Fatal Revenant

by Stephen R. Donaldson

  An instant later, the sheer scale of the forces which she had unleashed overwhelmed her; and the world was swept away.

  Covenant’s agony must have been terrible to behold. His cry of protest may have deafened the night. But Linden was no longer able to see or hear him. Absolute vastness stunned every nerve in her body, every impulse in her mind. For a moment, her detonation left her entirely insensate, unable to feel or think or move. She did not know that she had dropped Covenant’s ring as if it had scalded her. Her fingers were too numb to realize that the Staff had slipped from her grasp. Her eyes might as well have been charred away: she did not see the krill’s coruscating puissance rupture and vanish, blown apart by fundamental contradictions.

  She did not recognize what she had done until darkness reasserted her mortality, and the frantic labor of her pulse began to force new awareness into her muscles and nerves.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw Covenant’s resurrected form standing, twisted with pain, on the far side of the blank gem, the dead stump. Theurgies flared and spat from his arms, his shoulders, his chest. Linden had burned him as badly as Lord Foul had burned him in Kiril Threndor. But she had burned him to life instead of death. The fading energies of his transformation wracked him as though he had emerged from a bonfire.

  Like Joan, he bore the consequences of too much time.

  Yet he was alive. In some sense, he was whole; unmarked except by his old wounds. Even his clothes were intact. Linden could see the rent in his T-shirt where he had been stabbed for Joan’s sake. His hair was tousled silver like reified white gold.

  Fires flickered up and down his body. They were the only light in the vale; or in Andelain; or in the Land. Slowly they exhausted themselves and went out.

  While the last wisps of power streamed from his eyes, Covenant forced himself to straighten his back and look at Linden.

  He took one step toward her, then another, before his legs failed and he plunged to his knees. Still upright, he gazed at her with such dismay that her throat closed. She could not breathe.

  “Oh, Linden.” His first words to her were a hoarse gasp. “What have you done?”

  “Done, Timewarden?” Infelice snapped viciously. “Done? She has roused the Worm of the World’s End. Such magicks must be answered. Because of her madness and folly, every Elohim will be devoured.”

  Abruptly the krill’s gem began to shine again. Its light throbbed like a heart in ecstasy, as if it echoed Joan’s distant excitement—or Lord Foul’s.

  Hyn’s dolorous whickering reminded Linden that the Ranyhyn had tried to warn her.

  Here ends

  Fatal Revenant

  Book Two of

  “The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.”

  The story continues in Book Three

  Against All Things Ending

  Glossary

  Abatha: one of the Seven Words

  Acence: a Stonedownor, sister of Atiaran

  Ahamkara: Hoerkin. “the Door”

  Ahanna: painter, daughter of Hanna

  Ahnryn: a Ranyhyn; mount of Tull

  Aimil: daughter of Anest, wife of Sunder

  Aisle of Approach: passage to Earthrootstair under Melenkurion Skyweir

  a-Jeroth of the Seven Hells: Lord of wickedness; Clave-name for Lord Foul the Despiser

  ak-Haru: a supreme Haruchai honorific; paragon and measure of all Haruchai virtues

  Akkasri: a member of the Clave; one of the na-Mhoram-cro

  aliantha: treasure-berries

  Alif, the Lady: a woman Favored of the gaddhi

  amanibhavam: horse-healing grass, dangerous to humans

  Amatin: a Lord, daughter of Matin

  Amith: a woman of Crystal Stonedown

  Amok: mysterious guide to ancient Lore

  Amorine: First Haft, later Hiltmark

  Anchormaster: second in command abroad a Giantship

  Andelain, the Hills of Andelain, the Andelainian Hills: a region of the Land which embodies health and beauty

  Andelainscion: a region in the Center Plains

  Anele: deranged old man; son of Sunder and Hollian

  Anest: a woman of Mithil Stonedown, sister of Kalina

  Annoy: a Courser

  anundivian yajña: lost Ramen craft of bone-sculpting

  Appointed, the: an Elohim chosen to bear a particular burden; Findail

  Arch of Time, the: symbol of the existence and structure of time; conditions which make the existence of time possible

  arghule/arghuleh: ferocious ice-beasts

  Asuraka: Staff-Elder of the Loresraat

  Atiaran: a Stonedownor, daughter of Tiaran, wife of Trell, mother of Lena

  Audience Hall of Earthroot: maze under Melenkurion Skyweir to conceal and protect the Blood of the Earth

