White Gold Wielder
Chapter 2: Part One — Two: Leper’s Ground
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter opens with Honninscrave, the Master of the Giantship *Starfare’s Gem*, responding sluggishly to a summons, his awareness dulled by despair. Covenant, the Unbeliever, remains in his cabin, paralyzed by guilt and fear. He reflects on the threat of the Nicor, serpentine sea beasts linked to the Worm of the World’s End, and his own dangerous potential for destruction. Despite his friends’ peril, Covenant feels unworthy to act, haunted by past failures and the consequences of his selfish love. His internal struggle highlights his sense of defeat and isolation.
Covenant’s anguish deepens as he grapples with his inability to help. He tries to retreat into himself, but the silence of the ship and the looming danger of the Nicor gnaw at him. Memories of Honninscrave’s suffering and the loss of his friend Foamfollower intensify his torment. Eventually, his concern for his companions overrides his despair, and he calls for Cail, the last remaining Haruchai in his service. Cail’s isolation, a result of Brinn’s departure, adds another layer of tension to the scene.
Covenant requests his old clothes, symbolizing a return to his former, more honest self, though he resents the idea. Before he can act, Pitchwife arrives with news: Linden Avery, the Chosen, has saved the ship by communicating with the Nicor. Using her unique senses, she and Galewrath rhythmically pounded the hull, calming the creatures and diverting their wrath. Pitchwife’s excitement contrasts sharply with Covenant’s inner turmoil, underscoring Linden’s growing significance.
Covenant’s reaction to the news is mixed—pride in Linden’s accomplishment wars with his sense of irrelevance. Pitchwife’s account of her heroism highlights her resourcefulness, but Covenant feels overshadowed and powerless. The chapter closes with Covenant’s silent struggle, torn between admiration for Linden and his own self-loathing, as the ship sails on, temporarily safe but still burdened by unresolved tensions.
FAQs
1. How does Covenant’s internal conflict manifest in this chapter, and what does it reveal about his character development?
Answer:
Covenant’s internal conflict is central to this chapter, as he struggles between his sense of responsibility and his fear of causing further harm. Despite hearing the summons about the Nicor threat, he initially refuses to act, believing himself to be a greater danger than the sea beasts due to his past failures and “venom and culpability” in his blood. This reveals his deep self-loathing and fear of repeating Kevin’s Desecration. However, his concern for his friends ultimately compels him to ask Cail about the situation, showing that his compassion persists despite his despair. This tension highlights Covenant’s complex character—he is both paralyzed by guilt and still capable of caring for others, though he no longer believes in his own power to help.2. What role does Linden Avery play in resolving the Nicor threat, and how does this contrast with Covenant’s inaction?
Answer:
Linden Avery takes decisive action to save Starfare’s Gem from the Nicor by using her unique abilities. Unlike Covenant, who retreats into guilt-ridden paralysis, Linden collaborates with Galewrath Storesmaster to communicate with the creatures. She “read the ire of the Nicor” through the ship’s stone and devised a rhythmic hammering signal that persuaded them to leave. Pitchwife describes this as a “wonder,” emphasizing its improbability and Linden’s ingenuity. This contrasts sharply with Covenant’s self-perceived uselessness, illustrating how Linden’s practical empathy and willingness to engage with the world—despite its dangers—make her an effective counterbalance to Covenant’s fatalism.3. Analyze the significance of Cail’s isolation and its impact on Covenant. How does this reflect broader themes in the chapter?
Answer:
Cail’s isolation is poignant because he is the last Haruchai serving Covenant after Brinn’s departure. His “I know not” response to Covenant’s question underscores his vulnerability without the mental connection to his people, a stark change for the usually self-assured Haruchai. This moment resonates with the chapter’s themes of loneliness and fractured bonds—Covenant feels similarly cut off from the “essential spirit of the world.” Cail’s plight mirrors Covenant’s own emotional isolation, reinforcing how both characters are struggling to adapt to their diminished roles. Yet, Cail’s unwavering service also highlights loyalty as a counterforce to despair, a subtle reminder of the connections that persist even in broken states.4. How does Pitchwife’s account of Linden’s actions serve as a thematic foil to Covenant’s mindset in this chapter?
Answer:
Pitchwife’s enthusiastic retelling of Linden’s success acts as a thematic foil to Covenant’s defeatism. While Covenant views himself as a “coward” and “beaten man,” Pitchwife celebrates Linden’s ability to “hope again” and innovate under pressure. His description of her rhythmic communication with the Nicor—a creative, non-violent solution—contrasts with Covenant’s belief that power must be either destructive or absent. Pitchwife’s admiration (“an act worthy of long telling”) underscores the chapter’s tension between despair and resilience. Where Covenant sees only risk and failure, Linden and Pitchwife embody adaptability and faith in small, meaningful actions, offering an alternative to Covenant’s absolutist self-judgment.5. Why does Covenant ask for his old clothes, and what symbolic weight does this request carry?
Answer:
Covenant’s request for his “old clothes” symbolizes his attempt to reclaim an identity stripped of illusions. He associates his current garments with the false hope of Linden’s love and his own compromised power, while the old clothes represent his earlier, more honest self—a leper who expected nothing. His thought that “any other apparel would be a lie” reveals his desire to confront his failures without pretense. Yet this also reflects his regression: just as he retreats to his cabin, he seeks the trappings of a solitary, suffering past. The clothes thus embody both his yearning for integrity and his reluctance to move forward, encapsulating his conflicted state.
Quotes
1. “He was beaten, defeated. He dared not take the risk of confronting the Giantship’s peril. If Linden had not intervened at the One Tree, he would already have become another Kevin, enacting a Ritual of Desecration to surpass every other evil.”
This quote captures Covenant’s profound despair and self-loathing, revealing his fear that he poses a greater danger than any external threat. It shows his internal struggle between responsibility and resignation.
2. “Only the powerless were truly innocent, and he was not powerless. He was not even honest. The selfishness of his love had brought all this to pass.”
This powerful statement reflects Covenant’s moral philosophy and self-accusation, highlighting his belief that power inevitably corrupts and that his personal failings have caused widespread suffering.
3. “It was intolerable that such needs had to be refused. And now the Nicor—! Even a beaten man could still feel pain.”
This quote marks a turning point where Covenant’s compassion overcomes his despair, showing how his concern for others ultimately motivates him to act despite his feelings of defeat.
4. “She has taught me to hope again.”
Pitchwife’s declaration about Linden’s impact represents a key thematic moment, contrasting with Covenant’s despair and showing how Linden’s actions bring renewal to others even when Covenant cannot see it himself.
5. “The woman he loved had saved the Giantship. And he, who had once defeated the Despiser in direct combat, he no longer signified.”
This poignant realization captures Covenant’s complex mix of pride in Linden and painful awareness of his own diminished role, illustrating the chapter’s exploration of power, responsibility, and personal worth.