The Ranyhyn were eager for a run after long days of constricted climbing； and they cantered out onto the flat rock。 With surprising fleetness； Amok kept ahead of them。 He laughed as he ran； and even increased his pace。 The Ranyhyn stretched into full stride； began to gallop in earnest； leaving Covenant's mustang behind。 But still Amok's prancing step outran them。 Gaily； he led the riders east and then south down the center of the plateau。
Covenant followed at a more leisurely gait。 Soon he was passing along the face of the first peak。 The plateau here was several hundred yards wide； and it extended southward until it curved west out of sight beyond the base of the second peak。 The spires joined each other a few thousand feet above the plateau； but the line of juncture between them remained clear； as if
the two sides differed in texture。 At the place where this line touched the plateau； a cleft appeared in the flat rock。 This crevice ran straight across the plateau to its eastern edge。
Ahead of Covenant； the Ranyhyn had ended their gallop near the rim of the crevice。 Now Elena trotted down its length toward the outer edge of the plateau。 Covenant swung his mustang in that direction； and joined her there。
Together； they dismounted； and he lay down on his stomach to peer over the precipice。 Four thousand feet below the sheer cliff； a dark； knotted forest spread out as far as he could see。 The woods brooded over its rumpled terrain…a thick…grown old blanket of trees which draped the foot of the Westron Mountains as if to conceal； provide the solace of privacy for； a rigid and immediate anguish。 And northeastward across this covered expanse ran the red…black line of the river which spewed from the base of the cleft。 Inaudible in the distance； it came moiling out of the rock and slashed away through the heart of the forest。 The river looked like a weal in the woods； a cut across the glowering green countenance。 This scar gave the hurt； rigid face an expression of ferocity； as if it dreamed of rending limb from limb the enemy which had scored it。
Elena explained the view to Covenant。 〃That is the Black River；〃 she said reverently。 She was the first new Lord ever to see this sight。 〃From this place； it flows a hundred fifty leagues and more to join the Mithil on its way toward Andelain。 Its spring is said to lie deep under Melenkurion Skyweir。 We stand on Rivenrock； the eastern porch or portal of the great mountain。 And below us is Garroting Deep； the last forest in the Land where a Forestal still walks where the maimed consciousness of the One Forest still holds munion with itself。〃 For a moment； she breathed the brisk air。 Then she added； 〃Beloved； I believe that we are not far from the Seventh Ward。〃
Pushing himself back from the edge； he climbed unsteadily to his feet。 The breeze seemed to carry vertigo up at him from the precipice。 He waited until he was several strides from the edge before he replied； 〃I hope
so。 For all we know； that war could be over by now。 If Troy's plans didn't work； Foul might be halfway to Revelstone。〃
〃Yes。 I； too； have felt that fear。 But my belief remains that the Land's future will not be won in war。 And that battle is not in our hands。 We have other work。〃
Covenant studied the distance of her eyes； measuring the risk of offending her； then said； 〃Has it occurred to you that you might not be able to unlock Amok？〃
〃Of course；〃 she returned sharply。 〃I am not blind。〃
〃Then what will you do； if he doesn't talk？〃
〃I hold the Staff of Law。 It is a potent key。 When Amok has guided us to the Seventh Ward； I will not be helpless。〃
Covenant looked away with a sour expression on his face。 He did not believe that it would be that easy。
At Elena's side； he walked back along the crevice toward the two Bloodguard and Amok。 The afternoon was not far gone； but already Melenkurion Skyweir's shadow stretched across Rivenrock。 The shadow thickened the natural gloom of the cleft； so that it lay like a fault of darkness across the plateau。 At its widest； it was no more than twenty feet broad； but it seemed immeasurably deep； as if it went straight down to the buried roots of the mountain。 On an impulse； Covenant tossed a small rock into the cleft。 It bounced from wall to wall on its way down； he counted twentytwo heartbeats before it fell beyond hearing。 Instinctively； he kept himself a safe distance from the crevice as he went on toward Bannor and Morin。
The two Bloodguard had unpacked the food； and Covenant and Elena made a light meal for themselves。 Covenant ate slowly； as if he were trying to postpone the next phase of the quest。 He foresaw only three alternatives…up the mountain； down the crevice； across the cleft…and they all looked bad to him。 He did not want to do any kind of climbing or jumping； the simple proximity of precipices made him nervous。 But when he saw that the High Lord was waiting for him； he recollected the terms of his bargain。 He finished what he
was eating； and tried to brace himself for whatever Amok had in mind。
Gripping the Staff of Law firmly； Elena turned to her guide。 〃Amok； we are ready。 What should be done with the Ranyhyn？ Will you have us ride or walk？〃
〃That is your choice； High Lord；〃 said Amok with a grin。 〃If the Ranyhyn remain； they will not be needed。 If they depart； you will be forced to resummon them。〃
〃Then we must walk to follow you now？〃
〃Follow me？ I have said nothing of leaving this place。〃
〃Is the Seventh Ward here？〃 she asked quickly。
〃No。〃
〃Then it is elsewhere。〃
〃Yes； High Lord。〃
〃If it is elsewhere； we must go to it。〃
〃That is true。 The Seventh Ward cannot be brought to you。〃
〃To go to it； we must walk or ride。〃
〃That also is true。〃
〃Which？〃
As he listened to this exchange； Covenant felt a quiet admiration for the way in which Elena tackled Amok's vagueness。 Her past experience appeared to have taught her how to corner the youth。 But with his next answer he eluded her。
〃That is your choice；〃 he repeated。 〃Decide and go。〃
〃Do you not lead us？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I act according to my nature。 I do what I have been created to do。〃
〃Amok； are you not the way and the door of the Seventh Ward？〃
〃Yes； High Lord。〃
〃Then you must guide us。〃
〃No。〃
〃Why not？〃 she demanded again。 〃Are you capricious？〃 Covenant heard a hint of desperation in her tone。
Amok replied in mild reproof； 〃High Lord； I have
been created for the purpose I serve。 If I appear willful； you must ask my maker to explain me。〃
〃In other words；〃 Covenant interjected heavily； 〃we're stuck without the other four Wards。 This is Kevin's way of protecting…whatever it is。 Without the clues he planted with such cleverness in the other Wards； we're up against a blank wall。〃
〃The krill of Loric came to life；〃 said Amok。 〃That is the appointed word。 And the Land is in peril。 Therefore I have made myself accessible。 I can do no more。 I must serve my purpose。〃
The High Lord searched him for a moment； then said sternly； 〃Amok； are my panions unsuitable to your purpose in some way？〃
〃Your panions must suit themselves。 I am the way and the door。 I do not judge those who seek。〃
〃Amok〃…she hung fire； and her lips moved silently as if she were reciting a list of choices…〃are there conditions to be met before you can guide us onward？〃
Amok bowed in recognition of her question； and answered with a chuckle； 〃Yes； High Lord。〃
〃Will you guide us to the Seventh Ward when the conditions are met？〃
〃That is the purpose of my creation。〃
〃What are your conditions？〃
〃There is only one。 If you desire more； you must conceive them without my aid。〃
〃What is your condition； Amok？〃
The youth gazed impishly askance at Elena。 〃High Lord；〃 he said in a tone of soaring glee； 〃you must name the power of the Seventh Ward。〃
She gaped at him for an instant； then exclaimed； 〃Melenkurion！ You know I lack that knowledge。〃
He was unmoved。 〃Then perhaps it is well that the Ranyhyn have not departed。 They can bear you to Revelstone。 If you gain wisdom there； you may return。 You will find me here。〃 With a bow of infuriating insouciance； he waved his arms and vanished。
She stared after him and clenched t