The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant — Book One
Chapter 12: Part One — 6. The Despiser’s Guidance
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery flees southward with Anele through a violent storm, desperate to escape the Haruchai Masters and the dark forces unleashed from Mount Thunder. Despite the oppressive gloom and her exhaustion, she urges Anele toward the Mithil River, hoping to confuse their pursuers by crossing or floating downstream. Her plan hinges on reaching Andelain, where she might seek guidance from the Dead, though she doubts the Masters will anticipate her route. Anele, seemingly guided by instinct, outpaces her, his madness lending him unnatural speed while Linden struggles to keep up, her physical limits betraying her.
As they break free from the storm into sunlight, Linden collapses, drained and gasping for breath. Anele, however, remains energized, his laughter tinged with madness. Suddenly, Lord Foul’s voice emerges from Anele, taunting Linden for her weakness and predicting her recapture by the Haruchai. The Despiser mocks her failed escape, claiming her actions have only worsened her plight. Enraged but powerless, Linden confronts Foul, vowing to reclaim her health-sense and protect Anele from his torment, though her threats lack the force of wild magic.
Foul revels in Linden’s defiance, suggesting a direct confrontation would amuse him, even if it destroys Anele in the process. Linden silently resolves to defy him, drawing strength from her anger and determination. Though she lacks Covenant’s ring’s power, her resolve remains unshaken. The chapter highlights her vulnerability and resilience, as well as Foul’s cruel manipulation of Anele as a pawn in their struggle.
The confrontation underscores Linden’s precarious position: physically exhausted, hunted by the Masters, and taunted by Foul, yet refusing to surrender. Her promise to reclaim her abilities and protect Anele hints at future battles, while Foul’s mockery foreshadows greater challenges ahead. The chapter ends with tension unresolved, leaving Linden’s next steps uncertain but her defiance unwavering.
FAQs
1. What are Linden’s primary motivations for fleeing south, and what obstacles does she face in her escape?
Answer:
Linden flees south to escape the black storm originating from Mount Thunder in the north, as well as to avoid the pursuing Haruchai (Masters) and any reminders of her son Jeremiah. She hopes to reach the Mithil River for potential escape routes—either crossing it or floating downstream—to confuse her pursuers. However, her physical exhaustion, injuries, and lack of stamina hinder her. The oppressive storm clouds disorient her, and she struggles to keep up with Anele, whose madness grants him unexpected speed. Her plan is further complicated by the likelihood that the Masters will anticipate her moves, given their familiarity with the terrain and her past actions.
2. How does Lord Foul manifest his presence in this chapter, and what psychological tactics does he use against Linden?
Answer:
Lord Foul temporarily possesses Anele, using the old man’s body to mock and torment Linden. He taunts her for her weakness, calling her “pathetic” and claiming her escape attempt is futile. Foul exploits her guilt over Jeremiah and Anele’s suffering, suggesting she has doomed herself by freeing Anele. His tactics include undermining her confidence, provoking her anger, and threatening Anele’s destruction if she intervenes. By emphasizing her powerlessness—especially her inability to wield Covenant’s ring—Foul aims to break her spirit. However, Linden defiantly threatens to reclaim her “health-sense” and confront him directly, showing resilience despite his psychological warfare.
3. Analyze the significance of Anele’s role in this chapter. How does his madness serve both as a hindrance and an asset?
Answer:
Anele’s madness is paradoxical: it renders him unpredictable yet uniquely capable. His derangement allows him to navigate the storm without sight, as if guided by instinct or Earthpower, making him an unlikely leader in the escape. However, his instability also makes him vulnerable to possession by Lord Foul, turning him into a tool for Linden’s torment. His fleeting moments of clarity—such as returning for Linden—hint at deeper awareness beneath his madness. Anele embodies both the risks of uncontrolled power (susceptibility to the Despiser) and the potential for unexpected aid, reflecting the chapter’s themes of vulnerability and resilience.
4. How does Linden’s physical and emotional state influence her decision-making during the escape?
Answer:
Linden’s exhaustion and injuries cloud her judgment. Her desperation to flee south is driven by trauma (Jeremiah’s loss) and fear of the Masters, but her weakened body betrays her: she stumbles, struggles to breathe, and cannot match Anele’s pace. Emotionally, her rage at Lord Foul briefly overrides her fatigue, revealing her determination to protect Anele. However, her lack of “health-sense” (her usual percipience) leaves her vulnerable to Foul’s manipulation. Her decisions—like heading for the river—are pragmatic but hampered by her inability to think clearly, illustrating how trauma and physical limits intersect in crisis.
5. Evaluate the symbolism of the storm in this chapter. What might it represent beyond its literal threat?
Answer:
The storm symbolizes both external danger and Linden’s inner turmoil. Its darkness mirrors her despair over Jeremiah and her powerlessness, while its origin in Mount Thunder ties it to ancient evils (like Lord Foul’s influence). The fleeting sunlight upon escaping represents hope—however fragile—amidst adversity. The storm’s oppressive weight also reflects the psychological burden of Linden’s quest: it obscures her path, much like her uncertainty about how to confront the Land’s crises. Ultimately, the storm embodies the clash between external threats and internal resilience, a recurring theme in Linden’s journey.
Quotes
1. “Dreams are snares.”
This stark declaration encapsulates Linden’s growing distrust of hope and reliance on others as she flees through the storm. It represents her hardening resolve to act independently in a world where expectations and assumptions can be dangerous traps.
2. “If the Despiser had appeared before her here and now—and if she could have drawn one full breath—she would have flung everything she had against him without hesitation.”
This quote powerfully illustrates Linden’s desperate fury and determination, showing her willingness to confront ultimate evil despite her physical exhaustion. It marks a key moment where her anger begins to outweigh her fear.
3. “‘Pathetic,’ Anele cackled in Lord Foul’s voice. ‘Entirely abject. You disappoint me, Linden Avery.’”
This chilling possession scene reveals the Despiser’s cruel mockery of Linden’s vulnerability while demonstrating his ability to torment through Anele. The quote showcases the psychological warfare that characterizes their conflict.
4. “‘If you don’t, I’ll be able to get at you.’ More than once, percipience had enabled her to take possession of Covenant. ‘I’ll tear you out of him with my bare hands.’”
This defiant threat represents Linden’s pivotal moment of standing up to Lord Foul despite her powerlessness. It foreshadows potential future confrontations while demonstrating her protective instincts toward Anele and Jeremiah.