The Runes of the Earth

to her clenched hands as to him, “I have to.”

“No,” he countered with unwonted vehemence, “you do not. It is madness. Have you considered that Corruption has required three millennia to regain his strength? Have you considered that he has remained so long reduced because the Staff has been potent against him? Are these matters not plain to you? Unused, the Staff has also not been misused. Therefore it hinders Corruption still. Likewise such atrocities as the Falls have been restrained and limited by the Staff’s hidden suasion.

“If you will not think of such things, then consider the Masters. We are sworn to the preservation of the Land. Toward that end, we have laboured across the centuries to prevent the misuse of power which enables Corruption. You have earned my forbearance. I do not wish to oppose you. But my enmity-the enmity of the Haruchai- is certain if you persist. You are mighty, as we know. Yet I must prevent you. And if I cannot, even your puissance will not avail you against the combined force of the Masters.”

Every word he said was true: Linden knew that. But he had said too much, and she could no longer hear him. Crying, “You don’t understand!” she surged to her feet.

Obliquely, she saw that Liand had come to Stave’s side, ready to defend her if the Master attacked. However, the Manethralls remained seated, watching her with consternation in their eyes. Bhapa crouched as if he had started to rise with Liand, and had been stopped by a word from the Manethralls.

But they were all irrelevant to her now. It was Stave who confronted her, Stave who challenged her; and he could snap her neck with one sharp blow, in spite of his hurts. Even if she were capable of defending herself, she could not bear to think that he would become her enemy. Another foe among so many

Ignoring the pain in his hip, the Master faced her. His mien resumed its familiar flat detachment. “Then inform me, Chosen,” he replied inflexibly. The pallor of his scar seemed to reject whatever she might say. “What is it that I do not understand?”

Desperation rose in her like fury. But it was not anger that filled her voice: it was supplication.

“Don’t you remember last night? Do you even listen to yourself when you talk? I asked you why the Ramen haven’t forgiven you for trying to use the Illearth Stone, and you said it’s because they weren’t present. They can’t know what the Bloodguard suffered in Seareach because they weren’t there.

“But you don’t know me any better than the Ramen know you.” Transformed by pleading, she met his stare as if her own fear could no longer touch her. “Oh, your people remember everything. But you’re like the Ramen. You weren’t there. You were so worried about repeating your mistake with the Illearth Stone that you stayed behind when Covenant and I went to face Lord Foul.

“You weren’t there when Covenant sacrificed himself. You weren’t there when I took his ring and turned Vain and Findail into the Staff of Law, or when I erased the Sunbane, or when-” For an instant, she choked on the memory of Covenant’s farewell. Then she shouted, “And you sure as hell weren’t there when Covenant and I were summoned in the first place!” When Jeremiah had burned away half of his right hand in the Despiser’s bonfire. “You think you have the right to pass judgment, but you don’t know what’s at stake for me.”

Stave appeared to consider her assertion briefly. Then he shook his head. “You have not answered. Your words explain nothing. You make plain that you disdain the necessary choices of the Haruchai. You see it as a fault in us that we will never again hazard being made to serve Corruption. You also pass judgment, yet you reveal nothing.

“We do not propose to bear white gold into the heart of a Fall. It is not our intent to dare the utter destruction of the Earth.”

“Then listen,” Linden begged. He had missed the point completely. Like the Ramen, he did not know how to forgive. “I have to do this.

“Lord Foul has my son.”

Chapter Three: The Will of the Ranyhyn

“Your son?”

If Stave felt any surprise or concern, his body did not show it. Linden could not read his emotions.

Nevertheless she found that she was done with pleading. “His name,” she sighed, “is Jeremiah.” Her efforts to persuade the Master cost her too much of her courage. “Foul took him while we were being translated to the Land. A few days ago. I don’t suppose you can imagine what he’s going through, but I can.” She had been possessed by a Raver. “You can say whatever you want. I’m not going to let anything stop me.”

The Master’s stolid demeanour revealed nothing as he averred, “You must. Your purpose is madness. The Earth will perish, and your son with it.”

Oh, hell. Mentally she threw up her hands. “Then don’t come with me. You should be able to ride in a few days.” His hip would heal sufficiently in that time. “Take your Ranyhyn and go tell the rest of the Masters what I’m doing. They’ll need time to organize your famous “enmity”.”

Do anything you want. Just don’t try to stop me yourself.

Stave lifted an eyebrow. Perhaps she had surprised him in spite of his restraint. However, she heard no change in his tone as he replied, “In one thing, Chosen, you have spoken truly. I do not comprehend. Among us children are precious beyond expression. Yet no Haruchai would permit a greater harm in order to secure the life of any son or daughter.”

Then he stepped back. “It will be as you say. In ages past, the Haruchai have doubted you-and have learned that they were mistaken. And we have not been present to share your burdens. Their cost is hidden from us. Therefore I will not strive to prevent you now. Rather I will bear word of your actions to the Masters. Together we will determine how we must respond.”

Limping, he turned away; left her to the Ramen and Liand.

Linden had gained that much, if nothing more. He had not struck her down.

Yet now her enemies numbered in the hundreds.

Liand’s desire to understand her as well as the Master was tangible between them. But she felt too bereft and vulnerable to answer his unspoken questions. Deliberately she stepped past him in order to stand in front of the Manethralls.

“What about you?” she asked sadly. How could they not turn their backs on her? “A little while ago, you assured me that I’m welcome here.” Without stint or hindrance. “Do you agree with Stave? Have you changed your minds?

“I swear to you that I wouldn’t do this if I could think of any other way to save my son.”

She absolutely required the Staff of Law. To that extent, at least, her dreams of Thomas Covenant had proven themselves.

And he had told her to find him. She could not imagine where else she might look, except in the past.

Hami, Dohn, and Mahrtiir shared a look. Then, together, they rose to their feet.

“Ah, Ringthane,” Hami sighed, smiling ruefully. “Be at peace among us. You have naught to fear from the Ramen. The Ranyhyn have accepted you. Therefore we may not oppose you, though the peril which you intend for them surpasses our imagining.”

“Yet if you will accept my counsel,” Mahrtiir put in, “you will permit me to accompany you. It will aid you to have a companion who is able to care for the Ranyhyn when you cannot. I scout as well as any Raman-and fight as well also. And I am hardy and Earth-wise. I can provide food and shelter where none appear.

“If you do not discover aliantha, what will you eat?” Haste quickened his words. “If you have no shelter, where will you sleep? If you encounter no friends, who will defend you? If-”

Hami placed her hand on Mahrtiir’s shoulder; and abruptly he stopped. Facing Linden with eagerness in his eyes, he repeated, “Permit me to accompany you,” and said no more.

He troubled her. She already knew that she would miss Stave’s knowledge and prowess. Mahrtiir offered her much that she could not supply for herself-and could not reasonably expect from either Liand or Anele. Yet she was reluctant to take more people into danger. And she was not entirely sure that she could trust the Manethrall. He seemed too eager to prove something

But how could she reject any form of help? She would need more assistance than Mahrtiir could give her: