White Gold Wielder

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White Gold Wielder Page 56

by Stephen R. Donaldson


  “Farewell, beloved.”

  His response came softly, receding along the wind. “There’s no need for that. I’m part of you now. You’ll always remember.”

  At the edge of her heart, he stopped. She was barely able to hear him.

  “I’ll be with you as long as you live.”

  Then he was gone. Slowly the gulf became stone against her face.

  Light swelled beyond her eyelids. She knew before she raised her head that she had come back to herself in the ordinary dawn of a new day.

  The air was cool. She smelled dew and springtime and cold ash and budding trees. And blood that was already dry.

  For a long moment, she lay still and let the translation complete itself. Then she levered her arms under her.

  At once, a forgotten pain labored in the bones behind her left ear. She groaned involuntarily, slumped again to the stone.

  She would have been willing to lie still while she persuaded herself that the hurt did not matter. She was in no hurry to look at her surroundings. But as she slumped, unexpected hands came to her shoulders. They were not strong in the way she had learned to measure strength; but they gripped her with enough determination to lift her to her knees. “Linden,” a man’s care-aged voice breathed. “Thank God.”

  Her eyes were slow to focus: her sight seemed to come back from a great distance. She was conscious of the dawn, the blurred gray stone, the barren hollow set like a bowl of death into the heart of the green woods. But gradually she made out Covenant’s form. He was stretched on the rock nearby, within the painted triangle of blood. The light stroked his dear face like a touch of annunciation.

  From the center of his chest jutted the knife which had made everything else necessary.

  The man holding her repeated her name. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured. “I never should’ve gotten you into this. We shouldn’t have let him keep her. But we didn’t know he was in this much danger.”

  Slowly she turned her head and met the alarmed and wearied gaze of Dr. Berenford.

  His eyes seemed to wince in their sockets, making the heavy pouches under them quiver. His old moustache drooped over his mouth. The characteristic wry dyspepsia of his tone was gone: it failed him here. Almost fearfully, he asked her the same question Covenant had asked. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded as well as the pain in her skull allowed. Her voice scraped like rust in her throat. “They killed him.” But no words were adequate to her grief.

  “I know.” He urged her into a sitting position. Then he turned away to snap open his medical bag. A moment later, she smelled the pungence of antiseptic. With reassuring gentleness, he parted her hair, probed her injury, began to cleanse the wound. But he did not stop talking.

  “Mrs. Jason and her three kids came to my house. You probably saw her outside the courthouse the first day you were here. Carrying a sign that said, ‘Repent.’ She’s one of those people who thinks doctors and writers just naturally go to hell. But this time she needed me. Got me out of bed a few hours ago. All four of them—” He swallowed convulsively. “Their right hands were terribly burned. Even the kids.”

  He finished tending her hurt, but did not move to face her. For a while, she stared sightlessly at the dead ash of the bonfire. But then her gaze returned to Covenant. He lay there in his worn T-shirt and old jeans as if no cerements in all the world could give his death dignity. His features were frozen in fear and pain—and in a kind of intensity that looked like hope. If Dr. Berenford had not been with her. she would have taken Covenant into her arms for solace. He deserved better than to lie so untended.

  “At first she wouldn’t talk to me,” the older man went on. “But while I drove them to the hospital, she broke down. Somewhere inside her, she had enough decency left to be horrified. Her kids were wailing, and she couldn’t bear it. I guess none of them knew what they were doing. They thought God had finally recognized their righteousness. They all had the same vision, and they just obeyed it. They whipped themselves into a tizzy killing a horse to get the blood they used to mark his house. They weren’t sane anymore.

  “Why they picked on him, I don’t know.” His voice shook. “Maybe because he wrote ‘unChristian’ books. She kept talking about ‘the maker of desecration.’ When he was forced to offer himself for sacrifice, the world would be purged of sin. Retribution and apocalypse. And Joan was his victim. She couldn’t be rescued any other way.” His bitterness mounted. “What a wonderful idea. How could they resist it? They thought they were saving the world when they put their hands in that fire.

  “They didn’t snap out of it until you interrupted them.”

  Linden understood his dismay, his anger. But she had passed the crisis. Without turning, she said, “They were like Joan. They hated themselves—their lives, their poverty, their ineffectuality.” Like my parents. “It made them crazy.” She yearned with pity for the people who had done this to Covenant.

  “I suppose so,” Dr. Berenford sighed. “It wouldn’t be the first time.” Then he resumed, “Anyway, I left Mrs. Jason in Emergency and got the Sheriff. He didn’t exactly believe me—but he came out to Haven Farm anyway. We found Joan. She was asleep in the house. When we woke her up, she didn’t remember a thing. But she looked like she had her mind back. I couldn’t tell. At least she wasn’t violent anymore.

  “I made the Sheriff take her to the hospital. Then I came looking for you.”

  Again he swallowed at his distress. “I didn’t want him with me. I didn’t want him to think you were responsible for this.”

  At that, she looked toward him in wonder. His concern for her—his desire to spare her the conclusions which the Sheriff might draw from finding her alone with Covenant’s body—touched the spring of something new in her; and it opened as if it were blossoming. His face had sagged under the weight of his baffled care: he appeared reluctant to meet her gaze. But he was a good man; and when she looked at him she saw that Covenant’s spirit was not dead. Without knowing it, he showed her the one true way to say Farewell.

  She placed her hand on his shoulder. Softly she said, “Don’t blame yourself. You couldn’t have known what would happen. And he got what he wanted most. He made himself innocent.” Then she leaned on him so that she could rise to her feet The sunlight felt warm and kind to her weariness. Above the bare slopes of the hollow stood trees wreathed in the new green of spring, buoyant, ineffable, and clean. In this world also there was health to be served, hurts to be healed.

  When the older man joined her, she said, “Come on. We’ve got work to do. Mrs. Jason and her kids weren’t the only ones. We have a lot more burned hands to take care of.”

  After a moment, Dr. Berenford nodded. “I’ll tell the Sheriff where to find him. At least we can make sure he gets a decent burial.”

  “Yes,” she answered. The sun filled her eyes with brightness. Together she and her companion started up the barren hillside toward the trees.

  With her right hand. Linden Avery kept a sure hold on her wedding ring.

  Here ends

  “The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.”

  GLOSSARY:

  ak-Haru: a supreme Haruchai honorific

  aliantha: treasure-berries

  Amith: a woman of Crystal Stonedown

  Anchormaster: second-in-command aboard a Giantship

  Andelain, the Hills of: a region of the Land free of the Sunbane

  Appointed, the: an Elohim chosen to bear a particular burden; Findail

  Arch of Time, the: symbol of the existence and structure of time

  arghule/arghuleh: ferocious ice-beasts

  Atiaran: former woman of Mithil Stonedown; mother of Lena

  Bahgoon: character in a Giantish tale

  Banefire, the: fire by which the Clave wields the Sunbane

  Bannor: former Bloodguard Berek

  Berek Halfhand: ancient hero; the Lord-Fatherer

  Bern: Haruchai lost to the Clave Bhrathair, the: a people who live on the v
erge of the Great Desert

  Bhrathairealm: the land of the Bhrathair

  Bloodguard: former servants/defenders of the Council of Lords

  Brinn: Haruchai; former protector of Covenant, now Guardian of the

  One Tree

  caamora: Giantish ordeal of grief by fire

  Cable Seadreamer: a Giant; member of the Search; brother of Honninscrave; possessed by the Earth-Sight; slain at the One Tree

  Caer-Caveral: Forestal of Andelain; formerly Hile Troy

  Caerroil Wildwood: former Forestal of Garroting Deep

  Cail: Haruchai; former protector of Linden Avery; now protector of Covenant

  Cavewights: evil earth-delving creatures living within Mount Thunder

  Ceer: Haruchai; slain in Bhrathairealm

  Celebration of Spring, the: the Dance of the Wraiths of Andelain on the dark of the moon in the middle night of spring

