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ng force were pure； undistracted by any knowledge of day or night or color or brilliance or illusion。
Therefore he could not be imagining the Land。 His former mind had not contained the raw materials out of which such dreams were made。 When he appeared in the Land…when Lord Elena taught him that the rush of sensations which confused him was sight the experience was altogether new。 It did not restore to him something that he had lost。 It opened in front of him like an oracle。
He knew that the Land was real。
And he knew that its future hung by the thread of his strategy in this war。 If he made a mistake； then more brightness and color than he could ever take into account were doomed。
So when Ruel； the Bloodguard assigned to watch over him； came to him in his quarters and informed him that a Ramen Manethrall had arrived from the Plains of Ra； bringing word of Lord …Foul's army； Troy felt an instant of panic。 It had begun…the test of all his training； planning； hopes。 If he had believed Mhoram's tales of a Creator； he would have dropped to his knees to pray
But he had never learned to rely on anyone but himself。 The Wayward and the strategy were his； he was in mand。 He paused just long enough to strap the traditional ebony sword of the Warmark to his waist and don his headband。 Then he followed Ruel toward the Close。
As he moved； he was grateful for the brightness of the torches in the hallways。 Even with their help； his sight was dim。 In daylight； he could see clearly； with more grasp of detail and more distance than the fareyed Giants。 The sun brought distant things close to him； at times； he felt that he possessed more of the Land than anyone else。 But night restored his blindness like an insistent reminder of where he had e from。 While the sun was down； he was lost without torches or fires。 Starlight did not touch his private darkness； and even a full moon cast no more than a gray smudge across his mind。
Sometimes in the middle of the night； his sightlessness scared him like a repudiation of sunlight and vision。
By force of habit； he adjusted his sunglasses。 He had worn them for so long； out of consideration for the people with eyes who had to look at him； that they felt like a part of his face。 But he never saw them； they had no effect on his vision。 Nothing that came within six inches of his orbless sockets blocked his mental sight at all。
To control his tension； he strode toward the Close without hurrying。 At one point； a group of Hafts； the manders of Eoward； saluted him and then jogged ahead with their swords clattering； and later Lord Verement came hawklike down a broad staircase and rushed past him。 But he did not vary his step until he reached the high doors of the council chamber。 There he found Quaan waiting for him。
The sight of the old stalwart Hiltmark gave him a pang。 In this dim light； Quaan's thin white hair made him look frail。 But he saluted Troy briskly； and reported that all fifty Hafts were now in the Close。
Fifty。 Troy recited the numbers to himself as if he were repeating a rite of mand： Fifty Eoward； one thousand Eoman； a total of twenty…one thousand fifty warriors； First Haft Amorine； Hiltmark Quaan； and himself。 He nodded as if to assure Quaan that they would be enough。 Then he marched down into the Close to take his seat at the Lords' table。
Around him； the chamber was almost filled； and most of the leaders were in their chairs。 The space was so well…lit that now he could see clearly。 The High Lord sat with quiet intensity at the head of the table； and between her and him were Callindrill； Trevor； Loerya； and Amatin； each keeping a private silence。 But Troy knew them； and could guess something of their thoughts。 Lord Loerya hoped despite the demands of her Lordship that she and Trevor would not be chosen to leave Revelstone and her daughters。 And her husband seemed to be remembering that he had fallen under the strain of fighting the ill in dukkha Waynhim…remembering； and wondering if he had the strength for this war。
About Elena； Troy did not speculate。 Her beauty confused him； he did not want to think that something might happen to her in this war。 Deliberately； he kept his gaze away from her。
On her left beyond Mhoram's empty chair was Lord Verement and two more unoccupied seats places for the Lords Shetra and Hyrim。 For a moment； Troy paused to wonder how Korik's mission was doing。 Four days after their departure； word had been brought to Revelstone by some of the scouts that they had passed into Grimmerdhore Forest。 But after that； of course； Troy knew he could not expect to hear any more news until long days after the mission was over； for good or ill。 In the privacy of his heart； he dreamed that sometime during the course of this war he would have the joy of seeing Giants march to his aid； led by Hyrim and Shetra。 He missed them all； Shetra as much as Korik； Hyrim as much as the Giants。 He feared that he would need them。
