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s touch； and the edges of the blade were dull。 Blind； lusterless winter filled the furthest depths of the jewel。
The hope of the wild magic was lost。 Covenant was gone。
Now Mhoram understood why the Raver had laughed。
〃Mhoram？〃
〃High Lord。〃
〃Mhoram！〃
Supplications reached toward him； asking him for strength； begging him； requiring。 He ignored them。 He shrugged off the hands of melding which plucked at his mind。 The prophecy of his dread had e to pass。 He had nothing left with which to answer supplications。
〃Ah； High Lord！〃
There were tears and despair in the appeals； but he had nothing left with which to answer。
He was only dimly aware that he rose to his feet； returned the krill to the messenger。 He wanted it removed from his sight as if it were a treacher； yet that feeling occupied only a distant portion of him。 With the rest； he tightened his frail blue robe as if he were still fool enough to believe it could protect him from the cold； and walked numbly away from the battlement。 The short； stiff shock of his hair； newly grown after the fire in the Close； gave him a demented aspect。 People came after him； beseeching； requiring； but he kept up his wooden pace； kept ahead of them so that he would not have to see their needy faces。
He gave no thought to where he was going until he reached a fork in the passage。 There； the weight of decision almost crushed him to his knees again…left and down into the Keep； or right and out toward the upland plateau。 He turned to the right because he could not bear the unintended recrimination of Revelstone…and because he was a man who already knew that he had no choice。
When he started up the long ascending road； the people behind him slowed； let him go。 He heard them whispering：
〃He goes to the Unfettered One…to the interpreter of dreams。〃
But that was not where he was going； he had no questions to ask an oracle。 Oracles were for people to whom ambiguous visions could make a difference； but now the only things which could make a difference to High Lord Mhoram son of Variol were things which would give him courage。
In a stupor of dread； he climbed out into the wind which scythed across the open plateau。 Above its chill ululations； he could hear battle crashing against the walls of the Keep； waves of assailants hurling themselves like breakers against a defiant and ultimately frangible cliff。 But he put the sound behind him； it was only a symbol； a concentration； of the whole Land's abominable doom。 Without Thomas Covenant…！ Mhoram could not plete the thought。 He walked up through the barren hills away from Revelstone； up toward the river and northward along it； with an abyss in his heart where the survival of the Land should have been。 This； he told himself； was what Kevin Landwaster must have felt when Lord Foul overwhelmed Kurash Plenethor； making all responses short of Desecration futile。 He did not know how the pain of it could be endured。
After a time； he found himself standing cold in the wind on a hill above Glimmermere。 Below him； the rare； potent waters of the lake lay unruffled despite the buffeting of the wind。 Though the skies above it were as gray as the ashes of the world's end； it seemed to shine with remembered sunlight。 It reflected cleanly the hills and the distant mountains； and through its purity he could see its fathomless； rocky bottom。
He knew what he would have to do； he lacked courage； not prehension。 The last exactions of faith lay unrolled before him in his dread like the map of a country which no longer existed。 When he stumbled frozenly down toward the lake； he did so because he had nowhere else to turn。 There was Earthpower in Glimmermere。 He placed his staff on the bank； stripped off his robe； and dropped into the lake； praying that its icy waters would do for him what he could not do for himself。
Though he was already numb with cold； the water seemed to burn instantly over all his flesh； snatch him out of his numbness like a conflagration in his nerves。 He had had no thought of swimming when he had slipped into the depths； but the force of Glimmermere triggered reactions in him； sent him clawing up toward the surface。 With a whooping gasp； he broke water； sculled for a moment to catch his breath against the fiery chill； then struck out for the bank where he had left his robe。
Climbing out onto the hillside； he felt aflame with cold； but he pelled himself to remain naked while the wind made ice of the water on his limbs and dried him。 Then he pulled his robe urgently over his shoulders； hugged his staff to his chest so that its heat warmed him where he most needed warming。 His feverish chill took some time to pass； and while he waited； he braced himself； strove to shore up his heart against the obstacles and the dismay which awaited him。
He had to do something which was obviously impossible。 He had to slay samadhi Satansfist。
He would need help。
Putting grimly aside all his former scruples； he turned to the only possible source of help…the only aid whose faithfulness matched his need。 He raised one cold hand to his lips and whistled shrilly three times。
The turbulent wind seemed to snatch the sound to pieces； tatter it instantly。 In a place where echoes were mon； his call disappeared without resonance or answer； the wind tore it away as if to undo his purpose； make him unheard。 Nevertheless he summoned his trust； pried himself up the hillside to stand waiting on the vantage of the crest。 A suspense like the ether of despair filled him； but he faced the western mountains as if his heart knew neither doubt nor fear。
Long moments which sharpened his suspense to the screaming point passed before he saw a dull brown movement making its way toward him out of the mountains。 Then his soul leaped up in spite of its burdens； and he stood erect with the wind snapping in his ears so that his stance would be being to the Ranyhyn that was answering his call。
The wait nearly froze the blood in his veins； but at last the Ranyhyn reached the hills around Glimmermere； and nickered in salutation。
Mhoram groaned at the sight。 In order to answer his call； the Ranyhyn must have left the Plains of Ra scores of days ago…must have fled Satansfist's army to run straight across the Center Plains into the Westron Mountains； then found its pathless way among the high winter of the peaks northward to the spur of the range which jutted east and ended in the plateau of Revelstone。 The long ordeal of the mountain trek had exacted a severe price from the great stallion。 His flesh hung slack over gaunt ribs； he stumbled painfully on swollen joints； and his coat had a look of ragged misery。 Still Mhoram recognized the Ranyhyn； and greeted him with all the respect his voice could carry：
〃Hail； Drinny； proud Ranyhyn！ Oh； bravely done！ Worthy son of a worthy mother。 Tail of the Sky； Mane of the World； I am〃…a clench of emotion caught his throat； and he could only whisper…〃I am honored。''
Drinny made a valiant effort to trot up to Mhoram； but when he reached the High Lord he rested his head trembling on Mhoram's shoulder as if he needed the support in order to keep his feet。 Mhoram hugged his neck； whispered words of praise and encouragement in his ear； stroked his ice…clogged coat。 They stood together as if in their differing weaknesses they were making promises to each other。 Then Mhoram answered the nudging of Drinny's unquenchable pride by springing onto the Ranyhyn's back。 Warming the great horse with his staff； he rode slowly； resolutely； back toward Revelstone。
The ride took time…time made arduous and agonizing by the frailty of Drinny's muscles； his painful； exhausted stumbling。 While they passed down through the hills； Mhoram's own weariness returned； and he remembered his inadequacy； his stupefying dread。 But he had placed his feet on the strait path of his faith； now he held the Ranyhyn between his knees and bound himself in his determination not to turn aside。 Drinny had answered his call。 While his thoughts retained some vestige of Glimmermere's clarity； he made his plans。
Then at last his mount limped down into the wide tunn