The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant — Book One
Chapter 28: Part Two — 10. Troubled Sanctuary
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery enters Revelstone, the ancient fortress of the Land, burdened by exhaustion and the encroaching blindness caused by Kevin’s Dirt. Though familiar with the forehall from past struggles, she now finds it dark and disorienting, contrasting with the acute senses of the Haruchai Masters. The Staff of Law in her hands offers some solace, sustaining her fading percipience. As the gates close against the pursuing Demondim horde, she fears the impending threat of the Illearth Stone and the Keep’s vulnerability due to the Masters’ rejection of Earthpower and lore.
Amid the crowded forehall, Linden assesses her companions’ injuries. Stave and Bhapa require immediate healing, while Mahrtiir and Pahni tend to their Ranyhyn. The Masters, though wounded, have suffered fewer losses than expected. Linden, reluctant to dismount from Hyn, summons fire from the Staff to illuminate the hall, revealing the toll of the battle. She reflects on the sacrifices made—dozens of Haruchai dead—and feels overwhelmed by the bloodshed. Despite her fatigue, she focuses on healing Stave, Bhapa, and the Ranyhyn, her actions met with silent reverence from the gathered crowd.
A Master named Handir, the Voice of the Masters, approaches Linden, acknowledging her as the Chosen and welcoming her to Revelstone. However, Linden, pushed to her limits, responds with frustration, demanding light to dispel the oppressive darkness. Mahrtiir echoes her plea, invoking her status as Ringthane. Eventually, torches are lit, casting flickering shadows across the hall. Linden’s thoughts drift to the Masters’ dwindling numbers and their ability to defend Revelstone against the Demondim, while Liand watches her with concern.
The chapter underscores Linden’s internal and external struggles—her exhaustion, her defiance of the Masters, and her determination to protect her companions despite their precarious situation. The tension between her and the Haruchai lingers, as does her fear of their intentions toward Anele and herself. The flickering torchlight symbolizes the uncertain future of Revelstone and the Land, with Linden poised at the center of the looming conflict.
FAQs
1. How does Linden Avery’s perception of Revelstone differ from her previous experiences there, and what factors contribute to this change?
Answer:
Linden’s current experience of Revelstone is marked by darkness and uncertainty, contrasting with her prior struggles there against the Clave and the na-Mhoram’s Grim. The absence of light symbolizes her diminished capabilities due to Kevin’s Dirt, which erodes her health-sense and leaves her reliant on the Staff of Law for illumination. The chapter emphasizes her vulnerability: “She would be blind to all that was not lit and plain.” This shift reflects both the Land’s degradation under external threats and Linden’s personal exhaustion, heightening the tension as she faces new dangers without her full powers.2. Analyze the significance of the Masters’ leadership and their limitations in defending Revelstone against the Demondim.
Answer:
The Masters, represented by Handir, exemplify discipline and sacrifice, yet their reliance on physical prowess over Earthpower proves inadequate against the Demondim’s supernatural forces. The chapter notes that their choices have left Revelstone “virtually defenseless,” as they rejected lore and Earthpower, relying instead on “mere skill and strength.” Their casualties—scores of Haruchai dead—underscore this strategic failure. However, their coordination (e.g., distributing torches) hints at residual resilience. This dynamic critiques rigid adherence to tradition while foreshadowing potential conflicts between their authority and Linden’s Earthpower-based solutions.3. How does Linden’s use of the Staff of Law reveal her priorities and emotional state in this chapter?
Answer:
Linden’s immediate application of the Staff to heal Stave, Bhapa, and the Ranyhyn—despite her exhaustion—reflects her compassion and guilt over the bloodshed. The text states she works “while she could still rely on her health-sense,” prioritizing others’ needs even as her own power wanes. Her abrupt dismissal of Handir (“Good for you”) and demand for light further reveal her frayed patience and trauma. The Staff becomes both a tool of healing and a crutch, symbolizing her burden as a leader struggling to reconcile her responsibilities with her diminishing strength.4. What thematic role do the Ranyhyn and Demondim-spawn play in this chapter’s depiction of unity and conflict?
Answer:
The Ranyhyn and Demondim-spawn (Waynhim and ur-viles) represent fragile alliances amid crisis. The Ranyhyn’s loyalty to Linden—Hyn’s “fortitude” enables her to “exceed herself”—contrasts with the Masters’ distrust, highlighting tensions between ancient bonds and current divisions. Meanwhile, the Demondim-spawn’s silent cooperation (“licking their wounds”) suggests uneasy truces. Their presence underscores themes of sacrifice and shared purpose, as even former adversaries unite against the Demondim, yet their marginalization (e.g., huddling apart) foreshadows ongoing prejudice.5. Evaluate the chapter’s portrayal of leadership through the contrasting figures of Linden and Handir.
Answer:
Linden and Handir embody opposing leadership styles: she acts empathetically but erratically, while he commands with detached authority. Handir’s formal welcome (“Voice of the Masters”) contrasts with Linden’s exhausted defiance, revealing a clash between hierarchical tradition and intuitive action. However, both are flawed—Linden’s fatigue undermines her, while Handir’s rigidity (“their senses were not truncated by Kevin’s Dirt”) blinds him to others’ needs. The chapter critiques both approaches, suggesting effective leadership requires balancing pragmatism with compassion, a tension central to the narrative’s conflict.
Quotes
1. “As she entered Revelstone for the third time in her life, Linden Avery yearned for illumination.”
This opening line establishes Linden’s emotional state and central struggle—her desperate need for clarity in a darkening world. It frames the chapter’s themes of perception, knowledge, and the fading of Earthpower.
2. “She would be blind to all that was not lit and plain.”
A powerful metaphor for Linden’s diminishing health-sense under Kevin’s Dirt, representing the broader loss of Earthpower and deeper understanding in the Land. This quote captures the chapter’s tension between surface appearances and hidden truths.
3. “So much bloodshed—Too much. She had surpassed the limits of what she could accept.”
This pivotal moment shows Linden reaching her breaking point after witnessing countless sacrifices. It marks a turning point in her character arc and sets up her subsequent defiance of the Masters.
4. “Stave had saved her by bringing her here… But he had also betrayed her.”
This concise contradiction perfectly encapsulates Linden’s conflicted relationship with the Haruchai—gratitude for their protection versus resentment of their restrictive ideology. It highlights the chapter’s central moral ambiguity.
5. “It cast ambiguous shadows among the people and horses until they resembled Demondim, fading in and out of definition.”
This vivid imagery reflects the chapter’s atmosphere of uncertainty and shifting perceptions. The flickering torchlight becomes symbolic of the unreliable nature of appearances and the difficulty of discerning truth.