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n of his mand。
Briskly； he went on； 〃As you know； we're only five days from Doom's Retreat。 We have almost exactly forty…eight leagues left to go。 After what you've already done； you should be able to do this in your sleep。 But still there are a few things I want to say about it。
〃First； you should know that you've already acplished more than any other army in the history of the Land。 No other Warward has ever marched this far this fast。 So every one of you is already a hero。 I'm not bragging…facts are facts。 You are already the best。
〃But heroes or not； our job isn't done until we've
won。 That's why we're going to Doom's Retreat。 It's a perfect place for a trap…once we get there； we can handle an army five times our size。 And just getting there…just pulling Foul's army south like this…we've already saved scores of Stonedowns and Woodhelvens in the Center Plains。 For most of you； that means we've saved your homes。〃
He paused； hoping to let his own confidence reach into the hearts of the warriors。 Then he said； 〃But we have got to get to the Retreat in time。 That is where Hiltmark Quaan expects to find us。 He and his Eoward are fighting like hell to give us these five more days。 If we don't reach the Retreat before they do； they will all die。
〃It's going to be close。 But I can tell you for a fact that the Hiltmark has already bought three of those five days for us。 You all saw that storm six days ago。 You know what it was…an attack on the Hiltmark's Eoward。 That means that six days ago he was still holding Foul's army in the Mithil valley。 And you know Hiltmark Quaan。 You know he won't let a mere two days get between us and victory。
〃It is going to be close。 We're not going to get much rest。 But once we're in the Retreat； I'm not afraid of the oute。〃
At this； the Hafts raised a cheer to answer Troy's bravado； and he stood silently in the ovation with his head bowed； accepting it only because the courage in the shout； the courage of his army； overwhelmed him。 When the cheering subsided； and the Warward became silent again； he said thickly into the stillness； 〃My friends； I'm proud of you all。〃
Then he turned and almost ran from the hill。
Lord Mhoram followed him as he sprang onto Mehryl's back。 Acpanied by Ruel； Terrel； and eight other Bloodguard； the two men galloped away from the Warward。 Troy set a hard pace until his army was out of sight in the hills behind him。 Then he eased Mehryl back to a gait which would cover the distance to Mithil Stonedown and the base of Kevin's Watch in three days。 With Mhoram at his side； he cantered eastward over the rumpled Plains。
After a time； the Lord said quietly； 〃Warmark Troy； you have moved them。〃
〃You've got it backward；〃 replied Troy in a voice gruff with emotion。 〃They did it to me。〃
〃No； my friend。 They have bee very loyal to you。〃
〃They're loyal people。 They…all right； yes； I know what you mean。 They're loyal to me。 If I ever let them down…if I even make any normal human mistakes they're going to feel betrayed。 I know。 I've focused too much of their courage and hope on myself； on my plans。 But if it gets them to Doom's Retreat in time； the risk'll be worth it。〃
Lord Mhoram assented with a nod。 After a pause； he said； 〃But you have done your part。 My friend； I must tell you this。 When I first understood your intention to march toward Doom's Retreat at such a pace； I felt the task to be impossible。〃
〃Then why did you let me do it？〃 flared Troy。 〃Why wait until now to say anything？〃
〃Ah； Warmark；〃 returned the Lord； 〃everything that passes unattempted is impossible。〃
At this； Troy turned on Mhoram。 But when he met the Lord's probing gaze； he realized that Mhoram would not have raised such a question gratuitously。 Forcing himself to relax； he said； 〃You don't actually expect me to be satisfied with an answer like that。〃
〃No；〃 the Lord replied simply。 〃I speak only to express my appreciation for what you have done。 I trust you。 I will follow your lead in this war into any peril。〃
Abruptly； a rush of gratitude filled Troy's throat； and he had to clench his teeth to keep from grinning foolishly。 To meet Mhoram's trust； he whispered； 〃I won't let you down。〃
But later； when his emotion had receded； he was disconcerted to remember how many such promises he had made。 They seemed to expand with every new development in the march。 His speech to the Warward was only one in a series of assertions。 Now he felt that he had given his personal guarantee of success to practically the entire Land。 He had maneuvered him
self into a corner…a place where defeat and betrayal became the same thing。
The simple thought of failure made his pulse labor vertiginously in his head。
If this was the kind of thinking that inspired Covenant's Unbelief； then Troy could see that it made a certain kind of sense。 But he had a savage name for it； he called it cowardice。 He forced the thought down； and turned his attention to the South Plains。
Away from the mountains； the terrain leveled somewhat； and opened into broad stretches of sharp； hardy grass mottled with swaths of gray bracken and heather turning purple in the autumn。 It was not a generous land…Troy had been told that there were only five Stonedowns in all the South Plains…but its unprofligate health was vital and strong； like the squat； muscular people who lived with it。 Something in its austerity appealed to him； as if the ground itself were appropriate for war。 He rode it steadily； keeping a brisk pace while conserving Mehryl's strength for the hard run from Kevin's Watch to Doom's Retreat。
But the second night； his confidence suffered a setback。 Soon after moonrise； Lord Mhoram sprang suddenly awake； screaming so vehemently that Troy's blood ran cold。 Troy groped toward him through the darkness； but he struck the Warmark down with his staff； and started firing fierce blasts of power into the invulnerable heavens as if they were attacking him。 A madness gripped him。 He did not stop until Terrel caught his arms； shouted into his face； 〃Lord！ Corruption will see you！〃
With an immense effort； Mhoram mastered himself； silenced his power。
Then Troy could see nothing。 He had to wait in blind suspense until at last he heard Mhoram breathe； 〃It is past。 I thank you； Terrel。〃 The Lord sounded utterly weary。
Troy thronged with questions； but Mhoram either would not or could not answer them。 The force of his vision left him dumb and quivering。 He could barely pel his lips to form the few words he spoke to reassure Troy。
The Warmark was not convinced。 He demanded a light。 But when Ruel built up the campfire； Troy saw the garish heat of torment and danger in Mhoram's eyes。 It stilled him； denied his offer of support or consolation。 He was forced to leave the Lord alone in his cruel； oracular pain。
For the rest of the night； Troy lay awake； waiting anxiously。 But when dawn came and his sight returned； he perceived that Mhoram had weathered the crisis。 The fever in his gaze had been replaced by a hard gleam like a warning that it was perilous to challenge him…a gleam that reminded Troy of that picture in the Hall of Gifts entitled 〃Lord Mhoram's Victory。〃
The Lord offered no explanatio