In the dawn, he had awakened as if from the first irenic sleep of his life. Sunrise had lain across the headrock of the city, lighting the faces of Linden and the First as they sat regarding him. The First had worn her iron beauty as if behind it lay a deep gentleness. But Linden’s gaze was ambiguous, undecided.
In a severe tone, she asked, “Why didn’t you tell me what you were going to do?”
“I didn’t dare,” he replied, giving her the truth. “I was too afraid of it. I couldn’t even admit it to myself.”
She shifted her position, drawing somewhat away from him. “I thought you’d gone crazy.”
He sighed, allowed himself to express at least that much of his loneliness. “Maybe I did. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.”
She frowned and fell silent, looking away toward the Sunbirth Sea. After a moment, the First roused herself to speak.
“Thomas Covenant,” she said, “I know not whether in truth the path of the Search lies with you. I have not seen with my own eyes the Sunbane, nor met in my own person the malice of him whom you name the Despiser, nor felt in my own heart the nature of what must be done. But Pitchwife urges that I trust you. Cable Seadreamer has beheld a vision of healing, when he had learned to believe that no healing remained in all the world. And for myself—” She swallowed thickly. “I would gladly follow a man who can so give peace to the damned.
“Giantfriend,” she said, containing her emotion with formality, “the Search will bear you to the land of the Elohim. There we believe that knowledge of the One Tree may be gained. If it lies within our doing, we will accompany you to the Tree, hoping for an answer to the peril of the Earth. This we will do in the name of our people, who have been redeemed from their doom.”
She passed a hand over her tears and moved away, leaving him eased, as if it were the outcome of his dreams.
But he arose, because there were still things he had to do, needs to be met, responsibilities to be considered. He spoke to the Stonedownors, led them to the upper rim of Coercri with Linden, the Haruchai, and Vain behind him, sat facing the morning and the Sea and the unknown Earth.
Now he would have liked to be alone with the aftermath of his caamora. But he could see the time of his departure from the Land arriving. It sailed the same salt wind which ruffled his hair and beard, and he knew he had no choice. Every day, more lives were shed to feed the Sunbane. The Land’s need was a burden he could not carry alone.
For a time, he sat exchanging silence with his companions. But at last he found the will to speak. “Sunder. Hollian.” They sat attentively, as if he had become a figure of awe. He felt like a butcher as he said, “I don’t want you to come with me.”
The eh-Brand’s eyes widened as if he had slapped her without warning or cause. Surprise and pain made Sunder snap, “Ur-Lord?”
Covenant winced, fumbled to apologize. “I’m sorry. This is hard to say. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” He took hold of himself. “There’s something else I want you to do.”
Hollian frowned at him, echoing Sunder’s uncertainty.
“It’s the Sunbane,” he began. “I’m going to leave the Land—try to find the One Tree. So I can replace the Staff of Law. I don’t know what else to do. But the Clave—” He swallowed at the anger rising in his throat. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone, and every day they kill more people. Somebody has to stop them. I want you to do it.”
He stared out to Sea, went on speaking as if he feared the reaction of his friends. “I want you to go back to the Upper Land. To the villages—to every Stonedown or Woodhelven you can find. Tell them the truth about the Clave. Convince them. Make them stop surrendering to the Riders. So the Sunbane won’t destroy everything before I get back.”
“Thomas Covenant.” Sunder’s fists were clenched as if to hold off outrage. “Have you forgotten Mithil Stonedown? Have you forgotten Stonemight Woodhelven? The people of the Land shed strangers to answer their own need for blood. We will convince no one. We will be slain by the first Stonedown we dare to enter.”
“No.” Covenant shook his head flatly. He knew what he meant to do, and felt sure of it. “You’ll have something that will make them listen to you. And you can use it to defend yourselves if you have to.” With both hands, he removed the cloth-wrapped krill from under his belt, and extended it toward Sunder.
