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o deal clearly with his situation。 No leper； he thought painfully； no leper should be asked to live in such a healthy world。
Yet he could not deny it； he was moved by Mhoram's account of the dilemmas of the Lords。 He was moved by the Land； and by the people who
served it though they made him look so small to himself。 Sourly； he left the balcony； and scanned the tray of food which had been set for him on a stone table in the center of his sitting room。 The soup and
stew still steamed； reminding him how hungry he was。
No。 He could not afford to make any more concessions。 Hunger was like nerve…health…illusion； deception； dream。 He could not A knock at the door interrupted him。 For a moment； he stood still； irresolute。 He did not want to talk to anyone until he had had more time to think。 But at the same time he did not want to be alone。 The threat of madness was always at its worst when he was alone。
Keep moving； don't look back； he muttered bitterly to himself； echoing a formula which had served him ambiguously at best。
He went to open the door。
Standing in the outer hallway was Hile Troy。
He was dressed as Covenant had seen him before； with his sunglasses firmly in place； and again the slight smile on his lips looked vaguely mysterious and apologetic。 A sharp pang of anxiety joined the tingling of Covenant's blood。 He had been trying not to think about this man。
〃e on；〃 Troy said。 His tone was full of the power of mand。 〃The Lords are doing something you ought to see。〃
Covenant shrugged to disguise a tremor in his shoulders。 Troy was an adversary…Covenant could sense it。 But he had made his decision when he had opened the door。 Defiantly； he strode out into the hall。
In the hallway； he found Bannor standing watch by his door。
Hile Troy started away with a swift； confident stride； but Covenant turned toward the Bloodguard。 Bannor met his look with a nod； for a moment they held each other's eyes。 Bannor's flat； brown； unreadable face had not changed a whit； not aged a day that Covenant could discern。 As he stood relaxed and ready； the Bloodguard radiated a physical solidity； a palpable petence； which intimidated or belittled Covenant； and yet Covenant sensed something extreme and sad in Bannor's timeless impenetrability。
The Bloodguard were said to be two thousand years old。 They were clenched into immutability by a strait and consuming Vow of service to the Lords； while all the people they had ever known…including the long…lived Giants； and High Lord Kevin； who had inspired them to their Vow…fell into dust。
Looking now at Bannor； with his alien countenance and his bare feet and his short brown tunic； Covenant received a sudden intuitive impression； as if a previous subliminal perception had crystallized。 How many times had Bannor saved his life？ For an instant； he could not remember。 He felt unexpectedly sure that the Bloodguard could tell him what he needed to know； that from the extravagance of his two thousand…year perspective； bereft by the unforeseen power of his Vow of home and sleep and death； of everyone he had ever loved； he had gained the knowledge Covenant needed。
〃Bannor…〃 he began。
〃Ur…Lord。〃 The Bloodguard's voice was as passionless as time。
But Covenant did not know how to ask； he could not put his need into words which would not sound like an attack on the Bloodguard's impossible fidelity。 Instead； he murmured； 〃So we're back to this。〃
〃The High Lord has chosen me to keep watch over you。〃
〃e on；〃 called Troy peremptorily。 〃You should see this。〃
Covenant disregarded him for a moment longer。 To
Bannor； he said； 〃I hope…I hope it works out better than the last time。〃 Then he turned and moved down the hall after Troy。 He knew that Bannor came behind him； though the Bloodguard walked without a sound。
Impatiently； Hile Troy guided Covenant inward through the levels of the Keep。 They passed briskly across high vaulted halls； along connecting corridors； and down stairs until they reached a place that Covenant recognized： the long circular passage around the sacred enclosure； where the inhabitants of Revelstone worshipped。
He followed Troy in through one of the many doors onto a balcony which hung in the great cavern。 The cavity was cylindrical in shape； with seven balconies cut into the walls； a flat floor with a dais on one side； and a domed ceiling too high above the balconies to be seen clearly。 The enclosure was dim； the only illumination came from four large lillianrill torches set around the dais。 Bannor closed the door； shutting out the light from the outer hallway； and in the gloom Covenant clung to the railing for security against the depth of the cavity。 He was several hundred feet above the dais。
