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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 where Lord Shetra had been taken。 But the dark water blinded them； they could see nothing； find nothing。 The river seemed to have no bottom。
Korik made his decision。 The mission to Seareach was in his hands。 In a tone that allowed no refusal； he ordered the Bloodguard out of the Course。
Soon he stood on the north bank in the fringe of the jungle。 Most of the other Bloodguard were with him。 Sill and Lord Hyrim had preceded them。 The Lord was uninjured； Sill had protected him from the raft。
Downriver； two of the steersmen were tying up the raft； while the other two dove for the pany's supplies。
There was no sign of Cerrin and Lord Shetra。
Hyrim was coughing severely…he had swallowed some of the rank water…but he struggled to his feet； and gasped； 〃Save her！〃
But the Bloodguard made no move to obey。 The mission to Seareach was in their hands。 And they knew that Cerrin was still alive。 He could call to them if their aid would be worth the cost。
〃I tried；〃 Hyrim panted。 〃But I cannot swim。 Oh； worthless！〃 A convulsion came over him。 He threw his arms wide。 and cried out into the rain； 〃Shetra！〃 A bolt of power struck from his staff down through the water toward the river bottom。 Then he collapsed into Sill's arms。
His blast seemed to have an effect。 The river around the point of Lord Shetra's disappearance started to boil。 A turmoil in the water sent up gouts of blood and hunks of black flesh。 Steam arose from the current。 Deep down in the Defiles Course； a flash of blue was briefly visible。
Then a noise like a thunderclap shook the ground。 The river hissed like a torment。 And the thickness of the air broke。 It was swept away as if it had been washed off the Sarangrave。
The Bloodguard knew that Cerrin was dead。
Only one sign came back from Lord Shetra's struggle。 Porib saw it first； dove into the river to retrieve it。
Silently； he put it into Lord Hyrims hands…Lord Shetra's staff。 。
Between its metal…shod ends； it was pletely burned and brittle。 It snapped like kindling in Hyrim's grasp。
The Lord pulled away from Sill； and seated himself against a tree。 With tears running openly down his cheeks； he hugged the pieces of Shetra's staff to his chest。
But the peril was not ended。 For the sake of his Vow； Korik said to the Lord； 〃The lurker is not dead It has only been cut back here。 We must go on。〃
〃Go？〃 Hyrim said。 〃Go on？ Shetra is dead。 How can I go on？ I feared from the first that your Vow was a voice which the evil in the Sarangrave could hear。 But I said nothing。〃 There was bitterness in him。 〃I believed that you would speak of it if my fear were justified。〃
Again the Bloodguard had no answer。 They had not known beyond doubt or possibility of error that the lurker was alert to their presence。 And so many manifestations of power were not what they appeared to be。 In respect for the Lord's grief； the Bloodguard left him alone while they readied the raft to go on their way。
The steersmen had been able to salvage the poles and food； most of the clingor and the lillianrill rods； but none of the clothes or blankets。 The raft itself was intact。
Then Korik spoke to Runnik； Pren； and Porib； charged them to bear word of the mission to High Lord Elena。 The three accepted without question； but waited for the mission's departure before starting their westward trek。
When all things were prepared； Korik and Sill lifted Lord Hyrim between them； and guided him like a child down the bank onto the raft。 He appeared to be unwell。 Perhaps the river water he had swallowed was sickening him。 As the steersmen thrust the raft out into the center of the Defiles Course； he murmured to himself； 〃This is not the end。 There will be pain and death to humble this。 Hyrim son of Hoole； you are a coward。〃 Then the mission was gone。 Together； Runnik；
Pren； and Porib started into the jungle of Sarangrave Flat。
The fire had died down to coals； and without its light Troy could see nothing…nothing to counteract the images of death and grief in his mind。 He knew that there were questions he should ask Runnik； but in the darkness they did not seem important。 He was dismayed to think that Shetra's fall had taken place ten days ago； it felt too immediate for such a lapse of time。
The Lords beside him sat still； as if they were stunned or melding； and Covenant was silent…too moved for speech。 But after a time Elena said with a shudder of emotion in her voice； 〃Ah； Verement！ How will you bear it？〃 Her eyes were only visible as embers。 In the darkness they had an aspect of focus and unendurable virulence。
Softly； Lord Mhoram sang：
Death is passing on the making way of life and time for life。 Hate dying and killing； not death。 Be still； heart： make no expostulation。 Hold peace and grief； and be still。
FIFTEEN： Revelwood
THE High Lord's pany reached the Loreraat by nightfall of the sixth day。 During the last leagues； the road worked gradually down into the lowlands of Trothgard； and just as the sun started to dip into the Westron Mountains； the riders entered the wide Valley of Two Rivers。
There the Rill and Llurallin came together in a broad V； joined each other in the narrow end of the valley； to the left of the riders。 The Llurallin River； which flowed almost due east below them； arose from clear springs high in the raw rock of the mountains beyond Guards Gap； and had a power of purity that had rendered it inviolate to all the blood and hacked flesh and blasted earth which had ruined Kurash Plenethor。 Now； generations after the Desecration； it ran with the same crystal taintlessness which had given it its ancient name…the Llurallin。
Across the valley was the Rill River； the southern boundary of Trothgard。 Like the Maerl； the Rill had been greatly improved by the long work of the Lords； and the water which flowed from the Valley of Two Rivers no longer deserved the name Gray。
In the center of the valley； within the broad middle of the river V； was Revelwood； the tree city of the Loresraat。
It was an immense and expansive banyan。 Invoked and strengthened by the new knowledge of the Second Ward； and by the Staff of Law； it grew to the height of a mighty oak； sent down roots as thick as hawsers from boughs as broad as walkways…roots which formed new trunks with new boughs and new roots…and spread out in the valley until the central core of the first tree was surrounded by six others； all intergrown； part of each other； the fruit of one seed。
Once these seven trunks were established； the shapers of the tree prevented any more of the hanging roots from reaching the ground； and instead wove the thick bundles into chambers and rooms…homes and places of study for the students and teachers of the Loresraat。 Three of the outer trees had been similarly woven before their roots found the soil； and so now their trunks contained cavities large enough for meeting halls and libraries。 On the sheltered acres of ground beneath the trees were gardens and practice fields； training areas for the students of both Staff and Sword。 And above t