〃What are you going to do now？〃 he said weakly。 〃Atiaran wanted…wanted the Lords to punish me。〃
Abruptly； she left her seat； moved around behind him。 She put her hands tenderly on his clenched brow and began to rub it； seeking to stroke away the knots and furrows。 〃Ah； Thomas Covenant；〃 she sighed； with something like yearning in her voice。 〃I am the High Lord。 I bear the Staff of Law。 I fight for the r Land； and will not quail though the beauty may die； or I may die； or the world may die。 But there is much of Lena my mother in me。 Do not frown at me so。 I cannot bear it。〃
Her soft； cool； consoling touch seemed to burn his forehead。 Mhoram had said that she had sat with him 。' during his ordeal the previous night…sat； and watched over him； and held his hand。 Trembling； he got to his feet。 Now he knew why she had summoned him。 There was a world of implications in the air between them； her whole life was on his head； for good or ill。 But it was too much； he was too staggered and drained to grasp it all； deal with it。 His stiff face was only capable of grimaces。 Mutely； he left her； and Bannor guided him back to his rooms。
In his suite； he extinguished the torches； covered the graveling pots。 Then he went out onto his balcony。
The moon was rising over Revelstone。 It was still new； and it came in silver over the horizon； tinting the plains with unviolated luminescence。 He breathed the autumn air； and leaned on the railing； immune for…： the moment from vertigo。 Even that had been drained out of him。
He did not think about jumping。 He thought about m how difficult Elena was to refuse。
SEVEN： Korik's Mission
SOMETIME before dawn； an insistent pounding at his door woke him。 He had been dreaming about the Quest for the Staff of Law…about his friend； Saltheart Foamfollower； whom the pany of the Quest had left behind to guard their rear before they had entered the catabs of Mount Thunder。 Covenant had not seen him again； did not know whether the Giant had survived that perilous duty。 When he awoke； his heart was laboring as if the clamor at the door were the beating of his dread。
Numbly； dazed with sleep； he uncovered a graveling pot； then shambled into the sitting room to answer the door。
He found a man standing in the brightness of the hall。 His blue robe belted in black and his long staff identified him as a Lord。
〃Ur…Lord Covenant；〃 the man began at once。 〃I must apologize profusely for disturbing your rest。 Of all the Lords； I am the one who most regrets such an intrusion。 I have a deep love for rest。 Rest and food； ur…Lord…sleep and sustenance。 They are exquisite。 Although there are some who would say that I have tasted so much sustenance that I should no longer require rest。 No doubt some such argument caused me to be chosen for this arduous and altogether unsavory journey。〃 Without asking for permission； he bustled past Covenant into the room。 He was grinning。
Covenant blinked his bleary gaze into focus； and took a close look at the man。
He was short and corpulent； with a round； beatific face； but the serenity of his countenance was punctured by his gleeful eyes； so that he looked like a misbegotten cherub。 His expression was constantly roiled； fleet smiles； smirks； frowns； grimaces chased each other across the surface of his essential good humor。 Now he was regarding Covenant with a look of appraisal； as if he were trying to gauge the Unbeliever's responsiveness to jesting。
〃I am Hyrim son of Hoole；〃 he said fluidly； 〃a Lord of the Council； as you see； and a lover of all good cheer； as you have perhaps not failed to notice。〃 His eyes gleamed impishly。 〃I would tell you of my parentage and history； so that you might know me better…but my time is short。 There are consequences to this riding of Ranyhyn； but when I offered myself to their choice I did not know that the honor could be so burdensome。 Perhaps you will consent to acpany me？〃
Mutely； Covenant's lips formed the word； Acpany？
〃To the courtyard； at least…if I can persuade you no farther。 I will explain while you ready yourself。〃
Covenant felt too groggy to understand what was being asked of him。 The Lord wanted him to get' dressed and go somewhere。 Was that all？ After a moment； he found his voice； and asked； 〃Why？〃
With an effort； Hyrim pulled an expression of Seriousness onto his face。 He studied Covenant gravely； then said； 〃UrLord； there are some things which。。 are difficult to say to you。 Both Lord Mhoram and high Lord Elena might have spoken。 They do not desire that this knowledge should be withheld from you。 But brother Mhoram is reluctant to describe his own pain。 And the High Lord…it is in my heart that she fears to send you into peril。〃
He grinned ruefully。 〃But I am not so selfless。 You will agree that there is much of …me to consider…and every part is tender。 Courage is for the lean。 I am wiser。 Wisdom is no more and no less deep than the skin…and mine is very deep。 Of course； it is said that trial and hardship refine the spirit。 But I have heard the Giants reply that there is time enough to refine the spirit when the body has no other choice。〃
Covenant had heard that； too； Foamfollower had said it to him。 He shook his head to clear away the painful memory。 〃I don't understand。〃
〃You have cause；〃 said the Lord。 〃I have not yet uttered anything of substance。 Ah； Hyrim；〃 he sighed to himself； 〃brevity is such a simple thing…and yet it surpasses you。 Ur…Lord； will you not dress？ I must tell you news of the Giants which will not please you。〃
A pang of anxiety stiffened Covenant。 He was no longer sleepy。 〃Tell me。〃
〃While you dress。〃
Causing silently； Covenant hurried into the bedroom and began to put on his clothes。
Lord Hyrim spoke from the other room。 His tone was careful； as if he were making a deliberate effort to be concise。 〃Ur…Lord； you know of the Giants。 Saltheart Foamfollower himself brought you to Revelstone。 You were present in the Close when he spoke to the Council of Lords； telling them that the omens which High Lord Damelon had foreseen for the Giants' hope of Home had e to pass。〃
Covenant knew； he remembered it vividly。 Back in the age of the Old Lords； the Giants had been wanderers of the sea who had lost their way。 For that reason； they called themselves the Unhomed。 They had roamed for decades in search of their lost homeland； but had not found it。 At last； they had e to the shores of the Land in the region known as Seareach； and there…weled and befriended by Damelon…they had made a place for themselves to live until they rediscovered their ancient Home。
Since that time； three thousand years ago； their search had been fruitless。 But Damelon Giantfriend had prophesied for them； he had foreseen an end to their exile。
After； and perhaps because； they had lost their Home； the Giants had begun to decline。 Though they。 dearly loved children； few children were born； their seed did not replenish itself。 For many centuries； their numbers had been slowly shrinking。
Damelon had foretold that this would change； that their seed would regain its vitality。 That was his omen； his sign that the exile was about to end； for good or ill。
In his turn； Damelon's son； Loric； had made a promise to support and affirm that prophecy。 He had said that； when Damelon's omens were fulfilled； the Lords would provide the Giants with potent Gildenlode keels and rudders for the building of new ships for their homeward journey。
So it was that Foamfollower had reported to the Council that Wavenhair Haleall； the wife of Sparlimb Keelsetter； had given birth to triplets； three sons…an event unprecedented in Seareach。 And at the same time； scouting ships had returned to say that they had found a way which might lead the Giants Home。 Foamfollower had e to Revelstone to claim High Lord Loric's promise。
〃For forty years；〃 Lord Hyrim went on； 〃the lillianrill of Lord's Keep have striven to meet that promise。 The seven keels and rudders are now nearly plete。 But time hurries on our heels； driving us dangerously。 When this war begins； we will be unable to transport the Gildenlode to Seareach。 And we will need the help of the Giants to fight Lord Foul。 Yet it may be that all such helps or hopes wil