Against All Things Ending Part 49

"They were drawn to the Snared One's service by promises of fulfillment. When his designs were accomplished, he a.s.sured them, they would achieve every aspiration, and the strictures of their Weird would be appeased. Like him, they would perceive themselves as G.o.ds, far greater in form and substance and lore and worth than the Demondim, their makers. For this, they strove in his name."

Through the low mutter of barking and growls from the Waynhim and several of the ur-viles, Frostheart Grueburn's voice carried more strongly. The creatures may have been encouraging her.

"By increments, however, they became acquainted-how could they not?-with his insatiable contempt for all beings other than himself. They deemed themselves the foremost of his servants, mightier and more necessary than even the Ravers, for the Ravers required stolen forms and did not honor the vast lore of the Demondim. Still less did the Ravers esteem the spanning knowledge and theurgies of the siring Viles. Also the enslavement of the Ravers was such that they had lost themselves. They had grown incapable of any clear aspiration not commanded by their lord. And the ur-viles were many, the Ravers few. Surely, therefore, the ur-viles were the most prized of the Snared One's adherents.

"Yet they were not. Rather they were despised. Indeed, his contempt for them seemed as unfathomable as the deepest secrets of the Earth. And no promises were kept. At last, they saw that his contempt exceeded their self-loathing. Thus they became disposed to turn aside from their service."

Urged by soft calls and snarls, Grueburn added, "Yet to turn aside is also to turn toward, and they lacked any new purpose, any new vision of their Weird, toward which they might turn."

There she paused, apparently trying to follow the strands of the loremaster's involuted speech.

As if to prompt her, Covenant remarked, "That's where the Waynhim came in. That was their real gift to the Land. A different interpretation."

"Aye," Grueburn a.s.sented as the loremaster barked. "You speak of the second insight or recognition which guided the ur-viles to their present course.

"In the unyielding opposition of their smaller, weaker, and fewer kindred, they discerned strength of a kind which lay beyond their emulation. It was neither lore nor puissance. But it may have been wisdom, and it surpa.s.sed them."

Sadly Grueburn admitted, "Mere wisdom wisdom is too small to suggest the scale of the loremaster's meaning. The creature implies a discernment of the underlying nature of existence. However, the pith of the matter is this. The Waynhim no longer loathed their own forms. They had surrendered that self-disgust, or they had transcended it. They were impelled to the Land's service by-I have no more fitting word-by love. They were driven, not by abhorrence, but by affirmation." is too small to suggest the scale of the loremaster's meaning. The creature implies a discernment of the underlying nature of existence. However, the pith of the matter is this. The Waynhim no longer loathed their own forms. They had surrendered that self-disgust, or they had transcended it. They were impelled to the Land's service by-I have no more fitting word-by love. They were driven, not by abhorrence, but by affirmation."

Again the Swordmain paused, wrestling with ramifications. Several of her comrades seemed to want to help her, but they kept their ideas to themselves.

After a moment, Grueburn sighed like an admission of defeat. "This," she resumed, "the ur-viles did not comprehend. They could not. Yet they saw that there was no ire in the opposition of the Waynhim. Again I lack needful language. The Waynhim fought, and were overwhelmed, and perished-and felt neither rage nor protest. Rather they comported themselves as though their service alone sufficed to vindicate their interpretation of their Weird. To both vindicate and achieve it.

"Though the ur-viles did not comprehend, they recognized that their own service to the Snared One offered no such reward. They were given promises, and they were sacrificed, but they were denied the calm certainty of the Waynhim. Thus they were led to the arcane study of possibilities. And when those possibilities were confirmed in Vain-in Linden Giantfriend's Staff of Law, and in Covenant Timewarden's transubstantiation-these ur-viles now among us pursued their study further."

As the loremaster's answer ended, Linden saw Covenant watching her sidelong. He appeared to be biding his time, as if he hoped that she would eventually ask a different question.

Perhaps he wished her to seek guidance. If so, he was going to be disappointed. At that moment, she did not want advice. She wanted an effective way to thank the ur-viles for stopping Esmer.

"Then tell me what their Weird is is," she said. "What does it mean mean?" A moment later, however, she shook her head. "No. That isn't what I'm trying to ask."

