The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant — Book One
Chapter 16: Part One — 10. Aided by Ur-Viles
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery, exhausted from supporting Anele, realizes he holds crucial knowledge about the lost Staff of Law, though she cannot fathom how. Anele, the ancient son of Sunder and Hollian, briefly regains clarity, expressing his despair over failing to find the Staff in his cave. Stave, a Haruchai, distrusts Anele, while the ur-viles react cryptically to the conversation. Anele, now more composed, climbs the rift alone, refusing further aid, and Stave reluctantly lets him go under the Ramen’s watch. Linden, drained and perceptively blind, questions the Ramen’s motives but decides to trust them for now.
The Manethrall Hami reveals the Ramen’s past kindness toward Anele, though he often fled their help. Linden, grateful for their rescue, introduces Liand, who aided their escape from Mithil Stonedown. Noticing Liand’s injuries, she worries about infection but lacks the means to treat him. Hami assures Linden that the Ramen can care for their wounded, emphasizing their long-standing enmity with the kresh. Linden offers her medical skills, but the Ramen decline, confident in their own healing methods. The chapter highlights the tension between trust and skepticism among the group.
Linden’s weariness and diminished senses leave her vulnerable, unable to discern the true intentions of her companions. The Ramen’s compassion contrasts with Stave’s stern detachment, deepening the divide between their factions. Anele’s erratic behavior and cryptic hints about the Staff’s loss add urgency to Linden’s quest. The ur-viles’ incomprehensible reactions and the Ramen’s guarded hospitality further complicate her understanding of the Land’s current state. The chapter underscores Linden’s isolation and the growing stakes of her mission.
The battle’s aftermath reveals the Ramen’s resilience, though some are severely wounded. Linden’s concern for Liand and the injured Cords reflects her physician’s instincts, even as she acknowledges her limitations. Hami’s pride in their self-sufficiency and hatred for the kresh hints at deeper conflicts within the Land. The chapter closes with Linden’s unresolved questions about Anele’s importance, the Staff’s whereabouts, and the true allegiances of those around her. The stage is set for further exploration of trust, loss, and the looming threats in the Land.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Anele’s knowledge about the Staff, and why is his condition so fragile?
Answer:
Anele possesses crucial knowledge about the location where the Staff of Law was lost, making him vital to Linden’s quest. His fragility stems from both his immense age (being over 3,500 years old as the son of Sunder and Hollian) and his psychological torment over his past failures. The chapter reveals that he has repeatedly searched his cave in despair, unable to find the Staff, which amplifies his guilt and instability. His exhaustion also drains Linden, as supporting him requires significant emotional and physical energy, leaving her too weary to fully process her intuitive insights about him.2. How do the Ramen and the Haruchai (represented by Stave) differ in their treatment of Anele, and what does this reveal about their values?
Answer:
The Ramen, led by Manethrall Hami, show compassion toward Anele, offering him food, healing, and pity despite his distrustful nature. In contrast, Stave and the Haruchai withhold credence, treating Anele with suspicion and interrogation. This dichotomy highlights the Ramen’s humanitarian ethos, prioritizing empathy and aid, while the Haruchai emphasize skepticism and control, possibly due to their rigid adherence to duty or past conflicts. Linden’s alignment with the Ramen’s kindness underscores her growing distrust of Stave’s methods and her preference for allies who prioritize mercy over judgment.3. Analyze the role of the ur-viles in this chapter. Why are they both helpful and enigmatic to Linden?
Answer:
The ur-viles aid Linden’s group by reacting to Anele’s words and participating in the battle against the kresh, but their motives and language remain inscrutable. Linden cannot understand their speech, and their alien nature—embodied by their “lambent iron” blades and barking voices—leaves her uneasy. Their presence introduces ambiguity: while they fight alongside the Ramen, their history as former servants of darkness raises questions about their true allegiance. This enigma reflects the broader uncertainty Linden faces in discerning friend from foe in the Land’s shifting alliances.4. How does Linden’s lost health-sense affect her interactions and decisions in this chapter?
Answer:
Without her health-sense, Linden cannot perceive the true conditions of her companions, leaving her vulnerable to deception and misjudgment. She relies on visible cues (like Liand’s bloodied arm) and indirect trust (e.g., the Ramen’s kindness) to guide her actions. This impairment forces her into a more passive role, as seen when she defers to Hami’s care for the injured rather than insisting on medical aid. The loss amplifies her exhaustion and underscores her dependence on others, mirroring her broader struggle to reclaim agency in a world where her usual powers are diminished.5. Why might Anele’s statement, “You will betray me,” carry deeper thematic significance for the narrative?
Answer:
Anele’s accusation reflects the chapter’s recurring themes of trust and betrayal. His words foreshadow potential conflicts within the group, particularly involving Stave’s rigid Haruchai ideology or the ur-viles’ ambiguous loyalties. Historically, Anele’s trauma stems from betrayal (e.g., the “accursed day of his failure”), making his warning a poignant commentary on cycles of distrust in the Land. It also challenges Linden to navigate alliances carefully, as her mission hinges on reconciling fractured relationships—whether with Anele, the Ramen, or the enigmatic ur-viles—while avoiding the very betrayals he fears.
Quotes
1. “He knew where the Staff had been lost.”
This early revelation establishes Anele’s crucial connection to the Staff of Law, a central artifact in the story. It hints at his hidden importance while creating mystery about how he knows this information despite his apparent madness.
2. “He was the son of Sunder and Hollian—which made him three and a half thousand years old.”
This shocking revelation about Anele’s true identity and age fundamentally changes our understanding of his character. It raises profound questions about time, history, and the nature of the Land’s reality.
3. “Every span of its stone and dirt I have probed with my eyes and touched with my hands, even tasted with my tongue. The Staff is not there.”
Anele’s desperate description of his endless search for the Staff shows both his torment and dedication. The visceral imagery (“tasted with my tongue”) makes his suffering palpable while reinforcing the Staff’s importance.
4. “Linden Avery, Ringthane, be welcome among us.”
Manethrall Hami’s formal greeting marks a turning point where Linden gains allies in the Ramen. The title “Ringthane” connects to Linden’s past significance in the Land while establishing her current status.
5. “The Ramen are hardy, and I have taught my Cords the care of such wounds. Also… our grievance against all kresh is ancient and enduring, ill-measured in mere centuries.”
This quote reveals key aspects of Ramen culture - their resilience, training, and long-standing conflicts. It shows their deep connection to the Land’s history while demonstrating their warrior ethos.