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an at once to eat the flowers he offered to them。 In three bites the food was gone。 He hugged them quickly； then turned away with tears in his eyes。
Without a word； Manethrall Kam gave the Cord the bedraggled circlet from his hair； so that each of the Ranyhyn could have one more bite。 〃That is amanibhavam； the healing grass of Ra；〃 he explained stiffly to Covenant。 〃It is a hardy grass； not so easily daunted by this winter as the Render might wish。 It will keep life in them…for another day。〃 As he spoke； he glared redly into Covenant's face； as if the misery of these two horses were the Unbeliever's doing。 With a brusque nod toward the Cord feeding the Ranyhyn； he went on： 〃He walked ten leagues today to bring even this much food to them。'' The haunted erosion filled his face； he looked like the victim of a curse。 Painfully； he turned and strode away again northward； along the edges of the Plains。
Covenant remembered； he had no trouble remembering his purpose now。 When he followed the Manethrall； he walked as if he were fighting the deadness of his feet with outrage。
In the course of that day； he saw a few more Ranyhyn。 Two were uninjured； but all were gaunt； weak； humbled。 All had gone a long way down the road toward starvation。
The sight of them wore heavily upon Lena。 There was no confusion in the way she perceived them； no distortion or inaccuracy。 Such vision consumed her。 As time passed； her eyes sank back under her brows； as if they were trying to hide in her skull； and dark circles like bruises grew around the orbs。 She stared brittlely about her as if even Covenant were dim in her gaze…as if she beheld nothing but the protruding ribs and fleshless limbs of Ranyhyn。
Covenant held her arm as they walked； guided and supported her as best he could。 Weariness gradually became irrelevant to him； even the keen wind； flaying straight toward him across the Plains； seemed to lose its importance。 He stamped along behind Kam like a wild prophet； e to forge the Ramen to his will。
They reached the outposts of Kam's destination by midafternoon。 Ahead of them； two Cords abruptly stepped out of a barren copse of wattle； and saluted Manethrall Kam in the Ramen fashion； with their hands raised °n either side of their heads and their palms open； weaponless。 Kam returned the bow； spoke to the two briefly in a low； aspirated tongue； then motioned for Covenant； Lena； and Foamfollower to continue on with him。 As they moved back into the hills； he told them； 〃My Cords were able to summon only three other Manethralls。 But four will be enough。〃
〃Enough？〃 Covenant asked。
〃The Ramen will accept a judgment made by four Manethralls。〃
Covenant met Kam's glare squarely。 A moment later； the Manethrall turned away with an oddly daunted air； as if he had remembered that Covenant's claim on him came from the Ranyhyn。 Hurrying now； he led his pany upward with the gray wind cutting at their backs。
They climbed across two steep bluffs which gave them a panoramic view of the Plains。 The hard open ground lay ruined below them； scorched with winter and gray snow until it looked maimed and lifeless。 But Manethrall Kam moved rapidly onward； ignoring the sight。 He took his panions past the bluffs down into a valley cunningly hidden among rough knolls and hilltops。 This valley was largely sheltered from the wind； and faint； cultivated patches of unripe amanibhavam grew on its sides。 Now Covenant remembered what he had heard about amanibhavam during his previous visit to the Plains of Ra。 This grass； which held such a rare power of healing for horses； was poisonous to humans。
Aside from the grass； the valley contained nothing but three dead copses leaning at various points against the steepest of the slopes。 Manethrall Kam walked directly toward the thickest one。 As he approached； four Cords stepped out of the wood to meet him。 They had a tense； frail air about them which made Covenant notice how young they were； even the two older girls seemed to have had their Cording thrust unready upon them。 They saluted Kam nervously； and when he had returned their bow； they moved aside to let him enter the copse。
Covenant followed Banner into the wood and found that at its back was a narrow rift in the hillside。 The rift did not close； but its upper reaches were so crooked that Covenant could not see out the top。 Under his feet； a layer of damp； dead leaves muffled his steps； he passed in silence like a shadow between the cold stone walls。 A smell of musty age filled his nostrils； as if the packed leaves had been rotting in the rift for generations； and despite their wetness； he felt dim warmth radiating from them。 No one spoke。 Gripping Lena's chill fingers in his numb hand； he moved behind Banner as the cleft bent irregularly from side to side on its way through the rock。
Then Manethrall Kam stopped。 When Covenant caught up with him； he said softly； 〃We now enter the secret places of a Ramen covert。 Be warned； Ringthane。 If we are not taught to trust you and your panions； you will not leave this place。 In all the Plains of Ra and the surrounding hills； this is the last covert。
〃At one time； the Ramen held several such hidden places of refuge。 In them the Manethralls tended the grievous wounds of the Ranyhyn and trained Cords in the secret rites of their Maneing。 But one by one in turn each covert〃…Kam fixed Covenant with a demon…ridden gaze…〃has been betrayed。 Though we have preserved them with our utterest skill； fresh…ur…viles…Cavewights…ill flesh in every shape…all have found our hidden coverts and ravaged them。〃 He studied the Ringthane as if he were searching for some sign which would brand Covenant as the betrayer。 〃We will hold you here…we will kill your panions…rather than permit treachery to this place。〃
Without allowing Covenant time to reply； he turned on his heel and stalked around another bend in the cleft。
Covenant followed； scowling stormily。 Beyond the bend； he found himself in a large chamber。 The air was dim； but he could see well enough to discern several Ranyhyn standing against the walls。 They were eating scant bundles of grass； and in this closed space the sharp aroma of the amanibhavam made his head ring。 All of them were injured…some so severely that they could hardly stand。 One had lost the side of its face in a fight； another still bled from a cruel fretwork of claw…marks in its flanks； and two others had broken legs which hung limply； with excruciating bone…splinters tearing the skin。
As he stared gauntly at them； they became aware of him。 A restless movement passed through them； and their heads came up painfully； turning soft； miserable eyes toward him。 For a long moment； they looked at him as if they should have been afraid but were too badly hurt for fear。 Then； in agony； even the horses with broken legs tried to rear。
〃Stop it。 Stop。〃 Covenant hardly knew that he was moaning aloud。 His hands flinched in front of his face； trying to ward off an abominable vision。 〃I can't stand it。〃
Firmly； Banner took his arm and drew him past the chamber into another passage through the rock。
After a few steps； his legs failed him。 But Banner gripped him； bore him up。 Clutching with useless fingers at the Bloodguard's shoulders； he pulled himself around until he was facing Bannor。 〃Why？〃 he panted into Bannor's flat visage。 〃Why did they do that？〃
Banner's face and voice revealed nothing。 〃You are the Ringthane。 They have made promises to you。〃
〃Promises。'' Covenant rubbed a hand over his eyes。 The promises of the Ranyhyn limped across his memory。 〃Hell and blood。'' With an effort； he pushed away from Banner。 Bracing himself against the wall of the crevice； he clenched his trembling fists as if he were trying to squeeze steadiness out of them。 His fingers ached for the Despiser's throat。 〃They should be killed！〃 he raged thickly。 〃They should be put out of their misery！ How can you be so cruel？〃
Manethrall Kam spat； 〃Is that how it is done in your world； Ringthane？〃
But Bannor replied evenly； 〃They are the Ranyhyn。 Do not presume to offer them kindness。 How can any human decide the choices of death and pain for them？〃