The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant — Book One
Chapter 25: Part Two — 7. Aid and Betrayal
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery is overwhelmed by despair as she confronts the consequences of her actions. Her son Jeremiah is being tortured far away, her companions have suffered due to her creation of a caesure, and the Staff of Law—which she hoped to retrieve from Anele’s cave—is missing. She realizes she had naively assumed the Staff would be there because of her own intervention in the past, ignoring other possibilities. Lord Foul’s manipulation becomes clear: by leading her to hurtloam, he set her on a path that enabled her to disrupt Time, neutralizing her threat despite her possession of Covenant’s ring.
Her companions are equally devastated. Anele lies bleeding, consumed by grief, while Liand and the Ramen are paralyzed by shock and chagrin. Stave’s usual dispassion is replaced by anger at Linden’s recklessness. Refusing to accept defeat, Linden rallies her companions, insisting they are not yet beaten. She silences their unspoken reproaches, focusing instead on finding a way forward. Her urgency is palpable as she demands answers, particularly from Stave, about the history of the region and any signs of the Staff’s use or destruction.
Stave explains that the Haruchai, now the Masters of the Land, did not extensively monitor the South Plains due to its sparse population and barren soil. He asserts that any significant use of power would have been detected, despite their limited presence in the area. Linden remains skeptical, accusing the Haruchai of ignorance, but Stave insists their senses are attuned to such events. His reassurance does little to calm Linden, whose emotions continue to burn fiercely. She shifts her focus to Mahrtiir, questioning whether the Ramen can track the unknown beings who preceded them to the cave.
Mahrtiir admits defeat, explaining that too much time has passed and the terrain beyond the cave offers no traces to follow. Linden’s frustration mounts as her options dwindle. The chapter underscores her desperation and the weight of her responsibilities, as well as the growing tension among her companions. Despite their dire circumstances, Linden’s determination to save Jeremiah and protect the Land remains unshaken, even as the path forward seems increasingly uncertain.
FAQs
1. What are the three major sources of Linden’s despair in this chapter, and how do they interconnect?
Answer:
Linden’s despair stems from three interconnected tragedies: (1) Her son Jeremiah being tortured hundreds of leagues and thousands of years away, which motivates her desperate actions; (2) The recent trauma of subjecting her companions to a caesure’s agony, demonstrating her willingness to cross moral boundaries; and (3) The crushing realization that the Staff of Law is missing from Anele’s cave, shattering her assumption that retrieving it would justify her time-meddling. These failures compound when she recognizes Lord Foul orchestrated events—he led her to hurtloam knowing it would enable this disastrous timeline violation, effectively neutralizing her threat despite her possession of Covenant’s ring.2. Analyze Stave’s explanation for why the Haruchai have limited knowledge of the South Plains region. What does this reveal about their priorities and limitations as guardians?
Answer:
Stave explains the Haruchai’s sparse knowledge stems from two factors: historical disinterest (few ventured beyond Mithil Stonedown) and ecological harshness (the war-blighted South Plains were sparsely inhabited). This reveals key limitations in their guardianship—they prioritize populated areas and rely on detecting active power usage rather than exhaustive surveillance. While Stave claims they’d sense major theurgies, their system clearly has blind spots, as Linden points out regarding potential Staff usage. The Haruchai’s method reflects their cultural values: patience (taking centuries to establish the Masters) and confidence in their perceptual abilities, but also a concerning rigidity in adapting to unconventional threats like temporal manipulation.3. How does Linden’s leadership approach shift in this chapter, and what does her interaction with Anele reveal about her emotional state?
Answer:
Linden transitions from paralyzed dismay to forceful leadership, though her methods reveal fraying control. After internalizing her failures, she abruptly commands silence (“Don’t interrupt me”) and barks orders at Liand regarding Anele’s self-harm. Her snapped profanity (“God damn it—!”) contrasts with earlier restraint, exposing raw desperation. The Anele interaction is particularly telling—she recognizes his grief mirrors her own but delegates his care rather than comforting him directly, prioritizing strategic questions over emotional support. This shows her clinging to action as an antidote to despair, though her shaky voice and self-blame (“she blamed no one but herself”) underscore the fragility beneath her assertive facade.4. Evaluate Mahrtiir’s tracking limitations regarding the cave’s prior visitors. What implications does this have for Linden’s quest?
Answer:
Mahrtiir identifies two critical obstacles: temporal erosion (years/decades of dust obscuring traces) and ecological factors (the fertile lowlands leaving no lasting trail). These limitations carry dire implications—without knowing who took the Staff or their direction, Linden loses her only tangible lead. The Ramen’s renowned tracking skills failing here emphasizes the near-impossibility of conventional solutions, pushing Linden toward riskier alternatives. Furthermore, Mahrtiir’s unusual timidity when admitting this suggests even the confident Manethrall recognizes their predicament’s severity. This dead end forces Linden to confront her dwindling options, heightening the chapter’s tension.5. What thematic significance does Linden’s flawed assumption about the Staff’s location hold regarding the broader narrative?
Answer:
Linden’s mistaken belief that she’d find the Staff in Anele’s cave embodies two key themes: the perils of linear thinking and the manipulative nature of despair. By assuming temporal cause/effect (Anele’s future failure meant her past success), she ignored other possibilities—a critical flaw when dealing with Lord Foul, who exploits such blind spots. This mirrors Covenant’s earlier struggles with paradoxical logic in the Land. Thematically, it underscores how despair narrows perception; Linden’s single-minded focus on saving Jeremiah made her vulnerable to Foul’s trap. The Staff’s absence becomes a metaphor for the elusiveness of redemption when sought through desperate measures.
Quotes
1. “She desired nothing except to save Jeremiah and defend the Land; but she had gained only an empty cave and despair.”
This quote captures Linden’s profound emotional state and the central conflict of the chapter—her desperate mission to save her son and protect the Land, contrasted with her crushing failure to find the Staff of Law. It sets the tone for her internal struggle and the chapter’s themes of loss and perseverance.
2. “With Covenant’s ring, she was a danger to the Despiser; but he had effectively neutralized her by enabling her to do what she had done.”
This reveals the tragic irony of Linden’s situation: her power (Covenant’s ring) is undermined by the very actions the Despiser manipulated her into taking. It highlights the chapter’s exploration of manipulation, unintended consequences, and the limits of agency.
3. “Your concern is groundless. Of that I am certain.”
Stave’s authoritative declaration represents a key moment of tension between Linden’s desperate suspicions and the Haruchai’s unwavering confidence. This exchange underscores the chapter’s examination of trust, knowledge, and the limitations of perception in their quest.
4. “But we have been preceded by years or decades, as I have said. Many seasons have combined to efface any outward path.”
Mahrtiir’s admission of their tracking limitations marks a critical turning point where Linden must confront another dead end in her search. This quote emphasizes the chapter’s recurring theme of obscured truths and the elusiveness of solutions.