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〃That is right；〃 Binnesman said。 〃So you are familiar with the old scrolls。 Then you know that the duskins were great wizards。 Beside such； my power is nothing。 Theirs were the powers of deep earthof the shaping of things； of preservation。 Mine is the power of the shallow earthof the use of herbs and growing things。
〃Long ago； the reaver mages made war on the Underworld； slaughtering the duskins。 The duskins could not adequately defend themselves。 In time they knew they would be destroyed； and that the reavers would also seek to destroy mankind。 So they sought to protect us； give us time to grow。 They raised the obalin of the Dunnwood； channeled life into them。
〃In time； they were called the Seven Standing Stones。 With eyes of stone they have watched the deep places of the world for us。
〃Often have the obalin whispered to our kings； warning of the presence of reavers。 But the obalin's voices can only be heard by those attuned to the Earth。 Thus； among men； those most sensitive to earth powers have been chosen as kings。
〃Surely； you； Raj Ahten； have felt urges that warned you to send your warriors to battle the reavers。 You have been adept at thwarting them。 Until now！ Now the childhood of mankind is past。 The reaver mages of the Underworld are free！〃
Raj Ahten stood thoughtfully through Binnesman's lesson。 〃I've fought reavers well enough in the past。 But I fear that you put too much trust in your stones。 The duskins never imagined the Runelords； nor guessed the power we would wield。 It does not matter that a stone has fallen in the Dunnwood； any more than it matters that a leaf has fallen。〃
Binnesman said； 〃Do not speak lightly of them。 The obalin were more than mere stone； more by far。〃 He looked down reverently。 〃But you； Raj Ahten； must fear the reavers that infest your borders。 Perhaps you do not guess the full extent of the threat。 When the obalin lived； one could learn much by touching them。 Perhaps here is something you did not know： The reavers are in Kartish。〃
In Kartish were the blood…metal mines。 If the reavers captured them。。。
Binnesman continued； 〃In your gullibility you've allied yourself with flameweavers； for they are strong in war。 But it is no accident that reavers also serve fire。 Nor was it an accident that a reaver came tonight and administered a deadly wound to the last of the obalin in an effort to hurry the end of man。〃
Binnesman turned his back to Raj Ahten； as if no longer concerned with him； and said； 〃Yet； there are greater powers than those wielded by flame…weavers。〃
Raj Ahten stepped toward Gaborn cautiously； as if he considered moving in to attack。 Of the warriors here； only Raj Ahten had never taken an endowment from a dog。 Thus； only he could have withstood Binnesman's dogbane。 Certainly； the wizard and his rabble were no match for Raj Ahten。
〃Hold；〃 Binnesman said； whirling。 〃Let no man even think of harming another on this ground。 This place is strong in the earth power； and such power must be used to protect life； to save it。 Not to take it。〃
To Jureem's surprise； Raj Ahten halted in his advance； sheathed his weapon。 Yet as Jureem considered； he realized that the wizard's words had held a pelling tone。 〃Let no man even think of harming another on this ground。。。〃
Binnesman held Raj Ahten with his eyes。 〃You say you want my help in fighting the reavers。 Very well。 I will help you； if you will join me。 Give up your forcibles。 Join us in our quest to serve the earth； Raj Ahten。 Let its powers sustain you。〃
Raj Ahten countered the offer： 〃Convince King Orden to give the forcibles back into my hands。 Then we shall see。。。〃
Sadly； Binnesman shook his head。 〃You would not join us even then； I believe。 You do not want so much to fight the reavers as you want the glory that would e from defeating them。〃
Gaborn stepped forward and said earnestly。 〃Raj Ahten； please； listen to reason。 The earth needs you。 Serve the earth； as I do。 I am sure that if I talk to my father； we can work out a plan。 We can divide the forcibles among both nations； so that none need fear the other。。。〃
Gaborn stood； trembling； as if afraid to offer even this much。 Obviously the young man doubted his ability to carry off such a scheme。 Yet he seemed so earnest； every bit as earnest as the wizard。
Raj Ahten dismissed Gaborn's offer without a reply and said to Binnesman； 〃You are right。 I will not join you； Earth Wardennot because I seek honor； but because you serve the snakes and field mice as much as you do mankind。 I do not trust you。 Our affairs matter nothing to you。〃 When he spoke of snakes and field mice； Raj Ahten glanced contemptuously toward young Prince Orden。
