t by that unsuspected enemy； man； had cut too deeply to be halted。 But then； outraged and weakened by the slaughter of the trees； the Colossus had unclasped its interdict； and let the shadow free。 From that time； from the moment of that offended capitulation； the Earth had slowly lost the power or the will or the chance to defend itself。 So the burden of resisting the Despiser had fallen to a race which had brought the shadow upon itself； and the Earth lay under the oute。
〃But it was not Despite which the Colossus resisted；〃 Mhoram resumed when his song was done。 〃Despite was the bane of men。 It came with them into the Land from the cold anguish of the north； and from the hungry kingdom of the south。 No； the Colossus of the Fall forbade another foe…three tree… and soil…hating brothers who were old in the Spoiled Plains before Lord Foul first cast his shadow there。 They were triplets； the spawn of one birth from the womb of their long forgotten mother； and their names were samadhi； moksha； and turiya。 They hated the Earth and all its growing things； just as Lord Foul hates all life and love。 When the Colossus eased its interdict； they came to the Upper Land； and in their lust for ravage and dismay fell swiftly under the mastery of the Despiser。 From that time； they have been his highest servants。 They have performed treachery for him when he could not show his hand； and have fought for him when he would not lead his armies。
〃It was samadhi； now named Sheol； who mastered the heart of Berek's liege…Sheol who slaughtered the champions of the Land； and drove Berek； halfunhanded and alone； to his extremity on the slopes of Mount Thunder。 It was turiya and moksha； Herem and Jehannum； who lured the powerful and austere Demondim to their breeding dens； and to the spawning of the ur…viles。 Now the three are united with Lord Foul again…united； and clamoring for the decimation of the Land。 But alas…alas for my ignorance and weakness。 I cannot foresee what they will do。 I can hear their voices； loud with lust for the ripping of trees and the scorching of soil； but their intent eludes me。 The Land is in such peril because its servants are weak。〃
The rough eloquence of Mhoram's tone carried Covenant along； and under its spell the brilliant sunlight seemed to darken in his eyes。 Grimly； unwillingly； he caught a sense of the looming and cruel ill which crept up behind the Land's spirit； defying its inadequate defenders。 And when he looked at himself； he saw nothing but omens of futility。 Other people who s had protested their weakness to him had suffered terribly at the hands of his own irreducible and immedicable impotence。 Harshly…more harshly than he intended…he asked； 〃Why？〃
Mhoram turned away from his private visions； and cocked an inquiring eyebrow at Covenant。
〃Why are you weak？〃
The Lord met this with a wry smile。 〃Ah； my friend …I had forgotten that you ask such questions。 You lead me into long speeches。 I think that if I could reply to you briefly； I would not need you so。〃 But Covenant did not relent； and after a pause Mhoram said； 〃Well； I cannot refuse to answer。 But e…there is food waiting。 Let us eat。 Then I will make what answer I can。〃 '
Covenant refused。 Despite his hunger； he was unwilling to make any more concessions to the Land until he knew better where he stood。
Mhoram considered him for a moment； then replied in a measured tone； 〃1f what you say is true…if Land and Earth and all are nothing more than a dream； a threat of madness for you…then still you must eat。 Hunger is hunger； and need is need。 How else…7〃
〃No。〃 Covenant dismissed the idea heavily。
At that； the gold flecks in Mhoram's eyes flared； as ' if they reflected the passion of the sun； and he said levelly； 〃Then answer that question yourself。 Answer it； and save us。 If we are helpless and unfriended； it is your doing。 Only you can penetrate the mysteries which surround us。〃
〃No；〃 Covenant repeated。 He recognized what Mhoram was saying； and refused to tolerate it。 No； he responded to the heat of Mhoram's look。 That's too much like blaming me for being a leper。 It's not my fault。 〃You go too far。〃
〃Ur…Lord；〃 Mhoram replied； articulating each word distinctly； 〃there is peril upon the Land。 Distance will not restrain me。〃
〃That isn't what I meant。 I meant you're taking what I said too far。 I'm not the…the shaper。 I'm not in control。 I'm just another victim。 All I know is what you tell me。
〃What I want to know is why you keep trying to make me responsible。 What makes you any weaker than I am？ You've got the Staff of Law。 You've got the rhadhamaerl and lillianrill。 What makes you so bloody weak？〃
The heat slowly faded from the Lord's gaze。 Folding his arms so that his staff was clasped across his chest； he smiled crookedly。 〃Your question grows with each asking。 If I require you to ask again； I fear that nothing …less than a Giant's tale will suffice for answer。 Forgive me； my friend。 I know that our peril cannot be laid on your head。 Dream or no…there is no difference for us。 We must serve the Land。
〃Now； I must first remind you that the rhadhamaerl and lillianrill are another question； separate from the weakness of the Lords。 The 。stone…lore of the rhadhamaerl； and the wood…lore of the lillianrill； have been preserved from past ages by the people of Stonedown and Woodhelven。 In their exile after the Ritual of Desecration； the people of the Land lost much of the richness of their lives。 They were sorely bereft； and could cling only to that lore which enabled them to endure。 Thus； when they returned to the Land； they brought with them those whose work in exile was to preserve and use。 the lore…Gravelingases of the rhadhamaerl ； and Hirebrands of the lillianrill。 It is the work of Hirebrand and Gravelingas to make the lives of the villages bounteous…warm in winter and plentiful in summer； true to the song of the Land。
'Me Lore of High Lord Kevin Landwaster is another matter。 That knowledge is the concern of the Loresraat and the Lords。
〃The age of the Old Lords； before Lord Foul broke into open war with Kevin son of Loric； was among the bravest and gladdest and strongest of all the times of the Land。 Kevin's Lore was mighty with Earthpower； and pure with Landservice。 Health and gaiety flowered in the Land； and the bright Earth jewel of Andelain bedizened the Land's heart with precious woods and stones。 That was a time 〃Yet it came to an end。 Despair darkened Kevin； and in the Ritual of Desecration he destroyed that which he loved； intending to destroy the Despiser as well。 But before the end； he was touched with prophecy or foresight； and found means to save much of power and beauty。 He warned the Giants and the Ranyhyn； so that they might flee。 He ordered the Bloodguard into safety。 And he left his Lore for later ages…hid it in Seven Wards so that it would not fall into wrong or unready hands。 The First Ward he gave to the Giants； and when the exile was ended they gave it to the first of the new Lords； the forebearers of this Council。 In turn； these Lords conceived the Oath of Peace and carried it to all the people of the Land…an Oath to guard against Kevin's destroying passion。 And these Lords； our forebearers； swore themselves and their followers in fealty and service to the Land and the Earthpower。
〃Now； my friend； you know we have found the Second Ward。 The Two contain much knowledge and much power； and when they are mastered they will lead us to the Third Ward。 In this way； mastery will guide us until all Kevin's Lore is ours。 But we fail we fail to penetrate。 How can I say it？ We translate the speech of the Old Lords。 We learn the skills and rites and songs of the Lore。 We study Peace； and devote ourselves to the life of the Land。 And yet something lacks。 In some way； we misprehend…we do not suffice。 Only a part of the power of this knowledge answers to our touch。 We can learn nothing of the other Wards…and little of the Seven Words which evoke the Earthpower。 Something…ur…Lord； it is something in us which fails。 I feel it in my heart。 We lack。 We have not the stature of mastery。〃
The Lord fell silent； musing with his head down and his cheek pressed against his staff。 Covenant watched him for a time。 The wa