g words of flame。
〃e！ I have tasted the EarthBlood！ You must obey my will。 The walls of death do not prevail。 Kevin son of Loric！ e！〃
No！ howled Covenant； No！ Don't！ But even his inner cry was swamped by a great voice which shivered and groaned in the air so hugely that he seemed to hear it； not with his ears； but with the whole surface of his body。
〃Fool！ Desist！〃 Staggering waves of anguish poured from the voice。 〃Do not do this！〃
〃Kevin； hear me！〃 Elena shouted back in a transported tone。 〃You cannot refuse！ The Blood of the Earth pels you。 I have chosen you to meet my mand。 Kevin； e！〃
The great voice repeated； 〃Fool！ You know not what you do！〃
But an instant later； the ambience of the cave changed violently； as if a tomb had opened into it。 Breakers of agony rolled through the air。 Covenant winced at every surge。 He braced himself where he knelt； and looked up。
The specter of Kevin Landwaster stood outlined in pale light before Elena。
He dwarfed her…dwarfed the cave itself。 Monumentally upright and desolate； he was visible through the stone rather than within the cave。 He towered over Elena as if he were part of the very mountain rock。 He had a mouth like a cut； eyes full of the effects of Desecration； and on his forehead was a bandage which seemed to cover some mortal wound。 〃Release me！〃 he groaned。 〃I have done harm enough for one
50111。〃
〃Then serve me！〃 she cried ecstatically up to him。
〃I offer you a mand to redeem that harm。 You
are Kevin son of Loric； the waster of the Land。 You
have known despair to its dregs you have tasted the
full cup of gall。 That is knowledge and strength which no one living can equal。
〃High Lord Kevin； I mand you to battle and defeat Lord Foul the Despiser！ Destroy Fangthane！ By the Power of the EarthBlood； I mand you。〃
The specter stared aghast at her； and raised his fists as if he meant to strike her。 〃Fool！〃 he repeated terribly。
The next instant； a concussion like the slamming of a crypt shook the cave。 One last pulse of anguish pummeled the High Lord's party； Elena's flame was blown out like a weak candle； darkness flooded the cave。
Then Kevin was gone。
A long time passed。 When Covenant regained consciousness； he rested wearily for a while on his hands and knees； glad of the darkness； and the reduced scale of the cave； and the specter's absence。 But eventually he remembered Elena。 Pushing himself to his feet； he reached toward her with his voice。 〃Elena？ e on。 Elena？ Let's get out of here。〃
At first； he received no response。 Then blue fire flared as Elena lit the Staff。 She was sitting like a wreck on the floor。 When she turned her wan； spent face toward him； he saw that her crisis was over。 All her exaltation had been consumed by the act of mand。 He went to her； helped her gently to her feet。 〃e on；〃 he said again。 〃Let's go。〃
She shook her head vaguely； and said in an exhausted voice； 〃He called me a fool。 What have I done？〃
〃I hope we never find out。〃 A rough edge of sympathy made him sound harsh。 He wanted to care for her； and did not know how。 To give her time and privacy to gather her strength； he stepped away。 As he glanced dully around the cave； he noticed Bannor； noticed the faint look of surprise in Bannor's face。 Something in that unfamiliar expression gave Covenant a twist of apprehension。 It seemed to be directed at him。 He probed for an explanation by asking； 〃That was Kevin； wasn't it？〃
Bannor nodded； the speculative surprise remained on his face。
〃Well； at least it wasn't that beggar… At least now we know it wasn't Kevin who picked me for this。〃
Still Bannor's gaze did not change。 It made Covenant feel unfortably exposed； as if there were something indecent about himself that he did not realize。
Confused； he turned back to the High Lord。
Suddenly； a silent blast like a howl of stone jolted the cave； made it tremble and jump like an earthquake。 Covenant and Elena lost their footing； slapped against the floor。 Morin's warning shout echoed flatly：
〃Kevin returns！〃
