For a long moment. Durris was silent while his mind addressed his people. Then he spoke, and his dispassionate voice thrilled Linden's hearing like a distant tantara of horns.
“Ur-Lord, we will do it.”
In response, Covenant squeezed Durris’ shoulder and tried to blink the gratitude out of his eyes. Instinctively, Linden put her arms around him, marvelling at what he had become.
But when Durris withdrew to stand among the other Haruchai, Cail came forward. His old scar showed plainly on one arm; but he bore other hurts as well. With Brinn, he had once demanded retribution against Linden, believing her a servant of Corruption. And with Brinn, he had succumbed to the song of the merewives. But Brinn had gone alone to meet the Guardian of the One Tree; Cail had been left behind to pay the price of memory and loss.
“Thomas Covenant,” he said softly. “Earthfriend. Permit me.”
Covenant stared at him. A strange bleakness showed in Cail's eyes.
“I have heard your words,” said the Haruchai, “but they are not mine to acknowledge or eschew. Since that time when the white beauty and delusion of the merewives took me from myself, I have not stood in your service. Rather have I followed the command placed upon me by ak-Haru Kenaustin Ardenol. You have not forgotten.” Covenant nodded, wary of grief; but still Cail quoted, “ 'Cail will accept my place at your side until the word of the BIoodguard Bannor has been carried to its end.' ” Then he went on, “That I have done. But it was not I who was proven against the Guardian of the One Tree. In the stead of victory, I have met only the deaths of Giants and the doubt of my people. And this I have done, not solely because I was commanded, but also because I was promised. It was given to me that when the word of Banner was fulfilled I would be permitted to follow my heart.
“Earthfriend, you have proclaimed that fulfilment. And I have served you to my best strength. I ask now that you permit me.
“Permit me to depart.”
“Depart?” Covenant breathed. His open face showed that this was not what he had expected. He made an effort to pull himself out of his surprise. “Of course you can go. You can do whatever you want. I wouldn't stop you if I could. You've earned- ” Swallowing roughly, he changed direction. “But you're needed here. Are you going home-back to your family?”
Without expression, Cail replied, “I will return to the merewives.”
Covenant and the First reacted in simultaneous protest, but her hard voice covered his. “That is madness, Have you forgotten that you were scant moments from death? Almost Galewrath and I failed of your rescue, I will not see the life which I brought up from the deep cast away!”
But surprise and apprehension seemed to tighten Linden's percipience to a higher pitch, a keener penetration; and she saw Cail with sudden acuity, felt parts of him which had been hidden until now. She knew with the instantaneous certainty of vision that he did not intend to throw his life away, did not want death from the Dancers of the Sea: he wanted a different kind of life. A resolution for the inextricable desire and bereavement of his extreme nature.
She cut Covenant off, stopped the First. They glared at her; but she ignored their vehemence. They did not understand. Brinn had said. The limbs of our women are brown from sun and birth. But there is also a whiteness as acute as the ice which bleeds from the rock of mountains, and it burns as the purest snow burns in the most high tor, the most wind-flogged col. And from it grew a yearning which Cail could no longer bear to deny. Panting with the force of her wish to support him, give him something in return for his faithfulness, she rushed to utter the first words that came to her.
“Brinn gave his permission. Don't you see that? He knew what he was saying-he knew what Cail would want to do. He heard the same song himself. Call isn't going to die.”
But then she had to halt She did not know how to explain her conviction that Brinn and Cail could be trusted.
“Thomas Covenant,” Cail said, “I comprehend the value of that which you have granted to the Haruchai- a service of purity and worth. And I have witnessed Brinn's encounter with ak-Haru Kenaustin Ardenol, the great victory of our people. But the cost of that victory was the life of Cable Seadreamer. For myself I do not desire such worth.
“The song of the merewives has been named delusion. But is not all life a manner of dreaming? Have you not said that the Land itself is a dream? Dream or delusion, the music I have heard has altered me. But I have not learned the meaning of this change. Ur-Lord, I wish to prove what I have dreamed to its heart. Permit me.”
Linden looked at Covenant, imploring him with her eyes; but he did not meet her gaze. He faced Cail, and conflicting emotions wrestled each other visibly across his mien: recognition of what Cail was saying; grief over Seadreamer; fear for the Haruchai. But after a moment he fought his way through the moil. "Cail- “ he began. His throat closed as though he dreaded what he meant to say. When he found his voice, he sounded unexpectedly small and lonely, like a man who could not afford to let even one friend go.
“I heard the same song you did. The merewives are dangerous. Be very careful with them.”
Cail did not thank the Unbeliever. He did not smile or nod or speak. But for an instant the glance he gave Covenant was as plain as a paean.
Then he turned on his heel, strode out of the forehall into the sunlight, and was gone.
Covenant watched the Haruchai go as if even now he wanted to call Cail back; but he did not do so. And none of the other Haruchai made any move to challenge Cail's decision. Slowly, a rustle like a sigh passed through the hall, and the tension eased. Hollian blinked the dampness out of her eyes. Sunder gazed bemusement and awe at the implications of Cail's choice. Linden wanted to show Covenant the gratitude Cail had neglected; but it was unnecessary. She saw that he understood now, and his expression had softened. Behind his sorrow over all the people he had lost lurked a wry smile which seemed to suggest that he would have made Cail's choice if she had been a Dancer of the Sea.
The First cleared her throat. "Earthfriend, I am no equal for you. These determinations surpass me. In your place, my word would have been that our need for the accompaniment of the Haruchai is certain and immediate. But I do not question you. I am a Giant like any other, and such bravado pleases me.
“Only declare swiftly where this Mount Thunder and Kiril Threndor may be found, that Mistweave may bear the knowledge eastward to Seareach. It may be that his path and Call's will lie together-and they will have need of each other.”
Covenant nodded at once “Good idea.” Quickly, he described as well as he could Mount Thunder's location astride the centre of Landsdrop, where the Soulsease River passed through the Wightwarrens and became the main source for Sarangrave Rat and the Great Swamp. “Unfortunately,” he added, “I can't tell you how to find Kiril Threndor. I've been there once-it's in the chest of the mountain somewhere-but the whole bloody place is a maze.”
“That must suffice,” the First said. Then she turned to Mistweave. “Hear you? If skill and courage may achieve it, Sevinhand Anchormaster will bring Starfare's Gem to Seareach and The Grieve. There you must meet him. If we fail, the fate of the Earth falls to you. And if we do not,” she continued less grimly, “you will provide for our restoration Homeward.” In a softer voice, she asked, “Mistweave, are you content?”