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he song mounted into the
air； then abruptly fell silent。 At once； flame erupted around Lord Mhoram。 It engulfed the whole platform of the Watch； and it filled the air with an impression of reverberation； as if the cliff face echoed a protracted and inaudible shriek。 The noiseless ululation made Troy's ears burn； made him ache to cover them and hide his head； but he forced himself to withstand it。 He did not take his gaze off the Watch。
The echoing was mercifully brief。 Moments after its last vibration had faded； Terrel came down the stair； half carrying Mhoram。
Troy was afraid that the Lord had damaged himself。 But Mhoram only suffered from a sudden exhaustion …the price of his exertion。 All his movements were weak； unsteady； and his face dripped with sweat； but he managed a faint smile for Troy。 〃I would not care to be Callindrill's foe；〃 he said wanly。 〃He is strong。 He sends riders to Amorine。〃
〃Good。〃 Troy's voice was gruff with affection and relief。 〃But if we don't get to Doom's Retreat before midafternoon tomorrow； it'll be wasted。〃
Mhoram nodded。 He braced himself on Terrel's shoulder； and stumbled away along the ledge with Troy and Ruel behind him。
They made slow progress at first because of Mhoram's fatigue； but before long they reached a small； pine…girdled valley plentifully grown with aliantha。 A breakfast of treasure…berries rejuvenated Lord Mhoram； and after that he moved more swiftly。
Behind Mhoram and Terrel； with Ruel at his back； Troy traveled on an urgent wind； a pressure for haste； that threatened to bee a gale。 He was eager to reach the Ranyhyn。 When they met Tull and the other Bloodguard on their way up the trail； he mounted Mehryl at once； and hurried the Ranyhyn into a brisk trot back toward Mithil Stonedown。
He intended to ride straight past the village to the Plains； where the Ranyhyn could run。 However； as he and his panions approached the Stonedown； he saw the Circle of elders waiting beside the trail。 Reluctantly； he stopped and saluted them。
〃Hail； Warmark Troy；〃 Terass Slen…mate replied。
〃Hail； Lord Mhoram。 We have heard some of the tidings of war； and know that you must make haste。 But Triock son of Thuler would speak with you。〃
As Terass introduced him； Triock stepped forward。
〃Hail； elders of Mithil Stonedown；〃 Mhoram responded。 〃Our thanks again for your hospitality。 Triock son of Thuler； we will hear you。 But speak swiftly…time presses heavily upon us。〃
〃It is no great matter；〃 said Triock stiffly。 〃I wish only to seek pardon for my earlier conduct。 I have reason for distress； as you know。 But I kept my Oath of Peace at Atiaran Trell…mate's behest； at a time when I sorely wished to break it。 I have no wish to dishonor her courage now。
〃It was my hope。 that Trell Gravelingas would stay with the High Lord…to protect her。〃 He said this defiantly； as if he expected Mhoram to reprimand him。 〃Now he is not with her…and I am not with her。 My heart fears this。 But if it were possible； I would take back my harshness to you。〃
〃There is no need for pardon；〃 Mhoram answered。 〃My own weak faith provoked you。 But I must tell you that I believe Thomas Covenant to be a friend of the Land。 The burden of his crime hurts him。 I believe he will seek atonement at the High Lord's side。〃
He paused； and Triock bowed in a way that said he accepted the Lord's words without being convinced。 Then Mhoram went on； 〃Triock son of Thuler； please accept a gift from me…in the name of the High Lord； who is loved by all the Land。〃 Reaching into his robe； he brought out his lomillialor rod。 〃This is High Wood； Triock。 You have been in the Loresraat； and will know some of its uses。 I will not use it again。〃 He said this with a resolution that surprised Troy。 〃And you will have need of it。 I am called seer and oracle…I speak from knowledge； though the need itself is closed to me。 Please accept it…for the sake of the love we share…and as expiation for my doubt。〃
Triock's eyes widened； and the twisting of his face relaxed briefly。 Troy caught a glimpse of what Triock might have looked like if his life had not been blighted。
In silence； he accepted the rod from Lord Mhoram's hands。 But when he held the High Wood； his old bitterness gripped his features again； and he said dourly； 〃I may find a use which will surprise you。〃 Then he bowed； and the other elders bowed with him； freeing Mhoram and Troy to be on their way。
Troy threw them a salute； and took his opportunity。 He had no time to spare for Mhoram's strange gift； or for Triock's brooding promises。 Instead； he clapped Mehryl with his heels。 and led his panions out of the valley of Mithil Stonedown at a gallop。
In a short time； they rounded the western spur of the mountains； and swung out into the Plains。 As Troy scanned his panions； he was surprised to see that Tull's mount could keep up the pace。 This Ranyhyn had been ridden through danger at cruel speeds for the past eight days； and the strain had wounded its gait。 But it was a Ranyhyn； its head was up； its eyes were proud； and its matted mane jumped on its neck like a flag gallantly struggling to unfurl。 For a moment； Troy understood why the Ramen did not ride。 But he made no concessions to the Ranyhyn's fatigue。 Throughout the day； he kept his pany running like rapid thunder into the west。
He ached to join his warriors； to share the fight and the desperation with them； to show them the one way in which they might be able to steal a victory out of the teeth of Lord Foul's army。 Only an exigent need for sleep forced him to stop during part of the night。
Ruel awakened him before dawn； and he rode on again along the base of the Southron Range。 When daylight returned his vision to him； he could see the cliffs near Doom's Retreat ahead。 Now his direct route to the Retreat would take him angling rapidly closer to the vanguard of Lord Foul's army。 But he kept his heading。 Near that horde of kresh and ur…viles； he would find whatever was left of the mounted Eoward。
He caught sight of Quaan's force sooner than he had expected。 The Hiltmark must have taken his riders on a southward curve toward the Retreat to keep their pursuers as far as possible from the march of the Warward。 Shortly after noon； Troy and his panions crested a high foothill which enabled them to look some distance north into the Plains。 And there；
only a league away； they saw the tattered； fleeing remnant of Quaan's mand。
At first； Troy felt a thrill of relief。 He could see Hiltmark Quaan riding beside his standard…bearer among the warriors。 At least sixscore Bloodguard galloped among the Eoward。 And the blue robes of Callindrill and Verement were clearly visible through the dark surge of the retreat。
But then Troy perceived how the riders were moving。 They were almost pletely routed。 In a tight mass like a swath of panic on the Plains； they pushed and jostled against each other； threw frantic glances behind them in ways that unbalanced their mounts； bristled with angry and fearful cries。 Some of them whipped their horses。
Behind them； the kresh ran like a yellow gale scored with black。
Nevertheless； the distance between the warriors and the wolves remained constant。 After a moment； Troy u