〃Ah； but the affairs of men matter very much to me；〃 Binnesman said。 〃In my estimation； men may be no greater than field mice； but certainly men are no less。〃
Raj Ahten said in a seductive voice； 〃Then serve me。〃
Binnesman leapt up on a fallen obalin with all the energy of a young man。 He stared down among the tiny white flowers that shone in the starlight； there among the circle of stones； and with a motion bade Prince Orden and the others to step back。
He said to Raj Ahten。 〃You seek to use me as a weapon； but it is given to me only to protect。 You lack faith in the power that I serve。 Here then。 Let me show you a weapon。。。〃
Jureem thought that the wizard would uncover some staff of power that lay hidden in the grass； or perhaps some ancient unbreakable sword。
Binnesman's manner suddenly became somber； and he swung his staff above his head in three slow arcs； then reached down and； with its tip； pointed a few feet ahead。
Suddenly a long swath of grass tore its roots away from the ground。
There； on the dark earth； Jureem could discern what looked like bones； as if something had died here in ages past； and had lain rotting under the ground。
But as he peered closer； Jureem saw that these were not bonesmerely stones and sticks and roots that had been hidden。 They appeared to be laid out in the form of a man。 Jureem saw it first as Binnesman drew near a stone shaped like a head。 Yellowed boars' tusks were arranged around the stone skull； like enormous teeth。 There were dark holes in the stone； as if for eyes。
As Jureem studied； he saw that other stones made up the bones of hands； the horns of oxen splayed out from them like claws。
But if these stones and pieces of tree limb formed the skeleton of a man； then it was a strange man。 Tendrils of roots lay among the stones and spars； forming odd networks； like veins running through the huge skeleton。
Binnesman raised his staff。 The oaks along the hills suddenly seemed to hiss。 Wind stirred the high branches； so that leaves seemed to give voice。 Yet here in the glade； the air was perfectly still。
Terror filled Jureem； for he could feel earth power rising； as if at some unspoken request； from the stone beneath the ground； filling this little field。
Binnesman again waved his staff high in slow circles as he chanted；
〃War is brooding。 Peace is gone； here upon the glade。 Earth is breathing。 Life is born； from covenants long made。''
Binnesman stopped moving his staff about； and stared hard at the pile of stones and wood。 He breathed heavily； as if speaking these few words had cost him dear。
The cadence of the chant was lost as Binnesman stared fixedly at the ground。 He whispered to the dirt； 〃I've served the earth； and always shall。 My life I give。 Grant life to my creation。 Grant a portion of the life I lost。〃
In that moment； a strange and horrifying transformation occurred。 A light； the color of emerald； began glowing brightly in Binnesman's chest； became a brilliant ball that exploded from him and smote the ground before him like a meteorite。
In that moment； in an infinite moment； Binnesman screamed in pain and clutched his staff； suddenly leaning against it to hold him upright。 The fireflies on the staff all flew up and buzzed about； so that Jureem could see the wizard easily。
Binnesman's hair； which had been a nutty brown with streaks of gray； suddenly turned silver in the starlight。 He leaned on the staff like a bent old man。 His green cloak in that moment became washed in red； the russet shades of leaves in autumn； as if the wizard were some color…changing chameleon on the wall of Raj Ahten's Southern palace。
Jureem gasped； realizing what had happened： The old wizard had given years of his life to that pile of sticks and bones at his feet。
The earth surged as if in gratitude for his gift； emitted a groaning sound； as of timbers moving。
If there were words in that noise； Jureem did not understand them。 But Binnesman listened； as if the earth spoke to him。 Then his manner became grave。
He struggled slowly to lift his staff； looking weary almost to death； then began to wave his staff in circles again； and sparks now flew up from it in a blazing cloud。 Binnesman chanted；
〃Dark flows your blood。 Bright knit are your bones。 Your heart is beating within the stone。 Day lights your eyes； and fills your mind with thoughts of teeth and claws that rend。〃
On the ground； the stones and horns and roots began to shiver and tremble。 The spars that formed the bones of an arm rolled backward a pace。 Binnesman threw his st