But he had no choice。 He had either to go ahead or to abandon his mand； leave the war in Quaan's worthy but unimaginative hands。 So in spite of his anxiety he did not hesitate。 He intended to show all the Land that he was the Warmark for good reason。
Time was urgent。 The Warward had to begin its southward march as soon as possible。 So he trusted Mehryl to carry him through his inward fog。 Letting the Ranyhyn pick their way； he hastened toward the blue lake where the rafts were being built。
Before he rounded the last wide foothill； he moved among scattered ranks of warriors holding horses。 Men and women saluted him as he passed； but he could recognize none of them。 He held up his right hand in blank acknowledgment； and rode down the thronged road without speaking。 If his strategy failed； these warriors…and the two hundred Bloodguard who had already followed Lord Callindrill toward the Mithil valley…would be the first to pay for his mistake。
He found the edge of the lake by the roar of the Falls and the working sounds of the raft builders； and slipped immediately off Mehryl's back。 The first shadowy figure that came near him he sent in search of Hiltmark Quaan。 Moments later； Quaan's solid form appeared out of the fog； acpanied by a lean man carrying a staff…Lord Verement。 Troy spoke directly to the Hiltmark。 He felt uneasy about giving orders to a Lord。
〃How many rafts are ready？〃
〃Three and twenty are now in the water；〃 Quaan replied。 〃Five yet lack the rhadhamaerl rudders； but that task will be acplished by sunrise。〃
〃And the rest？〃
〃Hearthrall Borillar and the raft builders promise that all one hundred twenty will be plete by dawn tomorrow。〃
〃Damn！ Another day gone。 Well； you can't wait for them。 Lord Callindrill is going to need help faster than that。〃 He calculated swiftly； then went on： 〃Send the rafts downriver in groups of twenty…two Eoman at a time。 If there's any trouble； I want them to be able to defend themselves。 You go first。 And…Lord Verement； will you go with Quaan？〃
Verement answered with a sharp nod。
〃Good。 Now； Quaan。 Get your group going right away。 Put whomever you want in mand of the other Eoward…tell them to follow you in turn just as soon as another twenty rafts are ready to go。 Have the warriors who are going last try to help the raft builders…speed this job up。〃
His private fog was clearing now as the sun started to rise。 Quaan's ago…lined bulwark of a face drifted into better focus； and Troy fell silent for a moment； half dismayed by what he was asking his friend to do。 Then he shook his head roughly； forced himself to continue。
〃Quaan； you've got the worst job in this whole damn business。 You and those Bloodguard with Callindrill。 You have got to make this plan of mine work。〃
〃If it can be done； we will do it。〃 Quaan spoke steadily； almost easily； but his experience with grim； desperate undertakings gave his statement conviction。
Troy went on hurriedly； 〃You've got to hold Foul's army in that valley。 Even after you get your whole force there； you're going to be outnumbered ten to ；one。 You've got to hold Foul back； and still keep enough of your force alive to lead him down to Doom's Retreat。〃
〃I understand。〃
〃No； you don't。 I haven't told you the worst of it yet。 You have got to hold Foul back for eight days。〃
〃Eight？〃 Verement snapped。 〃You jest！〃
Controlling himself sternly； Troy said； 〃Figure it out for yourself。 We've got to march all the way to Doom's Retreat。 We need that much time just to get there。 Eight days will hardly give us time to get in position。〃
〃You ask much；〃 Quaan said slowly。
〃You're the man who can do it；〃 Troy replied。 〃And the truth is； the warriors'll follow you better in a situation like that than they would ' me。 You'll have two Lords working with you； plus all the Bloodguard Callindrill has left。 There's nobody who can take your place。〃
Quaan met this in silence。 Despite the square set of his shoulders； he appeared to be hesitating。 Troy leaned close to him； whispered intently through the noise of Furl Falls； 〃Hiltmark； if you acplish what I ask； I swear that I will win this war。〃