Weird, Wyrd, Wurd, Word, Worm: she had heard too many explanations. More would not improve her comprehension.

"Before we left Revelstone, I made a promise. I told them that if they ever figured out how to tell me what they need from me, I would do it. I want to keep that promise." She yearned to keep at least one of her promises, and she had already failed Anele. In truth, she had doomed everyone who had ever trusted her. Facing the loremaster, she concluded, "You've done so much for me. For all of us. Tell me how I can repay you."

Dozens of voices replied simultaneously, as insistent as the clamor of hounds on the scent of their quarry.

Frostheart Grueburn tried to follow them all. Then she punched her fists against each other: a gesture of protest. "I implore you," she groaned. "I cannot encompa.s.s so much. When I am given more than I am able to heed, I receive none of it."

At once, the tumult of the creatures was cut off. Testing the air with its wide nostrils, the loremaster fell silent.

Abashed, Grueburn turned to Linden. "I am unequal to this task. The Waynhim in particular strive to account for their Weird, but I hear little that I am able to convey. Some cite worth worth and and otherness otherness. Some make reference to transfiguration transfiguration or or rebirth rebirth. But their true meaning eludes me."

She looked around at the Swordmainnir, mutely asking for aid. But they shook their heads, admitting their own confusion.

Glumly Grueburn told Linden, "They appear to conflate concepts in a manner baffling to me. Do they equate their own worthiness with that of the wide Earth, or do they attempt some obscure distinction? Do they crave an alteration of themselves, that they may be condign in the world, or do they desire the world's transformation in their own image? They appear to set their course by many headings. I cannot follow them."

Now the loremaster spoke again. When it was done, Grueburn squared her shoulders; gazed at Linden more sharply. "To one aspect of your question, however, their response is plain. The nature of the Staff of Law is inimical to them, though they possess a limited virtu to ward themselves. In this circ.u.mstance, Linden Giantfriend, they require naught that you may provide."

To herself, Linden groaned. She needed a different answer. Something tangible, attainable: something that she could actually do to balance the scales of her long debt.

Something to lighten the weight of her growing darkness.

But before she could find words for her regret, Covenant moved closer to the loremaster. "In that case," he informed the creature, "I have a question."

His tone suggested potential wrath held in strict abeyance.

"Esmer said he wasn't the one who betrayed us in the Lost Deep. But h.e.l.lfire! He was the only one there there. The Harrow was already dead, and Roger was gone, and Kastenessen sent the skurj skurj, and the bane just is what She is.

"So what was Esmer talking about? How were we betrayed?"

Frowning at the question, or at Covenant's att.i.tude, Grueburn turned back to the loremaster.

For a long moment, all of the ur-viles and Waynhim replied with silence. Then the loremaster uttered a quick, raucous burst.

Translating literally, Grueburn announced, "The son of merewives merewives and and Haruchai Haruchai spoke of us." spoke of us."

Covenant waited, stiff and demanding.

Another burst of noise like the yowling of a penned dog.

"He was cognizant of our purpose. He abhorred and desired it. He considered you betrayed because we did not impose our manacles then. Had we done so, you would have been freed to flee without further peril or striving."

Under his breath, Covenant muttered, "Now we're getting somewhere." Then he asked harshly, "So why didn't you? You could have spared us almost any amount of suffering. I won't even mention what I did to Elena." For an instant, his self-control broke. "She's my daughter!" Almost immediately, however, he mastered himself. "But we came close to losing Linden completely. h.e.l.l and blood! You know what's at stake. Why did you take a chance like that?"

Linden wanted to object. Surely the creatures did not merit this? But Covenant's pa.s.sion-and his question-held her.

There was a storm building in him. It gathered somewhere beyond the horizon of her comprehension. When it broke, people or beings or creatures were going to die.

Indirectly the ur-viles had doomed Elena. Her sacrifice in the Lost Deep must have appalled him.

This time, the silence was longer. When the loremaster finally replied, it spoke at some length, voluble and urgent. But Grueburn did not attempt a translation until the creature was finished.

"Your pardon," she said at last. "I wished to confirm that I have understood the loremaster." Puzzlement and speculation were eloquent in her gaze. "It responds thus.

"Had your efforts to forestall the bane failed, Timewarden, we would have attempted intervention, knowing that we must. Earlier, however, other possibilities constrained us.

