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s。
Covenant wanted to ask Bannor what would happen to the Bloodguard if they ever came to believe that their extravagant fidelity was false； that in their Vow they had betrayed both Kevin and themselves。 But he could not put such a question into words。 Bannor deserved better treatment than that from him。 And Bannor； too； had lost his wife She had been dead for two thousand years。
Instead； Covenant concentrated on his search for a discrepancy。
But he soon knew he would not find one by questioning Bannor。 In his flat； alien voice； the Bloodguard gave brief answers that told Covenant what he both wanted and did not want to hear concerning the survivors of the Quest for the Staff of Law。 He had already learned what had happened to Foamfollower and Lord Mhoram。 Now Bannor told him that High Lord Prothall； who had led the Quest； had resigned his Lordship even before his pany had returned to Revelstone。 He had not been able to forget that the old Hearthrall Birinair had died in his place。 And he had felt that in regaining the Staff he had fulfilled his fate； done all that was in him。 He had mitted the Staff and the Second Ward to Lord Mhoram's care； and had ridden away to his home in the Northrop Climbs。 The inhabitants of Lord's Keep never saw him again。
So upon Mhoram's return Osondrea had assumed the High Lordship。 Until her death； she had used her power to rebuild the Council； expand the Wayward； and grow Revelwood； the new home of the Loresraat。
After returning to Revelstone； Quaan…the Warhaft of the Eoman that had acpanied Prothall and Mhoram…had also tried to resign。 He had been ashamed to bring only half of his warriors back alive。 But High Lord Osondrea； knowing his worth； had refused to release him； and soon he had returned to his duties。 Now he was the Hiltmark of the Wayward； Hile Troy's second…in…mand。 Though his hair was white and thin…though his gaze seemed rubbed smooth by age and use…still he was the same strong； honest man he had always been。 The Lords respected him。 In Troy's absence they would willingly have trusted Quaan to lead the Wayward。
Covenant sighed sourly； and let Bannor go。 Such information did not meet his need。 Clearly； he was not going to find any easy solutions to his dilemma。 If he wanted proof of delusion； he would have to make it for himself。
He faced the prospect with trepidation。 Anything he might do would take a long time to bear fruit。 It would not bee proof； brookless and unblinkable； until his delusion ended…until he had returned to his real life。 In the meantime； it would do little to sustain him。 But he had no choice； his need was urgent。
He had available three easy ways to create a definitive discontinuity： he could destroy his clothes； throw away his penknife…the only thing he had in his pockets…or grow a beard。 Then； when he awakened； and found himself clothed； or still possessed of his penknife； or clean…shaven； he would have his proof。
The obvious discrepancy of his healed forehead he did not trust。 Past experience made him fear that he would be reinjured shortly before this delusion ended。 But he could not bring himself to act on his first two alternatives。 The thought of destroying his tough； familiar apparel made him feel too vulnerable； and the expedient of discarding his penknife was too uncertain。 Cursing at the way his plight forced him to abandon all the strict habits upon which his survival depended； he decided to give up shaving。
When at last he summoned the courage to leave his rooms and go into the Keep in search of breakfast； he brandished the stubble on his cheeks as if it were a declaration of defiance。
Bannor guided him to one of the great refectories of Revelstone； then left him alone to eat。 But before he was done； the Bloodguard came striding back to his table。 There was an extra alertness in the spring of Bannor's steps…a tightness that looked oddly like excitement。 But when he addressed Covenant； his flat； shrouded eyes expressed nothing； and the repressed lilt of his voice was as inflectionless as ever。
〃Ur…Lord； the Council asks that you e to the Close。 A stranger has entered Revelstone。 The Lords will soon meet with him。〃
Because of Bannor's heightened alertness； Covenant asked cautiously； 〃What kind of stranger？〃
〃Ur…Lord？〃
〃Is it…is it someone like me？ or Troy？〃
In his confusion； Covenant did not immediately perceive the certitude of Bannor's reply。 But as he followed the Bloodguard out of the refectory and down through Revelstone； he began to hear something extra in the denial； something more than Bannor's usual confidence。 That No resembled Bannor's stride； it was tenser in some way。 Covenant could not fathom it。 As they descended a broad； curved stair through several levels of the Keep； he forced himself to ask； 〃What's so urgent about this stranger？ What do you know about him？〃
Bannor ignored the question。
When they reached the Close； they found that High
Lord Elena； Lord Verement； and four other Lords had already preceded them。 The High Lord was at her place at the head of the curved table； and the Staff of Law lay on the stone before her。 To her right sat two men； then two women。 Verement was on her left beyond two empty seats。 Eight Bloodguard sat behind them in the first row of the gallery； but the rest of the Close was empty。 Only First Mark Morin and the Hearthralls Tohrm and Borillar occupied their positions in back of the High Lord。
An expectant hush hung over the chamber。 For an instant； Covenant half expected Elena to announce the start of the war。
Bannor guided him to a seat at the Lords' table one place down from Lord Verement。 The Unbeliever settled himself in the stone chair； rubbing the stubble of his new beard with one hand as if he expected the Council to know what it meant。 The eyes of the Lords were on him； and their gaze made him unfortable。 He felt strangely ashamed of the fact that his fingertips were alive to the touch of his whiskers。
〃Ur…Lord Covenant；〃 the High Lord said after a moment； 〃while we await Lord Mhoram and Warmark Troy； we should make introduction。 We have been remiss in our hospitality。 Let me present to yon those of the Council whom you do not know。〃
Covenant nodded； glad of anything that would turn her disturbing eyes away from him； and she began on her left。 〃Here is Lord Verement Shetra…mate； whom you have seen。〃 Verement glowered at his hands； did not glance at Covenant。
Elena turned to her right。 The man next to her was tall and broad； he had a wide forehead； a watchful face draped with a warm blond beard； and an expression of habitual gentleness。 〃Here is Lord Callindrill Faer…mate。 Faer his wife is a rare master of the ancient suru…pa…maerl craft。〃 Lord Callindrill smiled half shyly at Covenant； and bowed his head。
〃At his side；〃 the High Lord went on； 〃are the Lords Trevor and Loerya。〃 Lord Trevor was a thin man with an air of uncertainty； as if he were not sure that he belonged at the Lords' table； but Lord Loerya
his wife looked solid and matronly； conscious that she contained power。 〃They have three daughters who gladden all our hearts。〃 Both Lords replied with smiles； but where his was both surprised and proud； hers was calm； conf