feeding. But Covenant could not tell whether the succubus was growing weaker. He knew only that Jeremiah looked like a rag doll, boneless and beaten. The boy's muddy, disfocused gaze was as empty as an unfilled grave. from feeding. But Covenant could not tell whether the succubus was growing weaker. He knew only that Jeremiah looked like a rag doll, boneless and beaten. The boy's muddy, disfocused gaze was as empty as an unfilled grave.

From Jeremiah's back, the croyel croyel's bitter eyes studied Liand's supine form. The creature's gaze conveyed the impression that the croyel croyel craved Liand's death. craved Liand's death.

At intervals, Mahrtiir glanced toward Jeremiah and the croyel croyel; regarded them with senses other than sight. Then he resumed his examination of the east as if he awaited an epiphany.

When the sun gilded his forehead, however, and warmed the begrimed bandage that still covered his eye sockets, he shrugged slightly. Stiff with disappointment, he turned to face Covenant and Linden.

"There is an old tale among the Ramen," he began brusquely, "concerning Hile Troy. He was a stranger to the Land, as you know, and eyeless from birth. According to the tale, the Land's sun gifted him with true sight in spite of his blindness.

"Here Kevin's Dirt does not corrupt the light. For that reason, I permitted myself to imagine that my vision might be restored." He had contributed nothing to the company's escape from the Lost Deep and the bane. Clearly his uselessness galled him. "But my hope was delusion. I am Ramen. We are given no gifts except those of service to the Ranyhyn."

Covenant expected him to add that even that service would be denied him if he returned to his people. Without sight, he would not be considered worthy of the great horses. Instead, however, he changed the subject.

"The Cords will soon return, bearing word of water. The season's rains have been abundant. Our old tales inform us that there are few springs in this region-and fewer still which do not draw some venom from the earth. Battles have been fought between Sarangrave Flat and Landsdrop. Many of the Land's defenders have perished here-aye, and many of Fangthane's servants also. Their blood and magicks stain this ground across the millennia.

"However, this watercourse was formed by rains gathering from the Upper Land. If the stream does not run here, it will flow nearby. We will be able to quench our thirst, though we appear to lack aliantha aliantha, and have no other sustenance."

Covenant nodded. His own thirst was real enough, but he felt sure that it was trivial compared to the deprivation suffered by the Giants and the Ramen, Liand and Anele; Linden herself. They were able to sleep only because their exhaustion was greater than their need for water.

But he did not know why the Manethrall was talking to him; telling him things that he already understood. Stroking Linden's hair tenderly, he waited for Mahrtiir to continue.

After a moment, the Manethrall nodded toward the southeast. "A caesure caesure moves there. I had thought that the absence of Kevin's Dirt would diminish the virulence of such evils. Yet its emanations"-he lifted a hand to his face-"suggest that its force is enhanced." moves there. I had thought that the absence of Kevin's Dirt would diminish the virulence of such evils. Yet its emanations"-he lifted a hand to his face-"suggest that its force is enhanced."

He was probably right. Long before Lord Foul fas.h.i.+oned and occupied Ridjeck Thome, an insidious miasma had hung over portions of the Lower Land. Baleful creatures had arisen from the corrupt waters pouring out of Mount Thunder. The lurker of the Sarangrave had come to life in the effluvium of bitter theurgies. And the Ravers had taken form among the malign spirits of the region. Interdicted by the Colossus of the Fall, they had spread much of their harm south and east toward the Despiser's eventual seat. Over time, they had done such damage that those lands had come to be named the Spoiled Plains.

Covenant could well believe that caesures caesures flourished across the Lower Land, fed by a history of flourished across the Lower Land, fed by a history of wrongness wrongness. Especially south of Mount Thunder- "Is it coming this way?" he asked the Manethrall.

Mahrtiir shook his head. "At present, it tends northward, delivering havoc among the sloughs and mires of Sarangrave Flat."

"Then don't worry about it." Briefly Covenant remembered the Spoiled Plains as they had once been, before they were tainted. Then the rubble of his recollections s.h.i.+fted, and the memory was gone. "We have more urgent problems."

The movement of his hands indicated Linden's apparent catatonia; but he was thinking of Joan. He no longer knew with any certainty where turiya turiya Raver had hidden her. That memory, unfortunately, was gone as well. But he could guess. Raver had hidden her. That memory, unfortunately, was gone as well. But he could guess.