"Their form and substance as we comprehend them cannot be expressed in your speech. The Giant has made the attempt. We do not fault her. Yet our tongue wields connotations and meanings which are not accessible to her. We cannot explain.

"Yet consider one matter. We could not be certain that the son of merewives merewives would not counter us. He knew the intent of our manacles. He named you betrayed because we did not act to prevent him. Yet his nature was contradiction. He both craved and abhorred each of his deeds. Desiring the absolution of our manacles, he might nonetheless have forestalled us. Therefore we deemed it needful to ensnare him when he was unaware of us. would not counter us. He knew the intent of our manacles. He named you betrayed because we did not act to prevent him. Yet his nature was contradiction. He both craved and abhorred each of his deeds. Desiring the absolution of our manacles, he might nonetheless have forestalled us. Therefore we deemed it needful to ensnare him when he was unaware of us.

"Also there is this. Had we acted otherwise, how might the immeasurable strengths of the Vilesilencer's instrument have been released for your use? The instrument was necessary to restrain the croyel croyel. He whom you name Esmer had not yet revealed his purpose against the old man, the inheritor of Earthpower. Nor had the old man's own purpose been revealed. And we had cause to fear that the Haruchai Haruchai would oppose him. Inadvertently, perhaps, they might have precluded the would oppose him. Inadvertently, perhaps, they might have precluded the croyel croyel's death.

"We see possibilities, Timewarden. We do not foreknow events. Yet portents abound. Guided by them, we saw no path to the present outcome which did not rely upon both the defeat of Esmer and the acquiescence of the Haruchai Haruchai. For such reasons, we accepted the peril of the bane, and of white gold made impotent, knowing that events might prove fatal to you, and to the fruition of our Weird."

When Grueburn was done, her posture-her whole body-seemed to plead for Covenant's understanding; or for Linden's.

Linden could not reply. The complexity of the creatures' thinking stunned her. They read portents which were opaque to her; effectively invisible. How could they have guessed that Esmer's attack might sway Galt?

For a moment, Covenant, too, seemed stunned. But then he turned a whetted grin on Linden and the rest of the company.

"There!" he said like a paean. "That's why we aren't doomed. No matter what Lord Foul has planned. He isn't the only one who knows how to why we aren't doomed. No matter what Lord Foul has planned. He isn't the only one who knows how to think ahead think ahead. He can still be taken by surprise."

His affirmation seemed to hang in the air as he faced the loremaster once more. "I hope you'll accept my grat.i.tude. As far as I'm concerned, you've already shown you're worthy of anything you might ever want." He swallowed roughly, then added, "What happened to Elena was my doing, not yours."

When the creature replied, Frostheart Grueburn translated gruffly. "The ur-viles and Waynhim crave naught from you, Timewarden. Your tasks do not concern them. They desire only Linden Giantfriend's leave to depart."

Linden had the impression that every Waynhim and ur-vile was watching her. Waiting for her to say something that might imply comprehension. Something that might vindicate- But she was not Covenant. Like the Demondim-sp.a.w.n, he saw reasons for hope that she could not. Like Jeremiah, if in an entirely different fashion, she was trapped inside herself.

Nevertheless her own grat.i.tude was as real as Covenant's. And she did not believe that the creatures could have spared her any whit of the distress inflicted by She Who Must Not Be Named.

Deliberately she set aside her sorrow that she could not repay the Demondim-sp.a.w.n; swallowed her surprise at Covenant's reaction. Once again, she forced a hand through her tangled hair.

"Oh, go ahead," she said like a sigh, "if that's what you need to do. And take my blessing with you." What else could she possibly offer them? "I agree with Covenant. You're worthy of anything." Then she added, "I stand by my promise. If you ever do think of some way that I can help you, just tell me."

Her response seemed to release the creatures. Quickly the loremaster bowed to her as it had bowed to Covenant. Every Waynhim and ur-vile bowed. Then they dropped to all fours and began to run, heading like a pack of wild animals along the floor of the low ravine.

Soon they were gone. Nevertheless their departure left Linden with the sensation that she had disappointed them. Too late, she realized that she could have asked them to translate Caerroil Wildwood's runes. Once again, she had failed- Jeremiah and her friends and the Land needed the kind of calm certainty that the ur-viles had found in the Waynhim; but she had none.

