Against All Things Ending Part 50

-have conjoined their strengths.

Almost immediately, however, a fresh convulsion clenched the Ardent. "The devastation is wide and bitter," he continued, "leaving naught but the reek of fouled ground in its wake. But it is not without purpose. Kastenessen may indeed be lost to forethought or tactic. Moksha Moksha is not. And is not. And samadhi samadhi comprehends his brother. The comprehends his brother. The skurj skurj and the Sandgorgons do not seek mere ravage. Nor is their savagery directed against sacred Andelain. Rather they strive toward Gravin Threndor. and the Sandgorgons do not seek mere ravage. Nor is their savagery directed against sacred Andelain. Rather they strive toward Gravin Threndor.

"Do you comprehend this? They strive toward Gravin Threndor because you cannot meet the Worm of the World's End while the vile theurgies of Kevin's Dirt hamper the lady. But if you wish to quench Kevin's Dirt, you must first master Kastenessen-and he has secreted himself within the Wightwarrens, where he draws upon the illimitable vehemence of She Who Must Not Be Named. Therefore-"

Harshly Covenant muttered, "I get it."

But the distant Insequent did not heed him. "-when you attempt the mountain, you will find the Sandgorgons and the skurj skurj arrayed against you. And doubtless a host of Cavewights will join with them. Your foes will be many and terrible." arrayed against you. And doubtless a host of Cavewights will join with them. Your foes will be many and terrible."

"I said," Covenant snapped, "I get get it." His hands clutched the wrapped bundle of the it." His hands clutched the wrapped bundle of the krill krill, although he seemed unaware of it. "h.e.l.lfire! You don't need to beat me over the head. And you didn't come here just to warn us. You have something in mind."

Reflexively Linden held her breath. The Swordmainnir watched the Ardent with warrior intensity. Mahrtiir stood at Linden's shoulder as if he were poised for battle.

Now the Ardent's people kept their grip on him. Apparently expending the last shreds of his life, he panted, "The lady's fate is writ in water. All auguries are swept aside. Yet her need for death remains. We conclude that you must have allies."

Linden forced herself to exhale; but she could not still the hammering of her heart.

"Though powers abound in the Earth, we have no means to summon them. The Elohim Elohim will not aid you. And for this purpose, the Insequent themselves cannot serve. We are largely defenseless against Ravers, as we are against She Who Must Not Be Named. The hazard that we will turn against you is too great." will not aid you. And for this purpose, the Insequent themselves cannot serve. We are largely defenseless against Ravers, as we are against She Who Must Not Be Named. The hazard that we will turn against you is too great."

Covenant's air of storms increased. "Get to the point. Who else is there?"

This time, the Ardent appeared to hear him. "We see no alternative other than the Haruchai Haruchai. Yet they will not heed us. No Insequent will sway them. Should we appeal to them, they will close their ears and remain as they are."

"It's suicide," Linden breathed without thinking. "Of course they'll refuse. They can't fight Sandgorgons and skurj skurj."

But Mahrtiir's voice rode over hers. "To whom will the sleepless ones attend?"

At the same time, Covenant countered, "What's the point? Even with the Ranyhyn, none of us can get to Revelstone fast enough. The Worm will be here before the Masters even know we need them. After that, whatever they do will be wasted."

Rigid as the last clench of death, the Ardent waited for silence.

Glaring at him, Covenant muttered, "Oh, h.e.l.l. Do it your way. I'll shut up."

Through their coerced vessel, the Insequent replied, "This is our last requirement of the Ardent. The Haruchai Haruchai are capable of much. Select those among you who will be most readily heeded. He will transport them to Revelstone, where they may plead on the Land's behalf. Then he will depart from life and suffering. Perchance some measure of hope will remain." are capable of much. Select those among you who will be most readily heeded. He will transport them to Revelstone, where they may plead on the Land's behalf. Then he will depart from life and suffering. Perchance some measure of hope will remain."

Before anyone else could respond, Mahrtiir announced, clarion as the call of horns, "If that is your word, Insequent, my Cords will accompany you."

At once, Pahni jerked up her head, spun away from Jeremiah. Bhapa's sudden pallor made him look faint; appalled.

The Manethrall's a.s.sertion appeared to satisfy the Ardent-or his people. "That is well," he or they observed. "The Haruchai Haruchai would not refuse the Timewarden. Nevertheless he has another purpose. He must not step aside from it." would not refuse the Timewarden. Nevertheless he has another purpose. He must not step aside from it."

