The Last Dark: The climax of the entire Thomas Covenant Chronicles (Last Chronicles of Thomas Cove)

prostrated himself before her as if she had become his suzerain, as honored as a Ranyhyn.
    “Bhapa—” Linden’s voice broke. “Oh, Bhapa.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “What are you doing? What’s happened to you?”
    Severely the Cord rose to his knees. After studying her face for a moment, he stood. Dampness softened his gaze, but his manner did not relent. He spoke as if he were offering a pledge.
    “Linden Avery, Ringthane and Chosen, I cry your pardon. I will account for my deeds. But I must first assure you that Cord Pahni is innocent of fault. She spoke as she did at my command. The blame of the outcome is mine and no other’s.”
    Clarion as a whinny, Pahni announced, “He has become my Manethrall. He has honored my life with service. Where he leads, I follow gladly.”
    God in Heaven, Covenant thought. What have you done?
    Linden bit her lip again, struggling to contain a torrent of emotions.
    Just for an instant, Jeremiah looked like he wanted to put his arms around her. But he caught himself, stepped back. He had known Bhapa and Pahni only for a short time—and only through the veil of the
croyel
’s derision. He did not know how to interpret what was happening.
    Frowning, Handir had contained himself while the Cords preceded him. Now he spoke.
    “I am Handir,” he said in an astringent tone, “by right of years and attainment the Voice of the Masters. Much lies between us. It must be answered.
    “We have learned to our cost that our discernment cannot pierce the glamour of Corruption’s servants. Here we behold one who appears to be the ur-Lord, yet we have seen his like before. We require some assurance that he is indeed the ur-Lord rather than a new display of glamour.”
    Linden flinched. Disapproval spread among the Swordmainnir. Branl allowed himself a scowl. Stave’s mouth tightened.
    But Covenant responded first. Handir’s challenge brought back his anger in a rush.
    “Oh, stop,” he snarled. “Branl must have told you who I am. Are you so sick with suspicion that you can’t even trust one of the Humbled? The
last
of the Humbled?
    “Here, I’ll show you.”
    Fiercely he stamped toward Jeremiah. To Jeremiah’s surprise, Covenant slapped his halfhand onto the black wood, gripped it for a moment. Then he wheeled to face Handir again.
    “Do you remember the test of truth? I thought you remembered everything. When Roger was pretending to be me, he didn’t let Linden use the Staff. Hell, he didn’t even let her touch him. Now she’s my wife. My
wife
, do you understand?”
    The
Haruchai
were passionate about their mates—
    Through his teeth, Covenant gritted, “I don’t know what’s bothering you people. I don’t really care. You want answers? If you keep this up, you’ll all answer to
me
.”
    Then he stopped. Handir’s evident satisfaction silenced him. Now he realized that Handir’s demand had served an oblique purpose. Inadvertently Covenant had just confirmed Handir’s authority; his right to judge.
    It was possible that Handir had not doubted Covenant’s identity—
    The idea made Covenant reel. What had Bhapa and Pahni told the Masters?
    With a defiance of his own, Stave said impassively, “Be at ease, Timewarden. The Masters crave stone, yet they stand upon quicksand. They are indeed misled. Uncertain of his devoir, Handir masks his deeper apprehensions.”
    The Voice of the Masters did not react to Stave’s assertion.
    “Then get to it,” Covenant told Handir. “At least one of us will by God answer your questions.”
    Deliberately Vortin and Samil moved to stand beside their leader. They appeared to ask or expect Branl to join them; but the Humbled remained with Covenant and Linden, Jeremiah and Stave.
    Sensitive to the tensions in the cave, Bluff Stoutgirth took his crew aside; out of the way. Glowering, Rime Coldspray did the same with her comrades, although the Swordmainnir plainly wanted to defend their friends. The cordon of the Masters tightened around them all. Within it, Pahni remained nearby, apparently waiting. But Bhapa stood with his back to Handir, facing Covenant and Linden. Again Covenant felt the force of the former Cord’s new demeanor, his earned severity.
    “Cord,” Handir said harshly: a reprimand or a warning.
    Bhapa ignored him.
    “Ringthane and Timewarden,” the older Raman began, precise as a garrote, “the wrath of the Masters is mine to endure. You had no part in their misapprehension. Their umbrage rests, not upon a