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e and a delusion。 It cannot be controlled。 It strikes the hand that wields it。 Better to die in the name of Peace than to buy one day of survival at the cost of such peril！〃
Again； Mhoram had no answer。 He could not name the reasons behind his question。 Only the cold foreboding in his bones impelled him； told him that unknown horrors stalked the Land in places far distant from Revelstone。 When Amatin concluded grimly； 〃Do you fear that ur…Lord Covenant may yet Desecrate us？〃 he could not deny that he was afraid。
So the Council ended without issue； and the Lords went back to the defense of the Keep。
Still the fighting went on without surcease。 For four more days； the Lords wielded their staff fire with all the might and cunning they could conceive…and the Warward drove itself beyond its weariness as if it could not be daunted…and the other people of Revelstone did their utmost to hurl Cavewights； ur…viles； Stone…spawn； from the walls。 But Satansfist did not relent。 He pressed his assault as if his losses were meaningless； spent whole panies of his creatures to do any kind of damage to the city； however small。 And the accumulating price that Lord's Keep paid for its endurance grew more terrible day by day。
During the fifth day； Mhoram withdrew from the battle to inspect the condition of the city。 Warmark Quaan joined him； and when they had seen the fatal diminishment of the stores； had taken the toll of lost lives； Quaan met Mhoram's gaze squarely and said with a tremor in his brusque voice； 〃We will fall。 If this Raver does not raise another finger against us； still we will fall。〃
Mhoram held his old friend's eyes。 〃How long can we hold？〃
〃Thirty days…at most。 No more。 Forty…if we deny food to the ill； and the injured； and the infirm。〃
〃We will not deny food to any who yet live。〃
〃Thirty； then。 Less； if my warriors lose strength and permit any breach of the walls。〃 He faltered and his eyes fell。 〃High Lord； does it e to this？ Is this the end…for us…for the Land？〃
Mhoram put a firm hand on Quaan's shoulder。 〃No； my friend。 We have not e to the last of ourselves。 And the Unbeliever… Do not forget Thomas Covenant。〃
That name brought back Quaan's war…hardness。 〃I would forget him if I could。 He will…〃
〃Softly； Warmark；'' Mhoram interrupted evenly。 ''Do not be abrupt to prophesy doom。 There are mysteries in the Earth of which we know nothing。〃
After a moment； Quaan murmured； 〃Do you yet trust him？〃
The High Lord did not hesitate。 〃I trust that Despite is not the sum of life。〃
Quaan gazed back into this answer as if he were trying to find its wellspring。 Some protest or plea moved in his face； but before he could speak； a messenger came to recall him to the fighting。 At once； he turned and strode away。
Mhoram watched his stern back for a moment； then bestirred himself to visit the Healers。 He wanted to know if any progress had been made with Trell Atiaran…mate。
In the low groaning hall which the Healers had made into a hospital for the hundreds of injured men and women； Mhoram found the big Gravelingas sprawled like a wreck on a pallet in the center of the floor。 A fierce brain…fever had wasted him。 To Mhoram's cold dread； he looked like the incarnated fate of all Covenant's victims…a fleshless future crouched in ambush for the Land。 The High Lord's hands trembled。 He did not believe he could bear to watch that ineluctable ravage happen。
〃At first； we placed him near the wall；〃 one of the attendants said softly； 〃so that he would be near stone。 But he recoiled from it in terror。 Therefore we have laid him here。 He does not recover…but he no longer shrieks。 Our efforts to succor him are confounded。〃
〃Covenant will make restitution；〃 Mhoram breathed in answer； as if the attendant had said something else。 〃He must。〃
Trembling； he turned away； and tried to find relief for his dismay in the struggle of Revelstone。
The next night； samadhi changed his tactics。 Under cover of darkness； a band of Cavewights rushed forward and clambered up onto one of the main battlements； and when warriors ran out to meet the attack； two ur…vile wedges hidden in the night near the walls swiftly formed Forbid…dings across the ends of the battlement； thus trapping the warriors； preventing any escape or rescue。 Two Eoman were caught and slaughtered by the ur…viles before Lord Amatin was able to break down one of the Forbiddings。
The same pattern was repeated simultaneously at several points around the Keep。
Warmark Quaan had lost more than eightscore warriors before he grasped the purpose of these tactics。 They were not intended to break into Revelstone； but rather to kill defenders。
So the Lords were pelled to bear the brunt of defending against these new assaults； a Forbidding was an exercise of power which only they were equipped to counter。 As long as darkness covered the approach of the ur…viles； the attacks continued； allowing the Lords no chance to rest。 And when dawn came； Sheol Satansfist resumed the previous strategy of his assault。
After four nights of this； Mhoram and his rades were near exhaustion。 Each Forbidding cost two of them an arduous exertion； one Lord could not counteract the work of three… or fivescore ur…viles swiftly enough。 As a result； Amatin was now as pale and hollow…eyed as an invalid； Loerya's once…sturdy muscles seemed to hang like ropes of mortality on her bones； and Trevor's eyes flinched at everything he saw； as if even in the deepest safety of the Keep he was surrounded by ghouls。 Mhoram himself felt that he had a great weight leaning like misery against his heart。 They could all taste the accuracy of Quaan's dire predictions； and they were sickening on the flavor。
During a brief moment of dazed half…sleep late that fourth night； the High Lord found himself murmuring； 〃Covenant； Covenant；〃 as if he were trying to remind the Unbeliever of a promise。
But the next morning the attacks stopped。 A silence like the quietude of open graves blew into Revelstone on the wind。 All the creatures had returned to their encampment； and in their absence Revelstone panted and quivered like a scourged prisoner between lashes。 Mhoram took the opportunity to eat； but he put food into his mouth without seeing it and chewed without tasting it。 In the back of his mind； he was trying to measure the remnant of his endurance。 Yet he responded immediately when a messenger hastened up to him； informed him that samadhi Raver was approaching the Keep alone。
Protected by flanks of archers from any attack by the enemy occupying the tower； Mhoram and the other Lords went to one of the high balconies near the eastward point of the Keep and faced Satansfist。
The Giant…Raver approached sardonically； with a swagger of confidence and a spring of contempt in his stride。 His huge fist gripped his fragment of the Stone； and it steamed frigidly in the freezing air。 He stopped just beyond effective bow range； leered up at the Lords； and shouted stertorously； 〃Hail； Lords！ I give you greeting！ Are you well？〃
〃Well！〃 Quaan grated under his breath。 〃Let him e five paces nearer； and I will show him 'well。'