Then the geas geas left the frail man. As if he were crumpling, he folded to the sand. Propped on his hands and knees, no longer able to call on his apparel for support, he gasped small bursts of broken laughter. left the frail man. As if he were crumpling, he folded to the sand. Propped on his hands and knees, no longer able to call on his apparel for support, he gasped small bursts of broken laughter.

The Cords? Linden thought. The Cords Cords? Oh, G.o.d!

Covenant had foreseen this- He scowled at the dying man as though he wanted to hear more.-another purpose. But the Giants turned to regard Manethrall Mahrtiir. Studying his bandaged visage, Rime Coldspray said uncertainly, "It is much to ask. Surely Stave or one of the Humbled-?"

Without a flicker of hesitation, Stave stated, "My kinsmen will not harken to me. And the Humbled will not part from the Unbeliever. It is bootless to inquire of them."

"Then a Giant?" asked the Ironhand. "The Masters have made their unwelcome plain for many centuries. Nonetheless I will believe that they have not forgotten their ancient esteem, first for the Unhomed and later for the comrades of the Search."

"No." The Manethrall spoke as if his word were Law. "My Cords will bear this burden. It was foretold for them. They will not refuse it."

-you two have the hardest job. You'll have to survive You'll have to survive. And you'll have to make them listen to you And you'll have to make them listen to you.

For the same reason, Mahrtiir could not accompany them. Covenant had counseled him to take a different path.

You'll have to go a long way to find your heart's desire. Just be sure you come back Just be sure you come back.

Shaken, Bhapa cried softly, "Manethrall, no no. I implore you!"

Instinctively Linden wanted to add her voice to the Cord's. She feared Covenant's prophecies. They all seemed to mean death.

She's already given them too many reasons to feel ashamed of themselves.

But Pahni swept forward as if she were pouncing. "Yes!" The eagerness of a hawk shone in her soft eyes. "I will lay Liand's death at the feet of the Masters and compel an answer. They deem themselves the descendants of the Bloodguard. I will require of them a comparable service.

"Come, Bhapa," she commanded. Pa.s.sionate and peremptory, she extended her hand to the older Cord. "No Cord may refuse when the Manethrall speaks and the Land's need is clear."

The Ardent made aimless sounds in the back of his throat. He was too weak to chuckle.

With something like sympathy in his voice, Mahrtiir asked, "Will you gainsay me, Bhapa? Were you selected to accompany the Ringthane along the path of her many travails because you were counted unfit for lesser duties? Did not Whrany consent to bear you, when until that day no Raman had ever ridden the Ranyhyn? And did not Rohnhyn freely offer himself when Whrany was slain? The Timewarden has spoken of trust. The time has come for Cord Bhapa of the Ramen to trust himself."

Panic filled Bhapa's mien: alarm glistened in his eyes. The skin of his face was the color of sun-beaten dust.

But then, trembling, he bowed to his Manethrall. His hand quivered like an aspen leaf about to fall as he accepted Pahni's clasp.

With a visible effort, Covenant unclosed his fingers from the krill krill. "I'm sorry," he muttered to no in particular. "If this was my idea-" He grimaced. "I can't imagine what I was thinking. You deserve an explanation, but I don't have one."

Bitterly Linden swore to herself. Under other circ.u.mstances, she might have protested. She did not know how to bear Liand's death, or Anele's, or even Galt's. She did not want to lose Bhapa and Pahni as well.

Panting, the Ardent said hoa.r.s.ely, "Timewarden."

Covenant moved closer. "Yes?"

Stretched thin with effort, the Ardent urged as clearly as he could, "Remember Mishio Ma.s.sima."

Covenant stared. "Is that your true name?"

Could he be invoked? Even when he was so close to collapse?

The dying man gave a cracked laugh. "It is my steed."

A moment later, the geas geas of the Insequent gripped him for the last time. It wrenched him to his feet with his head thrown back as if he needed to scream. Ribbands coiled spasmodically around him; fell to the ground; twisted upward again. His hands clutched at the air like claws. of the Insequent gripped him for the last time. It wrenched him to his feet with his head thrown back as if he needed to scream. Ribbands coiled spasmodically around him; fell to the ground; twisted upward again. His hands clutched at the air like claws.

"It is enough," he said as if the words were torn from his throat. "We are content. Here ends the Ardent. If the Earth endures, he will be honored as the greatest of the Insequent."

A moment later, his raiment reached out to clasp Pahni and Bhapa. So quickly that the Cords had no chance to say farewell, he gathered them to him and vanished.

Involuntarily Linden staggered as if she wished to follow them. Their departure seemed to leave a gap in the air that she needed to fill. But Stave caught her instantly; and of course she had nowhere to go.

