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They faced each other…as if they met mind to mind across Troy's eyelessness。 Mhoram did not falter under the Warmark's rage。 The hurt of his inadequacy showed clearly in his face； but he neither denied nor cursed at his weakness。
Though Troy trembled with urgency； he had to take his demand elsewhere。
He swung toward Covenant。 〃You！〃 he shouted stridently。 〃If you're too much of a coward to do anything yourself； at least give me a chance to help her！ Give me your ring！…I can feel it from here。 Give it to me！ e on； you bastard。 It's her only chance。〃
Kneeling on the dead； sabulous dirt of the Howe； Covenant looked up at Troy through the blood in his eyes。 For a time； he was unable to answer。 Troy's adjuration seemed to drop on him like a rockfall。 It swept away his last defense； and left bare his final shame。 He should have been able to save Elena。 He had the power； it pulsed like a wound on his wedding finger。 But he had not used it。 Ignorance was no excuse。 His claim of futility no longer covered him。
The barren atmosphere of the Howe ached in his chest as he climbed to his feet。 Though he could hardly see where he was going； he started up the hill。 The exertion made his head hurt as if there were splinters of bone jabbing his brain； and his heart quivered。 A silent voice cried out to him； No！ No！ But he ignored it。 With his halfhand； he fumbled at the ring。 It seemed to resist him…he had trouble gripping it but as he reached Troy he finally tore it from his finger。 In a wet voice； as if his mouth were full of blood； he said； 〃Take it。 Save her。〃 He put the band in Troy's hand。
The touch of the pulsing ring exalted Troy。 Clenching his fingers around it； he turned； ran fearlessly to the hillcrest。 He searched quickly with his ears； located the direction of Rivenrock； faced the battle。 Like a titan； he swung his fist at the heavens； power
flamed from the white gold as if it were answering his passion。 In a livid voice； he cried； 〃Elena！ Elena！〃
Then the tall white singer was at his side。 The music took on a forbidding note that spread involuntary stasis like a mist over the hilltop。 Everyone froze； lost the power of movement。
In the stillness； Caerroil Wildwood lifted his gnarled scepter。 〃No；〃 he trilled； 〃I cannot permit this。 It is a breaking of Law。 And you forget the price that is owed to me。 Perhaps when you have gained an incondign mastery over the wild magic； you will use it to recant the price。〃 With his scepter； he touched Troy's upraised fist； the ring dropped to the ground。 As it fell； all the heat and surge of its power faded。 It looked like mere metal as it struck the lifeless earth； rolled lightly along the music； and stopped near Covenant's feet。
〃I will not permit it；〃 the singer continued。 〃The promise is irrevocable。 In the names of the One Tree and the One Forest…in the name of the unforgiving Deep…I claim the price of my aid。〃 With a solemn gesture like the sound of distant horns； he touched his scepter to Troy's head。 〃Eyeless one； you have promised payment。 I claim your life。〃
Lord Mhoram strove to protest。 But the singer's stasis held him。 He could do nothing but watch as Troy began to change。
〃I claim you to be my disciple；〃 the singer hummed。 〃You shall be Caer…Caveral； my help and hold。 From me you shall learn the work of a Forestal； root and branch； seed and sap and leaf and all。 Together we will walk the Deep； and I will teach you the songs of the trees； and the names of all the old； brave； wakeful woods； and the ancient forestry of thought and mood。 While trees remain； we will steward together； cherishing each new sprout； and wreaking wood's revenge on each hated human intrusion。 Forget your foolish friend。 You cannot succor her。 CaerCaveral； remain and serve！〃
The song molded Troy's form。 Slowly； his legs grew together。 His feet began to send roots into the soil。 His apparel turned to thick dark moss。 He became an old
stump with one last limb upraised。 From his fist green leaves uncurled。
Softly； the singer concluded； 〃Together we will restore life to Gallows Howe。〃 Then he turned toward the Lords and Covenant。 The silver brilliance of his eyes increased； dimming even the orcrest fire； and he sang in a tone of dewy freshness：
Ax and fire leave me dead。
I know the hate of hands grown bold。 Depart to save your heart…sap's red：
My hate knows neither rest nor weal
As the words fluted through them； he disappeared into the music as if he had wrapped it about him and passed beyond the range of sight。 But the warning melody lingered behind him like an echo in the air； repeating his mand and repeating it until it could not be forgotten。
Gradually； like figures lumbering stiffly out of a dream； the people on the hilltop began to move again。 Quaan and Amorine hastened to the mossy stump。 Grief filled their faces。 But they had endured too much； struggled too hard； in their long ordeal。 They had no strength left for horror or protest。 Amorine stared as if she could not prehend what had happened； and tears glistened in Quaan's old eyes。 He called； 〃Hail； Warmark！〃 But his voice sounded weak and dim on the Howe； and he said no more。 。
Behind them； Lord Mhoram sagged。 His hands trembled as he held up his staff in mute farewell。 Lord Callindrill joined him； and they stood together as if they were leaning on each other。
Covenant dropped numbly to his knees to pick up his ring。
He reached for it like an acolyte bending his forehead to the ground； and when his fingers closed on it； he slid it into place on his wedding finger。 Then； with both hands； he tried to wipe the blood out of his eyes。
But as he made the attempt； a blast from Rivenrock
staggered the air。 The mountain groaned as if it were grievously wounded。 The concussion threw him on his face in the dirt。 Blackness filled the remains of his sight as if it were flooding into him from the barren Howe。 And behind it he heard the blast howling like the livid triumph of fiends。
A long tremor passed through the Deep； and after it came an extended shattering sound； as if the whole cliff of Rivenrock were crumbling。 People moved； voices called back and forth。 But Covenant could not hear them clearly。 His ears were deluged by tumult； a yammering； multitudinous yell of glee。 And the sound came closer。 It became louder and more immediate until it overwhelmed his eardrums； passed beyond the range of physical perception and shrieked directly into his brain。
After that； voices reached him obscurely； registered somehow through his overdriven hearing。
Bannor said； 〃Rivenrock bursts。 There will be a great flood。〃
Lord Callindrill said； 〃Some good will e of it。 It will do much to cleanse the Wightwarrens under Mount Thunder。〃
Lord Mhoram said； 〃Behold the Unbeliever de
parts。 The High Lord has fallen。〃
But these things surpassed him； he could not hold onto them。 The black dirt of Gallows Howe loomed in his face like an incarnation of midnight。 And around it； enpassing it； consuming both it and him； the fiendish scream scaled upward； filling his skull and chest and limbs as if it were grinding his very bones to powder。 The howl overcame him； and he answered with a cry that made no sound。