The Common Understanding of the Lords

[Vraith]

IMO "fire to fire" was Covenant just pointing out the poecy of the situation.

I don't think Hile had to regain his original condition to be sent back because he didn't need to be sent back.

Thinking about it, the "Common understanding of the Lords" has been revealed (in FR) to be a plant be the Theomach. Their knowledge about White Gold and its source must stem from the explanations he gave Berek after Linden passed through his camp.

The Themoach obviously had an agenda here. Perhaps to encourage the Lords to look for outside-answers instead of trusting in their own power. (the Unfettered might be another example of this. This concept was well fitted to the Theomach's race but humans lacked the longevity to put it to proper use even with all the Land's gifts. Humans are communal beings and this idea drained the brightest and the best from the stream of humanity)

Connecting the summoning rituals to power and death may have strengthened such tendencies in their way of thinking.

Interesting thoughts in there that I'm going to ponder and trace for implications.
But: part of the "real story?" I'm not sure, possibly...but not the whole story. Because we know that the power of ALL the Insequent is built/executed in imitation of White Gold. Where did their knowledge come from? It couldn't be the Theomach because in one historical version Linden was never there, in both versions the Theomach [and all the Insequent] would have power imitative of White Gold before they knew about White Gold. And we know it wasn't accidental imitation...it was just the closest they could come without any material white gold.
Also, it wasn't the Lords who went searching for White Gold and ways to bring/use it. It was LF. Once it got there, their knowledge may have been from what the Theomach planted with them...or not...we have no idea at this point. You are possibly correct, it makes quite a bit of sense, but not complete sense.
I just think we miss something if we try to make it all causation/standing on previous foundations while ignoring that in the Land the Intuitive, Prophetic, Revelatory, Visionary are real and substantive in a way they aren't in our world.

[wayfriend]

I thought that the Theomach taught the Lords about white gold.

I don't see any need to reach back and explain anyone teaching the Lords about summoning. Prothall had said, "Drool is dead. He was your summoner, and with his death the call ends. That is the way of such power." He's not speaking of a knowledge of summoning, he's speaking of a knowledge of "such power". In other words, he's saying, "Based on my expert experiences with similar things, I'm going to say that this is what is happening to you." And he was watching Covenant's summons reverse itself before his eyes, and working backwards from there. He wasn't wondering what would happen if Drool died, he was starting from the sure knowledge of the summons ending and working out why it would happen. So it seems entirely plausible that they need no Insequent training seminar for this.

And Donaldson can easily claim that Prothall and the Lords didn't understand summoning entirely. Their knowledge could be incomplete, there may be caveats, loopholes, or fine print that they are unaware of.

But the Timewarden would be very aware. I would not be surprised, and I actually expect, that the Timewarden was angling for a specific result when Covenant stabbed Joan.