But Linden could not tend Stonemage thoroughly: not yet. There were too many other hurts. As soon as she had eased the most dangerous of Stonemage’s injuries, she gave Cirrus Kindwind a quick burst of kindness, then turned to spin fire around Cabledarm’s mangled leg.

Before Covenant was halfway to the ridgecrest, Esmer called softly, “Wildwielder. I must pass soon. To do so, I crave your consent. Will you not pause to acknowledge that I am justified at last? Good has been accomplished by evil means.”

Linden did not glance at him. When she had burned away the worst effects of Cabledarm’s wound, she coiled black flames around Latebirth’s chest so that none of the Swordmain’s shattered ribs would shift to puncture her lungs or her heart. Earthpower was still Earthpower. Linden’s health-sense enabled her to mend and cleanse in spite of her essential bitterness.

Through her teeth, she told Esmer, “You finally picked a side. You chose betrayal.” If the ur-viles and Waynhim had not come—“How does that justify you?”

In her soiled state, each new effort of healing felt more like an act of violence.

As Latebirth began to breathe more easily, Linden moved to Frostheart Grueburn. Carefully she sealed rent vessels and ligaments so that Rime Coldspray could draw out the spear without too much loss of blood.

“I did not choose here,” Esmer replied like the soughing of winds that touched only him. “At Kastenessen’s behest, I endeavored to preserve the croyel. For your sake, I also strove to preserve your son. By imprisoning the boy’s gifts, I would betray you. By leaving him alive in your care, I would thwart Kastenessen. Thus I endeavored to perfect my excruciation.”

And Jeremiah’s torment in the croyel’s possession would have continued. Bitterly Linden began to lash out, flailing at Rime Coldspray’s hurts, and at Halewhole Bluntfist’s, as if she sought to punish them.

The Giants bore her vehemence in silence. Her harsh succor they endured as if it were a caamora.

“Yet on one occasion I did choose,” Esmer continued. “When I brought the ur-viles and their manacles to this time, I repudiated my grandsire. Will you deny that I have suffered for my deeds?”

He may have been asking Linden’s forgiveness. Helpless, he knelt with pleading like rain in his eyes. The fetters on his wrists bound every expression of his power.

Incensed and shaken, she tried to restrain herself. The Swordmainnir had hazarded their lives for her. For Jeremiah. For Covenant. They needed to be caressed with healing, not whipped. While she struggled to bind her heart to its task, she bathed Stormpast Galesend in swift flames. Then she returned to her starting place with Onyx Stonemage and began to work more meticulously, striving now for completeness.

Will you deny that I have suffered—?