| Chapter 6: Winter in Combat |
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"Ring-wielder," he said, "with four other rhysh we have come to give battle to the arghuleh."
"Battle?" Covenant demanded sharply. He had always known the Waynhim as creatures of peace. "Yes." Hamako had traveled a journey to this place which could not be measured in leagues. "That is our intent." Covenant started to expostulate. Hamako stopped him with a firm gesture. "Though the Waynhim serve peace," he said carefully, "they have risen to combat when their Weird required it of them. Thomas Covenant. I have spoken to you concerning that Weird. The Waynhim are made creatures. They have not the justification of birth for their existence, but from this trunk grow no boughs but two--the way of the ur-viles, who loathe what they are and seek forever power and knowledge to become what they are not, and the way of the Waynhim, who strive to give value to what they are through service to what they are not, to the birth by Law and beauty of the life of the Land. This you know." |