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w great is the power of the Seventh Ward？〃
〃It is the pinnacle of Kevin's Lore；〃 said Amok slyly； as if he were making a subtle joke。
〃Can it be used to defeat the Despiser？〃
〃Power is power。 Its uses are in the hands of the user。〃
〃Amok；〃 Amatin said； then hesitated。 She seemed almost afraid of her next question。 But she clenched her resolve； and spoke it。 〃Does the Seventh Ward contain knowledge of the Ritual of Desecration？〃
〃Lord； Desecration requires no knowledge。 It es freely to any willing hand。〃
The Lord sighed； then turned to Asuraka and asked the Staff…Elder for advice。 Asuraka referred the question to Drinishok； but he was out of his element； and could offer her nothing。 On an impulse； she turned to Corimini。 The two conferred in hushed tones for a moment。 When Asuraka returned to Amok； she said tentatively； 〃Amok； the other Wards teach knowledge concerning power。 Are you the power of the Seventh Ward？〃
〃I am the way and the door。〃
〃Do you bear the power itself within you？〃 she insisted。
For a moment； Amok appeared to study the legitimacy of this question。 Then he said simply； 〃No。〃
〃Are you a teacher？〃
〃I am the way and…〃
Suddenly Lord Amatin grasped a new idea； and interrupted Amok。 〃You are a guide。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You were created to teach us the location of some knowledge or power？〃
〃Ah； that may be as it happens。 Much is taught； but few learn。〃
〃Where is this power？〃
〃Where all such powers should be…hidden。〃
〃What is the power？〃
Laughing； the youth replied； 〃There is a time for all things。〃 Then he added； 〃Those who know me have no need of my name。〃
Amatin sagged； and turned away toward the High Lord。 Her thin face held a look of strain as she admitted defeat。 Around her； the assembly of the Loresraat sighed as the people shared her disappointment。 But the High Lord answered Amatin by stepping calmly forward； and planting the Staff of Law in front of Amok。 In a voice soft and confident； she said； 〃Amok； will you guide me？〃
With an unexpected seriousness； Amok bowed。 〃High Lord； yes。 If the white gold permits。〃
〃Don't ask me for permission；〃 Covenant said quickly。 But no one listened to him。 The High Lord smiled and asked； 〃Where will we go？〃
The youth did not speak； but he gave a general nod toward the Westron Mountains。
〃And when will we go？〃
〃Whenever the High Lord desires。〃 Throwing back his head； he began to laugh again as if he were releasing an overflow of high humor。 〃Think of me； and I will join you。〃
As he laughed； he flourished his arms intricately； and vanished。
Either his power was stronger than before； or he moved more swiftly； Troy 。caught no last glimpse of him。
The Warmark found that he regretted Amok's appearance intensely。
Soon after that； the gathering of the Loresraat broke up。 The Lorewardens and students of the Staff hurried away to begin analyzing what had happened； and Drinishok ordered all his students and fellow teachers away to the practice fields。 Elena； Mhoram； and Amatin went with Corimini and Staff…Elder Asuraka to their main library。 In moments； Troy； Covenant； and Bannor were the only people left in the bowl。
Troy felt that he should speak with Covenant； there were things that he needed to understand。 But he feared that he would not be able to keep his temper； so he also moved away； leaving Bannor to help Covenant struggle off the net。 He wanted to talk to the High Lord； ask her why she had made such a foolhardy offer to Amok。 But he was not in mand of his emotions。 He climbed out of the viane； and strode away along one of the boughs toward Drinishok's quarters。
In the Sword…Elder's larder； he ate a little bread and meat； and drank quantities of springwine in an ；effort to dissipate the dark sensation of foreboding which Amok had given him。 The idea that Elena might wander off somewhere with the youth； hunting for a cryptic and probably useless power when she was desperately needed elsewhere； made him grind his teeth in frustration。 His heart groaned with a prescience that told him he was going to lose her。 The Land was going to lose her。 Searching for balance； he consumed a great deal of springwine。 But it did not steady him； his brain reeled as if dangerous winds …were buffeting him。
Early in the afternoon； he went in search of the Lords； but one of the Lorewardens soon told him that they were closeted with Asuraka； studying the lomillialor munication rods。 So he descended to the ground； whistled for Mehryl； and rode away from Revelwood with Ruel at his side。 He wanted to visit the grave of the student who had summoned him to the Land。
Covenant had said； It isn't you they've got faith in at all。 It's the student who summoned you。 Troy needed to think about that。 He could not simply shrug it away。 One reason he distrusted Covenant was because the Unbeliever had first been called by Drool
Rockworm at Lord Foul's behest。 Did the nature of the summoner have any connection to the worth of the one summoned？
Furthermore； Covenant had referred to that student strangely； as if he knew something about …the young man Troy did not know。
Troy went to the place of his summons hoping that its physical context； its concrete location in Trothgard； would ease his vague fears and forebodings。 He needed to regain his self…confidence。 He knew he could not challenge Elena's decision to follow Amok if he did not believe in himself。
But when he reached the site of the grave； he found Trell there。 The big Gravelingas knelt by the grassy mound as if he were praying。 When he heard Troy's approach； …he raised his head suddenly； and his face was so swollen with grief that it struck Troy momentarily dumb。 He could think of no reason why Trell Gravelingas should be here grieving。
Before Troy could collect his thoughts to ask for an explanation； Trell jumped up and hastened away toward his mount； which he had tethered nearby。
〃Trell…！〃 Troy started to call after him； but Ruel interposed flatly； 〃Warmark； let him go〃
Troy turned in surprise toward the Bloodguard。 Ruel's visage was as passionless as ever； but something in the way his eyes followed Trell seemed to express an unwonted sympathy。 Carefully Troy said； 〃Why？ I don't understand。〃
〃That you must ask the High Lord；〃 Ruel replied without inflection。
〃I'm asking you！〃 the Warmark snapped before he could control his irritation。
〃Nevertheless。〃
With an effort； Troy mastered himself。 Ruel's mien said as plainly as words that he was acting on the High Lord's instructions； and that nothing which did not threaten her life could induce him to disobey her。 〃All right；〃 Troy said stiffly。 〃I'll do that。〃 Turning Mehryl； he trotted after Trell's galloping mount back toward Revelwood。
But when he reentered the Valley of Two Rivers
and approached the Tree； he found Drinishok waiting impatiently for him。 The Lords had announced that they would leave Revelwood the next morning； and the Sword…Elder wanted Troy to discuss the defense of the city with all the Lorewardens and students of the Sword。 This was a responsibility which Troy could not ignore； so while his private fog turned to dusk and then to night blindness； he addressed the assembled