At her side, Mahrtiir sagged like a man unexpectedly bereft. Now that his Cords were gone, his aura revealed a pang of uncertainty, as if he had sent them to be humiliated. Nothing that Handir and the other Masters had done in Revelstone gave the Manethrall cause to believe that Bhapa and Pahni would succeed.

Linden hoped that one of the Giants would say something to rea.s.sure Mahrtiir. She could not. But Covenant had already flung himself into motion; resumed his pacing. "h.e.l.lfire," he growled to himself. "His steed steed?" Briefly he appeared to count the number of times that he could repeat those words between one slope of the canyon and the other. Then he wheeled to face the company.

His manner compelled their attention in spite of the abrupt loss of Pahni and Bhapa-and of the Ardent.

"I don't need to know the name of his d.a.m.n horse," he rasped. "I have to go." Then he swore again, a string of curses so familiar that they sounded like pleading. To Linden's startled dismay, and the small lift of Stave's eyebrow, and the open surprise of the Swordmainnir, he repeated, "I have to go go."

Brusque with self-coercion, he added, "I know this is sudden. Never mind that I'm usually useless. You still think you need me. You went through too much to bring me back in the first place. Probably the last thing you want right now is to watch me leave. h.e.l.l, if I were you, that's how I would feel. But I have have to go. to go.

"And you can't go with me. Before I worry about anything else, there's something I have to do alone."

-he has another purpose.

While Linden reeled within herself, he shrugged awkwardly. "Well, not absolutely alone. I'm taking Clyme and Branl with me. You'll have to manage without them until I get back."

With both hands, he held the bundled krill krill as if his life depended on it. as if his life depended on it.

He must not step aside from it.

Disconcerted, the Giants struggled to muster a response. Mahrtiir stared at Covenant in unconcealed chagrin. Even Stave's flat visage gave hints of disapprobation.

"Is this some new recollection?" the Ironhand inquired finally. "Do you now possess knowledge or understanding which you have not revealed?"

But Linden noticed none of her companions; no one except the man who had once loved her-and now would not let her touch him.

"Covenant," she panted, unconsciously fighting for breath. "Covenant." He was rejecting her. "What are you talking about?" G.o.d, he was rejecting rejecting her. "I need-We need-" Her sins had become too much for him. "G.o.d d.a.m.n it, Covenant! If you don't care about anything else, the her. "I need-We need-" Her sins had become too much for him. "G.o.d d.a.m.n it, Covenant! If you don't care about anything else, the Land Land needs you." needs you."

She had awakened the Worm for his sake. She could not suffer the consequences of her desperation or folly without him.

"Linden, listen listen to me." His gaze was flagrant with emotions for which she had no names. His eyes were blurred fires of loss or pity or pure rage. "I'm talking about Joan." to me." His gaze was flagrant with emotions for which she had no names. His eyes were blurred fires of loss or pity or pure rage. "I'm talking about Joan."

For an instant, he raised the krill krill as if he meant to drive it into Linden's chest. Then his features twisted. Roughly he shoved the shrouded weapon back into his jeans. Empty-handed, as if he were defenseless, he tried to explain. as if he meant to drive it into Linden's chest. Then his features twisted. Roughly he shoved the shrouded weapon back into his jeans. Empty-handed, as if he were defenseless, he tried to explain.

"She's not just a white gold wielder who can make the whole created world into a wasteland if she lives long enough. And she's not just going through the tortures of the d.a.m.ned because b.l.o.o.d.y turiya turiya and the b.l.o.o.d.y and the b.l.o.o.d.y skest skest won't let her die. She was my won't let her die. She was my wife wife. She's Roger's mother mother. I owe her for that." He may have meant rest.i.tution or retribution. "She's my problem. I can't do anything else until I deal with her."

While Linden struggled for air, Rime Coldspray stepped forward. To counter Covenant's intensity, she spoke with the steadiness of stone.

"Covenant Timewarden. I perceive now that you have awaited this opportunity, when the krill krill is no longer needed to secure Linden Giantfriend's son. For your restraint, I honor you. is no longer needed to secure Linden Giantfriend's son. For your restraint, I honor you.

"But the Ardent has spoke of Sandgorgons and skurj skurj, and of the imperative need for some response to the manner in which Kastenessen has shackled the Staff of Law and all Earthpower. Is this not more urgent than the plight of a lone madwoman?"

"h.e.l.l and blood!" Uselessly Covenant brandished his maimed fists. "I heard the Ardent. I know what's at stake. But I've already sacrificed my own daughter. I can't go on until I've faced Joan. Sometimes we have to do things that are more important than saving the world. Sometimes we can't save anything else until we've cleaned up our own lives."

