The Kemper bowed unkindly to his gaddhi, then stepped into the cell, closed the iron door. As he came down the stairs, the intensity of his visage was focused on Linden; and the yellowness of his robe and his teeth seemed to concentrate toward her like a presage of his geas.
She made a resolute effort of self-command, looked to verify what she had seen earlier. It was true: like Covenant, the Kemper's infant was visible to her superficial sight but not to her deeper perceptions.
“My friends,” Kasreyn said, addressing all the company but gazing only at Linden, “I will not delay. I am eager.” Rheum
glazed his eyes like cataracts. “Aye, eager.” He stepped over Covenant to stand before her. “You have foiled me as you were able, but now you are ended.” Spittle reflected a glode of light at one corner of his mouth. “Now I will have the white gold.”
She stared back at him direly. Her companions stood still, studying her and the Kemper-all except Honninscrave, who did not interrupt his exertions even for Kasreyn of the Gyre.
“I do not maze you.” His tongue quickly licked his lips. “Well, it may not be denied that to some degree I have slighted your true measure. But no more.” He retreated slightly to her left. “Linden Avery, you will grant the white gold to me.”
Clenching herself rigid-awaiting her opportunity-Linden rasped mordantly, “You're crazy.”
He cocked an eyebrow like a gesture of scorn. “Am I, indeed? Harken — and consider. I desire this Thomas Covenant to submit his ring into my hand. Such submission must be a matter of choice, and there is a veil in his mind which inures him to all choice. Therefore this veil must be pierced, that I may wrest the choice I desire from him.” Abruptly, he stabbed a bony finger at Linden. “You will pierce it for me.”
At that, her heart leaped. But she strove to conceal her tension, did not let her angry glare waver. Articulating each word precisely, she uttered an obscene refusal.
His eyes softened like an anticipation of lust. Quietly, he asked, “Do you deny me?”
She remained silent as if she did not deign to reply. Only the regular gasp and clatter of Honninscrave's efforts denned the stillness. She almost hoped that Kasreyn would use his ocular on her. She felt certain that she would be unable to enter Covenant at all if she were in the grip of the Kemper's geas.
But he appeared to understand the folly of coercing her with theurgy. Without warning, he whirled, lashed a vicious kick at Ceer's bloody knee.
The unexpected blow wrung pain through Ceer's teeth. For a moment, his ambience faded as if he were about to faint.
The First sprang against her manacles. Seadreamer tried to swipe at Kasreyn, but could not reach him.
The Kemper faced Linden again. His voice was softer than before. “Do you deny me?”
Tremors built toward shuddering in her. She let them rise, let herself ache so that she might convince him. “If I let you persuade me like that, Brinn and Cail will kill me.”
Deep within herself, she begged him to believe her. Another such blow would break her. How could she go on spending Ceer's agony to prevent the Kemper from guessing her intent?
“They will not live to lift finger against you!” barked Kasreyn in sudden anger. But a moment later he recollected himself. “Yet no matter,” he went on with renewed gentleness. “I have other suasions.” As he spoke, he moved past Vain until he was standing near Covenant's feet. Only the Demondim-spawn was able to ignore him. He held the company in a grasp of horror.
He relished their abomination. Slowly, he raised his right arm.
As he did so, Covenant rose from the floor, jerking erect as if he had been pulled upright by the band around his throat.
Kasreyn moved his hand in a circular gesture from the end of his thin wrist. Covenant turned. His eyes saw nothing. Controlled by the golden neckpiece, he was as blank as his aura. His shirt was stained with death. He went on turning until Kasreyn motioned for him to stop.
The sight nearly snapped Linden's resolve. That Covenant should be so malleable in the Kemper's hands! Whatever harms he had committed, he did not deserve this indignity. And he had made restitution! No man could have striven harder to make restitution. In Coercri he had redeemed the Unhomed Dead. He had once defeated Lord Foul. And he had done everything conceivable for Linden herself. There was no justice in his plight. It was evil.
Evil
Tears coursed hotly down her cheeks like the acid of her mortality.
With a flick of his wrist, Kasreyn sent Covenant toward her.
Fighting her manacles, she tried to fend him away. But he forced himself past her hands, thrust forward to plant a cold dead kiss on her groaning mouth. Then he retreated a step. With his half-hand, he struck her a blow that made her whole face burn.
The Kemper recalled him. He obeyed, as lifeless as a marionette. Kasreyn was still gazing at Linden. Malice bared his old teeth. In a voice of hunger, he said, “Do you see that my command upon him is complete?”
She nodded. She could not help herself. Soon Kasreyn would be able to instruct her as easily as he used Covenant.
“Then witness.” The Kemper made complex gestures; and Covenant raised his hands, turned his fingers inward like claws. They dug into the flesh around his eyes.
“If you do not satisfy me”-Kasreyn's voice jumped avidly — “I will command him to blind himself.”
That was enough. She could not bear any more. Long quivers of fury ran through all her muscles. She was ready now.
Before she could acquiesce, a prodigious effort tore a howl from Honninscrave's chest. With impossible strength, he ripped the chain binding his left arm from its bracket; and the chain cracked outward like a flail. Driven by all the force of his immense exertion, it struck Kasreyn in the throat.
The blow pitched the Kemper backward. He fell heavily on the steps, tumbled to the floor. There he lay still. So much iron and strength must have shattered every bone in his neck. Linden's vision leaped toward him, saw that he was dead. The fact stunned her. For an instant, she hardly realised that he was not bleeding.
The First let out a savage cry. “Stone and Sea, Honninscrave! Bravely done!”
But a moment later Kasreyn twitched. His limbs shifted. Slowly, stiffly, he climbed to his hands and knees, then to his feet. An instant ago, he had had no pulse: now his heart beat with renewed vigour. Strength flowed back into him. He turned to face the company. He was grinning like a promise of murder.
Linden gaped at him, horrified. The First swore weakly.
The infant on his back was smiling sweetly in its sleep.
He looked at Honninscrave. The Giant sagged against the wall in near exhaustion. But his intent glare warned plainly that with one hand free he would soon be free altogether.
“My friend,” the Kemper said tightly, “your death will be one to surpass your most heinous fears.”
Honninscrave responded with a gasping snarl. But Kasreyn remained beyond reach of the Master's chain.
Slowly, the Kemper shifted his attention away from Honninscrave. Facing Linden, he repeated, "If you do not satisfy me.“ Only the tautness of his voice betrayed that anything had happened to him. ”I will command him to blind himself."
Covenant had not moved. He still stood with his fingers poised to gouge out his eyes.
Linden cast one last long look at his terrible defenselessness. Then she let herself sag. How could she fight a man who was able to rise from the dead? “You'll have to take that band off his neck. It blocks me,”
Cail surged against his chains. “Chosen!” the First cried in protest. Pitchwife gaped dismay at her.