But when She Who Must Not Be Named opened Her maws, Elena fled toward the end of the cavern. Covenant’s daughter was a Law-Breaker; but she had once been a High Lord. Long ago, she had been consumed by evil—and had been freed by her father. Her horror of being devoured was greater than the punishments which she had exacted from herself. Frantically, as if she remembered being her father’s daughter, she tried to escape.

Ravening, the bane thrashed in pursuit; flung out long arms of theurgy to snatch Elena from the air. Somehow she eluded them.

And while She Who Must Not Be Named gave chase, Covenant forced himself to turn away. With his partial fists clenched, and his heart pounding out rage and rue, he faced Cail’s son.

Through the chaos of screams, he snarled, “I guess you finally picked a side.”

His last gambit.

Blood stained Esmer’s cheeks. “I have not.” His tone echoed Elena’s dismay. “I serve the Wildwielder as I serve Kastenessen.”

“Then you’ve got it wrong. This is all treachery. Sure, you’ve told us a few things that might have been useful, if we weren’t as good as dead. But under the circumstances, they hardly count.”

Desperation and shrieks accumulated in the cavern. Wails broke stalactites from the ceiling, sent turbulence across the rising flood. The Swordmainnir retreated to form a tight cluster around their companions. Some of them watched Elena’s flight. Others searched Covenant as though he had appalled them.

“I do as I must.” Like Anele, Esmer seemed to plead for mercy. “You cannot save me. Earlier I averred my wish for death. That course is no longer open to you.”

“I know,” Covenant retorted. “But there’s a way out.” Elena’s cries rent his heart. “A way to serve both sides of who you are. Aid and betrayal at the same time.”

Esmer shook his head, scattering red droplets. “I cannot comprehend why you have not been redeemed. It is madness! I have granted those who wish to serve you ample opportunity. That is my aid to the Wildwielder. Yet I am spurned.”

Covenant had no idea what Esmer meant. But he could not afford to pursue the question. Tendrils of power had already grasped the Dead High Lord. The bane’s mouths gaped to rend Elena’s spectre.

Linden had refused her the gift which Berek, Damelon, and Loric had given Kevin. Now she was being sacrificed—

Covenant had no time.

“Don’t change the subject,” he snapped. “Look at us, Esmer. We’re finished. If this is how you aid Linden, it’s just pathetic. You can’t hurt her now. You can only make sure we all die.

“That’s probably good enough for Kastenessen. But you haven’t thought it through. You haven’t thought about what happens when She Who Must Not Be Named gets my ring.