“Covenant?” The Graveler looked his astonishment at Linden, at Hollian, then back toward Covenant. Linden sat with her eyes downcast, watching the way her fingers touched the stone. But Hollian’s face brightened as if in recognition. “The krill is yours,” Sunder murmured, asking for comprehension. “I am a Graveler—nothing more. Of what use is such a periapt to me?”
Deliberately Covenant held out his hope. “I think you can attune yourself to it. The way you did to Memla’s rukh. I think you can use the krill the way you use the Sunstone. And if you put the two together, you won’t need to shed blood to have power. You can use the krill to rouse the orcrest. You’ll be able to raise water, grow plants, do it all. Without blood. Any village will listen to that. They won’t try to kill you. They’ll try to keep you.
“And that’s not all. This is power. Proof that the Sunbane isn’t the whole truth. It proves that they have a choice. They don’t have to obey the Clave, don’t have to let themselves be slaughtered.”
With a twitch of his hands, he flung off part of the cloth so that the krill shone into the faces of his companions. “Sunder,” he implored. “Hollian. Take it. Convince them. We’re all responsible—all of us who know the na-Mhoram is a Raver. Don’t let the Clave go on killing them.” The light of the krill filled his orbs; he could not see how his friends responded. “Give me a chance to save them.”
For a moment, he feared the Stonedownors would refuse the burden he offered them. But then the krill was taken from him. Sunder flipped cloth back over the gem. Carefully he rewrapped the blade, tucked it away under his leather jerkin. His eyes gleamed like echoes of white fire.
“Thomas Covenant,” he said, “ur-Lord and Unbeliever, white gold wielder, I thank you. It is sooth that my heart did not relish this quest across unknown seas and lands. I have no knowledge of such matters and little strength for them. You have Giants with you, and Haruchai, and the power of the white ring. I am of no use to you.
“I have learned that the Sunbane is a great evil. But it is an evil which I comprehend and can confront.” Hollian’s countenance supported his words. Her relief was a glow of gratitude. “I desire to strive somewhat for my people—and to strive against this Clave, which so maligns our lives.”
Covenant blinked at the repetitions of silver arcing across his sight. He was too proud of Sunder and Hollian to speak.
They rose to their feet. “Ur-Lord,” the Graveler said, “we will do as you ask. If any blow may be struck against Clave and Sunbane by mortals such as we are, we will strike it. You have restored to me the faith of Nassic my father. Be certain of us while we live.”
“And be swift,” added Hollian, “for we are but two, and the Sunbane is as vast as all the Land.”
Covenant had not noticed Stell and Harn unobtrusively leave the cliff; but they returned now, carrying supplies on their backs. Before Covenant or the Stonedownors could speak, Brinn said, “The Sunbane is indeed vast, but you will not meet it alone. The Haruchai will not surrender their service. And I say to you that my people also will not suffer the Clave unopposed. Look for aid wherever you go, especially when your way leads within reach of Revelstone.”
Sunder swallowed thickly, unable to master his voice. Hollian’s eyes reflected the sunshine wetly.
The sight of them standing there in their courage and peril made Covenant’s fragile calm ache. “Get going,” he said huskily. “We’ll be back. Count on it.”
In a rush of emotion, Hollian came to him, stooped to grip her arms around his neck and kiss his face. Then she went to Linden. Linden returned her embrace stiffly.
A moment lat
er, the Stonedownors turned away. They left the cliff with Stell and Harn beside them.
Covenant watched them go. The two Haruchai moved as if nothing could ever change who they were. But Sunder and Hollian walked like people who had been given the gift of meaning for their lives. They were just ordinary people, pitifully small in comparison to the task they had undertaken; and yet their valor was poignant to behold. As they passed over the ridge where the ruined lighthouse stood, they had their arms around each other.
After a moment, Linden broke the silence. “You did the right thing.” Her voice wore severity like a mask. “They’ve been uncomfortable ever since we left Landsdrop—the Sunbane is the only world they understand. And they’ve lost everything else. They need to do something personal and important. But you—” She stared at him as if in her eyes he had become an object of fear and desire. “I don’t know you. I don’t know if you’re the strongest man I’ve ever met, or the sickest. With all that venom in you, you still—I don’t know what I’m doing here.” Without a pause, as if she were still asking the same question, she said, “Why did you give them the krill? I thought you needed it. A weapon against Vain.”
