¡¡keep¡¡something¡¡for¡¡myself£¡¡¡Because¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡why£¡¡¨¡¡The¡¡next¡¡instant£»¡¡he¡¡dropped¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡and¡¡bowed¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡hiding¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡ashamed¡£
¡¡¡¨¡¡Why£¿¡¨¡¡Mhoram¡¡said¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡not¡¡so¡¡hard¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡here£»¡¡thus¡¡distant¡¡from¡¡¡®how¡£'¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡our¡¡legends¡¡hint¡¡at¡¡one¡¡answer¡£¡¡They¡¡tell¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Earth£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡time¡¡soon¡¡after¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡Time£»
¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Earth's¡¡Creator¡¡found¡¡that¡¡his¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡Enemy£»¡¡the¡¡Despiser£»¡¡had¡¡marred¡¡his¡¡creation¡¡by¡¡placing¡¡banes¡¡of¡¡surpassing¡¡evil¡¡deep¡¡within¡¡it¡£¡¡In¡¡outrage¡¡and¡¡pain£»¡¡the¡¡Creator¡¡cast¡¡his¡¡Enemy¡¡down¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universal¡¡heavens¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡Earth¡and¡¡emprisoned¡¡him¡¡here¡¡within¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡Time¡£¡¡Thus£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡legends¡¡tell¡¡it£»¡¡Lord¡¡Foul¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Land¡£¡¨
¡¡As¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡replying¡¡to¡¡Covenant's¡¡question¡that¡¡the¡¡question¡¡had¡¡a¡¡direction¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡continued£»¡¡offering¡¡Covenant¡¡the¡¡only¡¡answer¡¡he¡¡possessed¡£
¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡clear¡¡now¡¡that¡¡Lord¡¡Foul¡¡lusts¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡back¡¡at¡¡his¡¡brother£»¡¡the¡¡Creator¡£¡¡And¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡after¡¡ages¡¡of¡¡bootless¡¡wars¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡out¡¡of¡¡malice£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡harm¡¡the¡¡creation¡¡because¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡touch¡¡the¡¡Creator£»¡¡Lord¡¡Foul¡¡has¡¡found¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡achieve¡¡his¡¡end£»¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡Time£»¡¡unbind¡¡his¡¡exile£»¡¡and¡¡return¡¡to¡¡his¡¡forbidden¡¡home£»¡¡for¡¡spite¡¡and¡¡woe¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡Staff¡¡of¡¡Law£»¡¡lost¡¡by¡¡Kevin¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Desecration£»¡¡came¡¡within¡¡his¡¡influence£»¡¡he¡¡gained¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡bridge¡¡the¡¡gap¡¡between¡¡worlds¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡white¡¡gold¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Land¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡simply£º¡¡it¡¡is¡¡Lord¡¡Foul's¡¡purpose¡¡to¡¡master¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡magic¡'the¡¡anchor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡life¡¡that¡¡spans¡¡and¡¡masters¡¡Time'¡and¡¡with¡¡it¡¡bring¡¡Time¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡escape¡¡his¡¡bondage¡¡and¡¡carry¡¡his¡¡lust¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡universe¡£¡¡To¡¡do¡¡this£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡defeat¡¡you£»¡¡must¡¡wrest¡¡the¡¡white¡¡gold¡¡from¡¡you¡£¡¡Then¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Earth¡¡will¡¡surely¡¡fall¡£¡¨
¡¡Covenant¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡Mhoram¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡anticipate¡¡his¡¡next¡¡question¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡how£¿¡how¡¡does¡¡the¡¡Despiser¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡acplish¡¡this¡¡purpose£¿¡¡Ah£»¡¡my¡¡friend£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡He¡¡will¡¡choose¡¡ways¡¡which¡¡resemble¡¡our¡¡own¡¡desires¡¡so¡¡closely¡¡that¡¡we¡¡will¡¡not¡¡resist¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡distinguish¡¡between¡¡his¡¡service¡¡and¡¡our¡¡own¡¡until¡¡we¡¡are¡¡bereft¡¡of¡¡all¡¡aids¡¡but¡¡you£»¡¡whether¡¡you¡¡choose¡¡to¡¡help¡¡us¡¡or¡¡no¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨But¡¡why£¿¡¨¡¡Covenant¡¡repeated¡£¡¡¡¨Why¡¡me£¿¡¨
