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do not altogether prehend Lena my mother。 I am a woman…human like any other。 And I have chosen you to be my panion on this quest。 Surely my choice reveals my mother's heart as well as my own。 I am her daughter。 From birth I lived in her care； and she taught me。 Unbeliever； she did not teach me any anger or bitterness toward you。〃
〃No！〃 Covenant breathed。 〃No。〃 No！ Not her； too！ A vision of blood darkened his sight…the blood on Lena's loins。 He could not bear to think that she had forgiven him； she！
He turned away。 He felt Elena watching him； felt her presence reaching toward him in an effort to draw him back。 But he could not face her。 He was afraid of the emotions that motivated her； he did not even name them to himself。 He lay down in his blankets with his back to her until she banked the graveling for the night and settled herself to sleep。
The next morning； shortly after dawn； Morin and Bannor reappeared。 They brought Myrha and Covenant's mount with them。 He roused himself； and joined Elena in a meal while the Bloodguard packed their blankets。 And soon after they had started westward again； Amok became visible at the High Lord's side。
Covenant was in no mood for any more of Amok's spellbinding。 And he had made a decision during the night。 There was a risk he had to take…a dangerous gesture that he hoped might help him recover some kind of integrity。 Before the youth could begin； Covenant clenched himself to contain the sudden hammering of his heart； and asked Amok what he knew about white gold。
〃Much and little； Bearer；〃 Amok answered with a laugh and a bow。 〃It is said that white gold articulates the wild magic which destroys peace。 But who is able to describe peace？〃
Covenant frowned。 〃You're playing word games。 I asked you a straight question。 What do you know about it？〃
〃Know； Bearer？ That is a small word…it conceals the magnitude of its meaning。 I have heard what I have been told； and have seen what my eyes have beheld； but only you bear the white gold。 Do you call this knowledge？〃
〃Amok；〃 Elena came to Covenant's aid； 〃is white gold in some way interwoven with the Seventh Ward？ Is white gold the subject or key of that Ward？〃
〃Ah； High Lord； all things are interwoven。〃 The youth seemed to relish his ability to dodge questions。 〃The Seventh Ward may ignore white gold； and the master of white gold may have no use for the Seventh Ward…yet both are power； forms and faces of the one Power of life。 But the Bearer is not my master。 He shadows but does not darken me。 I respect that which he bears； but my purpose remains。〃
Elena's response was firm。 〃Then there is no need to evade his questions。 Speak of what you have heard and learned concerning white gold。〃
〃I speak after my fashion； High Lord。 Bearer； I have heard much and learned little concerning white gold。 It is the girding paradox of the arch of Time； the undisciplined restraint of the Earth's creation； the absent bone of the Earthpower； the rigidness of water and the flux of rock。 It articulates the wild magic which destroys peace。 It is spoken of softly by the Bhrathair； and named in awe by the Elohim；； though they have never seen it。 Great Kelenbhrabanal dreams of it in his grave； and grim Sandgorgons writhe in voiceless nightmare at the touch of its name。 In his last days； High Lord Kevin yearned for it in vain。 It is the abyss and the peak of destiny。〃
Covenant sighed to himself。 He had feared that he would receive this kind of answer。 Now he would have to go further； push his question right to the edge of his dread。 In vexation and anxiety he rasped； 〃That's enough…spare me。 Just tell me how white gold…〃 For an instant he faltered。 But the memory
of Lena pelled him。 〃…how to use this bloody
ring。〃 Bearer；〃 Amok laughed； 〃ask the Sunbirth Sea or Melenkurion Skyweir。 Question the fires of Gorak Krembal； or the tinder heart of Garroting Deep。 All the Earth knows。 White gold is brought into use like any other power…through passion and mystery； the honest subterfuge of the heart。〃
〃Hellfire；〃 Covenant growled in an effort to disguise his relief。 He did not like to admit to himself how glad he was to remain ignorant on this subject。 But that ignorance was vital to his self…defense。 As long as he did not know how to use the wild magic； he could not be blamed for the fate of the Land。 In a secret and perfidious part of his heart； he had risked his question only because he trusted Amok to give him an unrevealing answer。 Now he felt like a liar。 Even his attempts at integrity were flawed。 But his relief was greater than his self…distaste。
