The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant — Book One
Chapter 27: Part Two — 9. Pursuit
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery endures the torment of traversing a caesure, a chaotic rift in time, experiencing unbearable pain and sensory disarray. Unlike her previous ordeal, she does not need to manipulate the Fall’s currents; the Ranyhyn’s instincts guide her forward. Covenant’s ring, a source of wild magic, anchors her amidst the chaos, preserving her identity and sanity. The absence of Joan Covenant’s madness in this Fall spares Linden additional anguish, allowing her to emerge into sunlight, though temporarily blinded, with her companions—Stave, Liand, Anele, and the injured Ramen—close behind.
Despite their escape, the Demondim, a relentless horde of creatures, pursue them with undiminished fury. Linden realizes she must confront them, as her companions are too weakened to flee indefinitely. The Ramen are incapacitated by sickness and injury, while the ur-viles and Waynhim are exhausted. Linden prepares to make a stand, relying on the Staff of Law and Covenant’s ring, though she fears wild magic might inadvertently amplify the Fall’s destructive power. Her priority is to protect her group while ensuring she hasn’t disrupted the Land’s timeline.
As her vision clears, Linden assesses their surroundings, recognizing they may have traveled far in both time and space, possibly to the South Plains. The Demondim’s speed and lore make them formidable pursuers, and the caesure lingers ominously behind them. Linden and her companions gain a slight lead, but the threat remains immediate. She quiets the ring’s glow and takes the Staff from Liand, feeling its restorative power. The stakes are high: failure could mean death or madness for her and her allies.
The chapter culminates in Linden’s resolve to fight, balancing the risks of using wild magic against the necessity of stopping the Demondim. Her actions will determine whether her group survives or falls to the horde’s ravenous hunger. The tension underscores her leadership and the precariousness of their situation, setting the stage for a decisive confrontation.
FAQs
1. What are the key differences between Linden’s first experience with a Fall and her current experience in this chapter?
Answer:
Linden’s current experience differs significantly from her first encounter with a Fall in several ways. First, she no longer needs to actively compel the distortion backward into the past or rely on ur-viles to impose her will upon it. Instead, she can let the caesure’s forces carry her forward naturally, trusting the Ranyhyn’s Earthpowerful instincts to guide her redemption. Second, she is spared another traumatic encounter with Joan Covenant’s madness, as Joan did not create this Fall. Most importantly, Linden now has Covenant’s ring, which acts as a beacon of wild magic, anchoring her identity and enabling her to endure the Fall’s devastation without losing herself. These factors combine to make her passage through the caesure less harrowing than before, though still agonizing.2. How does wild magic function as both a disruptive and stabilizing force within the Fall?
Answer:
Wild magic embodies a paradox in its relationship to the Fall. On one hand, it is inherently disruptive, untrammeled by restrictions, much like the caesure itself. This quality allows it to violate the strictures of time, making it a tool for survival within the Fall. On the other hand, wild magic serves as the keystone of the Arch of Time, anchoring the paradox that makes finite existence possible within the infinite universe. In Linden’s case, the ring’s wild magic shines through her shirt, providing a stabilizing force that preserves her sense of self amid the Fall’s sensory insanity. Thus, while wild magic shares the caesure’s capacity for disruption, it also counteracts the Fall’s chaos by offering a fixed point of reference.3. What strategic advantages and disadvantages does Linden face after emerging from the Fall?
Answer:
Linden’s advantages include her retained ability to think and act decisively, thanks to Covenant’s ring and her own resilience. Her companions—Stave, Liand, Anele, and the Ramen—have also survived, though some are severely injured. The Ranyhyn, ur-viles, and Waynhim remain loyal, providing support. However, significant disadvantages loom: the Demondim have pursued her through time, retaining their power and hunger for destruction. Her allies are weakened—the Ramen are ill or wounded, and the ur-viles and Waynhim are exhausted. Additionally, the Fall still churns behind them, creating ongoing danger. Linden must now balance the urgency of fighting the Demondim with the risk of further destabilizing time or endangering her vulnerable companions.4. Analyze the role of the Ranyhyn in navigating the Fall. How do their abilities shape the outcome of Linden’s journey?
Answer:
The Ranyhyn’s Earthpowerful instincts are pivotal in guiding Linden through the Fall. Unlike her first experience, where she had to force the caesure backward, the Ranyhyn now navigate the distortion autonomously, carrying her forward through time and space. Their abilities likely extend beyond temporal travel, as Linden speculates they may have crossed great distances as well. This allows her to emerge in the South Plains, a potentially safer location. However, their navigation is not flawless—the Demondim match their movement, suggesting limits to the Ranyhyn’s advantage. Ultimately, their role is both protective and strategic, enabling Linden’s survival but not eliminating all threats.5. Why does Linden hesitate to use wild magic against the Demondim, despite its power? What does this reveal about her character and the stakes of her conflict?
Answer:
Linden hesitates because wild magic’s unpredictability could exacerbate the Fall’s destructiveness. She fears it might draw the caesure toward her group or amplify its chaos, risking unintended consequences for the Land’s history. This caution reflects her growth as a leader—she weighs immediate survival against broader repercussions, showing restraint where earlier she might have acted recklessly. It also underscores the high stakes: the Demondim are not just physical foes but existential threats to time itself. Her decision to rely on the Staff of Law instead highlights her prioritization of controlled, Earthpower-based solutions over volatile wild magic, aligning with her role as a healer rather than a conqueror.
Quotes
1. “Every moment which would ever come and go in the caesure’s path was torn apart and flung at her like a bleeding gobbet; and every scrap of time’s shredded flesh as it struck her became a burrowing insect, a wasp or chigger driven mad by dissociation and avid to lay its ruinous eggs within her.”
This visceral description captures the horrific experience of being trapped in a caesure (time rift), illustrating the chapter’s central theme of temporal distortion and suffering. The metaphor of time as “shredded flesh” emphasizes the physical and psychological torment Linden endures.
2. “Wild magic was in some sense as disruptive as the caesure, untrammeled by restriction. For that reason, it had the power to violate the strictures of time. For the same reason, however, white gold formed the keystone of the Arch of Time.”
This quote explains the paradoxical nature of wild magic - both destructive and essential to maintaining reality’s structure. It highlights a key philosophical concept in the chapter about balance between chaos and order in the universe.
3. “She had accomplished this much, if no more: she had brought her assailants with her out of the past; had defused their power to disrupt the integrity of time.”
This represents a crucial turning point where Linden achieves a tactical victory by preserving temporal continuity while still facing immediate danger. It shows her strategic thinking amid crisis.
4. “Behind them came the Demondim in a teeming horde, ecstatic with power and ravenous for victims.”
This vivid description of the pursuing antagonists creates palpable tension and establishes the ongoing threat that drives the chapter’s action. The personification of the Demondim’s emotions makes them particularly menacing.
5. “Their lore was profound and oblique, reaching depths which had surpassed the Old Lords. Their understanding of caesures could easily be greater than Linden’s.”
This insight into the Demondim’s capabilities raises the stakes by showing they may be more formidable than initially believed. It foreshadows the challenges Linden will face in opposing them.