The Lord fell silent； musing with his head down and his cheek pressed against his staff。 Covenant watched him for a time。 The warmth of the sun and the cool breeze seemed to underscore Mhoram's stern self judgment。 Revelstone itself dwarfed the people who inhabited it。
Yet the Lord's influence or example strengthened Covenant。 At last； he found the courage to ask his most important question。 〃Then why am I here？ Why did he let you summon me？ Doesn't he want the white gold？〃
Without raising his head； Mhoram said； 〃Lord Foul is not yet ready to defeat you。 The wild magic still surpasses him。 Instead； he strives to make you destroy yourself。 I have seen it。〃
〃Seen it？〃 Covenant echoed softly； painfully；
〃In gray visions I have caught glimpses of the Despiser's heart。 In this matter； I speak from sure prehension。 Even now； Lord Foul believes that his might is not equal to the wild magic。 He is not yet ready to battle you。
〃Remember that forty years ago Drool Rockworm held both Staff and Stone。 Desiring still more power desiring all power…he exerted himself against you in ways which the Despiser would not have chosen ways which were wasteful or foolish。 Drool was mad。 And Lord Foul had no wish to teach him wisdom。
〃Matters are otherwise now。 Lord Foul wastes no power； takes no risks which do not gain his ends。 He seeks indirectly to make you do his bidding。 If it es to the last； and you are still unmastered； he will fight you…but only when he is sure of victory。 Until that time； he will strive to bend your will so that you will choose to strike against the Land…or to withhold your hand from our defense； so that he will be free to destroy us。
〃But he will make no open move against you now。 He fears the wild magic。 White gold is not bound by the law of Time； and he must prevent its use until he can know that it will not be used against him。〃
Covenant heard the truth of Mhoram's words。 The Despiser had told him much the same thing； high on Kevin's Watch； when he had first appeared in the Land。 He shivered under the livid memory of Lord Foul's contempt…shivered and felt cold； as if behind the clean sunlight over Revelstone blew the dank mist of Despite； dampening his soul with the smell of attar； filling his ears on a level just beyond hearing with the rumble of an avalanche。 Looking into Mhoram's eyes； he knew that he had to speak truly as well； reply as honestly as he could。
〃I don't have any choice。〃 Even this made him want to duck his head in shame； but he forced himself to hold the Lord's gaze。 〃I'll have to do it that way。 Even if that's not the one good answer…even if madness is not the only danger in dreams。 Even if I believed in this wild magic。 I haven't got one idea how to use it。〃
With an effort； Mhoram smiled gently。 But the somberness of his glance overshadowed his smile。 He met Covenant's eyes unwaveringly； and when he spoke； his voice was sad。 〃Ah； my friend； what will you do？〃
The uncritical softness of the question caught Covenant by the throat。 He was not prepared for such sympathy。 With difficulty； he answered； 〃I'll survive。〃
Mhoram nodded slowly； and a moment later he turned away； back toward the room。 As he reached the door； he said； 〃I am late。 The Council waits for me。 I must go。〃
But before the Lord could leave； Covenant called after him； 〃Why aren't you the High Lord？〃 He was trying to find some way to thank Mhoram。 〃Don't they appreciate you around here？〃
Over his shoulder； Mhoram replied simply； 〃My time has not yet e。〃 Then he left the room； closing the door carefully behind him。
FIVE： Dukkha
COVENANT turned back to the southward view from Revelstone。 He had many things to think about； and no easy way to grasp them。 But already his senses seemed to be swinging into consonance with the Land。 He could smell the crops in the fields east of him they were nearly ready for harvesting…and see the inner ripeness of the distant trees。 He found autumn in the way the sunlight stroked his face。 Such sensations accented the excitement in his veins； but they confused his efforts to deal clearly with his situation。 No leper； he thought painfully； no leper should be asked to live in such a healthy world。
Yet he could not deny it； he was moved by Mhoram's account of the dilemmas of the Lords。 He was moved by the Land； and by the people who
served it though they made him look so small to himself。 Sourly； he left the balcony； and scanned the tray of food which had been set for him on a stone table in the center of his sitting room。 The soup and
stew still steamed； reminding him how hungry he was。
No。 He could not afford to make any more concessions。 Hunger was like nerve…health…illusion； deception； dream。 He could not A knock at the door interrupted him。 For a moment； he stood still； irresolute。 He did not want to talk to anyone until he had had more time to think。 But at the same time he did not want to be alone。 The threat of madness was always at its worst when he was alone。
Keep moving； don't look back； he muttered bitterly to himself； echoing a formula which had served him ambiguously at best。
He went to open the door。
Standing in the outer hallway was Hile Troy。
He was dressed as Covenant had seen him before； with his sunglasses firmly in place； and again the slight smile on his lips looked vaguely mysterious and apologetic。 A sharp pang of anxiety joined the tingling of Covenant's blood。 He had been trying not to think about this man。
〃e on；〃 Troy said。 His tone was full of the power of mand。 〃The Lords are doing something you ought to see。〃
Covenant shrugged to disguise a tremor in his shoulders。 Troy was an adversary…Covenant could sense it。 But he had made his decision when he had opened the door。 Defiantly； he strode out into the hall。
In the hallway； he found Bannor standing watch by his door。
Hile Troy started away with a swift； confident stride； but Covenant turned toward the Bloodguard。 Bannor met his look with a nod； for a moment they held each other's eyes。 Bannor's flat； brown； unreadable face had not changed a whit； not aged a day that Covenant could discern。 As he stood relaxed and ready； the Bloodguard radiated a physical solidity； a palpable petence； which intimidated or belittled Covenant； and yet Covenant sensed something extreme and sad in Bannor's timeless impenetrability。
The Bloodguard were said to be two thousand years old。 They were clenched into immutability by a strait and consuming Vow of service to the Lords； while all the people they had ever known…including the long…lived Giants； and High Lord Kevin； who had inspired them to their Vow…fell into dust。
Looking now at Bannor； with his alien countenance and his bare feet and his short brown tunic； Covenant received a sudden intuitive impression； as if a previous subliminal perception had crystallized。 How many times had Bannor saved his life？ For an instant； he could not remember。 He felt unexpectedly sure that the Bloodguard could tell him what he needed to know； that from the extravagance of his two thousand…year perspective； bereft by the unforeseen power of his Vow of home and sleep and death； of everyone he had ever loved； he had gained the knowledge Covenant needed。
〃Bannor…〃 he began。
〃Ur…Lord。〃 The Bloodguard's voice was as passionless as time。
But Covenant did not know how to ask； he could not put his need into words which would not sound like an attack on the Bloodguard's impossible fidelity。 Instead； he murmured； 〃So we're back to this。〃
〃The High Lord has chosen me to keep watch over you。〃
〃e on；〃 called Troy peremptorily。 〃You should see this。〃
Covenant disregarded him for a moment longer。 To
Bannor； he said； 〃I hope…I hope it works out better than the last time。〃 Then he turned and moved down the hall after Troy。 He knew that Bannor came behind him； though the Bloodguard walked without a sound。
Impatiently； Hile Troy guided Covenant inward through the levels of the Keep。 They passed briskly across high vaulted halls； along connecting corridors； and down stairs until they reached a place that Covenant recognized： the long circular passage around the sacred enclosure； where the inhabitants of Revelstone worshipp