Above and behind the High Lord； the Hearthralls Tohrm and Borillar sat in their places with Hiltmark Quaan and First Mark Morin。 And behind the Lords； spaced around the first rows of seats in the gallery； were other Bloodguard： Morril； Bann； Howor； Koral； and Ruel on Troy's side； Terrel； Thomin； and Bannor opposite him。
Most of the remaining people in the Close were his Hafts。 As a group they were restless； tense。 Most of them had no experience of war； and they had been training rigorously under his demanding gaze。 He found himself hoping that what they saw and heard at this Council would galvanize their courage； turn their tightness into fortitude。 They had such an ordeal ahead of them。
The few Lorewardens visiting Revelstone were all present； as were the most skilled of the Keep's rhadhamaerl and lillianrill。 But Troy noticed that the Gravelingas Trell was not among them。 He felt vaguely relieved…more for Trell's sake than for Covenant's。
Shortly； Lord Mhoram entered the Close； bringing the Unbeliever with him。 Covenant was tired…his hunger and weakness were plainly visible in the gaunt pallor of his face…but Troy could see that he had suffered no real harm。 And his reliance upon Mhoram's support expressed how little he was a threat to the Lords at this moment。 Troy frowned behind his sunglasses； tried not to let his indignation at Covenant surge back up again。 As Mhoram seated Covenant； and then walked around to take his own place at Elena's left； Troy turned his attention to the High Lord。
She was ready to begin now； and as always her every movement； her every inflection； fascinated him。
Slowly； she looked around the table； meeting the eyes of each of the Lords。 Then in a clear； stately voice； she said； 〃My friends； Lords and Lorewardens and servers of the Land； our time has e。 For good or ill； weal or woe； the trial is upon us。 The word of war is here。 In our hands now is the fate of the Land； to keep or to lose； as our strength permits。 The time of preparation is ended。 No longer do we build or plan against the future。 Now we go to war。 If our might is not potent to preserve the Land； then we fall； and whatever world is to e will be of the Despiser's making； not ours。
〃Hear me； my friends。 I do not speak to darken your hearts； but to warn against false hope and wishful dreams； which could unbind the thews of purpose。 We are the chance of the Land。 We have striven for worth。 Now our worthiness meets its test。 Harken； and make no mistake。 This is the test which determines。〃 For a moment； she paused to gaze over…all the attentive faces in the Close。 When she had seen the resolution in their eyes； she gave a smile of approval； and said quietly； 〃I am not afraid。〃
Troy nodded to himself。 If his warriors felt as he did； she had nothing to fear。
〃Now；〃 said High Lord Elena； 〃let us hear the bearer of these tidings。 Admit the Manethrall。〃
At her mand； two Bloodguard opened the doors； and made way for the Ramen。
The woman wore a deep brown shift which left her arms and legs free； and her long black hair was knotted at her neck by a cord。 This cord； and the small woven garland of yellow flowers around her neck； sadly wilted now after long days of wear； marked her as a Manethrall…a member of the highest rank of her people。 She was escorted by an honor guard of four Bloodguard； but she moved ahead of them down the stairs； bearing the fatigue of her great journey proudly。 Yet despite her brave spirit； Troy saw that she could barely stand。 The slim grace of her movements was dull； blunted。 She was not young。 Her eyes； long familiar with open sky and distance； nested in fine wrinkles of age； and the weariness of several hundred leagues lay like lead in the marrow o�〃 her bones； giving a pallid underhue to the dark suntan of her limbs。
With a sudden rush of anxiety； Troy hoped that she had not e too late。
As she descended to the lowest level of the Close； and stopped before the graveling pit； High Lord Elena rose to greet her。 〃Hail； Manethrall； highest of the Ramen； the selfless tenders of the Ranyhyn！ Be wele in Lord's Keep wele and true。 Be wele whole or hurt； in boon or bane…ask or give。 To any requiring name we will not fail while we have life or power to meet the need。 I am High Lord Elena。 I speak in the presenc