White Gold Wielder
Chapter 10: Part One — Ten: The Banefire
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter opens with Covenant and his companions reeling from the shock of their surroundings as they face the desolate landscape near Revelstone. Covenant, weakened by exhaustion and the venom within him, struggles to maintain his balance and clarity. Linden recognizes the danger he’s in, realizing the venom is burning inside him, threatening to consume him. Despite his frailty, Covenant refuses diamondraught, fearing it might destabilize his control, and opts for metheglin to steady himself. The group remains tense, aware of the looming threat posed by the Banefire and the Clave’s atrocities.
As Covenant regains his footing, the company discusses whether the Sandgorgon Nom will answer his summons. Linden recalls Kasreyn’s warning that distance is no barrier to such power, but Covenant’s hope rests on Nom’s past deference to him. The east remains empty, heightening their uncertainty. Meanwhile, Cail draws their attention to Revelstone, where Riders prepare to execute a captive Haruchai. The First and Giants intervene, hurling rocks to disrupt the Riders and free the prisoner, who kills his captors before rejoining his people. This act of defiance stirs Covenant’s resolve.
The scene shifts as Covenant spots a plume of dust in the east, signaling Nom’s approach. Linden stands close but hesitates to touch Covenant, sensing the danger radiating from him. The Giants react with a mix of awe and trepidation, while Honninscrave seems consumed by his desire for vengeance. Findail, weary but resigned, addresses Covenant, criticizing his purpose yet acknowledging the inevitability of his actions. The tension builds as the Sandgorgon’s arrival promises both salvation and further peril.
The chapter culminates in a moment of grim determination. Covenant’s internal struggle with the venom and his external battle against the Clave’s cruelty converge. His refusal to succumb to despair or reckless power underscores his precarious balance between strength and destruction. The arrival of Nom hints at a turning point, but the cost remains uncertain. The Banefire’s malevolence and Gibbon’s manipulations loom large, setting the stage for a confrontation that will test Covenant’s resolve and the limits of his companions’ loyalty.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Covenant’s refusal to drink diamondraught, and why does he request metheglin instead?
Answer:
Covenant refuses diamondraught because its potent restorative properties might disrupt his precarious balance between strength and weakness. The chapter reveals that diamondraught could either restore his self-mastery or fuel the uncontrolled power of the venomous fire within him, risking an explosion of suppressed energy. Metheglin, a thick mead, provides a steadier, more moderate sustenance that helps him maintain equilibrium. Linden supports this choice, recognizing that Covenant must walk a fine line to contain the venom’s destructive force while remaining functional enough to confront the Banefire and Gibbon-Raver.2. How does the chapter portray the psychological and physical toll of Covenant’s internal struggle with the venom?
Answer:
The chapter vividly depicts Covenant’s physical and mental anguish through sensory descriptions—his vertigo, sweating, and distorted perceptions (e.g., spinning horizons and blurred faces). Psychologically, he grapples with despair and the weight of past failures, symbolized by visions of deceased friends like Mhoram and Elena. The venom’s “cleanliness of extermination” metaphor reflects its corrosive duality: it empowers him but threatens to consume him. His ability to momentarily stabilize himself with metheglin and focus on the Sandgorgon’s arrival underscores his resilience, albeit at great personal cost.3. Analyze the tactical and symbolic implications of the First’s decision to attack the Riders with rocks.
Answer:
The First’s rock-throwing serves both tactical and symbolic purposes. Tactically, it disrupts the Riders’ ritual sacrifice of a Haruchai, forcing them to retreat and freeing the prisoner. Symbolically, it rejects the Clave’s cruelty and asserts defiance against Gibbon-Raver’s tyranny. The act also mirrors Covenant’s internal conflict—violent resistance tempered by restraint. The Haruchai’s dispassionate execution of the injured Riders afterward highlights the moral ambiguity of their war: even “just” violence begets more violence, a theme central to Covenant’s broader struggle against despair and corruption.4. What does Nom’s impending arrival reveal about Covenant’s relationship with power and redemption?
Answer:
Nom’s approach signifies Covenant’s fraught reliance on unpredictable allies and unconventional power. Earlier, Nom bowed to Covenant after being spared, suggesting a bond forged through mercy rather than domination. Now, Covenant gambles that this gesture will compel Nom’s aid against the Banefire, despite the Sandgorgon’s inherent violence. This reflects Covenant’s broader theme: redemption through risky, compassionate choices rather than brute force. However, the uncertainty (“no reason at all except the fact…”) underscores his vulnerability—his hope is as fragile as his control over the venom.5. How does Linden’s reaction to Covenant’s condition illustrate her role as both healer and foil?
Answer:
Linden’s response—gasping, crying, and nearly touching Covenant before recoiling—highlights her dual role. As a healer, she diagnoses the venom’s “fire” and advocates for metheglin, demonstrating her medical insight. As a foil, her horror and inability to protest the Sandgorgon plan contrast with Covenant’s grim resolve, emphasizing his descent into dangerous pragmatism. Her tears and aborted physical contact (“kept her from touching him”) also underscore the emotional chasm between them, as Covenant’s transformation alienates even those closest to him, foreshadowing potential conflicts ahead.
Quotes
1. “The cleanliness of extermination. No wonder fire was so hard to resist.”
This striking phrase captures the paradoxical allure of destruction that Covenant wrestles with, setting the tone for his internal struggle against the venom’s corruption. The oxymoron “cleanliness of extermination” powerfully conveys how devastation can appear deceptively pure.
2. “He’s on fire. The venom’s on fire. We’d already be dead, but he’s holding it inside. As long as he can. Until it eats its way out.”
Linden’s anguished revelation shows Covenant’s desperate internal battle against Lord Foul’s venom, representing the central conflict of his character - containing destructive power at great personal cost. The visceral imagery makes the abstract struggle tangible.
3. “He had chosen his path in an effort to spare as many lives as possible. But as he watched the released Haruchai walking toward him like pure and utter dispassion, a dire grin twisted the corners of his mouth.”
This moment marks a crucial turning point where Covenant’s restraint gives way to dangerous resolve. The contrast between his pacifist ideals and emerging ruthlessness foreshadows his transformation into a more formidable threat to the Clave.
4. “Nothing but a Sandgorgon could travel with enough swift strength to raise that much dust.”
This simple yet powerful statement builds anticipation for the Sandgorgon’s arrival while subtly emphasizing the creature’s immense power. It serves as a pivotal narrative moment where Covenant’s gamble appears to pay off.
5. “Ring-wielder, your purpose here is abominable and should be set aside.”
Findail’s weary warning provides moral counterpoint to Covenant’s growing determination, introducing the ethical tension surrounding Covenant’s plans. The truncated quote leaves the argument intriguingly unfinished, mirroring the chapter’s unresolved conflicts.