The chapter begins as Linden and Anele’s flight from the ceasure that caused the destruction of Kevin’s Watch has come to a close. Anele has fled to an outcrop of gutrock, and is now apparently being controlled by Lord Foul himself, who addresses Linden directly. Foul issues his usual diatribe of despair and doom-speak, confirming again to Linden that he has her son Jeremiah, and that he will wait to deliver Jeremiah’s fate when she is present to witness and despair. He also professes to have gained white gold, apparently Joan’s ring (and Joan herself) is also in his control. Linden surmises that Roger is likely present also in the Land, and is in service to Lord Foul as well.
Linden, a much stronger and stable woman than in the past chronicles, warns Foul that she will find him and tear his heart out, unless he releases Jeremiah. She turns her back on Anele/Foul, analyzing the import of Fouls’ words, and deciding to focus on more immediate needs of aliantha and rest.
Enter the Haruchai: Ancient Bloodguard, protectors of the Old and New Lords, who once again pledged their lives to the Land in a new way, self-proclaimed Masters of the Land. We learn (later in the chapter) the yet un-named Haruchai that they serve the land by permitting no use of Earthpower. For this reason, they seek to capture and restrain Anele (a being of Earthpower) within Revelstone. Anele cowers, and speaks once again in Foul’s voice:
Linden reveals that she is the Chosen of the Land’s past, but she is knocked flat when she attempts to intervene the Haruchai’s capture of Anele. In the blackness, she dreams Thomas Covenant is speaking to her, telling her:“Where is your power now? The wild magic that destroys peace?”
AndYou need the Staff of Law.
He also tells to not to worry that Foul has Jeremiah. This is probably going to be important later on; it seems TC knows something about the situation with Jeremiah, and possibly a foreshadowing of some information we can look forward to in FR.Do something they don’t expect.
Linden and Anele wake up in a home-turned-cell in Mithil Stonedown, where they are given water and aliantha stew. They both eat and drink. Anele laments that he should not eat or drink:
"Better to perish. They only prolong Aneles life to hurt him. Hold him for it. "
He meant a ceasure.
"What will it do to you?" She asks. "What are you afraid of?"
“It severs.”
She swore to herself. “So you said. Severs what?”
“Life.” Anele moaned as though she dismayed him. “It is the maw of the seven hells. Betrayed trust. Failure. Sorrow. “
Spoiler
She asks them to free Anele, which they refuse. Stave explains more thoroughly their role as Masters of the Land, allowing no use of Earthpower. Apparently, Haruchai are stationed at mithil stonedown, and presumably at other stonedowns and woodhelvin as well, watching for anyone making use of Earthpower.”Be free among us.” Reaching behind him, he held the curtain aside for her. “Tell us how we may honor your fidelity to Ur-Lord Thomas Covenant and your triumph over corruption.”
Linden is struck at the paradox of the Haruchai’s new role: professing service to the Land, but serving Lord Foul by preventing the use of the Land’s essential goodness: Earthpower.“You do not comprehend,” the Haruchai informed her dispassionately, “any use of earthpower serves Corruption.”
During this conversation, Anele pleads with Linden:
“Do not permit them! They are fierce and terrible. Can you not see? They will destroy Anele.” Then he cried out, “He is the hope of the Land. “
Spoiler
Linden learns of the loss of the Staff of Law. She also learns that the Giants are still around, though they seldom visit the Land and likely would not visit the Land during her lifetime.
Stave also points to the failure of the elohim, and the Forrestal Caer-Caveral, who broke the Law of Life, and subsequently left Andelain and the old forests to slowly die out.
This last quote gives a lot of information. The beasts of Earthpower might be the same chancres Linden observed in the darkness before she awoke on Kevin’s Watch. These beasts burned and consumed the Land as she watched. These could also be the skurj, but I am not sure.“The vow which mislead the honor of the Bloodguard was made possible by Earthpower. Like the sunbane before it, Kevins Dirt is an expression of Earthpower. Beasts of Earthpower rage upon Mount Thunder, and the Lurker of the Sarangrave grows restive. “
Stave completes his affirmation of the Haruchai’s new role, reminding her of Brinn’s sacrifice at the Island of the One Tree, and that the Haruchai must not let him down; Because of Brinn’s sacrifice and role as Guardian of the One Tree, they feel that they must take on the role as Masters of the Land to prove themselves worthy of this act.
Stave also relates that the Haruchai fear that Kevin’s Dirt is Foul’s preparation to re-desecrate the Land.
Thoughts:
It seems obvious that the new role of the Haruchai as the Land's Masters is very close to the New Lords folley of the Oath of Peace. The Oath of Peace assumed all violence and anger was bad, so everyone vowed to never be aggressive, use violence only for defense, and above all, avoid any taking of life for any reason. The same logic seems to have been applied to Earthpower by the Haruchai: all of the Lands problems seem to have stemmed from its use, so using it must always be bad.
It is also alarming to think of Haruchai stationed in every stonedown and woodhelvin to prevent any use of Earthpower. This smacks of a self-appointed "protecting them from themselves" mind-set, which never turns out well.
Linden now knows the Staff of Law has been lost, and knows that the Haruchai will oppose her finding it, since it is a tool of Earthpower.
There is a lot of foreshadowing in this chapter, subtle hints at things that keep us reading, raising even more questions:
Foul’s ability to control Anele. How in the heck can he do that??
Anele proclaiming he is the Lands Last hope - what does that mean?
Thomas Covenant’s comment to “not worry” about Foul having Jeremiah; this either means TC iknows about that situation, or that was not TC talking to Her.
The beasts of Earthpower on Mount Thunder - what are these things?
The implications of Kevin’s Dirt
The true nature of Ceasures - what are they?
I look forward the your comments and discussions on this dissection.