ord Foul's hands。
By the time he reached his rooms； he knew that he would have to do something； take some action to establish the terms on which he had to stand。 He would have to find or make some discrepancy； some incontrovertible proof that the Land was a delusion。 He could not trust his emotions； he needed logic； an argument as inescapable as the law of leprosy。
He paced the suite for a time as if he were searching the stone floor for an answer。 Then； on an impulse； he jerked open the door and looked out into the hallway。 Bannor was there； standing watch as imperturbably as if the meaning of his life were beyond question。 Stiffly； Covenant asked him into the sitting room。
When Bannor stood before him； Covenant reviewed quickly what he knew about the Bloodguard。 They came from a race； the Haruchai； who lived high in the Westron Mountains beyond Trothgard and the Land。 They were a warlike and prolific people； so it was perhaps inevitable that at some time in their history they would send an army east into the Land。 This they had done during the early years of Kevin's High Lordship。 On foot and weaponless…the Haruchai did not use weapons； just as they did not use lore； they relied wholly on their own physical petence…they had marched to Revelstone and challenged the Council of Lords。
But Kevin had refused to fight。 Instead； he had persuaded the Haruchai to friendship。
In return； they had gone far beyond his intent。 Apparently； the Ranyhyn； and the Giants； and Revelstone itself…as mountain dwellers； the Haruchai had an intense love of stone and bounty had moved them more deeply than anything in their history。 To answer Kevin's friendship； they had sworn a Vow of service to the Lords； and something extravagant in their mitment or language had invoked the Earth power； binding them to their Vow in defiance of time and death and choice。 Five hundred of their army had bee the Bloodguard。 The rest had returned home。
Now there were still nearly five hundred。 For every Bloodguard who died in battle was sent on his Ranyhyn up through Guards Gap into the Westron Mountains； and another Haruchai came to take his place。 Only those whose bodies could not be recovered； such as Tuvor； the former First Mark； were not replaced。
Thus the great anomaly of the Bloodguard's history was the fact that they had survived the Ritual of Desecration intact even though Kevin and his Council and all his works had been destroyed。 They had trusted him。 When he had ordered them all into the mountains without explaining his intent； they had obeyed。 But afterward they had seen reason to doubt that their service was truly faithful。 They had sworn the Vow； they should have died with Kevin in Kiril Threndor under Mount Thunder…or prevented him from meeting Lord Foul there in his despair； prevented him from uttering the Ritual which brought the age of the Old Lords to its destruction。 They were faithful to an extreme that defied their own mortality； and yet they had failed in their promise to preserve the Lords at any cost to themselves。
Covenant wanted to ask Bannor what would happen to the Bloodguard if they ever came to believe that their extravagant fidelity was false； that in their Vow they had betrayed both Kevin and themselves。 But he could not put such a question into words。 Bannor deserved better treatment than that from him。 And Bannor； too； had lost his wife She had been dead for two thousand years。
Instead； Covenant concentrated on his search for a discrepancy。
But he soon knew he would not find one by questioning Bannor。 In his flat； alien voice； the Bloodguard gave brief answers that told Covenant what he both wanted and did not want to hear concerning the survivors of the Quest for the Staff of Law。 He had already learned what had happened to Foamfollower and Lord Mhoram。 Now Bannor told him that High Lord Prothall； who had led the Quest； had resigned his Lordship even before his pany had returned to Revelstone。 He had not been able to forget that the old Hearthrall Birinair had died in his place。 And he had felt that in regaining the Staff he had fulfilled his fate； done all that was in him。 He had mitted the Staff and the Second Ward to Lord Mhoram's care； and had ridden away to his home in the Northrop Climbs。 The inhabitants of Lord's Keep never saw him again。
So upon Mhoram's return Osondrea had assumed the High Lordship。 Until her death； she had used her power to rebuild the Council； expand the Wayward； and grow Revelwood； the new home of the Loresraat。
After returning to Revelstone； Quaan…the Warhaft of the Eoman that had acpanied Prothall and Mhoram…had also tried to resign。 He had been ashamed to bring only half of his warriors back alive。 But High Lord Osondrea； knowing his worth； had refused to release him； and soon he had returned to his duties。 Now he was the Hiltmark of the Wayward； Hile Troy's second…in…mand。 Though his hair was white and thin…though his gaze seemed rubbed smooth by age and use…still he was the same strong； honest man he had always been。 The Lords respected him。 In Troy's absence they would willingly have trusted Quaan to lead the Wayward。
Covenant sighed sourly； and let Bannor go。 Such information did not meet his need。 Clearly； he was not going to find any easy solutions to his dilemma。 If he wanted proof of delusion； he would have to make it for himself。
He faced the prospect with trepidation。 Anything he might do would take a long time to bear fruit。 It would not bee proof； brookless and unblinkable； until his delusion ended…until he had returned to his real life。 In the meantime； it would do little to sustain him。 But he had no choice； his need was urgent。
He had available three easy ways to create a definitive discontinuity： he could destroy his clothes； throw away his penknife…the only thing he had in his pockets…or grow a beard。 Then； when he awakened； and found himself clothed； or still possessed of his penknife； or clean…shaven； he would have his proof。
The obvious discrepancy of his healed forehead he did not trust。 Past experience made him fear that he would be reinjured shortly before this delusion ended。 But he could not bring himself to act on his first two alternatives。 The thought of destroying his tough； familiar apparel made him feel too vulnerable； and the expedient of discarding his penknife was too uncertain。 Cursing at the way his plight forced him to abandon all the strict habits upon which his survival depended； he decided to give up shaving。
When at last he summoned the courage to leave his rooms and go into the Keep in search of breakfast； he brandished the stubble on his cheeks as if it were a declaration of defiance。
Bannor guided him to one of the great refectories of Revelstone； then left him alone to eat。 But before he was done； the Bloodguard came striding back to his table。 There was an extra alertness in the spring of Bannor's steps…a tightness that looked oddly like excitement。 But when he addressed Covenant； his flat； shrouded eyes expressed nothing； and the repressed lilt of his voice was as inflectionless as ever。
〃Ur…Lord； the Council asks that you e to the Close。 A stranger has entered Revelstone。 The Lords will soon meet with him。〃
Because of Bannor's heightened alertness； Covenant asked cautiously； 〃What kind of stranger？〃
〃Ur…Lord？〃
〃Is it…is it someone like me？ or Troy？〃
In his confusion； Covenant did not immediately perceive the certitude of Bannor's reply。 But as he followed the Bloodguard out of the refectory and down through Revelstone； he began to hear something extra in the denial； something more than Bannor's usual confidence。 That No resembled Bannor's stride； it was tenser in some way。 Covenant could not fathom it。 As they descended a broad； curved stair through several levels of the Keep； he forced himself to ask； 〃What's so urgent about this stranger？ What do you know about him？〃
Bannor ignored the question。
When they reached the Close； they found that High
Lord Elena； Lord Verement； and four other Lords had already preceded them。 The High Lord was at her place at the head of the curved table； and the Staff of Law lay on the stone before her。 To her right sat two men； then two women。 Verement was