
Thomas Covenant 8 — The Fatal Revenant
Chapter 15: Part Two — 2. In the Care of the Mandoubt
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery awakens disoriented, burdened by the weight of time and exhaustion, unsure of her surroundings. She notices the absence of her health-sense, a perceptual ability she had grown accustomed to, leaving her feeling diminished. Despite her confusion, she finds comfort in the warmth and cleanliness of her environment, recognizing the Mandoubt’s care. The realization that Kevin’s Dirt has returned reassures her that she has been returned to her rightful time, though she remains uncertain of the exact circumstances.
As Linden gathers her thoughts, she reflects on her recent mistakes, particularly her misplaced trust in Roger Covenant and the manipulation involving her son, Jeremiah. Anger and grief overwhelm her as she acknowledges her vulnerability to Lord Foul’s schemes. Determined to avoid repeating her errors, she resolves to focus on her immediate priorities: understanding her situation and reclaiming her Staff of Law to counteract Kevin’s Dirt. Her night with the Mandoubt in Garroting Deep has taught her the importance of taking one step at a time.
Surveying the room, Linden recognizes it as the same chamber she occupied before her displacement, though it feels distant and dreamlike. The Staff of Law leans nearby, and the Mandoubt sits watching her, offering water from Glimmermere to ease her thirst and restore her senses. Linden drinks eagerly, feeling the water’s lingering healing properties. The Staff’s touch reignites her connection to the Land, restoring her perception of the living stone of Revelstone and the warmth of her surroundings.
With her senses renewed, Linden clings to the Staff, seeking solace and strength. The Mandoubt, ever attentive, brings more water, symbolizing both physical and spiritual replenishment. Linden’s focus shifts to her next actions, determined to reclaim her agency and confront the challenges ahead. The chapter closes with her poised between recovery and resolve, ready to face the uncertainties of her mission with renewed clarity and purpose.
FAQs
1. Comprehension Question
What physical and sensory experiences does Linden have upon awakening, and what do they reveal about her situation?
Answer:
Upon awakening, Linden experiences profound disorientation and physical exhaustion, feeling as though she has aged millennia. She notices the texture of linen against her skin, the absence of her health-sense, and the dim light in the room. These sensory details reveal that she has been transported to an unfamiliar yet comforting environment—likely the same chamber in Revelstone where she stayed before her time displacement. The lack of her health-sense indicates Kevin’s Dirt has regained its influence, confirming she is back in her proper time. The presence of the Staff of Law and the Mandoubt further assures her of her safety and continuity in the Land.2. Analytical Question
How does Linden’s reaction to the Mandoubt’s care reflect her emotional state and growth as a character?
Answer:
Linden’s initial confusion and gradual acceptance of the Mandoubt’s care demonstrate her resilience and learned patience. Despite her disorientation, she trusts the Mandoubt’s benevolence, recalling their time in Garroting Deep and the lesson of taking “one step at a time.” Her gratitude for the water from Glimmermere and her immediate reach for the Staff show her prioritization of practical needs over panic. This reflects her growth—she no longer succumbs to despair or impulsiveness but instead focuses on regaining agency. Her anger at Roger Covenant and determination to protect Jeremiah further highlight her resolve to rectify past mistakes.3. Critical Thinking Question
Why is the absence of Linden’s health-sense significant, and how does it paradoxically comfort her?
Answer:
The absence of Linden’s health-sense is significant because it symbolizes her vulnerability and disconnection from the Land’s innate magic. Ordinarily, this loss would distress her, but it paradoxically comforts her because it confirms Kevin’s Dirt is active—proof she has returned to her rightful timeline. This realization alleviates her fear of being stranded in the wrong era, where she might disrupt the Arch of Time. The Mandoubt’s precision in delivering her to this moment reinforces her trust in the older woman’s guidance, allowing Linden to focus on her next steps rather than temporal uncertainty.4. Application Question
How might Linden’s vow to “exact a price for Jeremiah’s torment” influence her future actions in the story?
Answer:
Linden’s vow suggests a shift from reactive to proactive behavior, driven by maternal protectiveness and guilt over her past naivety. This resolve will likely lead her to confront Roger Covenant and the croyel directly, possibly with greater ruthlessness than before. However, her lesson from the Mandoubt—to proceed “one step at a time”—may temper her impulsiveness, forcing her to strategize. Her immediate focus on retrieving the Staff and dispelling Kevin’s Dirt shows she understands the need for preparation. This balance of vengeance and caution could define her approach to future conflicts, blending determination with wisdom.5. Thematic Question
How does the chapter explore the tension between memory and reality, particularly in Linden’s reflections on Thomas Covenant?
Answer:
The chapter highlights how memory can distort reality, as Linden grapples with shame for doubting Thomas Covenant’s legacy due to Roger’s deception. Her realization that she allowed Roger to “tarnish her memories” underscores the fragility of perception. The disorienting familiarity of her room—reminiscent of a dream—further blurs the line between past and present. Yet, tangible anchors like the Staff and Mandoubt ground her in reality. This tension emphasizes the novel’s broader theme of trust: Linden must reconcile her idealized memories of Covenant with the harsh truths of her current challenges to move forward.
Quotes
1. “The years that she had bypassed or slipped between seemed to multiply her natural age; and her attempts to open her eyes, confirm the substance of her surroundings, felt hampered by caducity.”
This opening passage powerfully conveys Linden’s disorientation and temporal displacement, setting the tone for her struggle to reconcile her experiences across different timelines. The poetic phrasing (“bypassed or slipped between”) and vivid imagery (“hampered by caducity”) make this particularly memorable.
2. “She did not know where she was, or how, or why—she hardly knew who—because her health-sense was gone. She had grown accustomed to its insights. Its absence diminished her.”
This quote captures a crucial turning point where Linden realizes her fundamental connection to the Land’s magic has been severed. The repetition of “she did not know” emphasizes her vulnerability, while “diminished her” speaks to the profound loss of her perceptual abilities.
3. “No more, she vowed. Not again. She had fallen in with the Despiser’s machinations once. She would not repeat that mistake. Instead she meant to exact a price for Jeremiah’s torment.”
This represents a pivotal moment of resolve where Linden transitions from passive victim to determined actor. The short, clipped sentences convey her hardened determination, while the shift from defensive (“not repeat”) to offensive (“exact a price”) marks a significant character development.
4. “One step at a time. Just one. First she needed to absorb the details of her present situation. And she had to retrieve her Staff so that she could cast off the pall of Kevin’s Dirt.”
This quote encapsulates Linden’s pragmatic approach to overwhelming circumstances, showing her learning from past mistakes. The repetition of “one step” emphasizes her new methodology, while the concrete goals (Staff, Kevin’s Dirt) ground her abstract resolution in specific actions.
5. “When she closed her hands on the necessary warmth of the wood… she felt the return of a more complete life… Every inch of her skin and scalp became aware of its cleanliness.”
This sensory-rich passage marks the restoration of Linden’s connection to Earthpower through the Staff. The contrast with her earlier diminished state creates a powerful moment of renewal, with tactile details (“warmth of the wood”) making the abstract concept of “complete life” vividly concrete.