Thomas Covenant 03: Power That Preserves by Stephen R. Donaldson Page A

Howe. In that time we have recovered from some of our losses. But since—since the Staff of Law was lost—the Despiser has been much more free. He has built a new army as vast as the sea, and has marched against us. Already he has destroyed Revelwood. Satansfist Raver has burned Revelwood and slain Lord Callindrill. In a very few days, the siege of Lord’s Keep will begin.
    “But that does not complete the tale of our trouble. Seven years ago, we might have held Revelstone against any foe for seasons together. Even without the Staff of Law, we might have defended ourselves well. But—my friend, hear me—we have lost the Bloodguard.”
    Covenant cowered as if he were being pounded by a rockfall, but Mhoram did not stop. “When Korik of the Bloodguard led his mission to the Giants of Seareach, great evils claimed the lives of the Lords Hyrim and Shetra. Without them—” Mhoram hesitated. He remembered Covenant’s friendship with the Giant, Saltheart Foamfollower. He could not bear to torment Covenant by telling him of the Giants’ bloody fate. “Without them to advise him, Korik and two comrades captured a fragment of the Illearth Stone. He did not recognize his danger. The three Bloodguard bore the fragment with them, thinking to carry it to Lord’s Keep.
    “But the Illearth Stone is a terrible wrong in the Land. The three Bloodguard were not forewarned—and the Stone enslaved them. Under its power, they bore their fragment to Foul’s Creche. They believed that they would fight the Despiser. But he made them his own.” Again Mhoram forbore to tell the whole story. He could not say to Covenant that the Bloodguard Vow had been subtly betrayed by the breaking of the Law of Death—or that the fine metal of the Bloodguard rectitude had been crucially tarnished when Covenant had forced Bannor to reveal the name of the Power of Command. “Then he”—Mhoram still winced whenever he remembered what had happened—“he sent the three to attack Revelstone. Korik, Sill, and Doar marched here with green fire in their eyes and Corruption in their hearts. They killed many farmers and warriors before we comprehended what had been done to them.
    “Then First Mark Bannor and Terrel and Runnik of the Bloodguard went to do battle with the three. They slew Korik and Sill and Doar their comrades, and brought their bodies to the Keep. In that way, we found—” Mhoram swallowed thickly. “We found that Lord Foul had cut off the last two fingers from the right hand of each of the three.”
    Covenant cried out in pain, but Mhoram drove his point home hoarsely. “He damaged each Bloodguard to resemble you.”
    “Stop!” Covenant groaned. “Stop. I can’t stand it.”
    Still the High Lord continued. “When First Mark Bannor saw how Korik and his comrades had been corrupted despite their Vow, he and all the Bloodguard abandoned their service. They returned to the mountain home of the Haruchai . He said that they had been conquered by Corruption, and could no longer serve any Vow.
    “My friend, without them—without the Staff of Law—without any immense army or dour-handed allies—we will surely fall. Only the wild magic can now come between us and Lord Foul’s hunger.”
    As Mhoram finished, Covenant’s eyes looked as bleak as a wilderland. The heat of his fever seemed to make any tears impossible. His resistance sagged briefly, and for an instant he almost allowed his translation into the Close to be completed. But then he raised his head to look at other memories. His refusal stiffened; he moved back until he almost vanished in the bright graveling light. “Mhoram, I can’t,” he said as distantly as if he were choking. “I can’t. The snake—That little girl is all alone. I’m responsible for her. There’s no one to help the child but me.”
    From high in the opposite gallery, Mhoram felt a surge of anger as Quaan’s old indignation at Covenant flared into speech. “By the Seven!” he barked. “He speaks