The balconies were nearly empty。 Clearly； whatever ceremony was about to be enacted was not intended for the general population of Revelstone。
The nine Lords were already on the dais。 They stood in a circle facing each other。 With their backs to the torches； their faces were shadowed； and Covenant could not make out their features。
〃This is your doing；〃 said Troy in an intent whisper。 〃They have tried everything else。 You shamed them into this。〃
Two Bloodguard bearing some figure between them moved toward the dais。 With a start； Covenant identified the injured Waynhim。 Dukkha was struggling feebly； but it could not prevent the Bloodguard from placing it within the circle of the Lords。
〃They're going to try to break the hold of the Illearth Stone；〃 Troy continued。 〃This is risky。 If they fail； it could spread to one of them。 They'll be too exhausted to fight it。〃
Clutching the railing with both hands； Covenant watched the scene below him。 The two Bloodguard left dukkha cowering in the circle； and retreated to the wall of the enclosure。 For a long moment； the Lords stood in silent concentration； preparing themselves。 Then they lifted their heads； planted their staffs firmly before them on the stone； and began to sing。 Their hymn echoed in the enclosure as if the domed gloom itself were resonating。 They appeared small in the immense chamber； but their song stood up boldly； filling the air with authority and purpose。
As the echoes died； Troy whispered in Covenant's ear； 〃If something goes wrong here； you're going to pay for it。〃
I know； Covenant said like a prophet。 I'm going to have to pay for everything。
When silence at last refilled the enclosure； High〃 Lord Elena said in a clear voice； 〃Dharmakshetra； Waynhim； if you can hear us through the wrong which has been done to you； listen。 We seek to drive the power of the Illearth Stone from you。 Please aid us。 。 Resist the Despiser。 Dukkha； head Remember health and hope； and resist this ill！〃
Together； the Lords raised their staffs。
Troy's fingers reached out of the darkness and gripped Covenant's arm above the elbow。
Crying in one voice； 〃Melenkurion abatha！〃 the Lords struck their staffs on the stone。 The metal rang through the sacred enclosure like a clashing of shields； and blue Lords…fire burst from the upheld end of each staff。 The incandescent flames burned hotly； outshining the light of the torches。 But the Staff of Law dazzled them all； flaring like a tongue of lightning。 And the fire of the staffs made a low sound like the rush of distant storm winds。
Slowly； one of the lesser staffs bent toward the head of dukkha。 It descended； then stopped with its flame well above the Waynhim's head； as if at that point the fire met resistance。 When the wielding Lord pressed down； the air between dukkha's skull and the staff ignited； the whole space burned。 But the fire there was as green as cold emerald； and it devoured the Lords' blue power。
Troy's fingers dug like claws into the flesh of Covenant's arm。 But Covenant hardly felt them。
To meet the green flame； the Lords broke into s stern antiphonal chant； using words that Covenant could not understand。 Their voices pounded against the green； and the rushing wind of their power mounted。 Yet through it could be heard the voice of dukkha Waynhim； gibbering。
One by one； the Lords added their fires to the struggle over dukkha's head； until only the Staff of Law remained unmitted。 As each new power touched the green； a sound of hunger and the crushing of bones multiplied in the sir； and the baleful emerald fire blazed up more mightily； expanding like an inferno of cruel ice to bat the Lords' strength。
Abruptly； the lillianrill torches went out； as if extinguished by a high wind。
Troy's fingers tightened。
Then High Lord Elena's voice sprang out over the song of the Lords。 〃Melenkurion abatha！ Duroc minas mill khabaal！〃 With a sweeping stroke； she swung the Staff of Law into the fray。
For an instant； the force of her attack drove the conflicting fires together。 Blue and green became one； and raged up over the circle of the Lords； ravening and roaring like a holocaust。 But the next moment； dukkha shrieked as if its soul were torn in two。 The towering flame ruptured like a thunderhead。
The detonation blew out all the fire in the enclosure。 At once a darkness as plete as a grave closed over the Lords。
Then two small torches appeared in the hands of the Bloodguard。 The dim light showed dukkha lying on the stone besid