ect for my old friend Birinair； whom you released from the fire which consumed him。 I offer it in gratitude for a brave deed。〃
〃Brave？〃 Covenant muttered thickly。 〃I didn't do it for him。 Don't you know that？〃
〃The deed was done by your hand。 No one in the Land could do such a thing。 Will you accept it？〃
Slowly； Covenant reached out and took the stone。 As his left hand closed around it； it changed color； took on an argent gleam from his wedding ring。 Seeing this； he quickly shoved it into the pocket of his pants。 Then he cleared his throat； and said； 〃If I ever…if I ever get a chance…I'll give it back to you。〃
Tohrm grinned。 〃Courtesy is like a drink at a mountain stream。 Ur…Lord； it is in my heart that behind the thunder of your brow you are a strangely courteous man。〃
〃Now you're making fun of me；〃 Covenant replied glumly。
The Hearthrall laughed at this as if it were a high jest。 With a sprightly step； he moved away to reenter the Keep。
Warmark Troy frowned。 Everyone in Revelstone seemed to see something in Covenant that he himself could not perceive。 To escape that thought； he sent Mehryl trotting from Covenant's side toward his army。
First Haft Amorine joined him a short way down the hill； and together they spent a brief time speaking with the mounted Warhafts who carried the drums。 Troy counted out the pace he wanted them to set； and made sure that they knew it by heart。 It was faster than the beat he had trained into them； and he did not want the army to lag。 In the back of his mind； he chafed at the delay which kept the march from starting。 The sun was well up now； the Warward had already lost the dawn。
He was discussing the terrain ahead with his First Haft when a murmur ran through the army。 All the warriors turned toward the great Keep。 The Lords Trevor and Loerya had finally arrived。
They stood atop the tower which guarded Revelstone's gates。 Between them they held a bundle of blue cloth。
As the Lords took their places； the inhabitants of the Keep began to appear at the south wall。 In a rush； they thronged the balconies and ramparts； filled the windows； crowded out onto the edge of the plateau。 Their voices rolled expectantly。
Leaving Amorine with the army； Warmark Hile Troy rode back up the hill to take his place with the Lords while Trevor and Loerya busied themselves around the tall flagpole atop the tower。 His blood suddenly stirred with eagerness； and he wanted to shout some kind of war cry； hurl some fierce defiance at the Despiser。
When Trevor and Loerya were ready； they waved to High Lord Elena。 At their signal； she clapped Myrha with her heels； and galloped away from her mounted panions。 A short distance away； between the wall of the Keep and the main body of the Warward； she halted。 Swinging Myrha in a tight circle with the Staff of Law raised high over her head； she shouted to the warriors and the inhabitants of Revelstone； 〃Hail！〃 Her clear cry echoed off the cliff like a tantara； and was answered at once by one thrilling shout from a myriad of voices：
〃Hail！！〃
〃My friends； people of the Land！〃 she called out to them； 〃the time has e。 War is upon us； and we march to meet it。 Hear me； all！ I am the High Lord； holder of the Staff of Law…sworn and dedicate to the services of the Land。 At my will； we march to do battle with the Gray Slayer…to pit our strength against him for the sake of the Earth。 Hear me！ It is I； Elena daughter of Lena； who say it： do not fear！ Be of strong heart and bold hand。 If it lies within our power； we will prevail！〃
As she held high the Staff； she caught the early sunlight。 Her hair shone about her like an anadem； and the golden Ranyhyn bore her up like an offering to the wide day。 For a moment； she had a look of immolation； and Troy almost choked on the fear of losing her。 But there was nothing sacrificial in the upright
peal of her voice as she addressed the people of Revelstone。
〃Do not mistake。 This peril is severe…the gravest danger of our age。 It may be that all we have ever seen or heard or felt will be lost。 If we are to live…if the Land is to live…we must wrest life from the Despiser。 It is a task that surpassed the Old Lords who came before us。
〃But I say to you； do not fear！ The ing battle is our great test； our soul measure。 It is our opportunity to repudiate utterly the Desecration which destroys what it loves。 It is our opportunity to shape courage and service and faith out of the very rock of doom。 Even if we fall； we will not despair。
〃Yet I do not believe that we shall fall。〃 Taking the Staff in one hand； she thrust it straight toward the heavens； and a bright flame burst from its end。 〃Hear me； all！〃 she cried。 〃Hear the Dedication in Time of War！〃 Then she opened her throat and began to sing a song that pulsed like the stalking of drums。
Friends！ rades！ Proud people of the Land！ There is war upon us； blood and pain and killing are at hand。 Together we confront the test of death。
Friends and rades； remember Peace！ Repeat the Oath with every breath。 Until the end and Time's release； we bring no fury or despair； no passion of hatred； spite； or slaughter； no Desecration to the service of the Land。 We fight to mend； anneal； repair to free the Earth of detestation； for health and home and wood and stone； for beauty's fragrant bloom and gleam； and rivers clear and fair we strike； nor will we cease； let fall our heads to ash and dust； lose faith and heart and hope and bone。
We strike until the Land is clean of wrong and pain； and we have kept our trust。 Let no great whelm of evil wreak despair！ Remember Peace： brave death！ We are the proud preservers of the Land！
As she finished； she turned Myrha； faced the watchtower。 From the Staff of Law； she sent crackling into the sky a great； branched lightning tree。 At this sign； Lord Loerya threw her bundle into the air； and Lord Trevor pulled strongly on the lines of the flagpole。 The defiant war…flag of Revelstone sprang open and snapped in the mountain wind。 It was a huge oriflamme； twice as tall as the Lords who raised it； and it was clear blue； the color of High Lord's Furl； with one stark black streak across it。 As it flapped and fluttered； a mighty cheer rose up from the Warward； and was repeated on the thronged wall of Revelstone。
For a moment； High Lord Elena kept the Staff blazing。 Then she silenced her display of power。 As the shouting subsided； she looked at the group of riders； and called firmly； 〃Warmark Hile Troy！ Let us begin！〃
At once； Troy sent Mehryl prancing toward the Warward。 When he was alone in front of the riders； he saluted his second…in…mand； and said quietly； to control his excitement； 〃First Haft Amorine； you may begin。〃
She returned his salute； swung her mount toward the army。
〃Warward！〃 she shouted。 〃Order！〃
With a wide surge； the warriors came to attention。
〃Drummers ready！〃
The pace…beaters raised their sticks。 When she thrust her right fist into the air； they began their beat； pounding out together the rhythm Troy had taught them。
〃Warriors； march！〃
As she gave the mand； she pulled down her fist。 Nearly sixteen thousand warriors started forward to。 the cadence of the drums。
Troy watched their precision with a lump of pride in his throat。 At Amorine's side； he moved with his army down the road toward the river。
The rest of the riders followed close behind him。 Together； they kept pace with the Warward as it marched westward under the high south wall of Revelstone。
THIRTEEN： The Rock Gardens of the Maerl
TOGETHER； the riders and the marching Warward passed down the road to the wide stone bridge which crossed the White River a short distance south of the lake。 As they mounted the bridge； they received a chorus of encouraging shouts from the horsemen and raft builders at the lake； but Warmark Troy did not look that way。 From the top of the span； he gazed downriver： there he could see the last rafts of Hiltmark Quaan's first two Eoward moving around a curve and out of sight。 They were only a small portion of Troy's army； but they were crucial。 They were risking their lives in accordance with his mands； and the fate of the Land went with them。 In pride and trepidation； he watched until th