  Center Plains, the: a region of the Land

  Chant: one of the Elohim

  Chosen, the: title given to Linden Avery

  clachan, the: demesne of the Elohim

  Clave, the: the rulers of the Land

  Coercri: The Grieve; former home of the Giants in Seareach

  Colossus of the Fall, the: ancient stone figure formerly guarding the Upper Land

  Corruption: Haruchai name for Lord Foul

  Council of Lords: former rulers of the Land

  Courser: beast of transport made by the Clave by the power of the Sunbane

  croyel: mysterious creatures which bargain for power

  Crystal Stonedown: village of the Land; home of Hollian

  Dancers of the Sea, the: merewives

  Daphin: one of the Elohim

  Dawngreeter: highest sail on the foremast of a Giantship

  Dead, the: specters of those who have died

  Defiles Course: a river of the Land

  Demondim, the: makers of ur-viles and Waynhim

  Demondim-spawn: Vain

  Despiser, the: Lord Foul

  Despite: evil

  dhurng: a Waynhim

  diamondraught: Giantish liquor

  Dolewind, the: wind blowing to the Soulbiter

  dromond: a Giantship

  Drool Rockworm: former Cavewight

  During Stonedown: home of Hamako; former village destroyed by the Grim

  Durris: Haruchai

  Earthfriend: title given to Berek Halfhand, then to Covenant

  Earthpower, the: source of all power in the Land

  Earth-Sight: Giantish ability to perceive distant dangers and needs

  eh-Brand: one who can use wood to read the Sunbane; Hollian

  Elemesnedene: home of the Elohim

  Elena: former High Lord; daughter of Lena and Covenant

  Elohim, the: a faery people first met by the wandering Giants

  Enemy: Lord Foul’s term of reference for the Creator

  Far Woodhelven: a village of the Land

  Findail: one of the Elohim; the Appointed

  Fire-Lions: fire-flow of Mount Thunder

  First of the Search, the: leader of the Giants who follow the Earth-Sight

  Fleshharrower: former Giant-Raver; moksha Jehannum

  Foamkite: tyrscull belonging to Honninscrave and Seadreamer

  Fole: Haruchai

  Forestal: a protector of the forests of the Land

  Foul’s Creche: the Despiser’s former home; destroyed by Covenant

  Furl Falls: waterfall at Revelstone

  Gallows Howe: place of execution in Garroting Deep

  Garroting Deep: a former forest of the Land

  ghramin: a Waynhim

  Giants: a seafaring people of the Earth

  Giantclave: Giantish conference

  Giantfriend: title given to Covenant

  Giantship: stone sailing vessel made by Giants Giant

  Woods: a forest of the Land

  Gibbon: the na-Mhoram; leader of the Clave

  Gilden: a maple-like tree with golden leaves

  Glimmermere: a lake on the upland above Revelstone

  Gossamer Glowlimn: a Giant; the First of the Search

  Graveler: one who uses stone to wield the Sunbane; Sunder

  graveling: fire-stones

  Gravin Threndor: Mount Thunder

  Great Desert, the: a region of the Earth; home of the Bhrathair and the Sandgorgons

  Great Swamp, the: a region of the Land

  Grey River, the: a river of the Land

  Grieve, The: Coercri

  Grim, the: destructive storm sent as a curse by the Clave

  Grimmand Honninscrave: a Giant; Master of Starfare’s Gem; member of the Search; brother of Cable Seadreamer

  Guardian of the One Tree, the: mystical figure warding the approach to the One Tree; also ak-Haru Kenaustin Ardenol

