I think (but am only guessing) that Stave, having been humiliated and then having to live with it, had become less afraid of humiliation. Avoiding it no longer was the most important thing ever. And so he was more able to hear what the Ranyhyn said and hear something more in it than humiliation.
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(I am in the middle of listening to the audio edition of Runes. And as I do I cannot help thinking about topics I have explored, and how certain passages add or subtract from what I have written.)
I don't know how I missed this. This bears directly.
In [i]The Runes of the Earth[/i] was wrote:"When the Haruchai determined to take upon themselves the burdens of Mastery," Galt said flatly, "they recognized their peril. It is the peril of Korik, Sill, and Doar.
"Their tale is surely known to you. Ruled by the Illearth Stone, they were made to serve Corruption. First they were maimed to resemble the Halfhand, ur-Lord Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Then they were sent to bear battle and despair against the Council of Lords. Thus was the Vow of the Bloodguard tarnished, and their service brought to an end."
Without haste or emphasis, Galt stated, "The fault of Korik and Sill and Doar lay in this, that they allowed their ire at the destruction of the Unhomed to sway them. They believed that the outrage in their hearts would raise them to the stature of terrible banes and deathless malice. From their example, the Haruchai learned the peril of such passions. When we determined to become the Masters of the Land, we determined also that we would commit no similar fault.
"Therefore in each generation three among us are selected to be the Humbled, so that the Masters will not neglect their resolve, or set it aside. Our hands are severed to resemble Korik's, and Sill's, and Doar's. Among our people, we embody the error which destroyed the service of the Bloodguard. While the Humbled live, the Masters will not forget their peril."
The Masters describe "ire at the destruction of the Unhomed" as a
mistake! They blame the whole breaking of the Vow on the ill-conceived expression of passion.
At first blush, it sounds like the Masters are seeing a kinship with the mistake Elena made. She believed also that utter grief and despair could be channeled into Foul-slaying power, and hence she rose Kevin.
But there is more here to it. Earlier, Stave had quite elegantly described how the Bloodguard felt about
Coercri.
In [i]The Runes of the Earth[/i] was wrote:"The Ramen cannot know how the Bloodguard loved the Giants. They cannot grasp how the hearts of the Bloodguard were rent by what had transpired. Therefore they presume to scorn our fall from faith."
Hearts rent. That is grief. The Bloodguard grieved for the Giants, because they had loved them.
"Grief and regret. What else is there? Those are just other names for love."
So the passion of the three Bloodguard bearing the Illearth Stone to Ridjeck Thome was not just "ire". It was grief. The grief that bears witness to a love.
And this is the passion which the Masters consider to be a mistake. A mistake that they will never make again. The Humbled are the string tied around their finger so that they remember that mistake, and they are their promise not to make it again. The Masters have vowed never to grieve!
Perhaps unknowingly, by vowing to never grieve, they have vowed never to love. Love only inspires grief; to avoid grief, avoid love. This they can do easily. When you don't judge yourself by what you love, but by deeds and service, then it's easy to forgo love. Especially when you convince yourself that your deeds and service are enough.
And so: simony.
This is why the Masters fear to grieve. They consider passion in general, and grief in particular, exactly the same way as they consider Earthpower. It's a power that cannot be trusted. It breaks vows. It diminishes service. It serves Foul. So: never again.
In [i]The Runes of the Earth[/i] was wrote:And she knew that Handir had not told her the whole truth. He had said nothing of his people's fear that they would be taken by the passion which had overcome Cail as well as Korik, Sill, and Doar. Liand was right about the Masters. They feared to grieve.
These passages make a whole lot more sense to me now.