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together in front of him； and his shoulders hunched like a strangler's…〃crushed Lena my own daughter at birth。〃
〃No！〃 Mhoram affirmed softly。 〃No。〃 He yearned to put his arms around Trell； to console the Gravelingas in some way。 But he did not know how to untie Trell's distress； he was unable to loosen his own secret dilemma。 〃Hold Peace； Trell；〃 he murmured。 〃Remember the Oath。〃 He could think of nothing else to say。
〃Peace？〃 Trell echoed in ridicule or grief。 He no longer seemed to see the High Lord。 〃Atiaran believed in Peace。 There is no Peace。〃 Turning vaguely from Mhoram； he walked away down the side passage from which he had e。
Mhoram stared after him down the passage for a long moment。 Duty and caution told him that he should have warriors assigned to watch the Gravelingas。 But he could not bear to torment Trell with such an expression of distrust； that judgment might weaken the last clutch of Trell's self…control。 And he； Mhoram； had seen men and women rise to victory from anguish as bad as Trell's。
Yet the Gravelingas had not looked like a man who could wrest new wholeness out of the ruins of his old life。 Mhoram was taking a grave risk by not acting in some way。 As he started again toward the Close； the weight of his responsibilities bore heavily on him。 He did not feel equal to the multitude of dooms he carried。
The Lords possessed nothing of their own with which to fight the long cruel winter that fettered the Land。
He strode down a long； torchlit corridor； climbed a spiral stairway； and approached one of the Lords' private entrances to the Close。 Outside the door； he paused to gauge the number of people who had already gathered for the Council； and after a moment he heard Lord Amatin ing up the stair behind him。 He waited for her。 When she reached the landing where he stood； he saw that her eyes were red…rimmed； her forlorn mouth aggravated by tension。 He was tempted to speak to her now； but he decided instead to deal with her feelings before the Council。 If he were ever to reveal his secret knowledge； he would first have to prepare the ground for it。 With a quiet； sympathetic smile； he opened the door for her and followed her into the Close。
From the door； he and Amatin went down the steps to the Lords' table； which stood below the level of the tiered galleries in the high； round council hall。 The hall was lit by four huge； lore…burning lillianrill torches set into the walls above the galleries； and by an open pit of graveling in the base of the Close； below and within the wide C of the table。 Stone chairs for the Lords and their special guests waited around the outer edge of the table； facing in toward the open floor and the graveling pit； and at the head of the table was the high…backed seat of the High Lord。
On the floor of the Close beside the graveling pit was a round stone table with a short silver sword stabbed halfway to the hilt in its center。 This was the krill of Loric； left where Covenant had driven it seven years ago。 In that time； the Lords had found no way to remove it from the stone。 They left it in the Close so that anyone who wished to study the krill could do so freely。 But nothing had changed except the clear white gem around which the guards and haft of the two…edged blade were forged。
When Mhoram and Callindrill had returned from their plunge into Garroting Deep； they had found the gem lightless； dead。 The hot fire which Covenant had set within it had gone out。
It stood near the graveling like an icon of the Lords' futility； but Mhoram kept his thoughts away from it。 He did not need to look around to learn who was already present in the Close； the perfect acoustics of the hall carried every low noise and utterance to his ears。 In the first row of the gallery； above and behind the seats of the Lords； sat warriors； Hafts of the Warward； occupying the former places of the Bloodguard。 The two Hearthralls； Tohrm the Gravelingas and Borillar the Hirebrand； sat with Warmark Quaan in their formal positions high in the gallery behind the High Lord's chair。 Several Lorewardens had taken seats in tiers above the table； the weary dust of their flight from Revelwood was still on them； but they were too taut with the news of the tree's fall to miss this Council。 And with them were virtually all the lillianrill of Lord's Keep。 The burning of a tree struck at the very hearts of the Hirebrands； and they watched the High Lord's approach with pain in their eyes。