Yes, Covenant breathed. And an alternative to wild magic. That’s what I thought. But by accepting the krill, Sunder and Hollian had made it once more into a tool of hope. “I don’t want any more weapons,” he murmured to Linden. “I’m already too dangerous.”
She held his gaze. The sudden clarity of her expression told him that, of all the things he had ever said to her, this, at least, was one she could comprehend.
Then a shout echoed up the face of Coercri. “Giantfriend!” It was Pitchwife’s voice. “Come! Starfare’s Gem approaches!”
The echoes went on in Covenant’s mind after the shout had faded. Giantfriend. He was who he was, a man half crippled by loneliness and responsibility and regret. But he had finally earned the title the First had given him.
The dromond came drifting slowly, neatly, toward the piers. Its rigging was full of Giants furling the sails.
Carefully like a man who did not want to die, Covenant got to his feet. With Linden, Brinn, and Cail, he left the cliff.
They went down to meet the ship.
Here ends
The Wounded Land
Book One of
“The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.”
The story continues in Book Two
The One Tree.
GLOSSARY
Aimil: daughter of Anest; wife of Sunder
a-Jeroth of the Seven Hells: Lord of wickedness; Clave-name for Lord Foul the Despiser
Akkasri na-Mhoram-cro: a member of the Clave
aliantha: treasure-berries
Amith: a woman of Crystal Stonedown
Andelain, the Hills of: a region of the Land free from the Sunbane
Andelainscion: a region in the Center Plains
Anest: woman of Mithil Stonedown; sister of Kalina
Annoy: a Courser
Atiaran Trell-mate: former woman of Mithil Stonedown; mother of Lena
Aumbrie of the Clave: storeroom for former Lore
Bandsoil Bounds: region north of Soulsease River
Banefire: fire by which the Clave wields the Sunbane
Bannor: former Bloodguard
Berek Halfhand: ancient hero; the Lord-Fatherer
Bloodguard: former servants of the Council of Lords
Boulder Fash: region in the Center Plains
Brannil: man of Stonemight Woodhelven
caamora: Giantish ordeal of grief by fire
Cable Seadreamer: a Giant; member of the Search; possessed of the Earth-Sight
Caer-Caveral: Forestal of Andelain; formerly Hile Troy
Caerroil Wildwood: former Forestal of Garroting Deep
Cail: one of the Haruchai
Cavewights: evil earth-delving creatures
Ceer: one of the Haruchai
Centerpith Barrens: a region in the Center Plains
Chosen, the: title given to Linden Avery
Clang: a Courser
Clangor: a Courser
Clash: a Courser
Clave, the: the rulers of the Land
Coercri: former home of the Giants in Seareach
Colossus of the Fall, the: ancient stone figure formerly guarding the Upper Land
Consecear Redoin: a region north of the Soulsease River
Corruption: Haruchai name for Lord Foul
Council of Lords: former rulers of the Land
Courser: a beast made by the Clave by the power of the Sunbane
Croft: Graveler of Crystal Stonedown
Crystal Stonedown: home of Hollian
Damelon Giantfriend: son of Berek; former Lord
Defiles Course: river in the Lower Land
Demondim: spawners of ur-viles and Waynhim
Despite: evil; a name given to the designs of Lord Foul
dhraga: a Waynhim
dhubha: a Waynhim
dhurng: a Waynhim
diamondraught: Giantish liquor
Din: a Courser
drhami: a Waynhim
dromond: a Giantship
Drool Rockworm: former Cavewight
durhisitar: a Waynhim
During Stonedown: home of Hamako
Earthpower, the: the source of all power in the Land
Earthroot: lake under Melenkurion Skyweir
Earth-Sight: Giantish power to perceive distant dangers and needs
eh-Brand: one who can use wood to read the Sunbane
Elena: former High Lord; daughter of Lena and Covenant