〃Swear？〃 Verement cut in again。 〃Does the Despiser know that you bind him with your oaths？〃
Troy ignored the Lord。 〃I mean it。 If you get that chance for me； I won't waste it。〃
A low； war…ready grin touched Quaan's lips。 〃I hear you；〃 he said。 〃I felt the dour hand of your skill when you won the mand of the Warward from me。
Warmark； you will be given your eight days if they lie within the reach of human thew and will。〃
〃Good！〃 Quaan's promise gave Troy an obscure feeling of relief； as if he were no longer alone on his narrow limb。 〃Now。 When you engage Foul in the Mithil valley； what you've got to do is force him southward。 Push him down into the southern hills the farther the better。 Hold the valley closed until he has enough of his army in the hills to attack you from that side。 Then run like hell straight toward Doom's Retreat。〃
〃That will be costly。〃
〃Not as costly as letting that army go north when we're in the south。〃 Quaan nodded grimly； and Troy went on； 〃And not as costly as letting Foul get to the Retreat ahead of us。 Whatever else happens； we've got to avoid that。 If you can't hold him back eight days' worth； you'll have to figure out where we are； and lead him to us instead of to the Retreat。 We'll try to pull him the last way south ourselves。〃
Quaan nodded again； and the lines of his face clenched。 To relax him； Troy said dryly； 〃Of course； it would be better if you just defeated him yourself； and saved us the trouble。〃
The Hiltmark started to reply； but Lord Verement interrupted him。 〃If that is your desire； you should choose someone other than an old warrior and a Ranyhyn…less Lord to do your bidding。〃
Troy was about to respond when he heard hooves ing toward him from the direction of Revelstone。 Now the sun had started to rise…light danced on the blue water pouring over the top of the Falls…and the fog over his vision had begun to fade。 When he turned； he made out the Bloodguard Ruel riding toward him。
Ruel stopped his Ranyhyn with a touch of his hand； and said without dismounting； 〃Warmark； the Warward is ready。 High Lord Elena awaits you。〃
〃On my way；〃 Troy answered； and swung back to Quaan。 For a moment； the Hiltmark's gaze replied firmly to his。 Torn between affection and resolve； he muttered； 〃By God； I will earn what you do for me。〃 Springing onto Mehryl's back； he started away。
He moved so suddenly that he almost ran into Manethrall Rue。 She had been standing a short distance away； regarding Mehryl as if she expected to find that Troy had injured the Ranyhyn。 Unintentionally he urged his mount straight toward her。 But she stepped aside just as he halted the Ranyhyn。
Her presence surprised him。 He acknowledged her； then waited for her to speak。 He felt that she deserved any courtesy he could give her。
While she stroked Mehryl's nose with loving hands； she said as if she were explaining something； 〃I have done my part in your war。 I will do no more。 I am old； and need rest。 I will ride your rafts to Andelain； and from there make my own way homeward。〃
〃Very well。〃 He could not deny her permission to ride a raft； but he sensed that this was only a preparation for what she meant to say。
After a heavy pause； she went on： 〃I will have no further use for this。〃 With a brusque movement； she twitched the fighting cord from her hair； hesitated； then handed it to Troy。 Softly； she said； 〃Let there be peace between us。〃
Because he could think of no fit response； he accepted the cord。 But it gave him a pang； as if he were not worthy of it。 He tucked it into his belt； and with his hands free； he gave the Manethrall his best approximation of a Ramen bow。
She bowed in turn； gestured for him to move on。 But as he started away； she called after him； 〃Tell Covenant Ringthane that he must defeat Fangthane。 The Ranyhyn have reared to him。 They require him。 He must not let them fall。〃 Then she was gone； out of sight in the mist。
The thought of Covenant gave him a bitter taste in his mouth； but he forced it down。 With Ruel at his side； he left Quaan shouting orders； and urged Mehryl