Among her people, the Ironhand shared collective embraces, hugging the other Giants in clusters of two or three. From Latebirth, she received a double handful of fruit and meat, and began immediately to eat. Then she turned her attention to Linden, Covenant, and the Ardent.

Linden had no words for what she felt and feared; but Covenant seemed unable to contain himself. “Kindwind is right,” he growled to the Ardent. “Your people didn’t send you back just to convince us they can’t save you.

“There’s something you came to say. Something you still need to do.”

Abruptly the Ardent spasmed as if he had been struck by a galvanic shock. His head jerked up: his whole body flinched. In a completely different voice, compelled and straining, he said, “While you remain apart, events elsewhere conspire to thwart your defense of the Land.”

He seemed to quote someone else, mimicking someone else’s speech. “To the north of ancient Gravin Threndor, the Sandgorgons and the skurj have come together. It was our hope that they would expend their ferocity in mutual extermination. But our hope misled us. We misgauged the degree of Kastenessen’s mastery over the skurj, and the cunning of moksha Raver’s counsels, and the potency of those shreds of samadhi Sheol which endure among the Sandgorgons. Against all expectation, those monstrous beings have conjoined their strengths. Now they rampage together within Salva Gildenbourne, wreaking such a ruin of trees and verdure that you would weep to gaze upon it.”

For an instant, the geas of the Insequent appeared to slip. The Ardent slumped; staggered like a man scarcely able to stand. He chuckled softly as if his own grief amused him.

His announcement shocked Linden out of her recursive dismay. The truth was vivid in his voice.

—those monstrous beings—

“Stone and Sea!” growled Rime Coldspray: an appalled imprecation. Several of the other Giants cursed as well. A few moved to begin donning their armor.

—have conjoined their strengths.

Almost immediately, however, a fresh convulsion clenched the Ardent. “The devastation is wide and bitter,” he continued, “leaving naught but the reek of fouled ground in its wake. But it is not without purpose. Kastenessen may indeed be lost to forethought or tactic. Moksha is not. And samadhi comprehends his brother. The skurj and the Sandgorgons do not seek mere ravage. Nor is their savagery directed against sacred Andelain. Rather they strive toward Gravin Threndor.

“Do you comprehend this? They strive toward Gravin Threndor because you cannot meet the Worm of the World’s End while the vile theurgies of Kevin’s Dirt hamper the lady. But if you wish to quench Kevin’s Dirt, you must first master Kastenessen—and he has secreted himself within the Wightwarrens, where he draws upon the illimitable vehemence of She Who Must Not Be Named. Therefore—”

Harshly Covenant muttered, “I get it.”