Mhoram reached his seat but did not sit down immediately。 As Lord Amatin moved to her place on the right side of the table； he felt a sharp pang at sight of the stone seat which Callindrill should have filled。 And he could sense the remembered presence of the others who had occupied the High Lord's chair： Variol； Prothall； Osondrea； and Elena among the new Lords； Kevin； Loric； and Damelon of the Old。 Their individual greatness and courage humbled him； made him realize how small a figure he was to bear such losses and duties。 He stood on the brink of the Land's doom without Variol's foresight or Prothall's ascetic strength or Osondrea's dour intransigence or Elena's fire； and he had not power enough to match the frailest Lord in the weakest Council led by Kevin or Loric or Damelon or Berek Heartthew the Lord…Fatherer。 Yet none of the remaining Lords could take his place。 Amatin lacked physical toughness。 Trevor did not believe in his own stature； he felt that he was not the equal of his fellow Lords。 And Loerya was torn between her love for the Land and her desire to protect her own family。 Mhoram knew that more than once she had almost asked him to release her from her Lordship； so that she could flee with her daughters into the relative sanctuary of the Westron Mountains。
With Callindrill gone； High Lord Mhoram was more alone than he had ever been before。
He had to force himself to pull out his chair and sit down。
He waited for Trevor and Loerya in a private reverie； gathering his fortitude。 Finally； the main doors of the Close opened opposite him； and the two Lords started down the broad steps； acpanying Eldest Corimini。 He moved with slow difficulty； as if the end of Revelwood had exhausted the last elasticity of his thews； leaving him at the mercy of his age； and Trevor and Loerya supported him gently on either side。 They helped him to a chair down the table from Amatin； then walked around and took their places on the High Lord's left。
When they were seated； the Close grew quiet。 All talking stopped； and after a brief shuffle of feet and positions； silence filled the warm yellow light of the torches and graveling。 Mhoram could hear nothing but the low susurration of hushed breathing。 Slowly； he looked around the table and the galleries。 Every eye in the chamber was on him。 Stiffening himself； he placed his staff flat on the table before him； and stood up。
〃Friends and servants of the Land；〃 he said steadily； 〃be wele to the Council of Lords。 I am Mhoram son of Variol； High Lord by the choice of the Council。 There are dire matters upon us； and we must take action against them。 But first we must wele the Lorewardens of the Loresraat。 Corimini； Eldest of the Loresraat； be at home in Lord's Keep with all your people。 You have brought the great school of lore safely to Revelstone。 How may we honor you？〃
Corimini rose infirmly to his feet as if to meet the High Lord's salutation； but the diffusion of his gaze showed that his mind was elsewhere。 〃Faer；〃 he began in a tremulous old voice； 〃Faer begs me to apologize for the absence of Callindrill her husband。 He will be unable to attend the Council。〃 Dislocation gathered in his tone while he spoke； and his voice trailed off as if he had forgotten what he meant to say。 Slowly； his thoughts slipped out of contact with his situation。 As he stood before the Council； the power of the lore which had preserved him for so long from the effects of age seemed to fail within him。 After a moment； he sat down； murmuring aimlessly to himself； wandering in his mind like a man striving to prehend a language he no longer knew。 At last he found the word； 〃Revelwood。〃 He repeated it several times； searching to understand it。 Softly he began to weep。
Tears burned the backs of Mhoram's eyes。 With a quick gesture he sent two of the Lorewardens to Corimini's aid。 They lifted him from his seat and bore him between them up the stairs toward the high wooden doors。 〃Take him to the Healers；〃 Mhoram said thickly。 〃Find Peace for him。 He has served the Land with courage and devotion and wisdom for more years than any other now living。〃
The Lords came to their feet； and at once all the people in the Close stood。 Together； they touched their right hands to their hearts； then extended the palms toward Corimini in a traditional salute。 〃Hail； Corimini；〃 they said； 〃Eldest of the Loresraat。 Be at Peace。〃
The two Lorewardens took Corimini from the Close； and the doors shut behind them。 Sadly； the people in the galleries reseated themselves。 The Lords looked toward Mhoram with mourning in their eyes； and Loerya said stiffly； 〃This is an ill omen。〃
Mhoram gripped himself with a stern hand。 〃All omens are ill in these times。 Despit