Lord Foul’s Bane
Chapter 17: Seventeen: End in Fire
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter opens with the company camping in a valley near Andelain, where the warriors celebrate with stories and songs, lifting their spirits after recent tensions. However, Thomas Covenant remains emotionally detached and retires early. Later, Foamfollower wakes him with urgent news: wolves and possibly ur-viles are hunting them. The group hastily departs, leaving a small ambush party led by Korik and Terrel to misdirect their pursuers. Covenant, skeptical of the plan, reluctantly joins the escape under the dim light of the setting moon, surrounded by an atmosphere of tense silence.
As the company rides through the night, guided by the Ranyhyn, they eventually relax slightly, hearing no signs of pursuit. Foamfollower explains the strategy: Korik’s group will lead their enemies astray by heading east toward Mount Thunder, creating confusion about the company’s true destination. Lord Mhoram elaborates that this deception is crucial to prevent Drool from anticipating their actual route. Covenant questions Lord Foul’s role in all this, to which Mhoram responds grimly, admitting uncertainty and envisioning Foul’s mocking laughter. The group presses on, their fate hanging in the balance.
Over the next four days, the company rides hard toward the Mithil River, their mood darkened by Korik’s absence. Despite Prothall’s hopeful reasoning, the group fears the worst—that Korik’s party has fallen to ur-viles. The warriors’ earlier joy in Andelain is replaced by anxious scanning of the horizon, and Foamfollower repeatedly scouts for signs of their missing companions. The unspoken dread weighs heavily, especially on Quaan, who mourns the loss of six warriors. The chapter’s tension builds as they near the river, their vulnerability heightened by the terrain.
Upon reaching the Mithil, the company chooses a precarious path along the riverbank, single-file beneath a steep hill. Their vulnerability is palpable until Terrel suddenly appears atop the hill, signaling their reunion. The group’s relief is tempered by the sight of exhausted horses—only five mustangs remain, hinting at unseen losses. Covenant’s numb reaction underscores the chapter’s themes of uncertainty and sacrifice, leaving the reader with a sense of foreboding as the company regathers in the valley.
FAQs
1. What strategic purpose does the diversionary tactic of Korik and Terrel serve in the company’s quest?
Answer:
The diversionary tactic serves to mislead Drool Rockworm and his forces about the company’s true intentions. By having Korik and Terrel lead a false trail east toward Mount Thunder, the company aims to make Drool believe they are launching a direct attack. This deception is crucial because it causes Drool to divert his attention and resources toward defending Mount Thunder and searching for them in Andelain, rather than anticipating their actual southward path. As Lord Mhoram explains, this strategy relies on Drool’s assumption that the company would not approach him directly without mastering the power of Covenant’s white gold, making the ruse more believable (Chapter 17).2. How does the mood of the company shift after Korik’s group fails to rejoin them, and what does this reveal about their psychological state?
Answer:
The mood of the company shifts from initial cheerfulness to deepening gloom and anxiety as Korik’s group fails to reappear. The warriors, who had been relieved and joyful after leaving behind the tensions of earlier days, become preoccupied with worry, constantly scanning the horizon for any sign of their missing companions. This anxiety is compounded by unspoken fears that Korik’s group may have encountered ur-viles or other deadly forces. The change in mood reveals the psychological toll of uncertainty and loss on the group, highlighting their vulnerability and the emotional weight of their quest. Prothall’s attempts to rationalize the delay sound hollow, and Quaan’s grief over his fallen warriors underscores the group’s collective dread (Chapter 17).3. Analyze the significance of Covenant’s detachment from the company’s emotions and his reluctance to flee the wolves. What might this suggest about his character or role in the story?
Answer:
Covenant’s emotional detachment and reluctance to flee the wolves underscore his ongoing struggle with disbelief and alienation in the Land. While the rest of the company reacts with urgency to the threat, Covenant remains apathetic, questioning the necessity of their actions (“Why? Won’t they just follow?”). This behavior reflects his persistent sense of unreality and his resistance to fully engaging with the world around him. His detachment may also symbolize his internal conflict—his role as an unwilling savior who resists the responsibilities thrust upon him. His focus on preserving his ring from the “crimson light” further emphasizes his preoccupation with his own power and identity, rather than the collective mission (Chapter 17).4. How does the chapter use imagery to create tension during the company’s nighttime escape?
Answer:
The chapter employs vivid, ominous imagery to heighten tension during the escape. The moon’s “red light” casts the ground in a sinister, blood-like hue, which Covenant finds disturbing enough to shield his ring from. The company moves in a “tight suspense of silence,” with every sound muffled, creating a sense of precarious stealth. The Ranyhyn are described as “noiseless as shadows,” and the Bloodguard resemble “statues,” amplifying the eerie, high-stakes atmosphere. This imagery not only conveys the immediate danger of pursuit but also reflects the psychological strain on the characters, who are hyper-aware of their vulnerability in the dark (Chapter 17).5. What broader thematic concerns are raised by Lord Mhoram’s statement, “In my dreams, I see him [Lord Foul] laughing”?
Answer:
Mhoram’s statement touches on themes of fate, despair, and the psychological warfare waged by Lord Foul. His dream of Foul laughing suggests that Foul remains a dominant, mocking presence in the subconscious of the Land’s defenders, symbolizing the pervasive threat of evil and the potential futility of their quest. The laughter echoes Covenant’s earlier experience of Foul’s crushing mockery, reinforcing the idea that Foul derives power from his enemies’ fear and doubt. This moment also underscores the uncertainty of the company’s mission—their success hinges on outmaneuvering an adversary who may already anticipate their every move, making Mhoram’s vision a haunting reminder of their precarious position (Chapter 17).
Quotes
1. “In my dreams, I see him laughing.”
This haunting line from Lord Mhoram captures the ominous presence of Lord Foul and the psychological terror he casts over the company. It reveals the deep unease underlying their strategic planning, suggesting that despite their careful maneuvers, Foul’s mockery may ultimately prevail.
2. “The concern of the High Lord and his companions rumbled in the hoofbeats of their mounts, and echoed in the silence that lay between them like an empty bier.”
This poetic description conveys the growing dread and grief of the company as they realize Korik’s group may have been lost. The imagery of funeral silence (“empty bier”) underscores how their mission is shadowed by death and uncertainty.
3. “Believing that we have turned to attack him, he will also believe that we have mastered the power of your white gold.”
This strategic insight from Lord Mhoram explains their plan to deceive Drool Rockworm. It highlights the psychological warfare at play and the pivotal (yet uncertain) role of Covenant’s ring in their desperate gambit.
4. “The mustangs were exhausted. Their legs quivered weakly, and their necks drooped; they barely had strength enough to eat.”
This vivid description of the returning horses’ condition hints at the unseen horrors Korik’s group may have endured. The physical toll on the animals silently communicates the severity of what happened off-page, deepening the mystery and tension.