Soon Covenant resumed his pacing. The Swordmainnir spent a while discussing the Demondim-sp.a.w.n. Then they settled themselves on the sand to tend their weapons or rest. When Jeremiah no longer chewed or swallowed, Pahni stopped putting food in his mouth. With Bhapa's help, she readied meals for Rime Coldspray, the Manethrall, and Stave. After that, the Cords repacked the company's supplies. While Bhapa occupied himself with that simple task, obviously fretting, he watched the horizon where the absent companions might appear.

But Linden turned away and went to sit alone near the edge of the stream. There she gazed vacantly at the unresolved tumble and contradiction of the current, and tried to convince herself that her use of Covenant's ring was not an abomination.

Good cannot be accomplished by evil means.

She and everyone with her would have been slain if she had not killed so many Cavewights. And when Roger had finished with her and the Giants and the Humbled and the Ramen, he would have hunted down Covenant to complete his victory.

What else could she have done?

But she was not persuaded. Surely other answers had been possible, for someone else if not for her? She was so much less than she needed to be: too ignorant of lore and Law and her own powers to defend her friends without butchering their foes.

At her back, heat acc.u.mulated in the sand and on the hillsides: a mixed blessing. It eased sore nerves and muscles, dried her clothes-and made her thirsty again. The stream's voices called to her, but she ignored them.

Stuck in a round of emotions and flaws that she did not know how to escape, she became as restless as the waters, as anxious as Bhapa. As impatient as Covenant. When the Ironhand, Mahrtiir, and Stave finally came within the range of her senses, she surged to her feet like a released spring and began striding toward them before she realized that they were not alone.

The Ardent followed close behind them, stumbling as if he were too weak to stay upright much longer.

For obvious reasons, Coldspray, Mahrtiir, and Stave were desperately tired, although Stave's stoicism concealed much of his fatigue. The Ironhand and the Manethrall trembled as they walked, unsteady on their legs; severely dehydrated. In contrast, Stave seemed only dull, numbed, unable to focus. He did not react to Bhapa's greeting or the calls of the Giants.

Nevertheless the condition of the Insequent was worse. His ribbands hung from his frame like long shreds of flesh; soiled streamers of suffering and loss. Inside his raiment, his former corpulence had melted away until he looked more than gaunt: he resembled a man in the last stages of a wasting disease. Emaciation or caducity made hollows of his cheeks, his eyes, even his mouth. Loose wattles hung from his jaw. As he lurched along, his gaze rolled from side to side as if he no longer had the strength to choose what he saw or thought.

He seemed oblivious to his own deranged chuckling. The sound scattered around him like broken bits of melody; disarticulated sanity.

The Ironhand and the Manethrall ignored him. With no more than nods for their comrades, they shambled forward until they had gone far enough to fall face-first into the stream. But Stave managed to halt among the company. He bowed to Linden, gave Covenant a vague nod. In a husk of a voice, a sound as desiccated as the hills, he said, "It is done. We have raised a cairn for Anele and Galt. The Ardent appeared when our task was complete."

Linden stared at him, tried to say his name. But she succeeded only at gaping.

Without waiting for a reply, Stave followed Coldspray and Mahrtiir. In the stream, he did not stop until the water was deep enough to let him sink beneath the surface.

"h.e.l.lfire," Covenant rasped to no one in particular. "h.e.l.l and blood."

Instinctively Linden moved toward the Ardent with her Staff ready. But as soon as she looked at him closely, she saw that he was beyond help. The forces unbinding him were inexorable, as cruel as too much time. He needed the kind of mercy that Stave had given Esmer. Any other anodyne was impossible.

Grueburn and two of the other Giants came closer to scrutinize the Ardent's ravaged form. Then they shook their heads. With pity in their eyes, they stepped back, leaving the Insequent to Linden and Covenant.

"They got it wrong." Covenant's voice was choked with pity. "When I told you I wanted them to make an exception, I didn't mean this this." His compa.s.sion gathered until it resembled outrage. "They didn't by G.o.d listen listen."

"Told," chortled the Ardent. "Listen. Tell." His voice scaled high; sank low. "The Insequent are not told told. One stricture for all. One allowance unmakes all. Every life. They listen. Oh, they listen! Some grieve. But you do not tell tell the Insequent to end every life." the Insequent to end every life."