Mahrtiir's manner sharpened. More harshly, he replied, "I have not forgotten the Ringthane's plight, or that of her son. Indeed, her spirit appears broken by all that she has endured." His tone was bile. "Nor do I discount our own peril. I have neither aid nor counsel to offer. I speak merely to hear myself and know that I remain among the living."

The fierce lines of his face suggested that he would have preferred death.

Covenant sighed to himself. There was so much pain all around him; and he could relieve none of it.

"Don't underestimate Linden," he said gruffly. "Too many people make that mistake." Including Sunder and Hollian, who should have known better. "h.e.l.l, even she does it. She's come back before. Give her time. She'll find her way again."

If his numb touch gave her any comfort or aid, it lay beneath the surface, hidden.

The Manethrall confronted Covenant squarely. "I do not fear for her, Timewarden. I fear you."

Covenant waited. He was not surprised: he feared himself. His new humanity had too many flaws.

"I acknowledge," Mahrtiir continued, "that you are mysterious to me. You surpa.s.s my comprehension. For that reason, among others, my fealty belongs to the Ringthane rather than to you."

Covenant started to say, I know, but Mahrtiir did not pause.

"Nonetheless I am able to grasp that the spectre of High Lord Elena has been devoured by She Who Must Not Be Named."

"Yes."

"She is your daughter."

Covenant ached with memories like old wounds. His grief rose like keening. But he kept it to himself. "Yes."

"The deed of her undoing was yours. Do not protest to me that you merely requested Anele's sanity and service. I will not hear you. I grant that you did not or could not foresee what would follow." The Manethrall seemed to bite down on each word, restraining an impulse to shout. "Still the deed was yours."

Covenant faced Mahrtiir as steadily as he could. "Yes."

Like an indictment, Mahrtiir proclaimed, "The Waynhim teach that 'Good cannot be accomplished by evil means.' I do not fault you for removing the krill krill from Andelain. You enabled the capture of the Ringthane's son. Nor do I question your valor. Your hands are proof enough that you do not fear to bear the cost of your choices. But for millennia, from the moment of her conception until her last fall beneath Gravin Threndor, you have brought only ruin upon your daughter. Upon your from Andelain. You enabled the capture of the Ringthane's son. Nor do I question your valor. Your hands are proof enough that you do not fear to bear the cost of your choices. But for millennia, from the moment of her conception until her last fall beneath Gravin Threndor, you have brought only ruin upon your daughter. Upon your daughter daughter, Timewarden.

"Therefore I fear you."

Because he ached, Covenant objected, "We're still alive-"

The Manethrall cut him off. "By evil means. Do you name the expenditure of your daughter good? The Ringthane would not do so. Nor would she sacrifice her son for any purpose."

"No, she wouldn't," Covenant admitted. "I wouldn't either. He's still alive.

"But," he insisted, "I did not know what was going to happen." He needed to be clear about this. He already had more burdens than he could carry. "Sunder and Hollian picked Elena. I didn't.

"And I'm not done."

"Not done?" Mahrtiir barked a humorless laugh. "Do you intend to confront She Who Must Not Be Named again, for High Lord Elena's sake?"

"Don't put it past me," Covenant growled. Linden's weight against his chest was an accusation that he did not mean to deny. Her soiled s.h.i.+rt, plucked and torn, had endured as much as his old T-s.h.i.+rt and jeans. In his time, he, too, had worn stains that should have guided him. "I've done more harm than I can stand. I always have. But we're still alive we're still alive. That means we still have a chance." More quietly, he finished, "I still have a chance." still have a chance."

Abruptly Branl jumped down from the edge of the gully to approach Covenant and Mahrtiir. "We will hear no more of this, Manethrall," he stated in a tone like polished obsidian. A threat-The loyalty of the Humbled ran deep. "You are unjust, both to the Unbeliever and to the Dead."

Mahrtiir's bandage emphasized his scowl. "How so?" He seemed to need conflicts. His sense of his own uselessness required an outlet.

"That the crime of High Lord Elena's conception was costly to her," answered Branl, "cannot be denied. Yet the ur-Lord may not be held accountable for the use which she made of her life. The fault of her chosen deeds cannot be excused by the circ.u.mstance of her birth and parentage. She elected to summon Kevin Landwaster from his rightful place among the Dead. The ur-Lord did not. Her subsequent enslavement by Corruption ensued from her own folly, not from any choice or desire of the Unbeliever's.

