After the most arduous journey of his life, Thomas Covenant awoke alone in a living hell. The giant that had aided him must have perished in the Hotash Slay, sacrificing himself with the hope that Covenant will fulfill his mission.He awoke with the acrid taste of brimstone in his mouth, and ashes in his heart. At first, he could not remember where he was; he could not identify the ruined ground on which he lay, or the rasp of sulfur in his throat, or the sunless sky; he could not recollect the cause of his loneliness. How could anyone be so alone and still go on breathing? But after a time he began to notice a smell of sweat and disease under the brimstone.
Sweat, he murmured. Leprosy. He remembered.
Got to love those Giants!Foamfollower must haved saved him from the heat by exerting power through him, in the same way that the Giants propelled boats by exerting power throught Gildenlode rudders. He shook his head at Foamfollower's valor. He did not know how he could go on without the help of a friend.
Covenant was both physically and mentally exhausted yet he knew his quest had not ended. Even more terrible than standing on Ridjeck Thome, was the thought of standing there alone.
Uncertain as to why he still remained in the land after Foamfollower's death, he steadied himself and continued the long march. Soon he spotted his destination and the perhaps the whole purpose of his first calling to the Land.And he would have to do it as Bannor or Foamfollower would have done it--dispassionately and passionately, fighting and refusing to fight, both at once--because he had learned one more reason why he would have to seek out the Despiser. Surrounded in his mind by all his victims, he found that there was only one good answer still open to him.
That answer was a victory over Despite.
Only by defeating Lord Foul could he give meaning to all the lives which had been spent in his name, and at the same time preserve himself, the irremediable fact of who he was.
Thomas Covenant: Unbeliever. Leper.
After much belabored walking and climbing, Covenant reaches the ugly maw of Foul's abode.But he gave little attention to the landscape. His eyes were drawn by the magnet of the Creche itself. He had guessed from what he had heard that most of Lord Foul's home lay underground, and now he saw that this must be true. The promontory rose to a high pile of rock at its tip, and there the Creche stood. Two matched towers, as tall and slender as minarets, rose several hundred feet in the air, and between them at ground level was the dark open hole of the single entrance.
The Unbeliever felt alone against all the evil, hate, and despite in the universe. He debated with himself as to what course of action to take but his hesitation cost him and he was captured...
This scene could nearly bring tears to your eyes as faith returned to both Covenant and the reader.The hand did not uncover his mouth, but he was suddenly flipped onto his back.
He found himself looking up into the warm, clean face of Saltheart Foamfollower.
The Giant made a silencing gesture, then released him.
At once, Covenant flung his arms around Foamfollower's neck, hugged him, clung to his strong neck like a child. A joy like sunrise washed the darkness out of him, lifted him up into hope as if it were the pure, clear dawn of a new day.
Foamfollower's giantish resistance to fire prevented his demise in the lavaflow. Something greater had occured in Hotash Slay.
With a little planning the pair plot to ambush the guardian and enter the Creche. Foamfollower makes quick work of the monster. At Covenant's behest, the Giant does not kill the guardian. Foamfollower recommits himself to the protection and guidance of the Unbeliever and then they enter Ridjeck Thome. After careful searching, the pair reach the depths of Foul's Creche and a secret entrance foretold by the jheherrin.I [Foamfollower] am not althogether certain. My friend, I think you have not forgotten the Giantish caamora, the ritual fire of grief...
In addition--it will surprise you to hear that I believe your wild magic succored me in some degree. Before I threw you from my shoulders, I felt--some power sharing strength with me, just as I shared strength with you.
Before the can escape, an ur-vile restrains seemingly surrendering Covenant to the surprise of Foamfollower."There, " Foamfollower breathed softly, pointing at one of the entrances. " There is the the thronehall of Ridjeck Thome. There Soulcrusher holds the Illearth Stone."
This poor Giant was a victim, first a slave to the Illearth Stone and a Raver but then a slave to the broken law of death. The fate of the Land is about to be decided...."Covenant!" he cried in protest.
Deliberately, Covenant's gaze flicked away from the Giant--bored intensely into him and then jumped away, pulling Foamfollower's eyes with it.
The Giant turned in spite of himself, and saw another Giant standing across the hall from him. The newcomer's fists were clenched on his hips, and he was one of the three brothers who had fallen victim to the Ravers. Like Elena, theis tormented soul had been resurrected to serve Soulcrusher.
Before Foamfollower could react, the door to the thronehall opened, then closed behind Covenant.