Against All Things Ending
Chapter 17: Part Two — 5. Inheritances
by R., Donaldson, StephenLinden, burdened by grief and the weight of her responsibilities, ascends the slopes with Stave and Mahrtiir to visit Liand’s cairn. The journey feels arduous, both physically and emotionally, as she grapples with her inability to save her son and her reliance on others to make decisions for her. The Giants’ monumental cairn for Liand, constructed with immense effort and reverence, overwhelms her with its grandeur, underscoring the finality of his death. Despite her reluctance, Linden acknowledges the Giants’ tribute as a fitting homage, though it offers her no solace for her loss.
The company gathers to assess the dire threats facing the Land, with Mahrtiir delivering a grim tally of their enemies. From Joan’s destructive madness to the Despiser’s overarching malice, the list is exhaustive and daunting. The Giants and Haruchai remain vigilant, aware that danger lurks even in their current refuge. Linden, though withdrawn, adds the Elohim to the list, recalling Infelice’s opposition to their efforts. The weight of these perils leaves the group uneasy, with Covenant lost in his own thoughts and others visibly shaken by the scale of their challenges.
Rime Coldspray urges the company to voice their thoughts openly, emphasizing the need for collective counsel in their desperate situation. Mahrtiir echoes her call, insisting that even painful or dismissed ideas must be shared. Pahni, seemingly numb with grief, cryptically references the Ardent’s prophecy about Linden’s “need for death,” hinting at unresolved suffering. The atmosphere grows heavier as the group confronts the impossibility of their task, with no clear path forward against the Worm and the Despiser’s machinations.
The chapter closes with a sense of overwhelming despair and unresolved tension. Linden, paralyzed by guilt and exhaustion, struggles to contribute, while the others grapple with their own fears. The Giants’ monumental efforts to honor Liand contrast sharply with the futility they feel in the face of the Land’s impending doom. The company’s unity is tested as they stand on the brink of an impossible decision, with no assurance of success or survival.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Liand’s cairn, and how does it reflect the Giants’ values?
Answer:
Liand’s cairn is a massive, kingly barrow constructed by the Giants to honor his death, showcasing their deep respect and grief. The cairn’s scale—composed of boulders “as big as huts”—demonstrates the Giants’ physical strength and emotional investment in memorializing their fallen companion. Rime Coldspray’s humility in calling it a “small gesture” contrasts with its grandeur, revealing the Giants’ cultural emphasis on extravagant homage despite time constraints. This act symbolizes their values of loyalty, reverence for the dead, and commitment to expressing love through labor, even amid dire circumstances like the Worm’s threat.
2. Analyze Linden Avery’s emotional state in this chapter. How does her internal conflict shape her actions?
Answer:
Linden is burdened by guilt, shame, and exhaustion, described as ascending the hills with “moral weakness” and reluctance. Her desire to avoid Liand’s cairn conflicts with her surrendered agency—she has allowed others to make decisions for her, forcing herself to comply. This internal struggle reflects her broader crisis of leadership: she doubts her ability to match Covenant’s “incalculable victories” and feels immobilized by the weight of losses (e.g., Liand) and threats (e.g., the Worm). Her silence during strategic discussions underscores her emotional paralysis, highlighting her arc of self-doubt and abdication of choice.
3. How does Mahrtiir’s summation of the company’s enemies contribute to the chapter’s tension?
Answer:
Mahrtiir’s exhaustive list—from Joan’s madness to the Despiser’s schemes—creates overwhelming tension by emphasizing the scale of their adversaries. His methodical cataloging (e.g., Kastenessen’s theurgy, the Worm’s path) underscores the near-hopelessness of their mission, daunting even the resilient Giants. The omission of minor threats (e.g., skest) sharpens the focus on existential dangers, while his inclusion of unpredictable forces like She Who Must Not Be Named adds dread. This inventory not only heightens stakes but also frames the group’s strategic paralysis, as even Covenant seems lost in “creviced memories.”
4. What role does setting play in this chapter, particularly the description of the ridge and cairn?
Answer:
The stark, sun-baked ridge—with its “white spine of gypsum” and quartz flashing “like implied omens”—mirrors the characters’ grim resolve and the Land’s peril. The “tombstone” stillness of the air and “tan hue” of the sky evoke a lifeless, oppressive atmosphere, reflecting Linden’s grief and the world’s impending doom. The cairn’s dominance over the terrain symbolizes Liand’s lingering impact, while its unnatural purity contrasts with the “desiccated browns” of the surroundings, emphasizing the Giants’ attempt to impose order and meaning on loss amidst chaos.
5. Evaluate Pahni’s statement about Linden’s “need for death.” What might this foreshadow, and how does it connect to broader themes?
Answer:
Pahni’s detached remark—that Linden’s “need for death” remains unsated—hints at future sacrifices or violent resolutions, possibly involving Jeremiah or Covenant. This echoes themes of inevitable loss and the cost of power in the series. The Ardent’s prophecy suggests Linden’s path requires further suffering, tying into her recurring struggles with agency and moral compromise. It also reflects the Land’s cyclical violence, where salvation often demands death (e.g., Liand’s). The line underscores the chapter’s tension between despair and the faint hope of “incalculable victories.”
Quotes
1. “Only Thomas Covenant had it in him to meet the challenge of doom and death: she believed that. Only his instinct for incalculable victories—But she did not know how to reach him.”
This quote captures Linden’s internal conflict and her reliance on Covenant’s legendary resilience, while also highlighting her sense of helplessness in the face of overwhelming challenges. It sets the tone for the chapter’s themes of despair and reluctant perseverance.
2. “Liand had been given a barrow suitable for a king. It seemed more final than his ruined corpse.”
This poignant observation underscores the gravity of Liand’s death and the Giants’ profound tribute to him. The contrast between the grandeur of the cairn and the horror of his death emphasizes the chapter’s meditation on loss and memorialization.
3. “These are fearsome perils in all sooth, terrible and heinous… There can be no reply to the Worm unless Fangthane also is answered.”
Mahrtiir’s comprehensive enumeration of the company’s enemies serves as a pivotal moment in the chapter, laying bare the scale of their existential threats. This quote represents the strategic overview that drives the group’s subsequent deliberations about their course of action.
4. “The Ardent has said that the Ringthane’s need for death is great. I see no promise that her need has been sated.”
Pahni’s bitter remark reflects the lingering trauma of recent events and foreshadows further sacrifices to come. This quote introduces a note of ominous prophecy into the group’s planning, suggesting that their trials are far from over.