"That her spirit has not served Corruption from that time to this was the ur-Lord's gift to her. Aided by powers invoked by a Forestal from the Colossus of the Fall, he ended her thrall when she was unable to free herself."

Covenant had not forgotten his physical life. He remembered that he had released Elena by destroying the original Staff of Law. If he had not done so, she would have killed him. But in turn, that act of desperation had facilitated Lord Foul's return to strength and the horrors of the Sunbane.

Apparently evil could be accomplished by good-or at least necessary-means.

The Manethrall's jaws worked, chewing possible retorts. Before he decided on a response, however, Covenant told Branl, "No. Mahrtiir is right. Elena doesn't deserve more torment. We all make choices, and none of us can guess how they'll turn out. But we have to live with the consequences anyway. I didn't know what would happen when I asked Anele to speak to the Dead, but that doesn't make me any less responsible."

"And did the Dead not choose?" countered Branl. "Did Elena Law-Breaker herself not choose?"

Covenant nodded. "They did. She did. And she paid for it. She's paying for it right now. But that doesn't change what I I did. I asked for help. My part in this doesn't go away just because I didn't choose the kind of help I got." did. I asked for help. My part in this doesn't go away just because I didn't choose the kind of help I got."

As Covenant spoke, Mahrtiir sagged. His anger became an air of recognition and defeat. He remained silent while Branl searched for a weakness in Covenant's reasoning. But when Branl found none, the Manethrall said unsteadily, "I cry your pardon, Timewarden. I am answered. The judgments of these self-maimed Haruchai Haruchai do not sway me. But I discern now that I have misdirected my ire. do not sway me. But I discern now that I have misdirected my ire.

"In sooth, I have no cause to accuse you. I do so only because the Lost Deep has deprived me of myself. I have learned that I am naught, unfit to serve either the Ringthane or the Ranyhyn. Such knowledge is bitter to me. I do not bear it with grace."

I know, Covenant thought sadly. Mahrtiir's pain was only one of many needs for which Covenant had no anodyne.

Branl looked at the blinded man; raised an eyebrow in inquiry. After a moment, he said, "We do not comprehend. How is it that any mere place can diminish a Manethrall of the Ramen? You are who and what you are, unlessened in strength, forethought, or valor by the loss of ordinary sight. Nor have you been diminished by impenetrable stone or ancient banes. To think otherwise is to heed the blandishments of Corruption."

In a motion too fluid for Covenant to follow, Mahrtiir's fighting garrote appeared in his hands. Through his teeth, he asked, "Do you accuse me, sleepless one? Do you deem that my perception of myself betrays this company, or the Ringthane, or the Land?"

Antic.i.p.ating a provocative rejoinder from Branl, Covenant groaned.

However, Branl answered flatly, "I have not said so. Nor was that my meaning. You are a Manethrall of the Ramen. For their devotion to the Ranyhyn, the Manethralls have been esteemed by every Haruchai Haruchai since the time of the Bloodguard. Though you revile our Mastery, you cannot question my word. If any accusation stands between us, it arises from within you, not from any judgment of the Humbled, or of the Masters." since the time of the Bloodguard. Though you revile our Mastery, you cannot question my word. If any accusation stands between us, it arises from within you, not from any judgment of the Humbled, or of the Masters."

In spite of his numbness, Covenant continued stroking Linden's hair. "He's telling the truth, Mahrtiir. You know that. He's Haruchai Haruchai. He doesn't lie.

"I understand feeling useless. But I've been weaker than you are. When I first came to the Land, I clung to the idea I was helpless. I counted counted on it. I didn't want to carry the load that comes with being able to stand for something. It took me a long time to get over needing to believe I'm weak." on it. I didn't want to carry the load that comes with being able to stand for something. It took me a long time to get over needing to believe I'm weak."

He had learned that only the d.a.m.ned can be saved.

"Of course," he conceded, "I had help. A lot lot of help." Atiaran. Mhoram. Bannor. Saltheart Foamfollower. Triock. Even Lena, whom he had raped and abandoned. "But so do you. And you still have a long way to go." Covenant had said that once before, although he no longer remembered why. "You still have to come back." of help." Atiaran. Mhoram. Bannor. Saltheart Foamfollower. Triock. Even Lena, whom he had raped and abandoned. "But so do you. And you still have a long way to go." Covenant had said that once before, although he no longer remembered why. "You still have to come back."