Thomas Covenant 8 — The Fatal Revenant
Chapter 10: Part One — 9. Along the Last Hills
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden, Covenant, and Jeremiah journey northwest along the Last Hills for three days, battling extreme cold and harsh sunlight. Linden, clad in a fur-lined robe and swaddled hands, endures the misery without using her Staff of Law, fearing its power might harm her companions. Covenant and Jeremiah, seemingly unaffected by the cold, remain close to her, their restless horses unnerved by an unseen presence. The group relies on meager supplies from Berek, with Covenant and Jeremiah appearing indifferent to physical needs, their silence and wakefulness adding to Linden’s growing unease.
Yellinin, an outrider sent by Berek, accompanies them with supplies but remains distant, obeying orders to avoid questions. Her unspoken grief and isolation weigh on Linden, who struggles to communicate. Covenant hides his right hand, likely to conceal his resemblance to Berek Halfhand, while Jeremiah’s missing fingers hint at future legends. The slow progress—only twenty-five leagues in three days—fuels Linden’s anxiety, as the horses weaken and the journey’s impossibility becomes clear. The cold and exhaustion push her toward a breaking point.
By the third night, Linden confronts her failures: her choices have led to suffering, and the journey’s demands exceed her strength. Two horses die overnight, underscoring the futility of continuing without change. Realizing she must trust Covenant despite her doubts, Linden resolves to use her Staff to send Yellinin back, hoping to lighten their burden. Covenant, impatient, warns against trusting Yellinin, accusing Berek of sending her as a spy. Linden’s yearning for the Covenant she remembers clashes with her suspicion of his motives.
The chapter culminates in Linden’s decision to act. She asks Covenant and Jeremiah to ride ahead, planning to demonstrate the Staff’s power to convince Yellinin to leave. Covenant’s cryptic warnings and Jeremiah’s alarm deepen her inner conflict, but she prioritizes survival over unraveling their secrets. The cold, both literal and metaphorical, forces her to confront her limitations and rely on uncertain allies, setting the stage for a pivotal shift in their journey.
FAQs
1. What are the primary physical and emotional challenges Linden faces during the journey, and how do they impact her decisions?
Answer:
Linden endures extreme cold, harsh sunlight reflecting off snow, and constant headaches, which physically drain her. Emotionally, she grapples with Yellinin’s silent suffering, the horses’ distress, and her unresolved doubts about Covenant and Jeremiah. These cumulative hardships push her to recognize her limitations—she cannot sustain the journey without Earthpower. The cold, in particular, becomes a metaphor for her desperation, forcing her to reconsider trusting Covenant despite her suspicions. Her decision to use the Staff of Law stems from this breaking point, as she realizes external aid (like Yellinin’s) is insufficient (e.g., the horses dying, progress being “paltry”).2. How do Covenant and Jeremiah behave differently from ordinary humans during the journey, and what might this suggest about their true nature?
Answer:
Covenant and Jeremiah exhibit supernatural resilience: they ignore the cold, refuse warm clothing, and show no signs of fatigue or sleep. Their mounts react with unease, sensing their “secretive theurgy,” implying their presence is unnatural. Covenant’s impatience and Jeremiah’s detachment further hint at hidden motives or altered states. These traits—coupled with Covenant’s concealed half-hand and Jeremiah’s similar disfigurement—suggest they may not be fully human or are under external influence. Their behavior aligns with Linden’s suspicion that they fear the Staff’s power, reinforcing the chapter’s tension about their authenticity.3. Analyze the significance of Yellinin’s role in the journey. Why does Linden ultimately decide to send her back?
Answer:
Yellinin represents Berek’s lingering influence—a loyal outrider obeying orders but emotionally isolated. Her presence restricts Linden’s ability to use the Staff, as Covenant and Jeremiah monitor her closely. Linden recognizes Yellinin’s “erosion” of resolve and the impracticality of their progress (e.g., only 25 leagues in three days). Sending her back is a pragmatic choice: the horses are dying, and Linden must rely on Earthpower instead of dwindling resources. Covenant’s claim that Yellinin is a spy adds urgency, but Linden’s primary motivation is compassion—to spare another innocent from suffering for her cause.4. How does the chapter use cold as both a literal and symbolic obstacle? Provide examples.
Answer:
Literally, the cold is a relentless, physical torment—Linden’s hands are swaddled, her robe is inadequate, and it “gall[s]” her day and night. Symbolically, it mirrors her emotional and situational paralysis. Her past decisions were “inspired by cold” (e.g., seeking Berek’s camp for survival), yet solutions (like blankets and horses) prove temporary. The cold’s “brutality” forces her to confront her inadequacy, culminating in her realization that she must trust Covenant despite risks. Even the horses’ deaths from cold underscore the journey’s impossibility without supernatural intervention.5. What conflicting emotions does Linden experience regarding Covenant, and how do they reflect her broader dilemma?
Answer:
Linden oscillates between yearning for the Covenant she remembers and distrusting his current behavior. She notes his unnatural immunity to cold and his hostility toward Yellinin, which clash with her hope for an ally. Her dilemma mirrors her larger struggle—to balance skepticism with the urgent need for help. When she resolves to “find a way to trust him,” it’s a surrender to necessity, not conviction. This conflict underscores her isolation: she must rely on potentially dangerous companions to save Jeremiah, yet doing so risks enabling their hidden agendas.
Quotes
1. “Still the cold was a galling misery, day and night. And during the day, hard sunlight glanced like blades off the crusted snow and ice, forcing her to squint. Her head throbbed mercilessly.”
This quote vividly captures the harsh physical toll of the journey, emphasizing the relentless environmental suffering that shapes Linden’s decisions. It sets the stage for her eventual breaking point.
2. “They had their own difficulties. Their mounts were restive, hard to control. The beasts shied at every shadow despite their weariness… Linden suspected that the horses sensed something in her companions which she could not.”
This passage hints at the unnatural nature of Covenant and Jeremiah, foreshadowing later revelations. The animals’ instinctive fear suggests hidden truths about the companions that Linden can’t yet perceive.
3. “She had already watched too many innocents suffer and die for her sake.”
This concise statement reveals Linden’s deep guilt and moral burden, explaining her reluctance to accept further sacrifice from Yellinin and the horses. It’s a pivotal moment of self-awareness that leads to her decision.
4. “Therefore she would have to find a way to trust Covenant.”
This represents the chapter’s crucial turning point where Linden acknowledges her limitations and makes the fateful decision to rely on Covenant despite her doubts. It marks a significant shift in the narrative’s direction.
5. “Berek didn’t send her out here to help us. He wants her to warn him if we double back… just in case we kill her and try to take him by surprise.”
Covenant’s paranoid accusation reveals both his suspicious nature and the growing tension between the characters. This quote shows the complex web of distrust that Linden must navigate.