th his mands； and the fate of the Land went with them。 In pride and trepidation； he watched until they were gone； on their way to receive the measure of bloodshed he had assigned to them。 Then he rode on precariously across the bridge。
Beyond it； the road turned southward； and began winding down away from the Keep's plateau toward the rough grasslands which lay between Revelstone and Trothgard。 As he moved through the foothills；
Troy counted the acpanying Hirebrands and Gravelingases； to be sure that the Warward had its full plement of support from the lillianrill and rhadhamaerl。 In the process； he caught a glimpse of an extra Gravelingas mounted and traveling behind the group of riders。
Trell。
The powerful Gravelingas kept to the back of the group； but he made no attempt to hide his face or his presence。 The sight of him gave Troy a twinge of anxiety。 He stopped and waited for the High Lord。 Motioning the other riders past him； he said to Elena in a low voice； 〃Did you know that he's ing with us。 Is it all right with you？〃 High Lord Elena met him with a questioning look which he answered by nodding toward Trell。
Covenant had stopped with Elena； and at Troy's nod he turned to look behind him。 When he saw the Gravelingas； he groaned。
Most of the riders were past Elena； Troy； and Covenant now； and Trell could clearly see the three watching him。 He halted where he was…still twenty…five yards away…and returned Covenant's gaze with a raw； bruised stare。
For a moment； they all held their positions； regarded each other intently。 Then Covenant cursed under his breath； gripped the reins of his horse； and moved up the road toward Trell。
Bannor started after the Unbeliever； but High Lord Elena stopped him with a quick gesture。 〃He needs no protection；〃 she said quietly。 〃Do not affront Trell with your doubt。〃
Covenant faced Trell； and the two men glared at each other。 Then Covenant said something。 Troy could not hear what he said； but the Gravelingas answered it with a red…rimmed stare。 Under his tunic； his broad chest heaved as if he were panting。 His reply was inaudible also。
There was violence in Trell's limbs； struggling for action； Troy could see it。 He did not understand Elena's assertion that Covenant was safe。 As he watched； he whispered to her； 〃What did Covenant say？〃
Elena responded as if she could not be wrong； 〃The ur…Lord promises that he will not harm me。〃
This surprised Troy。 He wanted to know why Covenant would try to reassure Trell in that way； but he could not think of a way to ask Elena what the connection was between her and Trell。 Instead； he asked； 〃What's Trell's answer？〃
〃Trell does not believe the promise。〃
Silently； Troy congratulated Trell's mon sense。
A moment later； Covenant jerked his horse into motion； and came trotting back down the road。 His free hand pulled insistently at his beard。 Without looking at Elena； he shrugged his shoulders defensively as he said； 〃Well； he has a good point。〃 Then he urged his mount into a canter to catch up with the rest of the riders。
Troy wanted to wait for Trell； but the High Lord firmly took him with her as she followed Covenant。 Out of respect for the Gravelingas； Troy did not look back。
But when the Warward broke march at midday for food and rest； Troy saw Trell eating with the other rhadhamaerl。
By that time； the army had wound out of the foothills into the more relaxed grasslands west of the White River。 Troy gauged the distance they had covered； and used it as a preliminary measure of the pace he had set for the march。 So far； the pace seemed right。 But many factors influenced a day's march。 The Warmark spent part of the afternoon with First Haft Amorine； discussing how to match the frequency and duration of rest halts with such variables as the terrain； the distance already traversed； and the state of the supplies。 He wanted to prepare her for his absences。
He was glad to talk about his battle plan； he felt proud of it； as if it were a work of objective beauty。 Traditionally； beaten people fled to Doom's Retreat； but he meant to remake it into a place of victory。 His plan was the kind of daring strategic stroke that only a blind man could create。 But after a time Amorine responded by gesturing over the Warward and saying dourly； 〃One day of such a pace is no great matter。 Even five days may give no distress to a good warrior。 But twenty days； or thirty… In that time； this pace may kill。〃
〃I know；〃 Troy replied carefully。 His trepidation returned in a rush。 〃But we haven't got any choice。 Even at this pace； too many warriors and Bloodguard are going to get killed buying us the time we need。〃
〃I hear you；〃 Amorine grated。 〃We will keep the pace。〃
When the army stopped for the night； Mhoram； Elena； and Amatin moved among the bright campfires； singing songs and telling gleeful Giantish stories to buttress the hearts of the warriors。 As he watched them； Troy felt a keen regret that long days would pass before the Lords could again help Amorine maintain the Warward's spirit。
But the separation was necessary。 High Lord Elena had several reasons for visiting the Loresraat。 But Revelwood was out of the way； the added distance was prohibitive for the marching warriors。 So the Lords and the Warward parted pany the next afternoon。 The three Lords； acpanied by Covenant and Troy； the twenty Bloodguard； and the Lorewardens； turned with the road southwest toward Trothgard and Revelwood。 And First Haft Amorine led the Warward； with its mounted Hirebrands and Gravelingases； almost due south in a direct line toward Doom's Retreat。
Troy had business of his own at the Loresraat； and he was forced to leave Amorine alone in mand of his army。 That afternoon； the autumn sky turned dim as rain clouds moved heavily eastward。 When he gave the First Haft his final instructions； his vision was blurred； he had to peer through an ominous haze。 〃Keep the pace；〃 he said curtly。 〃Push it even faster when you reach easier ground past the Gray River。 If you can gain a little time； we won't have to drive so hard around the Last Hills。 If those Bloodguard the High Lord sent out were able to do their jobs； there should be plenty of supplies along the way。 We'll catch up to you in the Center Plains。〃 His voice was stiff with awareness of the difficulties she faced。
Amorine responded with a nod that expressed her seasoned resolve。 A light rain started to fall。 Troy'
〃his vision became so clouded that he could no longer make out individual figures in the massed Warward。 He gave the First Haft a tight salute； and she turned to lead the warriors angling away from the road。
The Lords and Lorewardens gave a shout of encouragement； but Troy did not join it。 He took Mehryl to the top of a bare knoll； and stood there with his ebony sword raised against the drizzle while the whole length of his army passed by like a shadow in the fog below him。 He told himself that the Warward was not going into battle without him that his warriors would only march until he rejoined them。 But the thought did not ease him。 The Warward was his tool； his means of serving the Land； and when he returned to the other riders he felt awkward； disjointed； almost dismembered； as if only the skill of the Ranyhyn kept him on balance。 He rode on through the rest of the day wrapped in the familiar loneliness of the blind。
The drizzle continued throughout the remainder of the afternoon； all that night； and most of the next day。 Despite the piled thickness of the clouds； the rain did not e down hard； but it kept out the sunlight； tormented Troy by obscuring his vision。 In the middle of the night； sleeping in wet blankets that seemed to cling to him like winding sheets； he was snatched awake by a wild； inchoate conviction that the weather would be overcast when he went into battle at Doom's Retreat。 He needed sunlight； clarity。 If he could not see…1
He arose depressed； and did not recover his usual confidence until the rainclouds finally blew away to the east； letting the sun return to him。
Before midmorning the next day； the pany of the Lords came in sight of the Maerl River。 They had been traveling faster since they had left the Warward； and when they reached the r