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

force of Brinn’s acquired theurgy kept him from crumpling. Never in life had Brinn of the
Haruchai
called him
friend
.
    Sudden woe and rue and gratitude clogged his throat. He had to choke them down before he was able to inquire hoarsely, “What are you doing here?”
    At the Isle of the One Tree, Brinn had told him,
That is the grace which has been given to you, to bear what must be borne
. Surely now Covenant had reached the limit of what he could be expected to endure?
    Still Brinn did not glance at either of the Humbled. His attention belonged to Covenant alone. Speaking more sternly, as if he were setting friendship aside, he replied, “All things exist organically. This you know, Unbeliever. As one swells, another dwindles. As the Worm of death rises, the Tree of life declines.” A lift of his hand referred to the heavens. “After long ages of slumber, the Worm now draws nigh unto the Land, seeking its final sustenance. In natural consequence, the One Tree expires to its roots. Thus I am freed of my Guardianship.
    “Alas, my powers diminish as the Tree fails. I am made less by the deaths of stars and
Elohim
. And it was never my task to preserve the Worm’s sleep, except by protecting the One Tree. I have no virtue to oppose the World’s End. Nor am I permitted to do so, regardless of the leanings of my heart. That burden is yours, Unbeliever, as it is the Chosen’s as well, and also her son’s. Together you must save or damn the Earth, as it was foretold in the time of the Old Lords.”
    Then the
ak-Haru
’s manner softened until it resembled his gaze. “Yet I will not disregard the leanings of my heart. When I had achieved the stewardship of the One Tree, and you were thereby grieved, I assured you that good would come of it, when there was need. That promise I fain would honor. Therefore have I journeyed hither while some small portion of my strength endures, bringing both gifts and counsel. Mayhap thereafter I will also be able to perform a service or grant a boon, if my life does not fray and fall in the attempt.”
    Covenant went on staring as though he had been made witless. Part of him heard hope in every word. Part of him had already fled toward Linden, thinking, Gifts? Counsel? A chance to make things right with her? And part of him remained stunned, too astonished to comprehend anything. Brinn had come like a figure in a dream. In another moment, he would depart in the same fashion, with the same effectlessness.
    But the Guardian of the One Tree did not appear to take offense at Covenant’s silence. His affection seemed to accept every facet of Covenant’s condition. Nodding at what he saw, the
ak-Haru
took one step back from the
krill
. Then at last he looked at Branl and Clyme, still half kneeling, still bowing their heads in homage.
    Now his mien darkened. Lines of anger tightened his visage.
    “First, however,” he pronounced severely, “I will deliver myself of a reprimand which has long festered within me, tainting my regard for those whom I must name my people.
    “
Haruchai
, Masters, Humbled, I have come to reproach you.”
    At once, Clyme and Branl arose. The manner in which they surged to their feet and folded their arms conveyed surprise and indignation. In every line, their stances offered defiance.
    Stolid as a graven image, Branl stated, “You are the
ak-Haru
who was once named
Kenaustin Ardenol
, though you are now Brinn of the
Haruchai
. We do not lightly gainsay you. If you have cause to reproach us, however, you discern some fault which we do not find in ourselves.
    “The weakness of uncertainty we acknowledge. Failure we likewise acknowledge. Against our given word, we have permitted Desecration, upon occasion because we were opposed by those whom we esteem, and upon occasion because the ur-Lord Thomas Covenant commanded it. Yet we have stood as Halfhands at his side. For his sake, we have dared the Lost Deep and She Who Must Not Be Named and Esmer
mere
-son. We have confronted the
skurj
and Cavewights and the Unbeliever’s own misbegotten scion. We have entered into a Fall, hazarding endless banishment from time and life, and have there given aid to the ur-Lord when he could not aid himself.
    “You are the
ak-Haru
. Would you have done otherwise in our place? Wherefore will you reproach us?”
    Brinn dismissed Branl’s protest with a soft snort. “Your valor is beyond aspersion,” he answered as if such things were trivial. Thunderclouds of ire seemed to