The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant — Book One
Chapter 24: Part Two — 6. The Staff of Law
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter opens with Linden Avery and her companions—Liand, the Ramen Cords, Stave, and Anele—collapsing onto the ground after surviving a traumatic passage through a *caesure*, a time-distorting Fall. Exhausted and disoriented, they struggle to recover, with Linden finding solace in the warmth and solidity of the earth beneath her. The Ranyhyn, their great horses, remain composed, while the ur-viles quietly confer. Stave urges Linden to assess their surroundings, emphasizing the need to avoid altering the past, but she hesitates, sensing a familiar, unsettling wrongness in the ground.
Linden’s health-sense detects traces of the Sunbane, a malevolent force that once ravaged the Land, confirming they have traveled centuries into the past. Stave estimates they arrived 200–300 years after the Sunbane’s end, a critical detail for their mission to recover the Staff of Law. The discovery unsettles Liand, who recoils from the evil’s lingering presence, while Linden grapples with memories of the Sunbane’s horrors. Despite the distant timeframe, the residual taint underscores the Land’s vulnerability to corruption and the stakes of their journey.
As Linden regains her bearings, she observes their unfamiliar surroundings: a rugged landscape near the Southron Range, with no landmarks she recognizes. Anele, perched on his horse, appears detached, his cloak adorned with raindrops that shimmer like prophetic symbols. The sun’s position confirms the absence of Kevin’s Dirt and the Banefire’s influence, granting her unimpaired perception. Yet the isolation and uncertainty of their temporal displacement weigh heavily on her, compounded by the urgency of their quest.
The chapter closes with Linden’s resolve hardening as she prepares to confront the challenges ahead. The group’s survival hinges on navigating the past without disrupting the timeline, while the Sunbane’s echoes serve as a grim reminder of the Land’s fragility. Stave’s stoic presence offers stability, but Linden’s leadership is tested as she balances her fears with the need to act. The stage is set for a perilous exploration of a bygone era, where every decision could reshape the future.
FAQs
1. What physical and emotional states do Linden and her companions experience after emerging from the caesure, and what does this reveal about their characters?
Answer:
After surviving the caesure, Linden and her companions are physically and emotionally devastated. Linden collapses onto the grass, overwhelmed by relief and the healing sensation of solid ground, while Liand and Bhapa vomit from distress. Mahrtiir, though equally weakened, isolates himself out of shame for his perceived weakness. Stave, however, remains composed, showing only a slight limp, which highlights his Haruchai resilience. These reactions reveal key character traits: Linden’s deep connection to the Earth, Liand and Bhapa’s vulnerability, Mahrtiir’s pride, and Stave’s near-invulnerability. The Ranyhyn and ur-viles, meanwhile, show minimal effects, emphasizing their supernatural endurance.2. What is the significance of the “wrongness” Linden detects in the earth, and how does it connect to the Land’s history?
Answer:
The “wrongness” Linden senses in the earth is a residual trace of the Sunbane, a catastrophic blight inflicted by Lord Foul during an earlier era. This evil force once twisted the Land’s natural cycles, causing rampant destruction and suffering. Its lingering presence suggests they have arrived in a time shortly after its defeat, roughly 200-300 years prior. The discovery confirms they are in the Land’s past, aligning with Anele’s memories and the ur-viles’ intent. For Linden, it evokes traumatic memories, reinforcing the stakes of their mission and the fragility of the Land’s recovery.3. How does Stave’s warning about altering the past reflect the broader themes of time and consequence in the story?
Answer:
Stave cautions that their actions in the past could unknowingly endanger the Arch of Time, a foundational structure of reality in the Land. This warning underscores the series’ recurring theme of causality and the peril of meddling with history. Unlike seers or oracles, the group lacks foresight, making their presence inherently risky. The tension between necessity (retrieving the Staff of Law) and potential catastrophe (disrupting time) mirrors Thomas Covenant’s earlier struggles with unintended consequences. It also raises ethical questions about intervention versus preservation, central to Linden’s role as the Chosen.4. Analyze the symbolic contrast between the grass’s resilience and the characters’ fragility in this passage.
Answer:
The “stiff grass” is described as tough and adaptable, thriving despite thin soil and scarce water—a metaphor for enduring under harsh conditions. This contrasts sharply with the characters’ physical collapse after the caesure, highlighting their mortal vulnerability. Linden clings to the grass as a lifeline, symbolizing her reliance on the Land’s innate strength to recover. The imagery reinforces the broader theme of perseverance: just as the grass survives through resilience, the characters must gather their strength to face the challenges ahead, despite their temporary fragility.5. Why does Linden’s recognition of the Southron Range create tension, and what narrative purpose does this serve?
Answer:
Linden’s unfamiliarity with this region of the Southron Range heightens tension by emphasizing her displacement in time and space. Unlike her past journeys, she lacks bearings here, amplifying the uncertainty of their mission. This serves to: (1) isolate the group, reinforcing their “marooned” status; (2) underscore the risks of temporal travel; and (3) force Linden to rely on intuition and allies like Stave, testing her leadership. The unknown landscape also mirrors the broader mystery of their temporal position, driving the plot toward discovering whether they’ve arrived in the correct era to find the Staff.
Quotes
1. “At that moment, the ordinary solidity of the ground seemed infinitely precious; as healing as hurtloam.”
This opening line powerfully captures Linden’s visceral relief after surviving the traumatic passage through the caesure. It establishes the chapter’s theme of finding solace in the Earth’s fundamental stability after experiencing temporal dislocation.
2. “She had been so cold—Now the warmth of the day was bliss, soothing her abraded senses.”
This contrast highlights the physical and emotional transition from the chaos of time travel to the comforting reality of the natural world. It underscores how sensory experiences ground the characters after their ordeal.
3. “Our actions may have consequences which we cannot foresee.”
Stave’s warning represents a crucial thematic concern about the dangers of altering the past. This quote introduces the chapter’s central tension regarding the responsibility that comes with time travel in this universe.
4. “That’s the Sunbane… A great wrong has been done here.”
This revelation marks a turning point where the characters recognize they’ve arrived during the aftermath of Lord Foul’s catastrophic assault on the Land. The palpable evil in the ground serves as both a historical marker and a reminder of past suffering.
5. “She had entered a region of time and place where she had never been before.”
This concluding observation perfectly encapsulates the chapter’s core premise - the disorientation and uncertainty of being cast into an unfamiliar temporal landscape. It sets the stage for the challenges to come in this new/old version of the Land.