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ore； so while his private fog turned to dusk and then to night blindness； he addressed the assembled discipline of the Sword。 He did not even try to see what he was talking about； he went into the strategy of the Valley from memory。
But when he was done； he found that he had lost his chance to talk to the Lords。 In the darkness； he seemed to lack courage as well as vision。 After his lecture； he went to Drinishok's home； and shared a meal full of indigestible lumps of silence with the Sword…Elder。 Then he went to bed early； he could not endure any more of the blurred half…sight of torches。 Drinishok respected his mood； and left him alone。 In blind isolation； he stared uselessly into the darkness； and tried to recover his balance。 He felt certain that he was going to lose Elena。
He ached to talk to her； to dissuade her； cling to her。 But the next morning； when all the riders gathered with their mounts just after dawn on the south side of the great Tree； he found that he could not confront the High Lord with his fears。 Sitting regally on Myrha's back in the gleam of day； she had too much presence； too much personal authority。 He could not deny or challenge her。 And while she was surrounded by so many people； he could not ask her his questions about Trell。 His apprehension was too personal to be aired so publicly。 He strove to occupy his mind with other things until he got a chance to talk to someone。
Deliberately； he scanned the pany of riders。 Standing by their Ranyhyn behind the Lords were twenty Bloodguard First Mark Morin； Terrel； Bannor； Ruel； Runnik； and fifteen others。 Obviously； Koral would remain with Lord Amatin at Revelwood。 In addition to them； the group included only five others： High Lord Elena； Lord Mhoram； Covenant； Troy；
and Trell。 When he saw the Gravelingas； Troy again felt a desire to speak to him。 The unconcealed wound of Trell's expression was taut with suspense； as if he awaited some decision from Elena with a degree of agony that surprised Troy。 But the Warmark refrained； despite his mounting anxiety。 The High Lord had begun to address Lord Amatin and Eldest Corimini。
〃My friends；〃 she said gravely； 〃I leave Revelwood in your care。 Ward it well！ The Tree and the Loresraat are the two great achievements of the new Lords…two symbols of our service。 If it may be done； they must be preserved。 Remember vigilance； and watch the Center Plains。 If war es upon you； you must not be taken unaware。 And remember that if Revelwood cannot be saved； the Lore still must be preserved； and Lord's Keep warned。 The Loresraat and the Wards must find safety in Revelstone at need。
〃Sister Amatin； these are great burdens。 But I place them in your hands without fear。 They do not surpass you。 And the help of Corimini the Eldest； and of Asuraka and Drinishok the Elders； is beyond price。 I do not believe that the Warward will fall in this war。 But you must be prepared for all chances； even the worst。 You will not fail。 This trust bees you。〃
Lord Amatin blinked back a moment of tears； and bowed silently to the High Lord。 Then Elena lifted her head to Revelwood； and projected her voice so that she could be heard in the Tree。
〃Friends！ rades！ Proud people of the Land！ There is war upon us。 Together we confront the test of death。 Now is the time of parting； when all the defenders of the Land must go to their separate tasks。 Do not desire to change your lot for another's。 All faith and service are equal； alike worthy and perilous； in this time of need。 And do not grieve at parting。 We go to the greatest glory of our age…we are honored by the chance to give our utmost for the Land。 This is the test of death； that at the last we may prove worthy of what we serve。
〃Be of good heart。 If the needs of this war go beyond your strength； do not despair。 Give all your
strength； and hold Peace； and do not despair。 Hold courage and faith high！ It is better to fall and die in Peace than to re…Desecrate the Land。
〃My friends； I am honored that I have shared life with you。〃
High in Revelwood； a strident voice cried； 〃Hail to the High Lord and the Staff of Law！〃 And all the people in the Tree and on the ground answered； 〃Hail！ Hail to the High Lord！〃
Elena bowed deeply to Revelwood； spreading her arms wide in the traditional gesture of farewell。 Then she turned Myrha toward the riders； and spoke to Lord Mhoram。
〃Now； Mhoram； my most trusted friend； you must depart。 You and Warmark Hile Troy must rejoin the Warward； to guide it into war。 I have decided。 I will leave you now； and follow Amok to the Seventh Ward of Kevin's Lore。〃
In spite of himself； Troy groaned； and clutched at Mehryl's mane as if to keep himself from falling。 But the High Lord took no notice of him。 Instead； she said to Mhoram； 〃You know that I do not do this to evade the burden of war。 But you also know that you are the more experienced and ready in battle。 And you know that the oute of the war may allow us no second opportunity to discover this Ward。 Yet the Ward may enable a victory which would otherwise be taken from us。 I cannot choose otherwise。〃
Lord Mhoram gazed at her intently for a time。 When he finally spoke； his voice was thick with suppressed appeals。 〃Beware； High Lord。 Even the Seventh Ward is not enough。〃
Elena met him squarely； but her own gaze appeared unfocused。 The other dimension of her sight was so pronounced that she did not seem to see him at all。 〃Perhaps it was not enough for Kevin Landwaster；〃 she replied softly； 〃but it will suffice for me。〃
〃No！〃 Mhoram protested。 〃The danger is too great。 Either this power did not meet Kevin's need in any way； or its peril was so great that he feared to use it。 Do not take this risk。〃
〃Have you seen it？〃 she asked。 〃Do you speak from vision？〃
With an effort； Mhoram forced himself to say； 〃I have not seen it。 But I feel it in my heart。 There will
be death because of it。 People will be slain。〃My friend； you are too careful of all risks but your
own。 If you held the Staff of Law in my place； you would follow Amok to the ends of the Earth。 And people will still be slain。 Mhoram； ask your heart…do you truly believe that the future of the Land can be won in war？ It was not so for Kevin。 I must not lose any chance which may teach me another way to resist the Despiser。〃
Mhoram bowed his head； too moved to make any answer。 In the silence； they melded their thoughts； and after a moment the strain in his face eased。 When he looked up again； he directed his gaze explicitly toward Covenant and Troy。 Softly； he said； 〃Then…if you must go…please do not go alone。 Take someone with you…someone who may be of service。〃
For one wild instant； Troy thought that the High Lord was going to ask him to go with her。 Despite his responsibilities to the Warward； his lips were already forming his answer…Yes…when she said； 〃That is my desire。 Ur…Lord Covenant； will you acpany me？ I wish to share。 this quest with you。〃
Awkwardly； as if her request embarrassed him； Covenant said； 〃Do you really think I'm going to be of service？〃
A gentle smile touched Elena's lips。 〃Nevertheless。〃
He stared into the expanse of her eyes for a moment。 Then； abruptly； he looked away and shrugged。 〃Yes。