The Runes of the Earth

hand. And she herself had cut away two of Jeremiah’s fingers in order to save the rest.

Beware the halfhand. Covenant and Jeremiah.

Now she had found another among the Masters.

“Linden?” Liand asked anxiously. She could not conceal her reactions from him. He had begun to know her too well; or his proximity to the Staff preserved the vestiges of his health-sense.

But she ignored his concern. The inferences which she had drawn about Anele seemed to carry her further. Now she saw implications, portents, too complex for her to articulate. Hugging the Staff to her chest, she asked brusquely, “Tell me about your hand.”

The Master did not deign to glance down at his missing fingers. “I am honoured to be among the Humbled.”

She swallowed curses and waited for him to go on.

“When the Haruchai determined to take upon themselves the burdens of Mastery,” Galt said flatly, “they recognised their peril. It is the peril of Korik, Sill, and Doar.

“Their tale is surely known to you. Ruled by the Illearth Stone, they were made to serve Corruption. First they were maimed to resemble the Halfhand, ur-Lord Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Then they were sent to bear battle and despair against the Council of Lords. Thus was the Vow of the Bloodguard tarnished, and their service brought to an end.”

Linden knew the story: she had heard it from Stave only a few days ago. Still it filled her with dread.

Without haste or emphasis, Galt stated, “The fault of Korik and Sill and Doar lay in this, that they allowed their ire at the destruction of the Unhomed to sway them. They believed that the outrage in their hearts would raise them to the stature of terrible banes and deathless malice. From their example, the Haruchai learned the peril of such passions. When we determined to become the Masters of the Land, we determined also that we would commit no similar fault.

“Therefore in each generation three among us are selected to be the Humbled, so that the Masters will not neglect their resolve, or set it aside. Our hands are severed to resemble Korik’s, and Sill’s, and Doar’s. Among our people, we embody the error which destroyed the service of the Bloodguard. While the Humbled live, the Masters will not forget their peril.”

Linden stared at him in dismay. The judgments of the Haruchai continued to appall her. Again you have shamed me with your healing. Stave believed that he deserved the consequences of his failure to defeat insurmountable odds. And Galt considered his mutilation an honour-

Her voice nearly failed as she asked, “How did they pick you?”

“Chosen,” he replied, “I challenged others of my people, and was not defeated.”

Linden winced. “You wanted this? You wanted to be maimed?”

He regarded her gravely. “There is no higher place among us. Only the Voice of the Masters commands greater deference, and even he will accede when the Humbled speak as one.”

Commands greater deference-Abruptly new suggestions swept through her; hints of insight like a glimpse into the secret hearts of the Masters. Hardly aware of what she did, she closed the door on Galt. Then she leaned her forehead against the cool stone. He had given her what she needed.

Now she knew how she would argue for Anele’s release. The Haruchai had founded their Mastery of the Land on a profound misapprehension.

Perhaps she would be able to postpone making use of the old man’s madness a little longer.

When the rush of inferences had passed, she turned back to Liand and the Mahdoubt. The older woman was looking at her, apparently studying her; and for the first time Linden could see the mismatched colour of her eyes. Her left was the rich blue of violets, but her right held a startling orange which gave the impression that it was about to burst from her head.

In spite of her strangeness, however, the Mahdoubt emanated a comfortable kindness that appealed to Linden. With the last of her dwindling percipience, she saw both solid health and untroubled beneficence in the woman. In response, she felt unexpectedly protective of the Mahdoubt. At the same time, she yearned to be protected by her.

Before either the older woman or Liand could speak, Linden asked, “You’re a servant? Why do you do it? Let the Masters wait on themselves. Why should it be your job to make their lives easier?”

Liand nodded his agreement.

But the question did not ruffle the Mahdoubt. Indeed, she appeared to occupy a space beyond the reach of disturbance. “Pssht, lady,” she replied. “Fine sentiments, assuredly. The Mahdoubt sees that your heart is great. Upon occasion, however, it misleads you.

“There is no dishonour in service. The Mahdoubt labours here, assuredly, and her tasks are weary. Yet by her efforts she is fed and clad and warmed. At night she sleeps beyond harm in a kindly bed, with no rough words.

“Lady, the Mahdoubt has lived too many years to find pleasure in the tending of sheep and cattle. The endless labours of crops and farming exceed her old bones. She and others-pssht, lady, there are many others- are grateful to end their days in the service of Revelstone. How otherwise should they provide for themselves?”

The older woman’s orange eye appeared to flare briefly. “Is there some miscomprehension here?” she asked herself. “Assuredly.

“Lady, the Mahdoubt does not `wait’ upon the Masters. They are who they are, and require no care. Her labours serve the great Keep and all those within it who lack the sufficiency of Masters.”

Comforted by the Mahdoubt’s answer, Linden found herself smiling at last. “I’m sorry.” She could hardly remember the last time she had smiled at all. “I shouldn’t jump to conclusions like that. I’m just frustrated by all this Haruchai purity and absolutism. After a while, I can’t help assuming the worst.”

Again Liand nodded.

“Assuredly, lady,” muttered the Mahdoubt. “Assuredly. Think no more on it. Is the Mahdoubt affronted? She is not. Indeed, the days when aught vexed her are long past.”

In the same tone, she added, “Does the wonder of my gown please you?” She indicated her jarring robe. “Are you gladdened to behold it? Yes, assuredly, it must be so. How should it be otherwise? Every scrap and patch was given to the Mahdoubt in gratitude and woven together in love.”

Linden smiled again. “It’s extraordinary.” She did not know what else to say. Certainly she had no wish to deny the older woman’s pride in her garment.

Liand cleared his throat. “That it is woven in love cannot be mistaken,” he remarked politely. “If I may say so without offense, however, the gratitude is less plain to me. Will you not speak of it, that I may see your gown more clearly?”

The Mahdoubt faced him with her plump fists braced on her hips. “Foolish boy, you must not tease the Mahdoubt so.” Her tone suggested tart amusement. “Matters of apparel are the province of women, beyond your blandishment. The lady grasps the presence of gratitude. And if she does not”- her blue eye flicked a quick glance at Linden- “yet she will. Oh, assuredly. It is as certain as the rising and setting of the sun.”

Before he could respond, she turned for the door. “You must have food. And then you must sleep. Assuredly. Your need for both is great.

“The Mahdoubt will return with a second tray.”

At once, she bustled out of the room as if her movements were as irresistible as tides.

As the door closed, Liand met Linden’s gaze with a perplexed smile. “That,” he said in bafflement, “is an unforeseen woman. I suspect that I should be wary of her, yet I feel only fondness. She has comforted me, Linden.” He sighed. “I do not understand it.”

Linden frowned. “Makes you want to curse Kevin’s Dirt, doesn’t it.” Because her percipience had dwindled, she had felt unable to see deeply into the Mahdoubt.

A grin quirked Liand’s mouth. “Assuredly.” But then his humour fell away. “It is as you say. The loss of my senses is bitter to me. Until we sojourned among the mountains, and all the Land was reborn in my sight, I did not comprehend evil. It has become plain to me now.” Sadness darkened his eyes as he spoke. “Beyond question the Falls are a great evil. Yet I deem them a little wrong beside the deprivation imposed by Kevin’s Dirt. It has blinded