that he had suffered no real harm。 And his reliance upon Mhoram's support expressed how little he was a threat to the Lords at this moment。 Troy frowned behind his sunglasses； tried not to let his indignation at Covenant surge back up again。 As Mhoram seated Covenant； and then walked around to take his own place at Elena's left； Troy turned his attention to the High Lord。
She was ready to begin now； and as always her every movement； her every inflection； fascinated him。
Slowly； she looked around the table； meeting the eyes of each of the Lords。 Then in a clear； stately voice； she said； 〃My friends； Lords and Lorewardens and servers of the Land； our time has e。 For good or ill； weal or woe； the trial is upon us。 The word of war is here。 In our hands now is the fate of the Land； to keep or to lose； as our strength permits。 The time of preparation is ended。 No longer do we build or plan against the future。 Now we go to war。 If our might is not potent to preserve the Land； then we fall； and whatever world is to e will be of the Despiser's making； not ours。
〃Hear me； my friends。 I do not speak to darken your hearts； but to warn against false hope and wishful dreams； which could unbind the thews of purpose。 We are the chance of the Land。 We have striven for worth。 Now our worthiness meets its test。 Harken； and make no mistake。 This is the test which determines。〃 For a moment； she paused to gaze over…all the attentive faces in the Close。 When she had seen the resolution in their eyes； she gave a smile of approval； and said quietly； 〃I am not afraid。〃
Troy nodded to himself。 If his warriors felt as he did； she had nothing to fear。
〃Now；〃 said High Lord Elena； 〃let us hear the bearer of these tidings。 Admit the Manethrall。〃
At her mand； two Bloodguard opened the doors； and made way for the Ramen。
The woman wore a deep brown shift which left her arms and legs free； and her long black hair was knotted at her neck by a cord。 This cord； and the small woven garland of yellow flowers around her neck； sadly wilted now after long days of wear； marked her as a Manethrall…a member of the highest rank of her people。 She was escorted by an honor guard of four Bloodguard； but she moved ahead of them down the stairs； bearing the fatigue of her great journey proudly。 Yet despite her brave spirit； Troy saw that she could barely stand。 The slim grace of her movements was dull； blunted。 She was not young。 Her eyes； long familiar with open sky and distance； nested in fine wrinkles of age； and the weariness of several hundred leagues lay like lead in the marrow o�〃 her bones； giving a pallid underhue to the dark suntan of her limbs。
With a sudden rush of anxiety； Troy hoped that she had not e too late。
As she descended to the lowest level of the Close； and stopped before the graveling pit； High Lord Elena rose to greet her。 〃Hail； Manethrall； highest of the Ramen； the selfless tenders of the Ranyhyn！ Be wele in Lord's Keep wele and true。 Be wele whole or hurt； in boon or bane…ask or give。 To any requiring name we will not fail while we have life or power to meet the need。 I am High Lord Elena。 I speak in the presence of Revelstone itself。〃
Troy recognized the ritual greeting of friends； but the Manethrall gazed up at Elena darkly； as if unwilling to respond。 Then she turned to her right； and said in a low； bitter voice unlike the usual nickering tones of the Ramen； 〃I know you； Lord Mhoram。〃 Without waiting for a response； she moved on。 〃And I know you； Covenant Ringthane。〃 As she looked at him； the quality of her bitterness changed markedly。 Now it was not weariness and defeat and old Ramen resentment of the Lords for presuming to ride the Ranyhyn； but something else。 〃You demanded the Ranyhyn at night； when no mortal may demand them at all。 Yet they answered…one hundred proud Manes； more than most Ramen have ever seen in one place。 They reared to you； in homage to the Ringthane。 And you did not ride。〃 Her voice made clear her respect for such an act； her awe at the honor which the Ranyhyn had done this man。 〃Covenant Ringthane； do you know me？〃
Covenant stared at her intensely； with a look of pain as if his forehead were splitting。 Several moments passed before he said thickly； 〃Gay。 You're…you were Winhome Gay。 You waited on…you were at Manhome。〃
The Manethrall returned his stare。 〃Yes。 But you have not changed。 Forty…one summers have ridden past me since you visited the Plains of Ra and Manhome； and would not eat the food I brought to you。 But you are changeless。 I was a child then； a Winhome then； barely near my Cording…and now I am a tired old woman； far from home； and you are young。 Ah； Covenant Ringthane； you treated me roughly。〃
He faced her with a bruised expression； the memories she called up were sore in him。 After another moment； she raised her hands until her palms were turned outward level with her head； and bowed to him in the traditional Ramen gesture of greeting。 〃Covenant Ringthane； I know you。 But you do not know me。 I am not Winhome Gay； who passed her Cording and studied the Ranyhyn in the days when Manhome was full of tales of your Quest…when Manethrall Lithe returned from the dark underground； and from seeing the Fire…Lions of Mount Thunder。 And I am not Cord Gay； who became a Manethrall； and later heard the word of the Lords asking for Ramen scouts to search the Spoiled Plains between Landsdrop and the Shattered Hills。 This requesting word was heard； though these same Lords knew that all the life of the Ramen is on the Plains of Ra； in the tending of the Ranyhyn…yes； heard； and accepted by Manethrall Gay； with the Cords in her watch。 She undertook the task of scouting because she hated Fangthane the Render； and because she admired Manethrall Lithe； who dared to leave sunlight for the sake of the Lords； and because she honored Covenant Ringthane； the bearer of white gold； who did not ride when the Ranyhyn reared to him。 Now that Manethrall Gay is no more。〃
As she said this； her fingers hooked into claws； and her exhausted legs bent into the semblance of a fighting crouch。 〃I am Manethrall Rueold bearer of the flesh of her who was named Gay。 I have seen Fangthane marching； and all the Cords in my watch are dead。〃 Then she sagged； and her proud head dropped low。 〃And I have e here…I； who should never have left the Plains of home。 I have e here； to the Lords who are said to be the friends of the Ranyhyn； in no other name but grief。〃
While she spoke； the Lords kept silence； and all the Close watched her in anxious suspense； torn between respect for her fatigue and desire to hear what she had
to say。 But Troy heard dangerous vibrations in her voice。 Her tone carried a pitch of recrimination which she had not yet articulated clearly。 He was familiar with the grim； suppressed outrage that filled all the Ramen when any human had the insolence； the almost blasphemous audacity； to ride a Ranyhyn。 But he did not understand it。 And he was impatient for the Manethrall's news。
Rue seemed to sense the increasing tension around her。 She stepped warily away from Covenant； and addressed all her audience for the first time。 〃Yes； it is said that the Lords are our friends。 It is said。 But I do not know it。 You e to the Plains of Ra and give us tasks without thought for the pain we feel on hills which are not our home。 You e to the Plains of Ra； and offer yourselves to the generosity of the Ranyhyn as if you were an honor for some Mane to accept。 And when you are accepted； as the Bloodguard are accepted…five hundred Manes thrilled like chattel to purposes not their own…you call the Ranyhyn away from us into danger； where none can protect； where the flesh is rent and the blood spilt； with no amanibhavam to stem the pain or forestall death。 Ah； Ranyhyn！
〃Do not flex your distrust at me。 I know you all。〃
In a soft； careful voice； containing neither protest nor apology； the High Lord said； 〃Yet you have e。〃
〃Yes；〃 Manethrall Rue returned in tired bitterness； 〃I have e。 I have fled； and endured； and e。 I know we are united against Fangthane； though you have betrayed us。〃
Lord Verement stiffened angrily； but Elena controlled him with a glance； and said； still softly and carefully； to Rue； 〃In what way