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A moment later； Borillar walked across the room to stand stiffly by the door。 He looked like a resolute acolyte； determined not to fail a high duty。 Finally his young intentness； and Tohrm's appeal； moved Covenant to say； awkwardly； 〃Thank you； Hirebrand。〃
At once； pleasure transformed Borillar's face。 He tried to maintain his gravity； to control his grin； but the man of legends； Unbeliever and Ringthane； had spoken to him； and he blurted out； 〃Be wele； urLord Covenant。 You will save the Land。
Tohrm cocked an amused eyebrow at his fellow Hearthrall； gave Covenant a gay； grateful bow； and ushered the Hirebrand from the room。 As they departed； Tohrm started to close the door； then stopped； nodded to someone in the hall； and went away leaving the door open。
Bannor stepped into the room。 He met Covenant's gaze with eyes that never slept…that only rarely blinked…and said； 〃The High Lord would speak with you now。〃
〃Oh； hell；〃 Covenant groaned。 He looked back with something like regret at his balcony and the night beyond。 Then he went with the Bloodguard。
Walking down the hall； he gave himself a quick VSE。 It was a pointless exercise； but he needed the habit of it； if for no other reason than to remind himself of who he was； what the central fact of his life was。 He did it deliberately； as a matter of conscious choice。 But it did not hold his attention。 As he moved； Revelstone exerted its old influence over him again。
The high； intricate ways of the Keep had a strange power of suasion； an ability to carry conviction。 They had been delved into the mountain promontory by Saltheart Foamfollower's laughing； story…loving ancestors； and like the Giants they had an air of bluff and inviolable strength。 Now Bannor was taking Covenant deeper down into Revelstone than he had ever been before。 With his awakening perceptions； he could feel the massive gut…rock standing over him； it was as if he were in palpable contact with absolute weight itself。 And on a pitch of hearing that was not quite audible； or not quite hearing； he could sense the groups of people who slept or worked in places beyond the walls from him。 Almost he seemed to hear the great Keep breathe。 And yet all those myriad； uncountable tons of stone were not fearsome。 Revelstone gave him an impression of unimpeachable security； the mountain refused to let him fear that it would fall。
Then he and Bannor reached a dim hall sentried by two Bloodguard standing with characteristic relaxed alacrity on ；either side of the entrance。 There were no torches or other lights in the hall； but a strong glow illuminated it from its far end。 With a nod to his rades； Bannor led Covenant inward。
At the end of the hall； they entered a wide； round courtyard under a high cavern； with a stone floor as smooth as if it had been meticulously polished for ages。 The bright； pale…yellow light came from this floor； the stone shone as if a piece of the sun had gone into its making。
The courtyard held no other lights。 But though it was not blinding at the level of the floor； the glow cast out all darkness。 Covenant could survey the cave clearly from bottom to top。 At intervals up the walls were railed coigns with doors behind them which provided access to the open space above the court。
Bannor paused for a moment to allow Covenant to look around。 Then he walked barefoot out onto the shining floor。 Tentatively； Covenant followed； fearing that his feet would be burned。 But he felt nothing through his boots except a quiet resonance of power。 It set up a tingling vibration in his nerves。
Only after he became accustomed to the touch of the floor did he notice that there were doors widely spaced around the courtyard。 He counted fifteen。 Bloodguard sentries stood at nine of them； and several feet into the shining floor from each of these nine was a wooden tripod。 Three of these tripods held Lords' staffs…and one of the staffs was the Staff of Law。 It was distinguished from the smooth wood of the other staffs by its greater thickness； and by the plex runes carved into it between its iron heels。
Bannor took Covenant to the door behind the Staff。 The Bloodguard there stepped forward to meet them； greeted Bannor with a nod。
Bannor said； 〃I have brought ur…Lord Covenant to the High Lord。〃
〃She awaits him。〃 Then the sentry leveled the impassive threat of his gaze at Covenant。 〃We are the Bloodguard。 The care of the Lords is in our hands。 I am Morin； First Mark of the Bloodguard since the passing of Tuvor。 The High Lord will speak with you alone。 Think no harm against her； Unbeliever。 We will not permit it。〃 Without waiting for an answer； Morin； stepped aside to let him approach the door。
Covenant was about to ask what harm he could possibly do the High Lord； but Bannor forestalled him 〃In this place；〃 the Bloodguard explained； 〃the Lords set aside their burdens。 Their staffs they leave here； and within these doors they rest； forgetting the cares of the Land。 The High Lord honors you greatly in speaking to you here。 Without Staff or guard； she greets you as a friend in her sole private place。 UrLord； you are not a foe of the。 Land。 But you give little respect。 Respect this。〃
He held Covenant's gaze for a moment as if to enforce his words。 Then he went and knocked at the door。
When the High Lord opened her door； Covenant saw her clearly for the first time。 She had put aside her blue Lord's robe； and instead wore a long； light brown Stonedownor shift with a white pattern woven into the shoulders。 A white cord knotted at her waist emphasized her figure； and her thick hair； a rich brown with flashes of pale honey； fell to her shoulders； disguising the pattern there。 She appeared younger than he had expected…he would have said that she was in her early thirties at most…but her face was strong； and the white skin of her forehead and throat knew much about sternness and discipline； though she smiled almost shyly when she saw Covenant。
But behind the experience of responsibility and mitment in her features was something strangely evocative。 She seemed distantly familiar； as if in。 the background of her face she resembled someone he had once known。 This impression was both heightened and denied by her eyes。 They were gray like his own； but though they met him squarely they had an elsewhere cast； a disunion of focus； as if she were watching something else…as if some other； more essential eyes； the eyes of her mind； were looking somewhere else。 Her gaze touched parts of him which had not responded for a long time。
〃Please enter；〃 she said in a voice like a clear spring。
Moving woodenly； Covenant went past her into her rooms； and she shut the door behind him； closing out the light from the courtyard。 Her antechamber was illumined simply by a pot of graveling in each corner。 Covenant stopped in the center of the room； and looked about him。 The space was bare and unadorned； containing nothing but the graveling； a few stone chairs； and a table on which stood a white carving； but still the room seemed quiet and fortable。 The light gave this effect； he decided。 The warm graveling glow made even flat stone panionable； enhanced the essential security of Revelstone。 It was like being cradle