Thomas Covenant 8 - The Fatal Revenant by Stephen R. Donaldson Page B
Authors: Stephen R. Donaldson
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Haruchai shook his head. It is curious. It appears that the Mandoubt has departed from Revelstone. How she might have done so is unclear. Demondim in abundance guard the gates, the passage to the plateau is watched, and Lord’s Keep has no other egress. Yet neither the Masters nor those who serve the Keep can name her whereabouts.
“I was shown to her chambers, but she was not there. And those who have
known her cannot suggest where she might be found.” He paused for a moment, then added, “Nor are they able to account for her. Indeed, they profess to know nothing certain of her. They say only that she conveys the sense that they have always known her-and that she seldom attracts notice.”
Stave shrugged slightly. “In the thoughts of the Masters, she is merely a servant of Revelstone, unremarkable
and unregarded. To me, also, she has appeared to be entirely ordinary. Yet her absence now demonstrates our error. At a time of less extreme hazard, the Masters would seek to grasp her mystery. While Revelstone remains besieged, however, their attention is compelled by the Demondim.”
“I also was baffled by her,” Mahrtiir put in. In some fashion, she appeared to alter herself from moment to moment, yet I could not be certain of my sight.
Another woman inhabited her place, or she herself inhabited-” He muttered in irritation. “I do not comprehend it.”
“Me neither,” Linden admitted. But she swallowed her disappointment. If the Mandoubt had not warned her to Be cautious of love, she would never have thought to ask for the older woman’s guidance.
“All right,” she went on. “Since that doesn’t make any sense, maybe you
can tell me something that does. How did you convince the Humbled to leave me alone? If they don’t trust me, shouldn’t they be guarding me?’
Stave considered briefly before saying, “Other concerns require precedence. A measure of uncertainty has been sown among the Masters. They know nothing of the peril which Esmer has revealed. But they have heard Anele speak of both Kastenessen and the skurj. And they are chary of the
Demondim. That such monsters front the gates of Revelstone, holding among them the might of the II!earth Stone, and yet do nothing, disturbs the Masters. In addition, the Unbeliever’s presence is”-he appeared to search for a description-“strangely fortuitous. It is difficult to credit.
“Your power to create Falls, or to efface the ur-Lord by other means, troubles the Masters deeply. However, I have reminded the Humbled that your
love for both the Unbeliever and the Land is well known-and that your son will be lost by any act of theurgy. Further, I have assured them that you are not a woman who will forsake those companions who remain in Revelstone. This your fidelity to Anele confirms.
“Also”-Stave shrugged eloquently- “the Humbled will not willingly forego their duty to the Halfhand, regardless of their disquiet. Therefore they heeded
my urging.”
Stave’s tone reminded Linden that the Humbled would not otherwise have listened to him.
“They are fools,” growled Mahrtiir.
“They are Haruchai,” Stave replied without inflection. “I thought as they do. Had I not partaken of the horserite, I would do so still.”
He deserved gratitude, especially because of his own bereavement; and Linden thanked him as well as she could. Then she asked a different question. “You mentioned the skurj. Why didn’t you say anything about them before we came here’?”
“Chosen’?” Stave cocked an eyebrow at her question.
“You’ve heard Anele talk about them. You were there when that Elohim
appeared in Mithil Stonedown,”
warning Liand’s people that a bane of great puissance and ferocity in the far north had slipped its bonds and had found release in Mount Thunder. “And you told me yourself that ‘Beasts of Earthpower rage upon Mount Thunder.’ But you haven’t said anything else.”
Until now, she had not needed to know
“I was shown to her chambers, but she was not there. And those who have
known her cannot suggest where she might be found.” He paused for a moment, then added, “Nor are they able to account for her. Indeed, they profess to know nothing certain of her. They say only that she conveys the sense that they have always known her-and that she seldom attracts notice.”
Stave shrugged slightly. “In the thoughts of the Masters, she is merely a servant of Revelstone, unremarkable
and unregarded. To me, also, she has appeared to be entirely ordinary. Yet her absence now demonstrates our error. At a time of less extreme hazard, the Masters would seek to grasp her mystery. While Revelstone remains besieged, however, their attention is compelled by the Demondim.”
“I also was baffled by her,” Mahrtiir put in. In some fashion, she appeared to alter herself from moment to moment, yet I could not be certain of my sight.
Another woman inhabited her place, or she herself inhabited-” He muttered in irritation. “I do not comprehend it.”
“Me neither,” Linden admitted. But she swallowed her disappointment. If the Mandoubt had not warned her to Be cautious of love, she would never have thought to ask for the older woman’s guidance.
“All right,” she went on. “Since that doesn’t make any sense, maybe you
can tell me something that does. How did you convince the Humbled to leave me alone? If they don’t trust me, shouldn’t they be guarding me?’
Stave considered briefly before saying, “Other concerns require precedence. A measure of uncertainty has been sown among the Masters. They know nothing of the peril which Esmer has revealed. But they have heard Anele speak of both Kastenessen and the skurj. And they are chary of the
Demondim. That such monsters front the gates of Revelstone, holding among them the might of the II!earth Stone, and yet do nothing, disturbs the Masters. In addition, the Unbeliever’s presence is”-he appeared to search for a description-“strangely fortuitous. It is difficult to credit.
“Your power to create Falls, or to efface the ur-Lord by other means, troubles the Masters deeply. However, I have reminded the Humbled that your
love for both the Unbeliever and the Land is well known-and that your son will be lost by any act of theurgy. Further, I have assured them that you are not a woman who will forsake those companions who remain in Revelstone. This your fidelity to Anele confirms.
“Also”-Stave shrugged eloquently- “the Humbled will not willingly forego their duty to the Halfhand, regardless of their disquiet. Therefore they heeded
my urging.”
Stave’s tone reminded Linden that the Humbled would not otherwise have listened to him.
“They are fools,” growled Mahrtiir.
“They are Haruchai,” Stave replied without inflection. “I thought as they do. Had I not partaken of the horserite, I would do so still.”
He deserved gratitude, especially because of his own bereavement; and Linden thanked him as well as she could. Then she asked a different question. “You mentioned the skurj. Why didn’t you say anything about them before we came here’?”
“Chosen’?” Stave cocked an eyebrow at her question.
“You’ve heard Anele talk about them. You were there when that Elohim
appeared in Mithil Stonedown,”
warning Liand’s people that a bane of great puissance and ferocity in the far north had slipped its bonds and had found release in Mount Thunder. “And you told me yourself that ‘Beasts of Earthpower rage upon Mount Thunder.’ But you haven’t said anything else.”
Until now, she had not needed to know
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