〃What must we do now？〃 she inquired softly to minimize the echoes。
〃Now？〃 Amok chuckled。 〃Only wait； High Lord。 The time will not be long。 Behold！ Already the way approaches。〃
He was standing with his back to the lake； but as he spoke he gestured behind him with one arm。 As if in answer to this signal； a boat came into sight around a pillar some distance from the shore。
The boat was empty。 It was a narrow wooden craft； pointed at both ends。 Except for a line of bright reflective gilt along its gunwales and thwarts； it was unadorned…a clean； simple work smoothly formed of light brown wood； and easily long enough to seat five people。 But it was unoccupied； no one rowed or steered it。 Without making a ripple； it swung gracefully around the pillar； and glided shoreward。 Yet in
Earthroot's sacramental air； it did not seem strange； it was a proper and natural adjunct of the bronze lake。 Covenant was not surprised to see that it carried no oars。
He watched its approach as if it were an instrument of dread。 It made his wedding ring itch on his finger。 He glanced quickly at his hand； half expecting to see that the band glowed or changed color。 The argent metal looked peculiarly vivid in the rocklight； it weighed heavily on his hand； tingled against his skin。 But it revealed nothing。 〃Have mercy；〃 he breathed as if he were speaking directly to the white gold。 Then he winced as his voice tripped away in light echoes； spread by a multitude of crystal repetitions。
Amok laughed at him； and clear peals of glee joined the mimicry。
High Lord Elena was now too enrapt in Earthroot to attend Covenant。 She stood on the shore as if she could already smell the Power of mand； and waited like an acolyte for the empty boat。
Soon the craft reached her。 Silently； it slid its prow up the dry slope； and stopped as if it were ready； expectant。
Amok greeted it with a deep obeisance； then leaped lithely aboard。 His feet made no sound as they struck the planks。 He moved to the far end of the craft； turned； and seated himself with his arms on the gunwales； grinning like a monarch。
First Mark Morin followed Amok。 Next； High Lord Elena entered the craft； and placed herself on a seat board near its middle。 She held the Staff of Law across her knees。 Covenant saw that his turn had e。 Trembling； he walked down the shore to the wooden prow。 Apprehension beat in his temples； but he repressed it。 He clutched the gunwales with both hands； climbed into the craft。 His boots thudded and echoed on the planks。 As he sat down； he seemed to be surrounded by the clatter of unseemly burdens。
Bannor shoved the boat into the lake； and sprang immediately aboard。 But by the time he had taken his seat； the boat had glided to a halt。 It rested as if it
were fused to the burnished water a few feet from shore。
For a moment； no one moved or spoke。 They sat bated and hushed； waiting for the same force which had brought the boat to carry it away again。 But the craft remained motionless…fixed like a censer in the red； still surface of the lake。
The pulse in Covenant's head grew sharper。 Harshly； he defied the echoes。 〃Now what do we do？〃
To his surprise； the boat slid forward a few feet。 But it stopped again when the repetitions of his voice died。 Once again； the High Lord's party was held； trapped。
He stared about him in astonishment。 No one spoke。 He could see thoughts concentrate the muscles of Elena's back。 He looked at Amok once； but the youth's happy grin so dismayed him that he tore his gaze away。 The ache of his suspense began to seem unendurable。
Bannor's unexpected movement startled him。 Turning； he saw that the Bloodguard had risen to his feet。 He lifted his seat board from its slots。
For an oar！ Covenant thought。 He felt a sudden upsurge of excitement。
Bannor held the board in both hands； braced himself against the side of the boat； and prepared to paddle。
As the end of the board touched the water； some power grabbed it； wrenched it instantly from his grasp。 It was snatched straight down into the lake。 There was no splash or ripple； but the board vanished like a stone hurled into the depths。
Bannor gazed after it； and cocked one eyebrow as if he were speculating abstractly on the kind of strength which could so easily tear something away from a Bloodguard。 But Covenant was not so calm。 He gaped weakly； 〃Hellfire。〃
Again the boat moved forward。 It coasted for several yards until the echoes of Covenant's amazement disappeared。 Then it stopped； resumed its reverent stasis。
Covenant faced Elena； but he did not need to voice
his question。 Her face glowed with prehension。 〃Yes； beloved；〃 she breathed in relief and triumph。 〃I see。〃 And as the boat once more began to glide over the lake； she continued； 〃It is the sound of our voices which causes the boat to move。 That is the use of Amok's way。 The craft will seek its own destination。 But to carry us it must ride upon our echoes。〃
The truth of her perception was immediately apparent。 While her clear voice cast replies like ripples over Earthroot； the boat slid easily through the water。 It steered itself between the pillars as if it were pursuing the lodestone of its purpose。 Soon it had passed out of sight of Earthrootstair。 But when she stopped speaking…when the delicate echoes had chimed themselves into silence…the craft halted again。
Covenant groaned inwardly。 He was suddenly afraid that he would be asked to talk； help propel the boat。 He feared that he would give his bargain away if he were forced into any kind of extended speech。 In selfdefense； he turned the demand around before it could be directed at him。 〃Well； say something；〃 he growled at Elena。
A light； ambiguous smile touched her lips…a response； not to him； but to some satisfying inner prospect。 〃Beloved；〃 she replied softly； 〃we will have no difficulty。 There is much which has not been said between us。 There are secrets and mysteries and sources of power in you which I perceive but dimly。 And in some ways I have not yet spoken of myself。 This is a fit place for the opening of hearts。 I will tell you of that Ranyhyn…ride which took the young daughter of Lena from Mithil Stonedown into the Southron Range； and there at the great secret horserite of the Ranyhyn taught her…taught her many things。〃
With a stately movement； she rose to her feet facing Covenant。 She set the Staff of Law firmly on the planks； and lifted her head to the ceiling of Earthroot's cavern。 〃Ur…Lord Thomas Covenant；〃 she said； and the echoes spread about her like a skein of gleaming rocklight； interweaving the burnished water； 〃Unbeliever and white gold wielder； Ringthane…beloved
…I must tell you of this。 You have known Myrha。 In her youth； she came to Lena my mother； according to the promise of the Ranyhyn。 She carried me away to the great event of my girlhood。 Thus you were the unknowing cause。 Before this war reaches its end for good or ill； I must tell you what your promises have wrought。〃
Have mercy on me！ he cried again in the obdurate incapacity of his heart。 But he was too numb； too intimidated by the lake and the echoes； to stop her。 He sat in mute dread； and listened as Elena told him the tale of her experience with the Ranyhyn。 And all the time； the craft bore them on an oblique； intimate course between the lake pillars； floated them on the resonances of her voice as if it were ferrying them to a terrible shore。
Her adventure had occurred the third time that Lena her mother had allowed her to ride a Ranyhyn。 During the two previous annual visits to Mithil Stonedown； dictated by the Ranyhyn promise to Covenant Ringthane； the old horse from the Plains of Ra had rolled his eyes strangely at the little girl as Trell her grandfather had boosted her onto its broad back。 And the next year young Myrha took the old stallion's place。 The mare gazed at Elena with that look of deliberate intention which characterized all the Ranyhyn …and Elena； sensing the Ranyhyn's offer without understanding it； gladly gave herself up to Myrha。 She did not look back as the mare carried her far away from Mithil Stonedown into the mountains of the Southron Range。
For a day and a night； Myrha galloped； bearing Elena far south along m