That relief enabled him to change the subject； attempt a normal conversation with the High Lord。 He felt as awkward as a cripple； he had not conversed casually with another person since before the onset of his leprosy。 But Elena responded willingly； even gladly； she weled his attention。 Soon he no longer had to search for leading questions。
For some time； their talk floated on the ambience of Trothgard。 As they climbed westward through the hills and woodlands and moors； the autumn air grew crisper。 Birds roved the countryside in deft flits and soars。 The cheerful sunlight stretched as if it might burst at any moment into sparkles and gleams。 In it； the fall colors became dazzling。 And the riders began to see more animals…rabbits and squirrels； plump badgers； occasional foxes。 The whole atmosphere seemed to suit High Lord Elena。 Gradually； Covenant came to understand this aspect of Lordship。 Elena was at home in Trothgard。 The healing of Kurash Plenethor became her。
In the course of his questions； she avoided only one subject…her childhood experiences with the Ranyhyn。 Something about her young rides and initiations was
too private to be treated under the open sky。 But on other topics she replied without constraint。 She al… v lowed herself to be led into talk of her years in the Loresraat； of Revelwood and Trothgard； of Revelstone and Lordship and power。 He sensed that she was helping him； allowing him； cooperating； and he x was grateful。 In time； he no longer felt maimed during
the pauses in their conversation。
The next day passed similarly。 But the day after that； this unthreatened mood eluded him。 He lost his facility。 His tongue grew stiff with remembered loneliness； and his beard itched irritably； like a reminder of peril。 It's impossible； he thought。 None of this is happening to me。 Deliberately； driven by his illness； and by all the survival disciplines he had lost； he raised the question of High Lord Kevin。
〃I am fascinated by him；〃 she said； and the core of stillness in her voice sounded oddly like the calm in the eye of a storm。 〃He was the highest of all Berek Heartthew's great line…the Lord most full of dominion in all the Land's known or legended history。 His fidelity to the Land and the Earthpower knew neither taint nor flaw。 His friendship with the Giants was a matter for a fine song。 The Ranyhyn adored him； and the Bloodguard wove their Vow because of him。 If he had a fault； it was in excessive trust…yet how can E trust be counted for blame？ At the first； it was to his honor that the Despiser could gain Lordship from him…Lordship； and access to his heart。 Was not Fangthane witnessed and approved by the orcrest and lomillialor tests of truth？ Innocence is glorified by its vulnerability。
〃And he was not blind。 In the awful secret of his doubt； he refused the summons which would have taken him to his death in Treacher's Gorge。 In his heart…wrung foresight or prophecy； he made decisions which preserved the Land's future。 He prepared his Wards。 He provided for the survival of the Giants and the Ranyhyn and the Bloodguard。 He warned the people。 And then with his own hand he destroyed
〃Thomas Covenant； there are some who believe that the Ritual of Desecration expressed High Lord
Kevin's highest wisdom。 They are few； but eloquent。 The mon understanding holds that Kevin strove to achieve that paradox of purity through destruction and failed； for he and all the works of the Lords were undone； yet the Despiser endured。 But these few argue that the final despair or madness with which Kevin invoked the Ritual was a necessary sacrifice； a price to make possible ultimate victory。 They argue that his preparations and then the Ritual forcing both health and ill to begin their work anew…were enacted to provide us with Fangthane's defeat。 In this argument； Kevin foresaw the need which would pel the Despiser to summon white gold to the Land。〃
〃He must have been sicker than I thought；〃 Covenant muttered。 〃Or maybe he just liked desecrations。〃
〃Neither； I think；〃 she replied tartly； sternly。 〃He was a brave and worthy man driven to extremity。 Any mortal or unguarded heart may be brought to despair …for this reason we cling to the Oath of Peace。 And for this same reason High Lord Kevin fascinates me。 He avowed the Land； and defiled it…in the same breath affirmed and denounced。〃 Her voice rose on the inner wind of her emotion。 〃How great must have been his grief？ And how great his power had he only survived that last consuming moment…if； after beholding the Desecration； and hearing the Despiser's glee； he had lived to strike one more blow！
〃Thomas Covenant； I believe that the