"What?" Linden protested, unable to stop herself. "Every life? Are you saying that life? Are you saying that every every Insequent dies, the whole race Insequent dies, the whole race dies dies, if they let you live?"

"Listen," he repeated. "The Ardent tells. You do not listen." Ribbands flinched around him. "One stricture for all. One stricture for all all."

His condition was yet another consequence of Linden's need to rescue her son.

While Covenant floundered in chagrin, Onyx Stonemage murmured thickly, "It is a geas geas, is it not? He has spoken of such matters. The will of the Insequent rules him still, though he stands at the outermost verge of his life."

As if he were answering her, the Ardent said, "Such carnage." He giggled softly. "Great death, aye. Great and needful. Incondign." His gaze veered from place to place as if he were watching motes of fine dust circulate. "It does not suffice."

Groaning to herself, Linden tried not to imagine what he meant.

"If this is indeed a geas geas," Cirrus Kindwind suggested, "surely it is incomplete. I do not wish to conceive that the Insequent have imposed his presence here merely to demonstrate that he suffers a compulsory doom. They cannot lack all heart."

None of her comrades responded. Covenant gritted his teeth, restraining himself until the muscles at the corners of his jaw bunched like knuckles.

The Ardent had done so much more than Linden could have asked of him. This was his reward.

Behind her, Stave emerged from the stream. A moment later, Rime Coldspray and Manethrall Mahrtiir did the same. Dripping, Stave approached Linden and Covenant while Coldspray walked stiffly to join the Swordmainnir. At the same time, Bhapa hurried down the slope with food for the Manethrall.

Linden feared that Mahrtiir's aggrieved pride would require him to ignore Bhapa. But apparently the Manethrall was determined to accept that he, too, had been humbled. Leaning an arm across Bhapa's shoulders, he acknowledged the Cord's concern by taking a little food. However, he did not stop moving until he stood beside Linden.

Among her people, the Ironhand shared collective embraces, hugging the other Giants in cl.u.s.ters of two or three. From Latebirth, she received a double handful of fruit and meat, and began immediately to eat. Then she turned her attention to Linden, Covenant, and the Ardent.

Linden had no words for what she felt and feared; but Covenant seemed unable to contain himself. "Kindwind is right," he growled to the Ardent. "Your people didn't send you back just to convince us they can't save you.

"There's something you came to say. Something you still need to do."

Abruptly the Ardent spasmed as if he had been struck by a galvanic shock. His head jerked up: his whole body flinched. In a completely different voice, compelled and straining, he said, "While you remain apart, events elsewhere conspire to thwart your defense of the Land."

He seemed to quote someone else, mimicking someone else's speech. "To the north of ancient Gravin Threndor, the Sandgorgons and the skurj skurj have come together. It was our hope that they would expend their ferocity in mutual extermination. But our hope misled us. We misgauged the degree of Kastenessen's mastery over the have come together. It was our hope that they would expend their ferocity in mutual extermination. But our hope misled us. We misgauged the degree of Kastenessen's mastery over the skurj skurj, and the cunning of moksha moksha Raver's counsels, and the potency of those shreds of Raver's counsels, and the potency of those shreds of samadhi samadhi Sheol which endure among the Sandgorgons. Against all expectation, those monstrous beings have conjoined their strengths. Now they rampage together within Salva Gildenbourne, wreaking such a ruin of trees and verdure that you would weep to gaze upon it." Sheol which endure among the Sandgorgons. Against all expectation, those monstrous beings have conjoined their strengths. Now they rampage together within Salva Gildenbourne, wreaking such a ruin of trees and verdure that you would weep to gaze upon it."

For an instant, the geas geas of the Insequent appeared to slip. The Ardent slumped; staggered like a man scarcely able to stand. He chuckled softly as if his own grief amused him. of the Insequent appeared to slip. The Ardent slumped; staggered like a man scarcely able to stand. He chuckled softly as if his own grief amused him.

His announcement shocked Linden out of her recursive dismay. The truth was vivid in his voice.

-those monstrous beings- "Stone and Sea!" growled Rime Coldspray: an appalled imprecation. Several of the other Giants cursed as well. A few moved to begin donning their armor.