One thing that is notable in this exchange is contained in this statement of Linden’s:
Her use of the term ‘halfhand’ has the sound of an epithet, and its use is not lost on Clyme:But I can’t talk in front of these halfhands.
And Linden says:But is it your belief that we are ‘the halfhand’ of whom the Elohim sought to forewarn the people of the Land?
Linden tells the group that she wants to hear what has happened while she has been gone, but before anyone can speak, Anele starts to ramble, then after getting Liand’s orcrest, be temporarily regains his sanity. He tells Linden that there are “others” who speak to him in his dreams, and they are:No. I know better.
Anele tells Linden that Sunder and Hollian are now with the Dead of Andelain, and do not want Linden to seek them out there.Sunder my father and Hollian my mother, whom my weakness has betrayed. And behind them stands Thomas Covenant, who craves only that I assure you of his love.
After Anele returns the orcrest to Liand, discussion about his mental status takes place, then Stave reveals to Linden that she was gone for 13 days. During her absence, the ur-viles and Waynhim dispersed and the Ranyhyn went into the mountains. The Demondim attacked Revelstone relentlessly, and many Masters lost their lives in defense of the Keep.The are certain only that doom awaits you in the company of the Dead.
Linden asks Stave and Liand how they came into possession of the orcrest, and Liand tells of the trip to the Aumbrie, and how he selected the orcrest out of all of the wondrous items there. When Linden asks Liand why the Masters did not stop him, Liand says that Branl tried to do so, but
To explain further, Stave tells Linden that the Masters are not so sure of themselves any longer, because:Stave dissuaded him.
To drive home his point against Branl, Stave challenged him to the rhadhamaerl test of truth. Stave said that Liand had already passed the test, because he was holding the orcrest. And Stave offered to do so as well, if Branl would likewise submit himself. But, since the Masters had such high esteem for the test of truth, if Stave passed the test, then the Masters had judged him wrongly, and that would only increase their doubt.They have not forgotten your words when you argued for their aid. In addition, the ur-Lord Thomas Covenant urged the Voice of the Masters to persuade you from your purpose against the Demondim. Yet it is apparent even to the least tractable of my kinsmen that only your quenching of the Fall, and thus of the Illearth Stone, has enabled Revelstone to withstand the horde.
Afterward, the Unbeliever took you from among us in a manner which encouraged doubt. And when the Unbeliever and your son had removed you, the siege remained. The unremitting attacks of the Demondim demonstrated that the ur-Lord had not accomplished his purpose – or that his purpose was not as he had avowed.
Therefore the Masters have become uncertain. They do not yet question their own service. But they inquire now if they have justly gauged your worth.
After more discussion, Linden tells the group that she intends to somehow defeat the Demondim, then leave Revelstone and go to Andelain to talk to her Dead. She also wants to find the krill. But Mahrtiir tells her that at least one of her problems has been solved; the siege is over.
Liand adds:…the battle to preserve Revelstone raged furiously, and for many days the eventual defeat of the Masters appeared certain. But the, ere sunset on the day before your return, a long figure in the semblance of a man arrived on the plain. None beheld his approach. He merely appeared, just as your later appeared with the Mahdoubt…..the Demondim turned upon him in rage, and their power was extreme. Yet he defeated them to the last of their numbers. In the space of five score heartbeats, or perhaps ten, all of the Render’s Teeth ceased to exist.
Comments:…to our sight, it appeared that he devoured them.
How cool is Stave? He ranks up there with Brinn and Bannor in my book. I love that line - "Stave dissuaded him." Classic!
Doubt is a common theme with SRD in the Chronicles. We know that Loric’s failure to defeat the Viles and his subsequent bargaining with the Demondim caused him to feel great doubt in his abilities, and this was passed on to Kevin. The breaking of the Vow of the Bloodguard had its origins in their obedience to Kevin when he ordered them into the mountains, thereby sparing their lives but allowing him to perform the Ritual of Desecration with Lord Foul. This caused the Bloodguard to doubt the purity of their service. Verement felt doubt because the Ranyhyn didn’t choose him; Trevor felt doubt because he couldn’t love his daughters as much as Loerya did. Pitchwife doubted Covenant’s intentions at the end of WGW. Now we see that the Masters doubt. Could this be the beginning of the end of their Mastery?
Who is this new character that has destroyed the Demondim? Did anyone else feel some disappointment that there was no great battle between Linden and the Viles-spawn?
I’ll add more later, but hopefully this will get us started.
) he must have at least another power to awe the Elohim. He must, at least, have prescience of all things that jump backwards from Linden's present, or backward period. I mean immortality by itself is too boring. 
If so then that was the extent of his powers-I had no idea who this stranger might be.
In this chapter, it is repeated several times what was repeated several times in From the Depths earlier. Now she regretted that she had no tears to show her friends how she felt about them. etc. Linden is internally galvanized, fire-hardened, turned to stone. She has no more tears. 
Mahrtiir seems to see quite a bit in Linden's Staff.