Elohim: people met by the wandering Giants
Emacrimma’s Maw: a region in the Center Plains
Fields of Richloam: a region in the Center Plains
Fire-Lions: fire-flow of Mount Thunder
First Betrayer: Clave-name for Berek Halfhand
First Mark: former leader of the Bloodguard
First of the Search: leader of the Giants
First Ward: primary knowledge left by Kevin
Forestal: a protector of the Forests of the Land
Foul’s Creche: the Despiser’s former home
Furl Falls: waterfall at Revelstone
Garroting Deep: former forest of the Land
ghohritsar: a Waynhim
ghramin: a Waynhim
Giants: a seafaring people of the Earth
Giantclave: Giantish conference
Giantfriend: title given first to Damelon, later to Thomas Covenant
Giantship: stone sailing vessel made by Giants
Giantway: path made by Giants
Giant Woods: a forest of the Land
Gibbon: the na-Mhoram; leader of the Clave
Gilden: a maple-like tree with golden leaves
Glimmermere: a lake on the upland above Revelstone
Gossamer Glowlimn: a Giant; the First of the Search
Graveler: one who uses stone to wield the Sunbane
graveling: fire-stones
Gravelingas: former master of stone-lore
Gravin Threndor: Mount Thunder
Gray Desert: a region south of the Land
Gray Slayer: Lord Foul the Despiser
Graywightswath: a region north of the Soulsease River
Greshas Slant: a region in the Center Plains
Grieve, The: Coercri
Grim, the: a destructive storm sent as a curse by the Clave
Grimmand Honninscrave: a Giant; Master of Starfare’s Gem
Grimmerdhore: former forest of the Land
Halfhand: title given to Thomas Covenant and to Berek
Hamako: sole unharmed survivor of the destruction of During Stonedown
Harn: one of the Haruchai; protector of Hollian
Haruchai, the: a people who live in the Westron Mountains
Heartthew: a title given to Berek Halfhand
Herem: a Raver; also known as turiya
Hergrom: one of the Haruchai
High Lord: former lead
er of the Council of Lords
Hile Troy: a man formerly from Covenant’s world who became a Forestal
Hollian: daughter of Amith; eh-Brand of Crystal Stonedown
Home: home of the Giants
Hotash Slay: flow of lava protecting Foul’s Creche
hurtloam: a healing mud
Hyrim: a former Lord of the Council
Illearth Stone: green stone, source of evil power
Illender: title given to Thomas Covenant
Jehannum: a Raver; also known as moksha
jheherrin: soft ones; living by-products of Foul’s misshaping
Jous: a man of Mithil Stonedown; son of Prassan; father of Nassic; inheritor of the Unfettered One’s mission
Kalina Nassic-mate: mother of Sunder; daughter of Alloma
Keep of the na-Mhoram: Revelstone
Kevin Landwaster: son of Loric; former Lord; enactor of the Ritual of Desecration
Kevin’s Watch: mountain lookout near Mithil Stonedown
Kiril Threndor: Heart of Thunder; chamber of power within Mount Thunder
Korik: former Bloodguard
krill, the: knife of power formed by Loric Vilesilencer
Kurash Festillin: a region in the Center Plains
Lake Pelluce: a lake in Andelainscion
Landsdrop: great cliff separating Upper and Lower Lands
Law, the: the natural order
Law of Death, the: the separation of the living and the dead
Lena: daughter of Atiaran; mother of Elena
lianar: wood of power used by an eh-Brand
Lord of wickedness: a-Jeroth
Lord Foul: the Despiser
Lords, the: former rulers of the Land
loremaster: ur-vile leader
Loric Vilesilencer: son of Damelon; former Lord
Lower Land, the: region east of Landsdrop
lurker of the Sarangrave: swamp-monster
Marid: a man of Mithil Stonedown
Master, the: Clave-name for the Creator
master-rukh: iron triangle at Revelstone which feeds and reads all other rukhs
Melenkurion Skyweir: a mountain in the Westron Mountains