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r until it was clean； while Shetra seated the man by the
fire。 She took hold of his head to force some springwine between his lips。
The cold of his flesh blistered her fingers。
She and Hyrim wrapped their hands in blankets for protection； then laid the man down by the fire and stripped him of his rags。 They washed him with boiling water。 When he was clean； Lord Shetra drew a stone vial of hurtloam from her robe； and spread some of the healing mud over the worst of his wounds。
Dawn came through the rain。 In the light； the Bloodguard saw the result of the Lords' work。 The man's skin looked like the flesh of a corpse： On his wounds； the hurtloam lay impotent。 The cold in him was uneased。
Yet he breathed and blinked。 When the Lords covered him and lifted him into a sitting posture； he squeezed his eyes； and water began to run from them like tears。 It spread out over his cheeks and formed beads of ice in his beard。
〃By the Seven。 By the Seven！〃 Lord Shetra moaned。 〃He is dead； and yet he lives。 What has been done to him？〃
Lord Hyrim made no answer。
After a time； Korik spoke for the Bloodguard。 〃He is Hoerkin； a Warhaft of the Warward。 He manded the First Eoman of the Tenth Eoward。 The High Lord sent his mand to seek out the Giants in Seareach。〃
〃Yes；〃 Hyrim murmured。 〃I remember。 When his Eoman did not return； the High Lord sent Callindrill and Amatin to attempt the Sarangrave。 Twenty…one warriors…Warhaft Hoerkin and his mand…all lost。 Callindrill and Amatin found no trace。〃
Lord Shetra addressed herself to the man。 〃Hoerkin。 Warhaft Hoerkin。 Do you hear me？ Speak！ I am Shetra Verement…mate； Lord of the Council of Revelstone。 I adjure you to speak。〃
At first； Hoerkin did not respond。 Then his jaw moved； and a low noise came from his mouth。
〃I am ahamkara； the Door。 I am sent…〃
His voice trailed off into the flow of his tears。
〃Sent？ Door？〃 Shetra said。 〃Hoerkin； speak！〃
The Warhaft did not seem to hear。 He sat in silence； while his tears formed clusters of ice in his beard。
Then Lord Hyrim manded； 〃Ahamkara； answer！〃
Hoerkin swallowed； and spoke。
〃I am ahamkara； the Door。 I am sent to bear witness to…to…〃
He faltered； but resumed a moment later。
〃I am sent to bear witness to the downfall of Giants。〃
For all the Bloodguard； Korik said； 〃You lie！〃 And Lord Shetra sprang on Hoerkin。 Regardless of the pain； she gripped his face between her hands； and shouted； 〃Despiser！〃
He gave a cry and tore himself from her grasp。 Huddling with his face against the logs of the raft； he sobbed like a child。
Appalled； Shetra backed away from him。 At Lord Hyrim's side； she stopped and waited。 Long moments passed before Hoerkin moved。 Then he pushed himself up into his former posture。 Still his tears ran down into his beard。
〃…the downfall of Giants。 There were three； brothers of one birth。 Omen of the ；end。 They serve Satansheart Soulcrusher。〃
He stopped again。
After a moment； Korik said； 〃This cannot be。 It is impossible。 The Giants of Seareach are the Rockbrothers of the Land。〃
Hoerkin did not respond。 Staring at the logs of the raft； he sat like dead clay。 But soon he spoke again。
〃…crusher。 They are named Fleshharrower； Satans…fist…and one other not to be named。〃
He swallowed once more。
〃They are the three Ravers。〃
For a time； all the mission was silent。 Then both Hyrim and Shetra strove to pel Hoerkin to say more。 But he remained beyond their reach； unspeaking。
At last； Lord Shetra said to Hyrim； 〃How do you hear his words？ What meaning do you see？〃
〃I hear truth；〃 Lord Hyrim said。 〃Omen of the end。〃
Korik said； 〃No。 By the Vow； it is impossible。〃
Quickly Lord Hyrim said； 〃Do not swear by your Vow here。〃
His reproof was just。 The Bloodguard were not ignorant of his meaning。 Korik did not speak again。 But Lord Shetra said； 〃I agree with Korik。 It surpasses belief to think that a Raver could master any Giant。 If the Despiser's power extended so far； why did he not enslave Giants in the past？〃
Lord Hyrim answered her； 〃That is true。 The Ravers do not suffice。 They do not explain。 But now Lord Foul has possession of the Illearth Stone。 That was not so in the age of the Old Lords。 Perhaps the Ravers and the Stone together…〃
〃Hyrim； we are speaking of the Giants！ If such an ill had e upon them； they would have sent word to us。〃
〃Yes；〃 Lord Hyrim said。 〃How was it done？〃
〃Done？〃
〃How were they prevented？ What has been done to them？〃
〃To them？〃 said Lord Shetra。 〃Ask a more immediate question。 What has been done to Hoerkin？ What has been done to us？〃
〃It is the Despiser's way。 In the battle of Soaring Woodhelven…we are told…he damaged the Heer Llaura and the child Pietten so that they would help destroy what they loved。〃
〃They were used to bait a trap。 Hyrim； we are baited！〃
She did not wait for an answer。 She sprang to the rear of the raft； jammed her staff between the logs； began her song。 Strength ran through the ironwood； the raft moved forward through the rain。 〃Join me！〃 she called to Lord Hyrim。 〃We must flee this place！〃
Lord Hyrim climbed wearily to his feet。 〃At Soaring Woodhelven； the trap was plete without Llaura and Pietten。 They were an arrogance…a taunt …unnecessary。〃 As he spoke； his breath began to labor in his chest。 The muscles of his neck corded with the strain of inhaling。
The Bloodguard； too； could not breathe easily。
In moments； Hyrim fell to his knees； clutching at his chest。 Lord Shetra gasped at the effort of each breath。
The rain falling on the river seemed to make no sound。
Then Warhaft Hoerkin leaped to his feet。 From between his lips came a low moan of pain。 The sound was terrible。 His head bent back； and his cry rose until it became a scream。
It was the same scream which had caused the Ranyhyn to panic。
Korik was the first of the Bloodguard to recover his
strength。 At once； he knocked the Warhaft from the
raft。 …
Hoerkin sank like a stone。 The voice was immediately silent。
Yet the thickness of the air only increased。 It tightened around the mission like a fist。
Lord Hyrim struggled to his feet。 To Doar； he panted； 〃Did you put out his fire？ Hoerkin's fire？〃
〃No；〃 Doar said。 〃It fell when we laid hands upon him。〃
〃By the Seven！〃 Hyrim said。 〃It was you！ The Bloodguard！ Not the Ranyhyn。 This ill force listens to you！…to the power of the Vow！〃
The Bloodguard had no answer。 The Vow was not something which could be concealed or denied。
But Lord Shetra was surprised。 Her strength dropped away from the raft。
At Korik's mand； the four steersmen took up their poles； and thrust the raft toward the north bank of the Course。 He wished to meet the attack on land； if he could。 He made the steersmen responsible for the raft； then called the other Bloodguard to the defense of the Lords。
In that instant； the river erupted。 Silently； water blasted upward； hurling the raft into the air； overturning it。
Behind the burst； a black tentacle flicked out of the water。 It twisted； coiled； caught Lord Shetra。
Most of the Bloodguard dove clear of the fall of the raft。 But Sill and Lord Hyrim were directly under it。
With Pren and Tull； Korik swam for the place w