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

Covenant opposes Roger with the
krill
, and while they struggle, Esmer suddenly takes Roger to safety. Esmer then announces that the company’s actions have awakened an ancient bane, a sentient and eternal being called She Who Must Not Be Named. Now She is rising to devour the company.
    Desperately Linden and her companions try to flee, bringing succubus-ridden Jeremiah and a helpless Covenant, whose awareness of his circumstances has been blocked by Esmer. But while the company, led by ur-viles and Waynhim, scrambles to escape, Linden falls prey to the bane indirectly: believing herself to be invaded by worms and maggots, she collapses into unconsciousness. However, Covenant’s love for her enables him to overcome Esmer’s influence. With the aid of the Dead—who sacrifice the spectre of Elena, Covenant’s daughter—he forestalls the bane until the Ardent is able to transport the company away.
    On the Lower Land a considerable distance from Mount Thunder, the companions try to recover. All are exhausted, and Linden is trapped in nightmares, unable to regain consciousness. Dismayed by her condition, Covenant takes a desperate risk: he holds her underwater, hoping that the sensations of drowning will bring her back to herself. Fortunately his gamble succeeds.
    The Ardent informs the company that he has caused his own death by interfering with the Harrow. Before he passes away, however, he supplies the company with food. Later he also transports the Ramen Cords, Pahni and Bhapa, to Revelstone so that they can try to win the support of the Masters.
    When the companions have regained some of their strength, Linden attempts to free Jeremiah from the
croyel
by entering his mind: a graveyard where all of his thoughts and desires are buried. She fails; and before anyone can try a different approach, the company is attacked by
caesures
. In the confusion, Liand tries to use his
orcrest
stone against the
croyel
; but Anele—suddenly possessed by Kastenessen—kills the young villager.
    A different attack soon follows: Roger and a host of Cavewights are joined by Esmer. Although the Swordmainnir and the
Haruchai
fight furiously, they are vastly outnumbered. But ur-viles and Waynhim respond by rendering Esmer helpless with their manacles. Now sane, Anele challenges the
croyel
with the
orcrest
. And when the Humbled Galt unexpectedly sacrifices himself to preserve Anele, Anele is able to destroy the succubus. The effort kills the old man, but not before he transfers his legacy of Earthpower to Jeremiah.
    To save the company, Linden uses wild magic, wreaking terrible carnage even though she is not a rightful white gold wielder. In the aftermath, Esmer begs her to kill him. But she cannot: she has done too much killing. However, Stave—Galt’s father—spares her by using the
krill
to end Esmer’s life.
    Later Covenant leaves the company, taking only the remaining Humbled, Clyme and Branl, with him. He intends to confront Joan in an effort to end her torment and stop the
caesures
; and he is unwilling to risk Linden against a rightful white gold wielder. Also he believes that Jeremiah still needs her. The boy is no longer possessed, but he remains buried in his long dissociation.
    Stricken by Covenant’s departure, Linden and her companions decide to let the Ranyhyn choose their destination. After an encounter with the lurker of the Sarangrave, a wetland monster with terrifying appetites and strengths, the great horses run, taking Linden, Jeremiah, and Stave ahead of the exhausted Giants and Manethrall Mahrtiir. After many leagues, the three reach a crater full of the bones of ancient monsters. There Jeremiah begins to build one of his constructs while Linden defends him from
caesures
. But then Infelice arrives, intending to kill the boy because she believes that he will devise a prison for the
Elohim
—and because she knows that Lord Foul wants to use Jeremiah’s talent to imprison the Creator. However, Stave’s strength of will enables him to distract Infelice; and with Linden’s help, Jeremiah completes his construct. When he enters it, he emerges with his mind restored.
    Meanwhile Covenant and the Humbled travel toward Ridjeck Thome, where Covenant first defeated Lord Foul. Along the way, they encounter the Feroce, worshippers of the lurker, who offer Covenant a bargain: they will help him overcome Joan’s defenders if he will try to preserve the lurker from the Worm. Knowing that he cannot protect the lurker