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Why？〃
〃The High Wood rods were only three。 One went to Lord's Keep； and one stayed in Revelwood； so that the Loresraat and Revelstone could act together to defend themselves。 One rod remained。 It was given into my hands for use in this war。〃
Troy's voice crackled with protest。 〃What good is that？〃
〃At need I will be able to speak to Revelwood and Lord's Keep。〃
〃Oh； you fool。〃 Troy did not know whether he was referring to Mhoram or himself。 So many things had been kept from him。 And yet he had never thought to ask who had the rods。 He had been saving that whole subject until he saw Lord Foul's army； knew what help he would need。 〃Why didn't you tell me？〃
For answer； Mhoram only gazed at him。 But through his haze； Troy could not read the Lord's expression。 〃Why didn't you tell me？〃 he repeated more bitterly。 〃How much else is there that you haven't told me？〃
Mhoram sighed。 〃As to the lomillialorI did not speak because you did not ask。 The rods are not a tool that you could use。 They were made for the Lords； and we used them as we saw fit。 It did not occur to us that your desires would be otherwise。〃
He sounded withdrawn； weary。 For the first time； Troy noticed how unresponsive the Lord had been all day。 A fit of shivering shook him。 That dream Mhoram had had last night…what did it mean？ What did the Lord knew that made him so unlike his usual self？ Troy felt a sudden foretaste of dread。 〃Mhoram；〃 he began； 〃Mhoram…〃
〃Peace； Warmark；〃 the Lord breathed。 〃Someone es。〃
At once； Troy heaved to his feet； and caught at Ruel's shoulder to anchor himself。 Though he strained his ears； he could hear nothing but the low breeze。 〃Who is it？〃
For a moment； no one answered。 When Ruel spoke； his voice sounded as distant and passionless as the darkness。 〃It is Tull； who shared the mission of Korik to the Giants of Seareach。〃
SEVENTEEN： Tull's Tale
TROY'S heart lurched； and began to labor heavily。 Tulll He could feel his pulse beating in his temples。 Korik's mission！ After the shock of Runnik's news； he had repressed all thought of the Giants； refused to let himself think of them。 He had concentrated on the war； concentrated on something he could
do something about。 But now his thoughts reeled。 The Giants！
Almost instantly he began to calculate。 He 'gad been away from Revelstone for twenty…five days。 The mission to Seareach had left eighteen days before that。 That was almost enough time； almost enough。 The Giants could not travel as fast as Bloodguard on Ranyhyn…but surely they would not be far behind。 Surely
Troy could understand how Tull had e here。 It made sense。 The other Bloodguard would be leading the Giants； and Tull had e ahead to tell the Warward that help was on the way。 With war on the Land and Lord Foul marching； the Giants would not go to Revelstone； would not go north at all。 They would go south； around Sarangrave Flat if not through it。 The Bloodguard knew Troy's battle plan； they would know what to do。 They would pick up the trail of Lord Foul's army above Landsdrop south of Mount Thunder； and would follow it…past Morinmoss； through the Mithil valley； then southwest toward Doom's Retreat。 They would be hoping to attack Lord Foul's rear during the battle of the Retreat。 And Tull； seeking to circumvent Lord Foul's army in search of the Warward； would naturally e south to skirt the Southron Range toward Doom's Retreat。 That route would bring him almost to the doorstep of Mithil Stonedown。 Surely…！
When Tull topped the stair and stepped onto the Watch； Troy was so eager that he jumped past all preliminary questions。 〃Where are they？〃 The words came so rapidly that he could hardly articulate them。 〃How far behind are they？〃
In the dim light of the graveling； he was unable to make out Tull's face。 But he could tell that the Bloodguard was not looking at him。 〃Lord；〃 Tull said； 〃I was charged by Korik to give my tidings to the High Lord。 With Shull and Vale I was charged…〃 For an instant； his fiat voice faltered。 〃But the Bloodguard in the Stonedown have told me that the High Lord has gone into the Westron Mountains with Amok。 I must give my tidings to you。 Will you hear？〃
Even through his excitement； Troy sensed something strange in Tull's tone； something that sounded like pain。 But he could not wait to hear it explained。 Before Lord Mhoram could reply； Troy repeated； 〃Where are they？〃
〃They？〃 said the Bloodguard。
〃The Giants！ How far behind are they？〃
Tull turned deliberately away from him to face Lord Mhoram。
〃We will hear you；〃 Mhoram said。 His voice was tense with dread； but he spoke steadily； without hesitation。 〃This war is in our hands。 Speak； Bloodguard。〃
〃Lord； they…we could not…the Giants…〃 Suddenly the habitual flatness of Tull's voice was gone。 〃Lord！〃 The word vibrated with a grief so keen that the Bloodguard could not master it。
The sound of it stunned Troy。 He was accustomed to the characteristic alien lack of inflection of all the Bloodguard。 He had long since stopped expecting them to express what they felt…had virtually forgotten that they even had emotions。 And he was not braced for grief； his anticipation of good news was so great that he could already taste it。
Instantly； before either he or Lord Mhoram could say anything； react at all； Terrel moved toward Tull。 Swinging so swiftly that Troy hardly saw the blow； he struck Tull across the face。 The hit resounded heavily in the empty air。
At once； Tull stiffened； came to attention。 〃Lord；〃 he began again； and now his voice was as expressionless as the night； 〃with Shull and Vale I was charged to bear tidings to the High Lord。 Before the dawn of the twenty…fourth day of the mission…the dawn after the dark of the moon…we left Coercri and came south； as Korik charged us； seeking to find the High Lord in battle at Doom's Retreat。 But because of the evil which is awake； we were pelled to journey on foot around the Sarangrave； and so twelve days were gone。 We came too near to the Shattered Hills； and so Vale and Shull fell to the scouts and defenders of Corruption。 But I endured。 Borne by the Ranyhyn； I fled to Landsdrop and the Upper Land； following
Corruption's army。 Striving to pass around it； I rode through the hills to the Southron Range； and so came within hail of Mithil Stonedowneight days in which the Ranyhyn has run without rest。
〃Lord…〃 Again he faltered； but at once he controlled himself。 〃I must tell you of the mission to Seareach； and of the ill doom which has befallen The Grieve。〃
〃I hear you；〃 Mhoram said painfully。 〃But forgive me…I must sit。〃 Like an old man； he lowered himself down his staff to rest with his back against the wall of the parapet。 〃I lack the strength to stand for such tidings。〃
Tull seated himself opposite the Lord across the graveling pot； and Troy sat down also； as if Tull's movement pelled him。 The vestiges of his sight were locked on the Bloodguard。
After a moment； Mhoram said； 〃Runnik came to us in Trothgard。 He spoke of Hoerkin and Lord Shetra； and of the lurker of the Sarangrave。 There is no need to speak of such things again。〃
〃Very well。〃 Tull faced the Lord； but his visage was shrouded in darkness。 Troy could not see his eyes