"Then why," objected the Ironhand, "must you refuse our aid?" Her tone did not waver. "Here are eight Giants, a Manethrall of the Ramen, Stave of the Haruchai Haruchai, and Linden Giantfriend. Surely our combined strengths are not too paltry to be of service."

But her reasoning or her calm seemed to infuriate Covenant. "G.o.d in Heaven!" he retorted. "Are none none of you paying attention? You can't go with me because it's of you paying attention? You can't go with me because it's too dangerous too dangerous . Joan makes . Joan makes caesures caesures. Just one of those things in the wrong place at the wrong instant, and there won't be anybody left who can even try try to defend the Land. to defend the Land.

"Besides-" With a visible effort, he caught himself; swallowed his extremity. Squaring his shoulders, he faced Linden. "You have other things to do."

"Like what?" Light-headedness had become a roaring in Linden's ears. Black spots danced across her vision like inverted Wraiths. She had no argument except her own weakness. "What do you expect us to do without you? We barely survived Roger and the Cavewights." And Esmer. "We don't even know how to help Jeremiah. What do you think that we can accomplish against Kastenessen and skurj skurj and Sandgorgons and and Sandgorgons and moksha moksha Jehannum? Against Lord Foul and the d.a.m.n Worm of the World's End?" Jehannum? Against Lord Foul and the d.a.m.n Worm of the World's End?"

Why do you want to get away from me so badly?

"Linden, stop," Covenant urged. His quiet restraint resembled a kind of flagellation. "You're just intimidating yourself. Everything is simpler than you make it sound. I expect you to do what you've always done. Something unexpected unexpected. Which you are by G.o.d good at. You've surprised me more times than I can count. There's no one else like you.

"Just trust yourself. That's all. That's all all. Everything else will take care of itself.

"If it doesn't-" Sighing, he shrugged again. "There was nothing you could have done anyway."

Linden found a deep breath, and another. Stave was still holding her."It's not that easy." Slowly the spots faded from her eyes. "Do you even know where to look for Joan?"

Covenant did not look away. "I can guess. The Ardent brought us this far for a reason. I figure all I have to do now is go farther. If I don't find her, she'll find me."

Before Linden could manage another protest, Manethrall Mahrtiir demanded without preamble, "Will you journey afoot?"

"h.e.l.l, no." Now Covenant shifted his attention from Linden. In his mind, apparently, he had already turned away. "We don't have time. Clyme or Branl can summon the Ranyhyn."

In a burst of indignation, the Manethrall asked, "What then becomes of your vow that you will not ride? Must I name you an oath breaker? Did you not once aver to the great horses rearing that you would not ask them to bear you?"

"I did," Covenant admitted. Ignoring the dismay and uncertainty of the company-ignoring Linden-he walked stiffly across the sand, heading along the floor of the ravine. "How often do I have to talk about trust? They're Ranyhyn Ranyhyn, for G.o.d's sake. They'll think of something."

Linden watched him go as if he were forsaking her.

After a few tense strides, he shouted up at the hilltops, "It's time! Call the Ranyhyn!"

But he did not pause for a response from Branl or Clyme. Quickening his pace, he pa.s.sed between boulders and ragged slopes on either side as if he were eager to confront Joan.

Eager to be done with life.

The Humbled must have heard him. A lone whistle smote Linden's heart. Among the barren hills, it sounded as forlorn as a wail in a lightless cavern.

Clyme or Branl whistled a second time. A third.

In the distance beyond Covenant, three horses came trotting down the shallow canyon.

Two of them were Ranyhyn, Naybahn and Mh.o.r.n.ym. The stars on their foreheads gleamed in the thick sunlight.

The third was the Harrow's destrier. Tossing its head in vexation or alarm, the tall brown stallion trotted between Naybahn and Mh.o.r.n.ym with a glare of resentment in its eyes, as if the Ranyhyn had compelled it against its will.

As the horses neared Covenant, Clyme and Branl appeared, sprinting down the treacherous hillsides to join him as if nothing could undermine their steps. They reached him moments before the Ranyhyn and the destrier stamped to a halt.

With an air of ceremony, the Humbled greeted their mounts. They may have been speaking welcomes or rituals which had been ancient when Covenant had first visited the Land; but Linden refused to hear them.

Until she saw Covenant heave himself into the Harrow's saddle, she did not realize that he had not taken any of the company's supplies. He had no food, no water, no blankets.

He had said that he would come back; but he behaved like a man who did not expect to return.