Most of his companions were weary beyond bearing. None of them argued with him. The Staff of Law they placed on the sand near Linden so that she could reach it if Covenant managed to rouse her. Then they stumbled away to rest.

He recognized where he was. Of course he did. The shock of his reincarnation had not cost him simple things like his knowledge of the Land’s geography. He did not need to turn his head and peer past the edge of the boulder to confirm that the jagged cliff of Landsdrop jutted high into the dawn less than half a league away.

Instead of returning the company to Andelain, the Ardent had deposited them on the Lower Land, between Landsdrop and the dour fens and seepage of Sarangrave Flat. The foothills of Mount Thunder—and the dark throat of the Defiles Course—were at least sixty or sixty-five leagues to the northwest. At that distance, the mountain itself was no longer visible.

Vaguely Covenant wondered whether the waters that fed the Defiles Course and Lifeswallower and most of the Sarangrave had been completely cut off. Likely there were other springs within Gravin Threndor, streams that joined the polluted Soulsease beyond its deepest subterranean lakes. And in any case, the Great Swamp and Sarangrave Flat would not soon empty their rank life-blood into the Sunbirth Sea. The Worm of the World’s End would find its way to Melenkurion Skyweir long before the vast demesne of the lurker began to run dry.

He wanted to ask the Ardent why the compelled Insequent had delivered the company here. But he could wait. The Ardent had been profligate with his given strength. The exertion of translating everyone except the Demondim-spawn out of Mount Thunder’s depths had left him chalk-faced and trembling. As soon as he had set his charges down in the dry streambed, he had wrapped his garments around his whole body, swaddled himself until even his face was covered. Then he had collapsed where he stood.

Covenant let him rest. The Ardent had earned it. And Covenant could guess at one or two explanations for the Insequent’s choice. Kevin’s Dirt did not impend over the Lower Land. Kastenessen—or moksha Raver—had foreseen no need to cast the brume eastward. Here Linden, Liand, and the Ramen would retain their natural percipience. And the Staff would be stronger.

In addition, the Ardent had placed the whole bulk of Mount Thunder between the company and both the skurj and the Sandgorgons. Speaking of the Sandgorgons, Esmer had said, Already they have begun the slaughter of Salva Gildenbourne. And he had promised worse—But the threat they posed was not immediate: they were too far away. Kastenessen could send his skurj more quickly, but even those monsters would need time to travel through so much earth.

The Ardent had given Covenant and Linden and their friends the necessary gift of a respite.