  Aumbrie of the Clave, the: storeroom for former Lore

  Auspice, the: throne of the gaddhi

  aussat Befylam: child-form of the jheherrin

  Bahgoon the Unbearable: character in a Giantish tale

  Banas Nimoram: the Celebration of Spring

  Bandsoil Bounds: region north of Soulsease River

  Banefire, the: fire by which the Clave affects the Sunbane

  Bann: a Bloodguard, assigned to Lord Trevor

  Bannor: a Bloodguard, assigned to Thomas Covenant

  Baradakas: a Hirebrand of Soaring Woodhelven

  Bareisle: an island off the coast of Elemesnedene

  Bargas Slit: a gap through the Last Hills from the Center Plains to Garroting Deep

  Basila: a scout in Berek Halfhand’s army

  Benj, the Lady: a woman Favored by the gaddhi

  Berek Halfhand: Heartthew, Lord-Fatherer; first of the Old Lords

  Bern:Haruchai lost to the Clave

  Bhanoryl: a Ranyhyn; mount of Galt

  Bhapa: a Cord of the Ramen, Sahah’s half-brother; companion of Linden Avery

  Bhrathair: a people met by the wandering Giants, residents of Bhrathairealm on the verge of the Great Desert

  Bhrathairain: the city of the Bhrathair

  Bhrathairain Harbor: the port of the Bhrathair

  Bhrathairealm: the land of the Bhrathair

  Birinair: a Hirebrand, Hearthrall of Lord’s Keep

  Bloodguard, the:Haruchai, a people living in the Westron Mountains; the defenders of the Lords

  bone-sculpting: ancient Ramen craft, marrowmeld

  Borillar: a Hirebrand and Hearthrall of Lord’s Keep

  Bornin: a Haruchai; a Master of the Land

  Brabha: a Ranyhyn; mount of Korik

  Branl: a Haruchai; a Master of the Land; one of the Humbled

  Brannil: man of Stonemight Woodhelven

  Brinn: a leader of the Haruchai; protector of Thomas Covenant; later Guardian of the One Tree

  Brow Gnarlfist: a Giant, father of the First of the Search

  caamora: Giantish ordeal of grief by fire

  Cable Seadreamer: a Giant, brother of Honninscrave; member of the Search; possessed of the Earth-Sight

  Cabledarm: a Giant; one of the Swordmainnir

  Caer-Caveral: Forestal of Andelain; formerly Hile Troy

  Caerroil Wildwood: Forestal of Garroting Deep

  caesure: a rent in the fabric of time; a Fall

  Cail: one of the Haruchai; protector of Linden Avery

  Caitiffin: a captain of the armed forces of Bhrathairealm

  Callindrill: a Lord, husband of Faer

  Callowwail, the River: stream arising from Elemesnedene

  Cavewights: evil creatures existing under Mount Thunder

  Ceer: one of the Haruchai

  Celebration of Spring, the: the Dance of the Wraiths of Andelain on the dark of the moon in the middle of spring

  Center Plains, the: a region of the Land

  Centerpith Barrens: a region in the Center Plains

  Cerrin: a Bloodguard, assigned to Lord Shetra

  Chant: one of the Elohim

  Char: a Cord of the Ramen, Sahah’s brother
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  Chatelaine, the: courtiers of the gaddhi

  Chosen, the: title given to Linden Avery

  Circle of Elders: Stonedown leaders

  Cirrus Kindwind: a Giant; one of the Swordmainnir

  clachan, the: demesne of the Elohim

  Clang: a Courser

  Clangor: a Courser

  Clash: a Courser

  Clave, the: group which wields the Sunbane and rules the Land

  clingor: adhesive leather

  Close, the: the Council-chamber of Lord’s Keep

  Clyme: a Haruchai; a Master of the Land; one of the Humbled

  Coercri: The Grieve; former home of the Giants in Seareach

  Colossus of the Fall, the: ancient stone figure guarding the Upper Land

  Consecear Redoin: a region north of the Soulsease River

  Cord: Ramen second rank

  Cording: Ramen ceremony of becoming a Cord

  Corimini: Eldest of the Loresraat

  Corruption: Bloodguard/Haruchai name for Lord Foul

  Council of Lords, the: protectors of the Land

  Courser: a beast made by the Clave using the Sunbane

  Creator, the: maker of the Earth

  Croft: Graveler of Crystal Stonedown

  Crowl: a Bloodguard

  croyel, the: mysterious creatures which grant power through bargains, living off their hosts

