ge as if his feet were trying to learn again the solidity of the stone。
He moved parallel to the cleft； but stayed a safe distance from it。 As soon as he could see a substantial swath of Garroting Deep beyond the cliff edge； he stopped。 There he remained； hoping both that Elena would e to him and that she would not。
The prevailing breeze from the Forest blew into his face； and for the first time in many days he was able to distinguish the tang of the season。 He found that the autumn of the Land had turned its corner； traveled its annual round from joy to sorrow。 The air no longer gleamed with abundance and fruition； with ripeness either glad or grim。 Now the breeze tasted like the leading edge of winter…a sere augury； promising long nights and barrenness and cold。
As he smelled the air； he realized that Garroting Deep had no fall color change。 He could make out stark black stands where the trees had already lost their leaves； but no blazonry palliated the Deep's darkness。 It went without transition or adornment from summer to winter。 He sensed the reason with his eyes
and nose； the old Forest's angry clench of consciousness consumed all its strength and will； left it with neither the ability nor the desire to spend itself in mere displays of splendor。
Then he heard footsteps behind him； and recognized Elena's tread。 To forestall whatever she wanted to tell him or ask him； he said； 〃You know； where I e from； the people who did this to a forest would be called pioneers…a very special breed of heroes； since instead of killing other human beings they concentrate on slaughtering nature itself。 In fact； I know people who claim that all our social disfort es from the mere fact that we've got nothing left to pioneer。〃
〃Beloved；〃 she said softly； 〃you are not well。 What is amiss？〃
〃Amiss？〃 He could not bring himself to look at her。 His mouth was full of his bargain； and he had to swallow hard before he could say； 〃Don't mind me。 I'm like that Forest down there。 Sometimes I can't seem to help remembering。〃
In the silence； he sensed how little this answer satisfied her。 She cared about him； wanted to understand him。 But the rebirth of hope had restored the urgency of her duty。 He knew that she could not spare the time to explore him now。 He nodded morosely as she said； 〃I must go…the Land's need bears heavily upon me。〃 Then she added； 〃Will you remain here …await my return？〃
At last； he found the strength to turn and face her。 He met the solemn set of her face； the displaced otherness of her gaze； and said gruffly； 〃Stay behind？ And miss risking my neck again？ Nonsense。 I haven't had a chance like this since I was in Mount Thunder。〃
His sarcasm was sharper than he had intended； but she seemed to accept it。 She smiled； touched him lightly on the arm with the fingers of one hand。 〃e； then； beloved；〃 she said。 〃The Bloodguard are prepared。 We must depart before Amok places other obstacles in our way。〃
He tried to smile in return； but the uncertain muscles of his face treated the attempt like a grimace。 Muttering at his failure； he went with her back to
ward the Bloodguard and Amok。 As they walked； he watched her sidelong； assessed her covertly。 The strain of the past three days had been pushed into the background； her forthright stride and resolute features expressed new purpose； strength。 The resurgence of hope enabled her to discount mere exhaustion。 But her knuckles were tense as she gripped the Staff； and her head was thrust forward at a hungry angle。 She made Covenant's bargain lie unquiet in him； as if he were an inadequate and unbinding grave。
In his mind； he could still feel Rivenrock heaving。 He needed steadier footing； nothing would save him if he could not keep his balance。
Vaguely； he observed that the First Mark and Bannor were indeed ready to travel。 They had bound all the supplies into bundles； and had tied these to their backs with clingor thongs。 And Amok sparkled with eagerness； visions seemed to caper in his gay hair。 The three of them gave Covenant an acute pang of unpreparedness。 He did not feel equal to whatever lay ahead of the High Lord's party。 A pulse of anxiety began to run through his weary mood。 There was something that he needed to do； he needed to try to recover his integrity in some way。 But he did not know how。
He watched as the High Lord bade farewell to the Ranyhyn。 They greeted her gladly； stamping their feet and nickering in pleasure at the prospect of activity after three days of patient waiting。 She embraced each of the great horses； then stepped back； gripping the Staff； and saluted them in the Ramen fashion。
The Ranyhyn responded by tossing their manes。 They regarded her with proud； laughing eyes as she addressed them。
〃Brave Ranyhyn…first love of my life…I thank you for your service。 We have been honored。 But now we must go on foot for a time。 If we survive our path； we will call upon you to carry us back to Revelstone in victory or defeat； we will need the broad backs of your strength。
〃For the present； be free。 Roam the lands your hearts and hooves desire。 And if it should e to
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pass that we do not call…if you return unsummoned to the Plains of Ra…then； brave Ranyhyn； tell all your kindred of Myrha。 She saved my life in the landslide； and gave her own for a lesser horse。 Tell all the Ranyhyn that Elena daughter of Lena； High Lord by the choice of the Council； and holder of the Staff of Law； is proud of your friendship。 You are the Tail of the Sky； Mane of the World。〃
Raising the Staff； she cried； 〃Ranyhyn！ Hail！〃
The great horses answered with a whinny that echoed off the face of Melenkurion Skyweir。 Then they wheeled and galloped away； taking with them Covenant's mustang。 Their hooves clattered like a roll of fire on the stone as they swept northward and out of sight around the curve of the mountain。
When Elena turned back toward her panions； her sense of loss showed clearly in her face。 In a sad voice； she said； 〃e。 If we must travel without the Ranyhyn； then let us at least travel swiftly。〃
At once； she turned expectantly to Amok。 The ancient youth responded with an ornate bow； and started walking jauntily toward the place where the Skyweir's cliff joined the cleft of the plateau。
Covenant tugged at his beard； and watched hopelessly as Elena and Morin followed Amok。
Then； as abruptly as gasping； he exclaimed； 〃Wait！〃 The fingers of his right hand tingled in his beard。 〃Hang on。〃 The High Lord looked questioningly at him。 He said； 〃I need a knife。 And some water。 And a mirror； if you've got one…I don't want to cut my throat。〃
Elena said evenly； 〃Ur…Lord； we must go。 We have lost so much time…and the Land is in need。〃
〃It's important；〃 he snapped。 〃Have you got a knife？ The blade of my penknife isn't long enough。〃
For a moment； she studied him as if his conduct were a mystery。 Then； slowly； she nodded to Morin。 The First Mark unslung his bundle； opened it； and took out a stone knife； a leather waterskin； and a shallow bowl。 These be handed to the Unbeliever。 At once； Covenant sat down on the stone； filled the bowl； and began to wet his beard。
He could feel the High Lord's presence as she stood directly before him…he could almost taste the tension with which she held the Staff…but he concentrated on scrubbing water into his whiskers。 His heart raced as if he were engaged in something dangerous。 He had a vivid sense of what he was giving up。 But he was impelled by the sudden conviction that his bargain was false because it had not cost him enough。 When he picked up the knife； he did so to seal his promise with his fate。
Elena stopped him。 In a low； harsh voice； she said； 〃Thomas Covenant。〃
The way she said his name forced him to raise his head。
〃Where is the urgency in this？〃 She controlled her harshness by speaking quietly； but her indignation was tangible in her voice。 〃We have spent three days in delay and ignorance。 Do you now mock the Land's need？ Is it your deliberate wish to prevent this quest from success？〃
An angry rejoinder leaped to his lips。 But the terms of his bargain required him to repress it。 He bent his head again； splashed more water into his beard。 〃Sit down。 I'll try to explain。〃