The Illearth War
Chapter 13: THIRTEEN: The Rock Gardens of the Maerl
by R, Donaldson, StephenThe chapter opens with Warmark Troy leading the Warward and riders across a bridge over the White River, watching as a crucial contingent of rafts disappears downstream. Filled with pride and anxiety, Troy recognizes the weight of his command as the warriors risk their lives for the Land’s survival. As the group moves southward, Troy ensures the Warward has full support from the Hirebrands and Gravelingases, only to spot Trell, a powerful Gravelingas, trailing them. His presence unsettles Troy, prompting him to consult High Lord Elena about Trell’s unexpected inclusion in their mission.
Trell’s arrival sparks tension, particularly with Thomas Covenant, who confronts him directly. Covenant attempts to reassure Trell with a promise not to harm Elena, but Trell remains distrustful, his body tense with suppressed violence. Troy, unaware of the deeper connection between Trell and Elena, observes the exchange with concern. Covenant’s defensive reaction and quick departure hint at unresolved conflicts, leaving Troy to wonder about the underlying dynamics. Despite the tension, Trell later joins the group, suggesting a fragile truce.
As the Warward marches on, Troy focuses on maintaining their grueling pace, discussing logistics with First Haft Amorine. He acknowledges the physical toll the march will take but emphasizes its necessity for their strategic success. Amorine reluctantly agrees, though she warns of the long-term strain on the warriors. That night, the Lords bolster morale with songs and stories, but Troy regrets their impending separation as the Lords divert to Revelwood, leaving Amorine to lead the Warward alone toward Doom’s Retreat.
The next afternoon, Troy bids farewell to Amorine under a rain-clouded sky, his blurred vision mirroring his unease. He instructs her to maintain the pace and reassures her about supply lines, but his confidence wavers as the Warward fades into the drizzle. Standing alone on a knoll, Troy grapples with the reality of his army marching into danger without him, a sobering reminder of the stakes ahead. The chapter closes with Troy’s unresolved tension, underscoring the precarious balance between strategy, leadership, and the human cost of war.
FAQs
1. What is Warmark Troy’s primary concern as he watches Hiltmark Quaan’s Eoward depart, and what does this reveal about his leadership style?
Answer:
Troy experiences both pride and trepidation as he watches Quaan’s forces depart, recognizing they are risking their lives according to his strategic commands. This moment highlights his dual role as a calculated strategist and a leader who feels deeply responsible for his warriors’ lives. His focus on their crucial role in the larger battle plan (“the fate of the Land went with them”) underscores his meticulous planning, while his emotional response reveals his human connection to his army—a blend of confidence and vulnerability that defines his leadership.2. Analyze the significance of Trell’s presence in the Warward and the tension between him and Covenant. How does this interaction reflect broader themes in the chapter?
Answer:
Trell’s unannounced inclusion in the Warward introduces an element of personal conflict amid the military campaign. His raw, distrustful stare at Covenant—and Covenant’s defensive response—reveals unresolved animosity tied to Elena’s safety. This mirrors the chapter’s theme of uneasy alliances and hidden dangers beneath surface-level unity. Elena’s insistence that Covenant “needs no protection” contrasts with Troy’s skepticism, emphasizing the tension between trust and suspicion that permeates the group’s dynamics as they face impending war.3. How does Troy’s discussion with First Haft Amorine about the army’s pace illustrate the logistical and human challenges of their campaign?
Answer:
Their conversation underscores the brutal realism of Troy’s strategy. Amorine warns that the grueling pace, while manageable short-term, could exhaust warriors over weeks (“may kill”). Troy acknowledges this but stresses the necessity of speed to save lives overall. This exchange highlights the harsh trade-offs of war leadership: Troy’s “objectively beautiful” plan demands physical sacrifice, and Amorine’s grim resolve (“We will keep the pace”) reflects the soldiers’ discipline. The rainclouds blurring Troy’s vision as they part symbolize the uncertainty and moral weight of his decisions.4. Why does the chapter emphasize the Lords’ role in bolstering morale, and what does their departure signify for the Warward?
Answer:
The Lords’ nighttime storytelling (“gleeful Giantish stories”) serves as a psychological lifeline for the warriors, reinforcing camaraderie and purpose. Their subsequent separation from the Warward marks a critical shift: the army must now rely solely on Amorine’s leadership and internal resilience. Troy’s regret over this separation reveals his awareness of morale’s fragility. The Lords’ diversion to Revelwood, while strategically necessary, leaves the Warward more vulnerable to despair—a subtle foreshadowing of the isolation and trials ahead.5. Evaluate Troy’s final actions as the Warward splits from the Lords’ group. How does the weather mirror his emotional state?
Answer:
Troy’s blurred vision in the rain as he salutes Amorine reflects his anxiety and diminished control. Standing alone on the knoll with his sword raised, he symbolically bridges leadership and helplessness—commanding yet unable to see his army clearly. The drizzle obscuring the Warward parallels his fear of the unknown (“the thought did not ease him”). This moment encapsulates his dual role: the architect of a daring plan who must now entrust its execution to others, with nature itself emphasizing the opacity of war’s outcomes.
Quotes
1. “In pride and trepidation, he watched until they were gone, on their way to receive the measure of bloodshed he had assigned to them.”
This quote captures Warmark Troy’s complex emotions as he sends warriors into battle—his strategic pride warring with the human cost of war. It introduces the chapter’s tension between military necessity and personal responsibility.
2. “‘The ur-Lord promises that he will not harm me.’ […] ‘Trell does not believe the promise.’”
This exchange reveals the deep distrust between Covenant and Trell, while hinting at Covenant’s controversial role in the story. The tension underscores the chapter’s themes of broken trust and unhealed wounds.
3. “‘One day of such a pace is no great matter. Even five days may give no distress to a good warrior. But twenty days, or thirty—In that time, this pace may kill.’”
First Haft Amorine’s warning highlights the brutal physical and psychological toll of Troy’s ambitious battle plan. This moment foreshadows the coming hardships while questioning the costs of military strategy.
4. “He told himself that the Warward was not going into battle without him—that his warriors would only march until he rejoined them. But the thought did not ease him.”
This introspective moment reveals Troy’s growing unease about sending his army ahead without him. It marks a pivotal emotional transition as responsibility and doubt weigh heavily on the Warmark.