Covenant is back in the "real" world for about three weeks and things are getting out of hand.  Someone from the town sets fire to his barn.  He decides that he needs some human company so he hikes to the next town.  While there the singer seems to recognize him and calls him Berek, which is the name of the person from the Land that he is supposed to be the reincarnation of.  He's picked up by the Sheriff and is taken back to his house.  His phone rings and his wife Joan in on the other end but he trips and falls and hits his head on the coffee table.

When he awakens, he is in the Land once again.  He finds that, although it has been only four or five weeks for him, more than forty years have passed in the Land.  He has been summoned there by Elena, the new High Lord.  He also meets Hile Troy, a person that was summoned by mistake when Atiaran (Lena's mother from Lord Foul's Bane) was attempting to summon him back.  Hile Troy was born with no eyes and worked in a military think tank.  His grasp of spatial geometry enabled him to create strategies that most other people couldn't.  He had made it through the ranks to become Warmark.

Covenant is given a sword called the krill by Elena that belonged to Loric.  Covenant did not want the gift and smashed it down into a table.  The gem glows when it contacts his ring and sticks into the table fast.  Elena tells Covenant that she his his daughter from the rape of Lena from Covenant's last visit.

The Council of the Lord gathers to make arrangements for a journey to Seareach to determine the fate of the silent Giants.  They are visited by a man named Amok during this meeting.  He has been sent by Kevin of old to impart answers since the krill has been reactivated.  When discovering that it was reactivated too soon, he disappears.

Much later Revelstone is visited by a Ramen.  She brings news that Lord Foul's army is on the move and that it is being led by a Giant.  The army of Revelstone has the news too late and they must march a hard march in order to make a stand at Doom's Retreat.  On their way they stop at Revelwood to make preparations with the Loresraat.  While there they are again visited by Amok who says that the Lands need made him stay and offer his services to the Lords.  It is discovered that he knows where the Seventh Ward of Lord Kevin is.  High Lord Elena and Covenant leave with two Bloodguard to seek the Ward while the rest of the army move to Doom's Retreat. 

At Mithil Stonedown Hile Troy goes to Kevin's Watch to see the movement of Lord Foul's army.  They are visited by a Bloodguard at Kevin's Watch from the journey to Seareach.  He tells a tell of the murder of the Giants and how the triplets that were born earlier had been taken over by the Ravers.  In the morning, Hile Troy is overwhelmed by the size of Lord Foul's army and can see his advance troops being decimated as they are retreating to Doom's Retreat.  He almost gives up but Mhoram gives him reason to hope.  They move out to Doom's Retreat.  He orders his army from there to the edge of Garroting Deep where Mhoram calls the Forestall.  Hile Troy promises the Forestall anything and the Raver if he will give him and his army free passage through the forest.  They make it to the Gallowing Howe where they meet the hanging body of the Raver Giant and the Forestall.  They also see Bannor and Covenant come into the clearing as well.

Covenant and Elena had made it to the Seventh Ward which contained the Power of Command.  Elena drank of the Earthblood and called forth Lord Kevin from the dead to battle Lord Foul.  He is immediately corrupted by the Illearth Stone and sent back to kill High Lord Elena.  They battle and Covenant is unable to save Elena.  He and Bannor escape to Garroting Deep.  Hile Troy, who has loved Elena, learns that Covenant is her father and hits him across the forehead with one of the Lords staffs.  Covenant offers his ring to Hile Troy in order to save Elena but the Forestall will not allow it.  It is time for Hile Troy to make good his bargain.  The Forestall turns him into a tree and tells him that he will become the Forestall's apprentice and become a new Forestall eventually.  Covenant begins to fade as Elena finally succumbs to the dead Kevin.

Lord Hyrim stepped forward, planted his staff, said bravely, "Come no closer, turiya Raver.  I am Hyrim, Lord of the Council of Revelstone.  Melenkurion abatha!  Duroc minas mill khabaal!  I will not let you pass."

The Giant winced as Lord Hyrim uttered the Words of power.  But then he laughed again.  "Hah!  Little Lord!  Is that the limit of your lore?  Can you come no closer than that to the Seven Words?  You pronounce them badly.  But I must admit - you have recognized me.  I am turiya Harem.  But we have new names now, my brothers and I.  There is Fleshharrower, and Satansfist.  And I am named Kinslaughterer."

At this, the older Giant groaned heavily.  The Raver glanced into the back of the cell, and said in a tone of satisfaction, "Ah, there he is.  Little Lord, I see that you have been speaking with Sparlimb Keelsetter.  Did he tell you that he is my father?  Father, why do you not welcome your son?"