  Crystal Stonedown: home of Hollian

  Currier: a Ramen rank

  Damelon Giantfriend: son of Berek Halfhand, second High Lord of the Old Lords

  Damelon’s Door: door of lore which when opened permits passage through the Audience Hall of Earthroot under Melenkurion Skyweir

  Dance of the Wraiths, the: Celebration of Spring

  Dancers of the Sea, the:merewives; suspected to be the offspring of the Elohim Kastenessen and his mortal lover

  Daphin: one of the Elohim

  Dawngreeter: highest sail on the foremast of a Giantship

  Dead, the: spectres of those who have died

  Deaththane: title given to High Lord Elena by the Ramen

  Defiles Course, the: river in the Lower Land

  Demondim, the: creatures created by Viles; creators of ur-viles and Waynhim

  Demondim-spawn: another name for ur-viles and Waynhim; also another name for Vain

  Desolation, the: era of ruin in the Land after the Ritual of Desecration

  Despiser, the: Lord Foul

  Despite: evil; name given to the Despiser’s nature and effects

  dharmakshetra: “to brave the enemy,” a Waynhim

  dhraga: a Waynhim

  dhubha: a Waynhim

  dhurng: a Waynhim

  diamondraught: Giantish liquor

  Din: a Courser

  Dire’s Vessel: Giantship used by the Swordmainnir to convey Longwrath

  Doar: a Bloodguard

  Dohn: a Manethrall of the Ramen

  Dolewind, the: wind blowing to the Soulbiter

  Doom’s Retreat: a gap in the Southron Range between the South Plains and Doriendor Corishev

  Doriendor Corishev: an ancient city; seat of the King against whom Berek Halfhand rebelled

  drhami: a Waynhim

  Drinishok: Sword-Elder of the Loresraat

  Drinny: a Ranyhyn, foal of Hynaril; mount of Lord Mhoram

  dromond: a Giantship

  Drool Rockworm: a Cavewight, leader of the Cavewights; finder of the Illearth Stone

  dukkha: “victim,” Waynhim name

  Dura Fairflank: a mustang, Thomas Covenant’s mount

  Durance, the: a barrier Appointed by the Elohim; a prison for both Kastenessen and the skurj

  durhisitar: a Waynhim

  During Stonedown: village destroyed by the Grim; home of Hamako

  Duroc: one of the Seven Words

  Durris: a Haruchai

  EarthBlood: concentrated fluid Earthpower, only known to exist under Melenkurion Skyweir; source of the Power of Command

  Earthfriend: title first given to Berek Halfhand

  Earthpower: natural power of all life; the source of all organic power in the Land

  Earthroot: lake under Melenkurion Skyweir

  Earthrootstair: stairway down to the lake of Earthroot under Melenkurion Skyweir

  Earth-Sight: Giantish power to perceive distant dangers and needs

  eftmound: gathering place for the Elohim

  eh-Brand: one who can use wood to read the Sunbane

  Elemesnedene: home of the Elohim

  Elena: daughter of Lena and Thomas Covenant; later High Lord

  Elohim, the: a mystic people encountered by the wandering Giants

  Elohimfest: a gathering of the Elohim

  Emacrimma’s Maw: a region in the Center Plains

  Enemy: Lord Foul’s term of reference for the Creator

  Eoman: a unit of the Warward of Lord’s Keep, twenty warriors and a Warhaft

  Eoward: twenty Eoman plus a Haft

  Epemin: a soldier in Berek Halfhand’s army, tenth Eoman, second Eoward

  Esmer: tormented son of Cail and the Dancers of the Sea

  Exalt Widenedworld: a Giant; youngest son of Soar Gladbirth and Sablehair Foamheart; later called Lostson and Longwrath

  fael Befylam: serpent-form of the jheherrin

  Faer: wife of Lord Callindrill

  Fall:Haruchai name for a caesure

  Fangs: the Teeth of the Render; Ramen name for the Demondim Fangthane the Render: Ramen name for Lord Foul

  Far Woodhelven: a village of the Land

  Father of Horses, the:Kelenbhrabanal, legendary sire of the Ranyhyn

  Favored, the: courtesans of the gaddhi

  Fields of Richloam: a region in the Center Plains

  Filigree: a Giant; another name for Sablehair Foamheart

  Findail: one of the Elohim; the Appointed

  Fire-Lions: living fire-flow of Mount Thunder

  fire-stones: graveling

  First Betrayer: Clave-name for Berek Halfhand

  First Circinate: first level of the Sandhold

  First Haft: third in command of the Warward

  First Mark: Bloodguard commander

  First of the Search, the: leader of the Giants who follow the Earth-Sight; Gossmer Glowlimn

