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not have delivered it to us if it were in any way adept for his uses。 No。 The Staff warrants me。 Lord Foul cannot contrive my vision。〃
〃Your vision！〃 Covenant extended his hands in pleading toward her。 〃Don't you see what that is？ Don't you see where that es from？ It es from me…from that unholy bargain I made with the Ranyhyn。 A bargain that failed； Elena！〃
〃Yet it would appear that you bargained better than you knew。 The Ranyhyn kept their promise they gave in return more than you could either foresee or control。〃 Her answer seemed to block his throat； and into his silence she said； 〃What has altered you； Unbeliever？ Without your help； we would not have gained this place。 On Rivenrock you gave aid without stint or price； though my own anger imperiled you。 Yet now you delay me。 Thomas Covenant； you are not so craven。〃
〃Craven？ Hellfire！ I'm a bloody coward！〃 Some of
his rage returned to him； and he sputtered through the sweat and tears that ran into his mouth； 〃All lepers are cowards。 We have to be！〃
At last； she turned toward him； faced him with the focus； the blazing holocaust； of her gaze。 Its force ripped his balance away from him； and he sprawled in fragments on the stone。 But he pushed himself up again。 Driven by his fear of her and for her； he dared to confront her power。 He stood tenuously； and abandoned himself； took his plunge。
〃Manipulation； Elena；〃 he rasped。 〃Pin talking about manipulation。 Do you understand what that means？ It means using people。 Twisting them to suit purposes they haven't chosen for themselves。 Manipulation。 Not Foul's…mine！ I've been manipulating you； using you。 I told you rd made another bargain but I didn't tell you what it is。 I've been using you to get myself off the hook。 I promised myself that I would do everything I could to help you find this Ward。 And in return I promised myself that I would do everything I could to make you take my responsibility。 I watched you and helped you so that when you got here you would look exactly like that…so you would challenge Foul yourself without stopping to think about what you're doingso that whatever happens to the Land would be your fault instead of mine。 So that I could escape！ Hell and blood； Elena！ Do yon hear me？ Foul is going to get us for sure！〃
She seemed to hear only part of what he said。 She bent her searing focus straight into him； and said； 〃Was there ever a time when you loved me？〃
In as agony of protest； he half screamed； 〃Of course I loved you！〃 Then he mastered himself； put all his strength back into his appeal。 〃It never even occurred to me that I might be able to use you until until after the landslide。 When I began to understand what you're capable of。 I loved you before that。 I love you now。 I'm just an unconscionable bastard； and I used you； that's all。 Now I regret it。〃 With all the resources of his voice； he beseeched her； 〃Elena； please don't drink that stuff。 Forget the Power of
mand and go back to Revelstone。 Let the Council decide what to do about all this。〃
But the way in which her gaze left his face and burned around the walls of the cave told him that he had not reached her。 When she spoke； she only confirmed his failure。
〃I would be unworthy of Lordship if I failed to act now。 Amok offered us the Seventh Ward because he perceived that the Land's urgent need surpassed the conditions of his creation。 Fangthane is upon the Land now…he wages war now Land and life and all are endangered now。 While any power or weapon lies within my grasp； I will not permit him！〃 Her voice softened as she added； 〃And if you have loved me； how can I fail to strive for your escape？ You need not have bargained in secret。 I love you。 I wish to serve you。 Your regret only strengthens what I must do。〃
Swinging back toward the trough； she raised the Staff's guttering flame high over her head； and shouted like a war cry； 〃Melenkurion abatha！ Ward yourself well； Fangthane！ I seek to destroy you！〃
Then she stooped to the EarthBlood。
Covenant struggled frantically in her direction； but his feet scattered out from under him again； and he went down with a crash like a shock of incapacity。 As she lowered her face to the trough； he shouted； 〃That's not a good answer！ What happens to the Oath of Peace？〃
But his cry did not penetrate her exaltation。 Without hesitation； she took one steady sip of the Blood； and swallowed it。
At once； she leaped to her feet； stood erect and rigid as if she were possessed。 She appeared to swell； expand like a distended icon。 The fire of the Staff ran down the wood to her hands。 Instantly； her whole form burst into flame。
〃Elena！〃 Covenant crawled toward her。 But the might of her blue； crackling blaze threw him back like a hard wind。 He struck the tears from his eyes to see her more clearly。 Within her enveloping fire； she was unharmed and savage。
While the flame burned about her； enfolded her from head to foot in fiery cerements； she raised her arms； lifted her face。 For one fierce moment she stood motionless； trapped in conflagration。 Then she spoke as if she were uttering words of flame。
〃e！ I have tasted the EarthBlood！ You must obey my will。 The walls of death do not prevail。 Kevin son of Loric！ e！〃
No！ howled Covenant； No！ Don't！ But even his inner cry was swamped by a great voice which shivered and groaned in the air so hugely that he seemed to hear it； not with his ears； but with the whole surface of his body。
〃Fool！ Desist！〃 Staggering waves of anguish poured from the voice。 〃Do not do this！〃
〃Kevin； hear me！〃 Elena shouted back in a transported tone。 〃You cannot refuse！ The Blood of the Earth pels you。 I have chosen you to meet my mand。 Kevin； e！〃
The great voice repeated； 〃Fool！ You know not what you do！〃
But an instant later； the ambience of the cave changed violently； as if a tomb had opened into it。 Breakers of agony rolled through the air。 Covenant winced at every surge。 He braced himself where he knelt； and looked up。
The specter of Kevin Landwaster stood outlined in pale light before Elena。
He dwarfed her…dwarfed the cave itself。 Monumentally upright and desolate； he was visible through the stone rather than within the cave。 He towered over Elena as if he were part of the very mountain rock。 He had a mouth like a cut； eyes full of the effects of Desecration； and on his forehead was a bandage which seemed to cover some mortal wound。 〃Release me！〃 he groaned。 〃I have done harm enough for one
50111。〃
〃Then serve me！〃 she cried ecstatically up to him。
〃I offer you a mand to redeem that harm。 You
are Kevin son of Loric； the waster of the Land。 You
have known despair to its dregs you have tasted the
full cup of gall。 That is knowledge and strength which no one living can equal。
〃High Lord Kevin； I mand you to battle and defeat Lord Foul the Despiser！ Destroy Fangthane！ By the Power of the EarthBlood； I mand you。〃
The specter stared aghast at her； and raised his fists as if he meant to strike her。 〃Fool！〃 he repeated terribly。
The next instant； a concussion like the slamming of a crypt shook the cave。 One last pulse of anguish pummeled the High Lord's party； Elena's flame was blown out like a weak candle； darkness floo