Then the buried tomb of the air opened again； Kevin's presence resonated against Covenant's skin。 But this time the specter brought with him a ghastly reek of rotten flesh and attar； and in the background of his presence was the deep rumble of rock being crushed。 When Covenant raised his head from the bucking floor； he saw Kevin within the stone furiously poised； fists cocked。 Hot green filled the orbs of his eyes； sent rank steam curling up his forehead； and he dripped with emerald light as if he had just struggled out of a quagmire。
〃Fool！〃 he cried in a paroxysm of anguish。 〃Damned betrayer！ You have broken the Law of Death to summon me…you have unleashed measureless opportunities for evil upon the Earth…and the Despiser mastered me as easily as if I were a child！ The Illearth Stone consumes me。 Fight； fool！ I am manded to destroy you！〃
Roaring like a multitude of fiends； he reached down and clutched at Elena。
She did not move。 She was aghast； frozen by the result of her great dare。
But Morin reacted instantly。 Crying； 〃Kevin！ Hold！〃 he sprang to her aid。
The specter seemed to hear Morin…hear and recognize who he was。 An old memory touched Kevin； and he hesitated。 That hesitation gave Morin time to reach Elena； thrust her behind him。 When Kevin threw off his uncertainty； his fingers closed around Morin instead of the High Lord。
He gripped the Bloodguard and heaved him into the air。
Kevin's arm passed easily through the rock； but Morin could not。 He crashed against the ceiling with tremendous force。 The impact tore him from Kevin's grasp。 But that impact was sufficient。 The First Mark fell dead like a broken twig。
The sight roused Elena。 At once； she realized her danger。 She whirled the Staff swiftly about her head。 Its flame sprang into brilliance； and a hot blue bolt lashed straight at Kevin。
The blast struck him like a physical blow； drove him back a step through the stone。 But he shrugged off its effects。 With a deep snarl of pain； he moved forward； snatched at her again。
Shouting frantically； 〃Melenkurion abatha！〃 she met his attack with the Staff。 Its fiery heel seared his palm。
Again he recoiled； gripping his scorched fingers and groaning。
In that momentary reprieve； she cried strange invocations to the Staff； and swung its blaze around her three times； surrounding herself with a shield of power。 When the specter grabbed for her once more； he could not gain a hold on her。 He squeezed her shield； and his fingers dripped with emerald ill； but he could not touch her。 Whenever he dented her defense； she healed it with the Staff's might。
Yelling in frustration and pain； he changed his tactics。 He reared back； clasped his fists together； and hammered them at the floor of the cave。 The stone jumped fiercely。 The lurch knocked Covenant down； threw Bannor against the opposite wall。
A gasping shudder like a convulsion of torment shot through the mountain。 The cave walls heaved； rumblings of broken stone。 filled the air； power blared。
A crack appeared in the floor directly under Elena。 Even before she was aware of it； it started to open。 Then； like ravenous jaws； it jerked wide。
High Lord Elena dropped into the chasm。
Kevin pounced after her； and vanished from sight。
His howls echoed out of the cleft like the shrieking of a madman。
But even as they disappeared； their battle went on。 Lords…fire spouted hotly up into the cave。 The thunder of tortured stone pounded along the tunnel； and the cave pitched from side to side like a nausea in the guts of Melenkurion Skyweir。 In his horror； Covenant thought that the whole edifice of the mountain was about to tumble。
Then he was snatched to his feet； hauled erect by Bannor。 The Bloodguard gripped him with pelling fingers； and shouted at him through the tumult； 〃Save her！〃
〃I can't！〃 The pain of his reply made him yell。 Bannor's demand rubbed so much salt into the wound of his essential futility that he could hardly bear it。 〃I cannot！〃
〃You must！〃 Bannor's grasp allowed no alternatives。
〃How？〃 Waving his empty hands in Bannor's face； he cried； 〃With these？〃
〃Yes！〃 The Bloodguard caught Covenant's left hand； forced him to look