  Halfhand: title given to Covenant as well as to Berek

  Hall of Gifts, the: large chamber in Revelstone devoted to artworks of the Land

  Hamako: former Stonedownor adopted by Waynhim

  Harn: Haruchai; protector of Hollian

  Haruchai, the: a people who live in the Westron Mountains

  Hearthcoal: a Giant; cook of Starfare’s Gem; wife of Seasauce

  Heft Galewrath: a Giant; Storesmaster of Starfare’s Gem

  Herem: a Raver

  Hergrom: Haruchai; slain in Bhrathairealm

  High Lord: former leader of the Council of Lords

  Hile Troy: a man formerly from Covenant’s world who became a Forestal

  Hollian: daughter of Amith; eh-Brand formerly of Crystal Stonedown

  Home: homeland of the Giants

  Hotash Slay: flow of lava formerly protecting Foul’s Creche

  Illearth Stone, the: green stone; a source of evil power

  Illender: title given to Covenant

  Infelice: reigning leader of the Elohim

  Isle of the One Tree, the: location of the One Tree

  Jehannum: a Raver; also known as moksha

  jheherrin; living by-products of Lord Foul’s misshaping

  Kalina: wife of Nassic; mother of Sunder; former woman of Mithil Stonedown

  Kasreyn of the Gyre: a thaumaturge; former power in Bhrathairealm

  Kastenessen: one of the Elohim; former Appointed

  Keep of the na-Mhoram: Revelstone

  Kemper, the: chief minister of Bhrathairealm; Kasreyn

  Kemper’s Pitch: highest level of the Sandhold

  Kenaustin Ardenol: a figure of Haruchai legend; paragon and measure of all Haruchai virtues

  Kevin Landwaster: son of Loric; former Lord; enactor of the Ritual of Desecration

  Kevin’s Watch: mountain lookout near Mithil Stonedown

  Kiril Threndor: Heart of Thunder; chamber of power within Mount Thunder

  krill, the: knife of power formed by Loric

  Land, the: a focal region of the Earth

  Landsdrop: great cliff separating the Upper and Lower Lands

  Landsverge Stonedown: a village of the Land

  Landwaster: title given to Kevin

  Law, the: the natural order

  Law of Death, the: separation of the living from the dead

  Law of Life, the: separation of the dead from the living

  Lena: former woman of Mithil Stonedown; daughter of Atiaran; mother of Elena

  lianar: wood of power used by an eh-Brand

  Lord-Fatherer, the: title given to Berek

  Lord Foul: the Despiser

  Lords, the: former rulers of the Land

  Lord’s Keep: Revelstone

  Loric Vilesilencer: son of Damelon; father of Kevin; former Highy

  Lord Lower Land, the: region east of Landsdrop

  lurker of the Sarangrave: a swamp-monster

  Marid: a man of Mithil Stonedown; Sunbane victim

  Master: Clave-name for Lord Foul

  Master, the: captain of a Giantship

  master-rukh: iron triangle in Revelstone which feeds and reads all other rukhs


  Memla: a former Rider of the Clave

  merewives: the Dancers of the Sea

  metheglin: a beverage; mead

  Mhoram: former High Lord

  Mistweave: a Giant

  Mithil River: a river of the Land

  Mithil Stonedown: a village of the Land

  moksha: a Raver; also known as Jehannum

  Mount Thunder; a peak at the center of Landsdrop

  na-Mhoram, the: leader of the Clave

  na-Mhoram-in: highest rank of the Clave

  na-Mhoram-wist: middle rank of the Clave

  Nassic: a former man of Mithil Stonedown; father of Sunder, inheritor of the Unfettered One’s mission to welcome Covenant

  Nicor: great sea-monsters; said to be offspring of the Worm of the World’s End

  Nom: a Sandgorgon

  North Plains, the: a region of the Land

  Northron Climbs, the: a region of the Land

  Old Lords, the: the Lords of the Land prior to the Ritual of Desecration

  One Forest, the: ancient sentient forest which once covered most of the Land

  One Tree, the: mystic tree from which the Staff of Law was made

  orcrest: Sunstone; a stone of power, used by a Graveler

  pitchbrew: a beverage combining diamondraught and vitrim, conceived by Pitchwife

  Pitchwife: a Giant; member of the Search; husband of Gossamer Glowlimn

  Prover of Life: title given to Covenant

  Pure One, the: redemptive figure of jheherrin legend; Saltheart Foamfollower

  Ramen: a people of the Land; tenders of the Ranyhyn

  Ranyhyn: the great horses; formerly inhabited the Plains of Ra

  Ravers: Lord Foul’s three ancient servants

  Rawedge Rim, the: mountains around Elemesnedene

  Reader: a member of the Clave who tends and uses the master-rukh

  Revelstone: mountain-city of the Clave

  rhysh: a community of Waynhim

  rhyshyshim: a gathering of rhysh; a place in which such gathering occurs

 

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