king stone slabs which could close inward to seal the entrance pletely led to a tunnel under the tower。 The tunnel opened into the courtyard； and the entrance from the courtyard to the Keep was defended by another set of gates as massive and solid as the first。 The main Keep was joined to the tower by a series of wooden crosswalks suspended at intervals above the court； but the only ground…level access to the tower was through two small doors on either side of the tunnel。 Thus any enemy who acplished the almost impossible task of breaking the outer gates would then have to attempt the same feat at the inner gates while under attack from the battlements of both the watchtower and the main Keep。
The courtyard was paved with flagstones except in the center； where an old Gilden tree grew； nourished by springs of fresh water。 Lord Hyrim； Bannor； and Covenant found the rest of the mission there beside
the tree； under the waning darkness of the sky。 Dawn had begun。
Shivering in the crisp air； Covenant looked around the court。 In the light which reflected from within the Keep； he could see that all the people near the tree were Bloodguard except for one Lord； a tall woman。 She stood facing into Revelstone； Covenant could see her clearly。 She had stiff； iron…gray hair that she wore cropped short； and her； face was like the face of a hawk…keen of nose and eye； lean of cheek。 Her eyes held a sharp gleam like the hunting stare of a hawk。 But behind the gleam； Covenant discerned something that looked like an ache of desire； a yearning which she could neither satisfy nor repress。
Lord Hyrim greeted her panionably； but she ignored him； stared back into the Keep as if she could not bear to leave it。
Behind her； the Bloodguard were busy distributing burdens； packing their supplies into bundles with clingor thongs。 These they tied to their backs so that their movements would not be hampered。 Soon one of them…Covenant recognized Korik…stepped forward and announced to Lord Hyrim that he was ready。
〃Ready； friend Korik？〃 Hyrim's voice had a jaunty sound。 〃Ah； would that I could say the same。 But； by the Seven！ I am not a man suited for great dangers I am better made to applaud victories than to perform them。 Yes； that is where my skills lie。 Were you to bring me a victory； I could drink a pledge to it which would astound you。 But this…riding at speed across the Land； into the teeth of who knows what ravenous perils…！ Can you tell us of these perils； Korik？〃
〃Lord？〃
〃I have given this matter thought； friend Korik you may imagine how difficult it was for me。 But I see that the High Lord gave this mission into your hands for good reason。 Hear what I have thought…efforts like mine should not be wasted。 Consider this。 Of all the people of Revelstone； only the Bloodguard have known the Land before the Desecration。 You have known Kevin himself。 Surely you know far more of him than do we。 And surely； also； you know far more of the Despiser。 Perhaps you know how he wages war。 Perhaps you know more than Lord Callindrill could tell us of the dangers which lie between us and Seareach。〃
Korik shrugged slightly。
〃It is in my heart；〃 Hyrim went on； 〃that you can measure the dangers ahead better than any Lord。 You should speak of them； so that we may prepare。 It may be that we should not risk Grimmerdhore or the Sarangrave； but should rather ride north and around； despite the added length of days。〃
〃The Bloodguard do not know the future。〃 Korik's tone was impassive； yet Covenant heard a faint stress on the word know。 Korik seemed to use that word in a different sense than Hyrim did； a larger or more prophetic sense。
And the Lord was unsatisfied。 〃Perhaps not。 But you did not share Kevin's reign and learn nothing。 Do you fear we cannot endure the knowledge you bear？〃
〃Hyrim； you forget yourself；〃 Lord Shetra cut in abruptly。 〃Is this your respect for the keepers of the Vow？〃
〃Ah； sister Shetra； you misunderstand。 My respect for the Bloodguard is unbounded。 How could I feel otherwise about men sworn beyond any human oath to keep me alive？ Now if they were to promise me good food； I would be totally in their debt。 But surely you see where we stand。 The High Lord has given this mission into their hands。 If the peril we ride to meet so blithely forces them to the choice； the Bloodguard will pursue the mission rather than defend us。〃
For a moment； Lord Shetra fixed Hyrim with a hard glance like an expression of contempt。 But when she spoke； her voice did not impugn him。 〃Lord Hyrim； you are not blithe。 You believe that the survival of the Giants rides on this mission； and you seek to conceal your fear for them。〃
〃Melenkurion Skyweir！〃 Hyrim growled to keep himself from laughing。 〃I seek only to preserve my fine and hard…won flesh from inconsiderate assault。 It would bee you to share such a worthy desire。〃
〃Peace； Lord。 I have no heart for jesting；〃 sighed
Shetra； and turned away to resume her study of Revelstone。
Lord Hyrim considered her in silence briefly； then said to Korik； 〃Well； she has less body to preserve than I have。 It may be that fine spirit is reserved for neglected flesh。 I must speak of this with the Giants if we reach them。〃
〃We are the Bloodguard；〃 answered Korik flatly。 〃We will gain Seareach。〃
Hyrim glanced up at the night sky； and said in a soft； musing tone； 〃Summon or succor。 Would that there were more of us。 The Giants are vast； and if they are in need the need will be vast。〃
〃They are the Giants。 Are they not equal to any need？〃
The Lord flashed a look at Korik； but did not reply。 Soon he moved to Shetra's side； and said quietly； 〃e； sister。 The journey calls。 The way is long； and if we hope to end we must first begin。〃
〃Wait！〃 she cried softly； like the distant scream of a bird。
Hyrim studied her for another moment。 Then he came back to Covenant。 In a whisper so low that Covenant could hardly hear it； the Lord said； 〃She desires to see Lord Verement her husband before we go。 Theirs is a sad tale； urLord。 Their marriage is troubled。 Both are proud… Together they made the journey to the Plains of Ra to offer themselves to the Ranyhyn。 And the Ranyhyn…ah； the Ranyhyn chose her； but refused him。
〃Well； they choose in their own way； and even the Ramen cannot explain them。 But it has made a difference between these two。 Brother Verement is a worthy man…yet now he has reason to believe himself unworthy。 And sister Shetra can neither accept nor deny his self…judgment。 And now this mission… Verement should rightly go …in my place； but the mission requires the speed and endurance of the Ranyhyn。 For her sake alone； I would wish that you might go in her stead。〃
〃I don't ride Ranyhyn；〃 Covenant replied unsteadily。
〃They would e to your call；〃 answered Hyrim。 Again Covenant could not respond； he feared that this was true。 The Ranyhyn had pledged themselves to him； and he had not released them。 But he could not ride one of the great horses。 They had reared to him out of fear and loathing。 Again he had nothing to offer Hyrim but the look of his silent indecision。
Moments later； he heard movement in the throat of the Keep behind him。 Turning； he saw two Lords striding out toward 。the courtyard…High Lord Elena and a man he had not met。
Elena's arrival made him quail； at once； the air seemed to be full of wings； vulturine implications。 But the man at her side also pelled his attention。 He knew immediately that this was Lord Verement。 The man resembled Shetra too much to be anyone else。 He had the same short stiff hair； the same hawklike features； the same bitter taste in his mouth。 He moved toward her as if he meant to throw himself at her。
But he stopped ten feet away。 His eyes winced away from her sharp gaze； he could not bring himself to look at her directly。 In a… low voice； he said； 〃Will you go？〃
〃You know that I must。〃
They fell silent。 Heedless of the fact that they were being observed； they stood apart from each other。 Some test of will that needed no utterance hung between them。 For a time； they remained still； as if refusing to make any gestures which might be interpreted as promise or abdication。
〃He did not wish to e；〃 Hyrim whispered to Covenant； 〃but the