¡¡Again£»¡¡Mhoram¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡his¡¡answer¡¡did¡¡not¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡Covenant's¡¡question¡£¡¡But¡¡still¡¡he¡¡offered¡¡it£»¡¡humbly£»¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡give¡¡his¡¡tormented¡¡visitor¡£
¡¡¡¨My¡¡friend£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡in¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡that¡¡you¡¡were¡¡chosen¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Creator¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡our¡¡hope¡£¡¡Lord¡¡Foul¡¡taught¡¡Drool¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡summoning¡¡because¡¡he¡¡desired¡¡white¡¡gold¡£¡¡But¡¡Drool's¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Staff£»¡¡not¡¡Lord¡¡Foul's¡£¡¡The¡¡Despiser¡¡could¡¡not¡¡control¡¡who¡¡was¡¡summoned¡£¡¡So¡¡if¡¡you¡¡were¡¡chosen£»¡¡you¡¡were¡¡chosen¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Creator¡£
¡¡¡¨Consider¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Creator£»¡¡the¡¡maker¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Earth¡£¡¡How¡¡can¡¡he¡¡stand¡¡careless¡¡and¡¡see¡¡his¡¡making¡¡destroyed£¿¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡reach¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡help¡¡us¡¡here¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡law¡¡of¡¡Time¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡breaks¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡with¡¡his¡¡power£»¡¡Time¡¡will¡¡end£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Despiser¡¡will¡¡be¡¡free¡£¡¡So¡¡he¡¡must¡¡resist¡¡Lord¡¡Foul¡¡elsewhere¡£¡¡With¡¡you£»¡¡my¡¡friend¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Damnation£»¡¨¡¡Covenant¡¡mumbled¡£
¡¡¡¨Yet¡¡even¡¡this¡¡you¡¡must¡¡understand¡£¡¡He¡¡cannot¡¡touch¡¡you¡¡here£»¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡or¡¡help¡¡you£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡same¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡help¡¡us¡£¡¡Nor¡¡can¡¡he¡¡touch¡¡or¡¡teach¡¡or¡¡help¡¡you¡¡in¡¡your¡¡own¡¡world¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡does£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡free¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡bee¡¡his¡¡tool£»¡¡and¡¡your¡¡presence¡¡will¡¡break¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡Time£»¡¡unbinding¡¡Despite¡£¡¡So¡¡you¡¡were¡¡chosen¡£¡¡The¡¡Creator¡¡believes¡¡that¡¡your¡¡uncoerced¡¡volition¡¡and¡¡strength¡¡will¡¡save¡¡us¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡is¡¡wrong£»¡¡he¡¡has¡¡put¡¡the¡¡weapon¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡destruction¡¡into¡¡Lord¡¡Foul's¡¡hands¡£¡¨
¡¡After¡¡a¡¡long¡¡silence£»¡£¡¡Covenant¡¡muttered£»¡¡¡¨A¡¡hell¡¡of¡¡a¡¡risk¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Creator¡£¡¡How¡¡could¡¡he¡¡do¡¡otherwise£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨He¡¡could¡¡burn¡¡the¡¡place¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡try¡¡again¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡gods¡¡are¡¡that¡¡humble¡£¡¡Or¡¡do¡¡you¡¡call¡¡it¡¡arrogance¡to¡¡burn¡£¿¡¡Never¡¡mind¡£¡¡I¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡not¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡this¡¡Creator¡¡as¡¡you¡¡do¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡true¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡came¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡answer¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡£¡¡Don't¡¡mind¡¡me¡£¡¡But¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡this¡£¡¡What¡¡would¡¡you¡¡do¡¡in¡¡my¡¡place£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mhoram¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡Covenant's¡¡face¡£¡¡Gazing¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Unbeliever's¡¡unsteady¡¡features£»¡¡he¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨That¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡answer¡£¡¡Who¡¡can¡¡declare£¿¡¡Power¡¡is¡¡a¡¡dreadful¡¡thing¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡judge¡¡you¡¡with¡¡an¡¡answer¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡judged¡¡myself¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡instability¡¡of¡¡Covenant's¡¡expression¡¡momentarily¡¡resolved¡¡into¡¡seeking¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡speak£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡time¡¡Mhoram¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡risk¡¡another¡¡question¡£¡¡¡¨Thomas¡¡Covenant£»¡¡why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡take¡¡this¡¡so£¿¡¡Why¡¡are¡¡you¡¡so¡¡hurt£¿¡¡You¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡is¡¡a¡¡dream¡¡a¡¡delusion¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡no¡¡real¡¡life¡£¡¡Then¡¡do¡¡not¡¡be¡¡concerned¡£¡¡Accept¡¡the¡¡dream£»¡¡and¡¡laugh¡£¡¡When¡¡you¡¡awaken£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡free¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡Covenant¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡recognized¡¡something¡¡in¡¡what¡¡you¡¡said¡I'm¡¡starting¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡this¡£¡¡Listen¡£¡¡This¡¡whole¡¡crisis¡¡here¡¡is¡¡a¡¡struggle¡¡inside¡¡me¡£¡¡By¡¡hell£»¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡a¡¡leper¡¡so¡¡long£»¡¡I'm¡¡starting¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the¡¡way¡¡people¡¡treat¡¡lepers¡¡is¡¡justified¡£¡¡So¡¡I'm¡¡being¡¡my¡¡own¡¡enemy£»¡¡my¡¡own¡¡Despiser¡working¡¡against¡¡myself¡¡when¡¡I¡¡try¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡alive¡¡by¡¡agreeing¡¡with¡¡the¡¡people¡¡who¡¡make¡¡it¡¡so¡¡hard¡£¡¡That's¡¡why¡¡I'm¡¡dreaming¡¡this¡£¡¡Catharsis¡£¡¡Work¡¡out¡¡the¡¡dilemma¡¡subconsciously£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡when¡¡I¡¡wake¡¡up¡¡I'll¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡cope¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡suddenly£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡pace¡¡Mhoram's¡¡ascetic¡¡chamber¡¡with¡¡a¡¡voracious¡¡gleam¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¨Sure¡£¡¡That's¡¡it¡£¡¡Why¡¡didn't¡¡I¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it¡¡before£¿¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡telling¡¡myself¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡this¡¡is¡¡escapism£»¡¡suicide¡£¡¡But¡¡that's¡¡not¡¡it¡that's¡¡not¡¡it¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡Just¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡I'm¡¡losing¡¡every¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡habits¡¡that¡¡keep¡¡me¡¡alive¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡dream¡¡therapy¡£¡¨
¡¡But¡¡abruptly¡¡a¡¡grimace¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡clutched¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¨Hellfire£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡¡rasped¡¡intensely¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡sounds¡¡like¡¡a¡¡story¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡burned¡back¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡burning¡¡stories¡when¡¡I¡¡still¡¡had¡¡stories¡¡to¡¡burn¡£¡¨
¡¡Mhoram¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡anguished¡¡change£»¡¡the¡¡turning¡¡to¡¡dust£»¡¡in¡¡Covenant's¡¡tone£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡out¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡visitor¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡need¡¡to¡¡move£»¡¡Covenant¡¡came¡¡almost¡¡aimlessly¡¡in¡¡his¡¡direction£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡within¡¡the¡¡four¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡way¡£¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table¡¡near¡¡Mhoram£»¡¡and¡¡gazed¡¡miserably¡¡at¡¡the¡¡krill¡£¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡shook¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡it¡£¡¡That's¡¡just¡¡another¡¡easy¡¡way¡¡to¡¡die¡£¡¡I¡¡already¡¡know¡¡too¡¡many¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡stumble£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡still¡£¡¡He¡¡lurched¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡caught¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡Mhoram's¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡he¡¡clung¡¡there£»¡¡pressing¡¡his¡¡forehead¡¡into¡¡Mhoram's¡¡robe¡£¡¡Then¡¡Mhoram¡¡lowered¡¡him¡¡into¡¡a¡¡chair¡£
¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡my¡¡friend£»¡¡how¡¡can¡¡I¡¡help¡¡you£¿¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡understand¡£¡¨
¡¡Covenant's¡¡lips¡¡trembled£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡a¡¡visible¡¡effort¡¡he¡¡regained¡¡control¡¡of¡¡his¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨Just¡¡tired¡£¡¡I¡¡haven't¡¡eaten¡¡since¡¡yesterday¡£¡¡That¡¡Unfettered¡¡One¡drained¡¡me¡£¡¡Some¡¡food¡¡would¡¡be¡¡very¡¡nice¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡for¡¡Covenant¡¡gave¡¡Mhoram¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡relief¡£¡¡Moving¡¡promptly£»¡¡he¡¡brought¡¡his¡¡guest¡¡a¡¡flask¡¡of¡¡springwine¡£¡¡Covenant¡¡drank¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡break¡¡an¡¡inner¡¡drought£»¡¡and¡¡Mhoram¡¡went¡¡to¡¡his¡¡back¡¡rooms¡¡to¡¡find¡¡some¡¡food¡£
¡¡While¡¡he¡¡was¡¡placing¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡cheese¡¡and¡¡grapes¡¡on¡¡a¡¡tray£»¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡sharp£»¡¡distant¡¡shout£»¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡cried¡¡his¡¡name¡¡with¡¡an¡¡urgency¡¡that¡¡smote¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡He¡¡set¡¡the¡¡tray¡¡down£»¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡open¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chambers¡£
¡¡In¡¡the¡¡sudden¡¡wash¡¡of¡¡light¡¡from¡¡the¡¡courtyard£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡warrior¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coigns¡¡high¡¡above¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡warrior¡¡was¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡too¡¡young¡¡for¡¡war¡¡meat£»¡¡Mhoram¡¡thought¡¡grimly¡who¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡mand¡¡of¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¨Lord¡¡Mhoram£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡blurted¡£¡¡¡¨e£¡¡¡Now£¡¡¡The¡¡Close£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Stop¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡authority¡¡in¡¡Mhoram's¡¡tone¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡like¡¡a¡¡bit¡£¡¡He¡¡winced£»¡¡stiffened£»¡¡forced¡¡down¡¡a¡¡chaotic¡¡tumult¡¡of¡¡words¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡recovered¡¡his¡¡self¡possession¡£¡¡Seeing¡¡this£»¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡said¡¡more¡¡gently£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡hear¡¡you¡£¡¡Speak¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡asks¡¡that¡¡you¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Close¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡A¡¡messenger¡¡has¡¡e¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Plains¡¡of¡¡Ra¡£¡¡The¡¡Gray¡¡Slayer¡¡is¡¡marching¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨War£¿¡¨¡¡Mhoram¡¡spoke¡¡softly¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡prevision¡¡of¡¡blood¡£
¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡Lord¡¡Mhoram¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Please¡¡say¡¡to¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡that¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡Bearing¡¡himself¡¡carefully£»¡¡Mhoram¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡Covenant¡£¡¡The¡¡Unbeliever¡¡met¡¡his¡¡gaze¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hot£»¡¡oddly¡¡focused¡¡look£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡his¡¡sku