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ill omen。〃
Mhoram gripped himself with a stern hand。 〃All omens are ill in these times。 Despite is abroad in the Land。 For that reason we are Lords。 The Land would not require us if there were no harm at work against it。〃
Without meeting Mhoram's gaze； Amatin replied； 〃If that is our purpose； then we do not serve it。'' Her anger and pain bined to give her a tone of defiance。 She held her palms flat on the table and watched them as if she were trying to push them through the stone。 〃Only Callindrill of all the Lords lifted his hand in Revelwood's defense。 He burned in my place。''
' 'No！'' the High Lord snapped at once。 He had hoped to deal with the issues before the Council on other terms； but now that Amatin had spoken； he could not back away。 〃No； Lord Amatin。 You cannot take upon your shoulders responsibility for the death of Callindrill Faer…mate。 He died in his own place； by his own choice。 When you believed that you were no longer the Lord best suited to watch over Revelwood； you expressed your belief to the Council。 The Council accepted your belief and asked Lord Callindrill to take that burden upon himself。
〃At the same time； the Council decided that the defenders of the Land should not spend themselves in a costly and bootless battle for Revel…wood。〃 As he spoke； the tightness around his eyes expressed how hard； how poignantly hard； that decision had been to make。 〃The home of the Loresraat was not made for war； and could not be well defended。 The Council decided for the sake of the Land that we must save our strength； put it to its best use here。 Callindrill chose〃…the authority of Mhoram's tone faltered for an instant…〃Lord Callindrill Faer…mate chose otherwise。 There is no blame for you in this。〃
He saw the protest in her eyes and hastened to answer her。 He did not want to hear her thought uttered aloud。 〃Further； I tell you that there is no blame for us in the wisdom or folly； victory or defeat； of the way we have elected to defend the Land。 We are not the Creators of the Earth。 Its final end is not on our heads。 We are creations； like the Land itself。 We are accountable for nothing but the purity of our service。 When we have given our best wisdom and our utterest strength to the defense of the Land； then no voice can raise accusation against us。 Life or death； good or ill…victory or destruction…we are not required to solve these riddles。 Let the Creator answer for the doom of his creation。〃
Amatin stared at him hotly； and he could feel her probing the estranged； secret place in his heart。 Speaking barely above a whisper； she said； 〃Do you blame Callindrill then？ There is no 'best wisdom' in his death。〃
The misdirection of her effort to understand him pained the High Lord； but he answered her openly。 〃You are not deaf to me； Lord Amatin； I loved Callindrill Faer…mate like a brother。 I have no wisdom or strength or willingness to blame him。〃
〃You are the High Lord。 What does your wisdom teach you？〃
〃I am the High Lord；〃 Mhoram affirmed simply。 〃I have no time for blame。〃
Abruptly； Loerya joined the probing。 〃And if there is no Creator？ Or if the creation is untended？〃
〃Then who is there to reproach us？ We provide the meaning of our own lives。 If we serve the Land purely to the furthest limit of our abilities； what more can we ask of ourselves？〃
Trevor answered； 〃Victory； High Lord。 If we fail； the Land itself reproaches us。 It will be made waste。 We are its last preservers。〃
The force of this thrust smote Mhoram。 He found that he still lacked the courage to retort nakedly； Better failure than desecration。 Instead； he turned the thrust with a wry smile and said； 〃The last； Lord Trevor？ No。 The Haruchai yet live within their mountain fastness。 In their way； they know the name of the Earthpower more surely than any Lord。 Ramen and Ranyhyn yet live。 Many people of the South and North Plains yet live。 Many of the Unfettered yet live。 Caerroil Wildwood； Forestal of Garroting Deep； has not passed away。 And somewhere beyond the Sunbirth Sea is the homeland of the Giants…yes； and of the Elohim and Bhrathair； of whom the Giants sang。 They will resist Lord Foul's hold upon the Earth。〃
〃But the Land； High Lord！ The Land will be lost！ The despiser will wrack it from end to end。''
At once； Mhoram breathed intensely； 〃By the Seven！ Not while one flicker of love or faith remains alive！〃
