I tried to keep this shorter, but there's just so much here...
OK... Linden has convinced Berek's scouts to allow her to enter the camp. Already one of the things different about this scene, 10,000 years in the past (!! imagine 10K years ago on our Earth!) is a subtle difference in the speech of the riders, in the way their names don't flow off the tongue with quite the same grace as the people in the "future." Although things don't change in the Land like they do here, it's as if SRD has painted the picture with subtle differences so we do get that this is a LONG time in the past, a time before Earthpower.
The chapter title left me with such anticipation... during their journey towards the camp, it was kind of abstract... going to Berek's camp... but suddenly, we're going to be in the presence of Berek! Is this really happening?!
Leaving her companions behind, she races to the camp. When warriors attempt to stop her, she dismounts, drops the power from the Staff, and says simply "either cut me down or let me pass." They allow her to the tents. Everyone is wounded, even the healthiest have injuries, the healers are ill themselves. And although most have not yet awakened to health-sense,
Whoever and whatever he is, this man is an inspiring leader.yet she caught only hints of hopelessness or despair. Berek's people were sustained by their deep belief in him... his spirit preserved his people when every other resource had failed.
Linden enters the tent, and is overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people on the edge of death, people kept alive only "by the strength of their desire not to fail their Lord." She sets right to work, healing the first physician to come near her with her fire, then turning to the nearest wounded at her feet. I found it interesting that she doesn't even try to explain herself first; surely these people will only see fire and threat. But the first healer intervenes. I can feel these people's confusion as they see, but can not see, what she does. Having gained their support, she begins what seems like an endless task.
I'm not sure what to make of this. It makes perfect sense, and surely is the proper way to proceed... yet it seems to be hinting at parallels with wild magic. We've seen Linden heal Stave w/ wild magic, as surgically precise as she is here. Yet at least for her, even Earthpower must be "directed."With her Staff, she had the capacity fo fill the entire tent with vivifying flame... But she was too human to function in that way. She had to see what she strove to heal; needed to focus her attention on each individual wound and illness. In her hands, an undefined broadside of Earthpower might do more harm than good.
After some length of time, Lord Berek comes to the tent.
Wow. I can feel that too.Involuntarily, she stopped; stared. She had not expected to encounter a man who seemed more compelling, more crucial, than the injuries and deaths of his warriors.
...he was haunted by death; that loss and despair had been carved into the bedrock of his nature... the sheer depth of his bereavements had taught him a desperate compassion... he grieved for his foes as much as for his own forces; when he slew them he did so as if he were weeping.
(So at some level, Covenant's stories about Berek and despair do contain truth... and we see now why we were subjected to that drunken rant about Berek earlier in the book, to prepare us for this chapter.)
Her voice is like that which destroys peace; destroys what has been; in this time, she cannot be distinguished from the Arch of Time. Her first words completely change the direction of Berek's life (again). "You see different things now." He has not known what the changes in his perceptions mean; with one sentence she has altered his reality by confirming something she shouldn't be able to know. But he is a true leader; his questions can wait until his people are healed. She explains hurtloam. He calls forth one of his aides: Hand Damelon.Like wild magic, her voice was hidden from her; but she searched until she found it.
Most of the stories we've ever heard about the Old Lords focus on either Berek or Kevin. Damelon (and Loric) are sort of 'afterthoughts' (though obviously held in high regard) compared to the 2. Yet, here is the Giantfriend, as a young man. I wish we could have seen more of him.
I also love the terminology SRD uses in his books: Hearthrall, Haft, Swordmain, Apt, Adept, Castellan... and now another, a Hand.
Oh yea, how is this NOT going to affect the future? Linden must be caught up in the moment; how can so much suffering still leave room for other thoughts. Yet, the ripple danger is always there. Still things are going well, Linden is finally feeling that between her work and the hurtloam; all of the people newly awakening to their healthsense; she has turned the tide. Unfortunately...She did not think about ripples or time...
Ya just knew it had to happen.Hellfire! Get your hands off me, you overgrown oaf!
And Linden sees immediately that the Warhaft, Inbull, is a traitor. He has hit both Jeremiah and Covenant, and TC stumbles near Berek, who catches him... and acts as if he's been burned... and TC doesn't disappear.
WHAT??!!!?
As Linden rushes towards them, the Theomach stops her "in a grip as compulsory as manacles." Interesting use of the word just there; just a little reminder... The Theomach seems to shift them into a "hiatus between moments." (Makes me think of the Star Treks where everyone else appears to have stopped moving). Interestingly, he says "I desire only to aid Lord Berek." And then, to explain why Covenant hasn't vanished, "The force within Lord Berek has not yet fully awakened. And he whom you name Covenant is more hardy than he has encouraged you to believe." Hmm. Almost everything out of his mouth is interesting... especially, "By my true name, which is known to you..." WHAT??!!!? And what all can this guy do?