  First Ward of Kevin’s Lore: primary cache of knowledge left by High Lord Kevin

  First Woodhelven: banyan tree village between Revelstone and Andelain; first Woodhelven created by Sunder and Hollian

  Fleshharrower: a Giant-Raver, Jehannum, moksha

  Foamkite:tyrscull belonging to Honninscrave and Seadreamer

  Fole: a Haruchai

  Foodfendhall: eating-hall and galley aboard a Giantship

  Forbidding: a wall of power

  Forestal: a protector of the remnants of the One Forest

  Fostil: a man of Mithil Stonedown; father of Liand

  Foul’s Creche: the Despiser’s home; Ridjeck Thome

  Frostheart Grueburn: a Giant; one of the Swordmainnir

  Furl Falls: waterfall at Revelstone

  Furl’s Fire: warning fire at Revelstone

  gaddhi, the: sovereign of Bhrathairealm

  Gallows Howe: a place of execution in Garroting Deep

  Galt: a Haruchai; a Master of the Land; one of the Humbled

  Garroting Deep: a forest of the Land

  Garth: Warmark of the Warward of Lord’s Keep

  Gay: a Winhome of the Ramen

  ghohritsar: a Waynhim

  ghramin: a Waynhim

  Giantclave: Giantish conference

  Giantfriend: title given first to Damelon, later to Thomas Covenant

  Giants: the Unhomed, ancient friends of the Lords; a seafaring people of the Earth

  Giantship: a stone sailing vessel made by Giants; dromond

  Giantway: path made by Giants

  Giant Woods: a forest of the Land

  Gibbon: the na-Mhoram; leader of the Clave

  Gilden: a maplelike tree with golden leaves

 
; Gildenlode: a power-wood formed from the Gilden trees

  Glimmermere: a lake on the plateau above Revelstone

  Gorak Krembal: Hotash Slay, a defense around Foul’s Creche

  Gossamer Glowlimn: a Giant; the First of the Search

  Grace: a Cord of the Ramen

  Graveler: one who uses stone to wield the Sunbane

  graveling: fire-stones, made to glow and emit heat by stone-lore

  Gravelingas: a master of rhadhamaerl stone-lore

  Gravin Threndor: Mount Thunder

  Great Desert, the: a region of the Earth; home of the Bhrathair and the Sandgorgons

  Great One: title given to Caerroil Wildwood by the Mahdoubt

  Great Swamp, the: Lifeswallower; a region of the Land

  Greshas Slant: a region in the Center Plains

  Grey Desert, the: a region south of the Land

  Grey River, the: a river of the Land

  Grey Slayer: plains name for Lord Foul

  Greywightswath: a region north of the Soulsease River

  griffin: lionlike beast with wings

  Grim, the: (also the na-Mhoram’s Grim) a destructive storm sent by the Clave

  Grimmand Honninscrave: a Giant; Master of Starfare’s Gem; brother of Seadreamer

  Grimmerdhore: a forest of the Land

  Guard, the:hustin; soldiers serving the gaddhi

  Guardian of the One Tree, the: mystic figure warding the approach to the One Tree; formerly ak-Haru Kenaustin Ardenol; now Brinn of the Haruchai

  Haft: commander of an Eoward

  Halewhole Bluntfist: a Giant; one of the Swordmainnir

  Halfhand: title given to Thomas Covenant and to Berek

  Hall of Gifts, the: large chamber in Revelstone devoted to the artworks of the Land

  Hamako: sole survivor of the destruction of During Stonedown

  Hami: a Manethrall of the Ramen

  Hand: a rank in Berek Halfhand’s army; aide to Berek

  Handir: a Haruchai leader; the Voice of the Masters

  Harad: one of the Seven Words

  Harbor Captain: chief official of the port of Bhrathairealm

  Harn: one of the Haruchai; protector of Hollian

  Harrow, the: one of the Insequent

  Haruchai: a warrior people from the Westron Mountains

  Healer: a physician

  Heart of Thunder: Kiril Threndor, a cave of power in Mount Thunder

  Hearthcoal: a Giant; cook of Starfare’s Gem; wife of Seasauce

  Hearthrall of Lord’s Keep: a steward responsible for light, warmth, and hospitality