His eyes burned into Trevor's until the Lord's protest receded。 Then he turned to Loerya。 But in her he could see the disfortable fear for her daughters at work； and he refrained from touching her torn feelings。 Instead； he looked toward Amatin and was relieved to see that much of her anger had fallen away。 She regarded him with an expression of hope。 She had found something in him that she needed。 Softly； she said； 〃High Lord； you have discovered a way in which we may act against this doom。〃
The High Lord tightened his hold upon himself。 〃There is a way。〃 Raising his head； he addressed all the people in the Close。 〃My friends； Satansfist Raver has burned Revelwood。 Trothgard is now in his hands。 Soon he will begin to march upon us。 Scant days remain before the siege of Revelstone begins。 We can no longer delay。'' The gold in his eyes flared as he said； 〃We must attempt to summon the Unbeliever。〃
At this； a stark silence filled the Close。 Mhoram could feel waves of surprise and excitement and dread pouring down on him from the galleries。 Warmark Quaan's passionate objection struck across his shoulders。 But he waited in the silence until Lord Loerya found her voice to say； 〃That is impossible。 The Staff of Law has been lost。 We have no means for such a summoning。〃 The soft timbre of her voice barely covered its hard core。
Still Mhoram waited； looking toward the other Lords for answers to Loerya's claim。 After a long moment； Trevor said hesitantly； 〃But the Law of Death has been broken。〃
〃And if the Staff has been destroyed；〃 Amatin added quickly； 〃then the Earthpower which it held and focused has been released upon the Land。 Perhaps it is accessible to us。〃
〃And we must make the attempt；〃 said Mhoram。 〃For good or ill； the Unbeliever is inextricably linked to the Land's doom。 If he is not here； he cannot defend the Land。〃
〃Or destroy it！〃 Quaan rasped。
Before Mhoram could respond； Hearthrall Borillar was on his feet。 He said in a rush； 〃The Unbeliever will save the Land。〃
Quaan growled； 〃This is odd confidence； Hearthrall。〃
〃He will save；〃 Borillar said as if he were surprised at his own temerity。 Seven years ago； when he had met Covenant； he had been the youngest Hirebrand ever to take the office of Hearthrall。 He had been acutely aware of his inexperience； and he was still deferential…a fact which amused his friend and fellow Hearthrall； Tohrm。 〃When I met the Unbeliever； I was young and timid…afraid。〃 Tohrm grinned impishly at the implication that Borillar was no longer young and timid。 〃Ur…Lord Covenant spoke kindly to me。''
He sat down again； blushing in embarrassment。 But no one except Tohrm smiled； and Tohrm's smile was always irrepressible。 It expressed only amused fondness； not mockery。 The pitch of Borillar's conviction seemed to reproach the doubts in the Close。 When Lord Loerya spoke again； her tone had changed。 With a searching look at the young Hearthrall； she said； 〃How shall we make this attempt？〃
Mhoram gravely nodded his thanks to Borillar； then turned back to the Lords。 〃I will essay the summoning。 If my strength fails； aid me。〃 The Lords nodded mutely。 With a final look around the Close； he sat down； bowed his head； and opened his mind to the melding of the Lords。
He did so； knowing that he would have to hold back part of himself； prevent Trevor and Loerya and Amatin from seeing into his secret。 He was taking a great risk。 He needed the consolation； the sharing of strength and support； which a plete mind melding could give； yet any private weakness might expose the knowledge he withheld。 And in the melding his fellow Lords could see that he did withhold something。 Therefore it was an expensive rite。 Each meld drained him because he could only protect his secret by giving fortitude rather than receiving it。 But he believed in the meld。 Of all the lore of the new Lords； only this belonged solely to them； the rest had e to them through the Wards of Kevin Landwaster。 And when it was practiced purely； melding brought the health and heart of any Lord to the aid of all the others。
As long as the High Lord possessed any pulse of life or thew of strength； he could not refuse to share them。
At last； the contact was broken。 For a moment； Mhoram felt that he was hardly strong enough to stand； the needs of the other Lords； and their concern for him； remained on his shoulders like an unnatural burden。 But he understood himself well enough to know that in some ways he did not have the ability to surrender。 Instead； he had an instinct for absolute exertions which frightened him whenever he thought of the Ritual of Desecration。 After a momentary rest； he rose to his feet and took up his staff。 Bearing it like a standard； he walked around the table to the stairs and started down towa