The Theomach interrupts the debate between Berek and TC, and positions himself to begin winning Berek to his cause, whatever that may be. Before the scene ends, Linden tries to comfort her son, is rebuffed, and wonders again at all of Covenant's warnings about touching her or using power. Why hasn't he disappeared? What's going on here?
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Interestingly, this next section feels like it comes right out of Mordant's Need. Probably it's just the similarities of being in a battle tent, and the references to "My Lady Linden" but I kept expecting Kragen, Joyse, or Elega to enter at any moment
Linden wonders how Berek can even aid her party's journey. This is not exactly a well-stocked war party. And, she wonders at all that has just happened; how can she be sure to not risk the Arch in this encounter?
And I think to myself: NOW we truly get to interact with Berek Halfhand!
First, we see he is a wise leader: not blinded by his power, nor by his newly awakened perceptions. In the name of his Purpose, he is willing to allow Inbull's betrayal, though he loathes doing so, in order to use it against his foes. The need of the Land, and of his oath, is larger than himself. Though it's not said in so many words, this man feels: the ends justify the means.
Again, the Theomach intercedes: "For your many needs, you must speak to me." That takes some chutzpah! He then explains that he is a seeker of knowledge, a warrior of considerable prowess, and a teacher. And what turns out to be another hint: "If the Theomach were able to step between moments, he could strike as often as he wished without being seen or opposed." In a reversal of the previous chapter, where the Theomach seemed to be mocking Covenant's claims, here TC repeatedly mocks the Theomach's explanations of his purpose to Berek. What's going on here? Fortunately Berek is smart enough to ask the same questions. Though he is sorely in need, he refuses to compromise just because someone is offering to help. He must know what he is agreeing to.
TC decides to go pick a fight w/ Inbull. Good. I'm getting really tired of him. And I still have no feelings or pity for Jeremiah. And as Theo says, now he can speak more freely... he tells Berek of his own tale upon Gravin Threndor, with a slight twist -- the "tale" as it has been told is at once an oversimplification, and an over-aggrandization, of the real events... which Theo claims to tell. Berek's reaction shows the accuracy of the Theomach's knowledge. He was given words, which he spoke, but has since forgotten. How can this stranger know of such things?
Holy $&!# !!!! He's about to tell us the *meaning* of the Seven Words. I had to just stop and breathe at this point... ... ... OK. We've discussed them many times over in other threads. With this new knowledge, I try them out while sitting here on the balcony. Nothing happensThe Words were Seven, and they are these. The first is melenkurion, which signifies bastion or source. The second is abatha...
btw, this is when I became convinced that will the Theomach has his own purposes, but he is not a servant of Despite. No such being could speak the Words.
Berek is convinced. Almost. "If these Seven Words will bind me, I must know that to which I will be bound." Though he has already spoken the Words, is already bound, and stands by his Oath, he still requires conscious knowledge of what he is committing to.
(This is an interesting contrast to the Oath of the Haruchai, thousands of years later. I don't remember the quotes but it was explained like "we did not realize the power in the words we spoke. the earthpower replied and bound us to our Oath." Oops.)
The Theomach replies: "Life. Growth. Enhancement."
No more spiritual words can be spoken. But the next couple of paragraphs are beautiful.
My favorite quote from the entire chronicles used to be "I trust that Despite is not the sum of life."Neither I nor anyone may grasp the mind of this world's Creator. The needs and desires of that which is eternal surpass finite comprehension... The Earth and the Land are a dwelling-place where life may discover the highest in itself, or the lowest, according to its desires and choices.
...
I want it to be true. So do you. Isn't that what matters? Isn't it the only thing that matters?
Berek accepts the Theomach's aid. Then he dismisses him, to speak w/ Linden alone. I love this line: "Yet my wisdom is my own. If I prove unwise, as I have often done, it will be through no fault of yours." I am my own man.
As will Mhoram later. Berek's true power is not founded on something magical, or on thinking he is superior to that around him. He is an ordinary man, who has found something to care about deeply.As she faltered, however, he grew stronger. His bravery was founded on the needs of the people around him. He had come so far and accomplished so much, not because the Fire-Lions had responded to his desperation, but simply because he could not turn away from the plight of his people and his Queen. He was full of grief and understood despair: therefore he rejected both fear and defeat.
Berek speaks of how songs will be sung of her... she begs him not to. Though he cannot understand, he accepts. Thank god! What would've happened if he'd refused; if he'd been unwilling to forgo honoring her? Yet he will not be turned from the questions he has. He is able to sense her powers, and the contradiction they present. He can sense her ring. She tells him what they are, but says no more. Fortunately for her, he chooses not to press her.
And after all this, she thinks to herself that he is the legend here, not herself. That she is not equal to him. Whether this is true humility in the service of greater things, or lack of self-confidence in the same way she feels so much "less than" her memories of Covenant, is another paradox.
Sun-Sage, though none will sing of the deeds you have wrought this night, though will they fade amidst the eternal mists of time's evanescence, you too are the Stuff of Legends.