With iron in her voice, Rime Coldspray was saying, “Our peremptory concern is with the Worm of the World’s End. By that measure, both Kastenessen and Thomas Covenant’s former mate are of small import, as are mere Sandgorgons and skurj. And in the matter of the Worm, we must give close consideration to the insights imparted by Anele. Though his madness is evident, there can be no doubt of his gifts.”

Covenant shook his head. But if he had any reservations, he did not express them.

Thinking about the old man, Linden winced. Sprawled on obsidian at one foot of the Hazard, the son of Sunder and Hollian had articulated the mourning of the mountain’s oldest rock.

Even here it is felt. Written. Lamented. The rousing of the Worm.

“We are Giants,” murmured Cirrus Kindwind, massaging the stump of her forearm, “lovers of both Sea and Stone. We well recall the old man’s words. He spoke of the Worm’s compelled hunger, as necessary as death is to life.”

When it has consumed lesser sustenance, it must come to the Land.

“Aye,” assented the Ironhand. “And in his revelation lay no scope for uncertainty.”

Here it will discover its final nourishment.

“I remember,” Covenant muttered darkly. “We all remember. It’s not the kind of thing anybody forgets.”

If it is not forbidden, it will have Earthpower. The very blood of life from the most potent and private recesses of the Earth’s heart. Like the tolling of the world’s last heartbeats, Anele had pronounced its doom. When the Worm of the World’s End drinks the Blood of the Earth, its puissance will consume the Arch of Time.

“Well, then,” repeated Coldspray grimly. “If it is remembered, then it lacks only explication. Our comprehension of ‘the Blood of the Earth’ does not suffice. We have no tales of such fell mysteries. And Linden Giantfriend has revealed little more than the skeleton of her sojourn in the Land’s past. Since we must oppose or forbid the Worm, we would know more of its ‘final nourishment.’ ”

Covenant ducked his head. Recalling Roger and Jeremiah under Melenkurion Skyweir, Linden felt too much turmoil to answer. None of this was relevant to Jeremiah or the croyel. But Stave replied with his usual stoicism.

“Only one Haruchai has borne witness to the Blood of the Earth and lived, the Bloodguard Bannor. Thus our awareness of EarthBlood is not limited to the overheard converse of the Lords.”

Linden seemed to see memories of Bannor flit like spectres across Covenant’s darkened gaze. But he did not interrupt Stave.

Characteristically terse, Stave told the Giants what Linden and Covenant—and, indirectly, Liand and the Ramen—already knew. He spoke of Earthpower in its purest and most concentrated form: magic so potent that it conferred the Power of Command. And he described what his people knew of its hazards.