Free Thomas Covenant 8 - The Fatal Revenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

her confrontation with Esmer.
    However, Kevin’s Dirt had blunted the Manethrall’s senses. And the Demondim-spawn were able to disguise their presence. If the shape of the hills contained the clamor—or if the sound of the river muffled it—he might be unaware of what transpired.
    -Keeping score’?” replied Esmer sardonically. -Count’? Such speech is
    unfamiliar to me. Nonetheless your meaning is plain. In the scales of your eyes, if by no other measure, my betrayals have outweighed my aid. You are ignorant of many things, Wildwielder. Were your misjudgments not cause for scorn, they would distress me.”
    She had often seen him look distressed when he spoke to her.
    “Stop it, Esmer,” she ordered flatly. “I’m
    tired of hearing you avoid simple honesty.” And she was painfully aware of her ignorance. “I called you because I need answers. You can start with the question I just asked. Why are these creatures here’?”
    A flicker that might have been uncertainty or glee disturbed the flowing disdain in his eyes. “And do you truly conceive that I have come in response to your summons? Do you imagine that you are in any fashion
    capable of commanding me?”
    Around Linden, the ur-viles and Waynhim yowled and snarled like wolves contending over a carcass. She could hardly recognize her own thoughts. As if to ready a threat of her own, she clenched her fists. “I said, stop it.”
    She wanted to be furious at him. Ire would have made her stronger. But her writhen nausea described his
    underlying plight explicitly. He could not reconcile his conflicting legacies, and behind his disdain was a rending anguish.
    More in exasperation than anger, she continued, “I don’t care whether I actually summoned you or not. If you aren’t going to answer my questions,” if he himself did not constitute an answer, “go away. Let your new allies do whatever they came to do.”
    Neither Esmer’s expression nor his manner changed. In the same mordant tone, he responded, “There speaks more ignorance, Wildwielder. These makings are not my ‘allies.’ Indeed, their mistrust toward me far surpasses your own.”
    He heaved a sarcastic sigh. You have heard me account for my actions, and for those of the ur-viles and Waynhim as well. Still you do not comprehend. I have not garnered these surviving
    remnants of their kind from the abysm of time in order to serve me. Nor would they accept such service for any cause. I have enabled their presence here, and they have accepted it, so that they may serve you.”
    “Serve me’?” Linden wanted to plead with the Demondim-spawn to lower their voices. Their shouting forced her to bark as roughly as they did. “How’?”
    Did they believe that less than a
    hundred Waynhim and ur-viles would suffice to drive back the Demondim? When that horde could draw upon the immeasurable bane of the II!earth Stone?
    “Wildwielder,” Esmer rasped, “it is my wish to speak truly. Yet I fear that no truth will content you.
    “Would it suffice to inform you, as I have done before, that these creatures perceive the peril of my nature, and are
    joined in their wish to guard against me? Would it appease you to hear that they now know their kindred accompanying you have discovered a purpose worthy of devoir, and that therefore they also desire to stand with you’?”
    “Oh, I can believe that,” she retorted. The ur-viles at her back had already shown more selfless devotion than she would have believed possible from the Despiser’s former vassals. The
    Waynhim had demonstrated that they were willing to unite with their ancient enemies for her sake. And none of the creatures on the hillside had raised anything more than their voices against each other. “But you’re right. I’m not ‘content.’
    “Why did you bring them here? What do you gain? Is this something that Cail would have done, or are you listening to Kastenessen?”
    In response, a brief flinch marred Esmer’s disdain. For an