But Covenant did not look as if he were being honored。 He sat with an awkward stiffness； as if the point of a knife were pressed against his spine。
After the； last song was done； Corimini gazed at Covenant in silence； giving the Unbeliever a chance to speak。 But the glare which Covenant returned almost made the Eldest wince。 He turned away； and said； 〃High Lord Elena； Lord Mhoram； Lord Amatin； Warmark Troy； be wele in the viane of Revelwood。 We are the Loresraat； the seekers and servants of Kevin's Lore。 We gather to honor you…and to offer you the help of all our knowledge in the name of the approaching war。 The preservation of Land and Lore is in your hands； as the mystery of Land and Lore is in ours。 If there is any way in which we may aid you； only speak of it； and we will put forth all our strength to meet the need。〃
With a deep bow； High Lord Elena replied formally； 〃The gathering of the Loresraat honors us； and I am honored to speak before the people of Revelwood。〃 Troy thought that he had rarely seen her look more radiant。 〃Eldest； Elders； Lorewardens； students of the Sword and Staff； friends of the Land my friends； in the name of all the Lords； I thank you。 We will never be defeated while such faithfulness is alive in the Land。
〃My friends； there are matters of which I would speak。 I do not speak of the danger that war brings to Revelwood。 The Lore of the Sword will not neglect your defense。 And Lord Amatin will remain with you； to do all that a Lord may do to preserve the Valley of Two Rivers。〃
A cheer started up on the edges of the bowl； but she stopped it with a manding glance； and went on； 〃More； I do not speak of Stonedowns and Woodhelvens which will be destroyed by war…or of people made homeless。 I know that the dispossessed of this war will find here all fort and relief and restitution that human hearts may ask or give。 This is sure； and requires no urging。
〃More； I do not speak of any need for mastery of Kevin's Lore。 You have given your best strength； and have achieved much。 You will give and achieve more。 All these matters are secure in your fidelity。
〃But there are two questions of which I must speak。〃 A change in the cadence of her voice showed that she was approaching the heart of her reasons for ing to Revelwood。 〃The second concerns a stranger who has visited Lord's Keep。 But the first is one which was presented to you a year ago…at the request of Warmark Hile Troy。〃 She offered Troy a chance to speak； but he declined with a shake of his head； and she continued； 〃It is our hope that the Loresraat has discovered a way to speak and hear messages across distances。 The Warmark believes that such a way will be of great value in this war。〃
Cormini's look of satisfaction revealed his answer before he spoke it。 〃High Lord； we have learned a way。〃 Troy's heart surged at the news； and he gripped the handle of his sword。 His battle plan appeared suddenly flawless。 He was grinning broadly as the Eldest went on； 〃Several of our best students and Lorewardens have devoted themselves to this need。 And they were aided by Hirebrands of the lillianrill。 With the Hirebrands and two students； Staff…Elder Asuraka learned that messages may be spoken and heard through lomillialor； the High Wood of the lillianrill。 The task is difficult； and requires strength
but it will not surpass any Lord accustomed to the Earthpower。〃 Nodding at the Staff…Elder； he said； 〃Asuraka will teach the knowledge to you。 We have prepared three lomillialor rods for this purpose。 More we could not do； for the High Wood is very rare。〃
Lomillialor。 Troy had heard of it。 It was the lillianrill parallel to orcrest…a potent white wood descended from the One Tree from which Berek Halfhand had formed the Staff of Law。 The Hirebrands used it…as the Gravelingases used orcrest…to give the test of truth。 Lomillialor was said to be a sure test of… fidelity…if the one tested did not far surpass the strength of the tester。 Some of the old tales of Covenant's first visit to the Land said that the Unbeliever had passed a test of truth given to him at Soaring Woodhelven。
And Soaring Woodhelven had later been destroyed。
As Troy got up to join Elena in thanking the Loresraat for what it had achieved； he looked over to see how Covenant took Corimini's news。
For some reason； the Unbeliever was on his feet。 Swaying uncertainly； afraid of falling； he muttered； 〃Lomillialor。 The test of truth。 Are you going to trust that？〃
A hot retort leaped into Troy's mouth； but something about Covenant's appearance silenced it。 Troy blocked his sight with his hand； adjusted his sunglasses； then looked again。 The strangeness was still there。
Covenant's chest seemed to ripple like roiled water。 He was solid； but something disturbed the center of his chest； making it waver like a mirage。
Troy had seen an effect like this once before。 He glanced quickly away toward the High Lord。 She regarded him with a question in her face。 Nothing distorted her。 The rippling touched no one else in the viane。 And even Covenant seemed unaware of it。 But the Bloodguard around the bowl stood as if at attention； and Bannor held himself at Covenant's side with a coiled poise that belied his blank expression。
Then Troy saw the area of distortion detach itself from Covenant and float lazily toward the High Lord。
The other time he had seen it； it had appeared so briefly； with such evanescence； that he had finally disregarded it as a trick of his vision； a misconception。 But now he knew what it was。
He bowed deliberately to Corimini。 〃Forgive the interruption。 I forget what I was going to say。〃 Without waiting for an answer； he addressed Elena。 He hoped that she would understand him through the careful nonchalance of his tone。 〃Why don't you go ahead？ There was something else you wanted to talk to the Loresraat about。〃 While he spoke； he took a few steps in her direction； as if this were a natural expression of deference。 On the edges of his sight； he watched the mirage float toward her。
He turned to get closer to it。
He faced Covenant in a way that allowed him to take two more steps； and remarked pointedly； 〃You know； it just might turn out that that white gold of yours has been good for something after all。〃 Some of his excitement forced its way into his tone。
The next instant； he sprang into motion。 He took three rapid strides； and threw himself at the roiling distortion in the air。
It tried to evade him； but he caught it in time。 He hit it with a jarring impact； and toppled to the net with it in his arms。
It struggled…he could feel invisible arms and legs …but he kept his grip。 He tightened his hold until the form stopped resisting and lay still。 When he heaved himself to his feet； he lifted the light； limp weight easily in his arms。
〃All right； my friend；〃 he gritted at it。 〃Show yourself。 Or shall I ask the High Lord to tickle your ribs with the Staff of Law？〃
Covenant was staring at Troy as if the Warmark had lost his mind。 But Lord Amatin watched him avidly； and the High Lord moved forward as if to support his threat。
A peal of high； young laughter rang out。 〃Ah； very well；〃 said a bodiless voice bubbling with gaiety。 〃I am captured。 You have surprising vision。 Release me …I will not escape。〃
The air swirled suddenly； and Amok became visible in Troy's grasp。 He was the same incongruously ancient youth who had appeared before the Council of Lords in Revelstone。
〃Hail； High Lord！〃 he said cheerfully。 When Troy let go of him； he bowed humorously to her； then turned and repeated his bow to his captor。 〃Hail； Warmark！ You are perceptive…but rough。 Is this the hospitality of Revelwood？〃 Glee filled his voice； effaced any reproof in his words。 〃Your strength was not needed。 I am here。〃 。
〃By hell；〃 Covenant muttered。 〃By hell。〃
〃Indeed？〃 said Amok with a boyish grin that seemed to light up the laughing curls of his hair。 〃Well； that is not for me to say。 But I am well made。 You bear the white gold。 It is for your sake that I have returned。〃
All the people of Revelwood had surged to their feet when Amok appeared； and the Lorewardens now stood in a ready circle around the Warmark and his captive。 Both Corimini and Asuraka were confu