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Iome believed wholeheartedly that she'd simply have withered and died。
That night； she called Sir Borenson to her to bestow her judgment。
To his credit； Borenson came the three miles without plaint； knelt at her feet on hands and knees； ready once again to offer his neck； should she desire it。 All around them had gathered thousands of knights and warriors。 Feelings among them were mixed； Iome could tell from their faces。 Some would have rent the man alive。 Others frowned thoughtfully； fearing that someday； under similar circumstances； they might find themselves in his position。
She could have outlawed him； stripped him of rank and protection。 She could have executed him on the spot。
〃Sir Borenson；〃 Iome said； 〃you have grievously injured House Sylvarresta。 Do you have anything to say in your own behalf？〃
Borenson just shook his head； his great red beard swaying above the dirt。 No。
〃Then I will speak in your behalf；〃 Iome said。 〃You may have injured House Sylvarresta； but you also have loved it； and you have served the people of Heredon。〃
Iome sighed； 〃Yet justice demands a penalty。 In ancient times； I am told； an act such as yours could be forgiven； should the offending knight plete an 'Act Penitent。' 〃
Iome found it hard to breathe； found it hard to speak these next words； though the idea had been given her by Binnesman； and it had seemed adequate at the time。 Now she wondered if it was too much。 An act of penitence should be something a man could hope to acplish； a great deed that would try his soul and let him grow。 Not a deed that would destroy a man。
She feared her sentence would break Borenson。 〃I sentence you to go south； beyond the lands of Inkarra。 I bid you find Daylan Hammer； the Sum of All Men； so that we can learn how best to defeat Raj Ahten。〃 An astonished gasp issued from the crowd of bystanders； followed quickly by whispers。
Borenson gave a little cough in surprise； looked up to Iome； then to Gaborn； who stood at her side。
〃How？ When？ I meanI am under oath to House Orden。〃
〃Then I release you from all oaths； Sir Borenson；〃 Gaborn said； 〃until your Act Penitent is plete。 You shall bee a Knight Equitable； answerable only to yourself； if you wish。〃
〃If I wish？〃 He seemed to consider。 He would have to travel through enemy countries； facing countless dangers； in some vain hope of finding a legend。 It was a deed that might take a man a lifetime。 Or more。 Time； for a man with endowments of metabolism； could pass so swiftly。
Borenson glanced over his shoulder at Myrrima。 If he accepted Iome's punishment； he'd have to leave her behind。 He might never see her again。 Myrrima's face was pale； etched with fear。 As a signal to him； she nodded； barely。
〃I accept your judgment；〃 Borenson answered uncertainly。 He got off his knees。
He no longer wore the livery of House Orden； and therefore had no need to strip himself of it。 But he took his shield； cut the bindings behind the wood； so that the leather covering came away； with its painted image of the green knight。 Beneath the leather covering； the shield was only blank steel riveted to a frame of wood。
〃When will you leave？〃 Gaborn asked； clapping Borenson on the back。
Borenson shrugged； glanced at Myrrima。 〃Two weeks； four at the most。 Before the mountains fill with snow。〃
After he has had time to wed； Iome realized。
She saw the calculating gaze that Gaborn gave； knew he wanted to go with Borenson。
But Gaborn's duties would hold him here in the North。
The next morning at dawn； Gaborn prepared a wagon to carry the bodies of the kings back to Castle Sylvarresta。 There； Sylvarresta would be buried； while Gaborn's father would be embalmed and shipped back home to Mystarria。
With the bodies； Gaborn secreted ten large boxes of forcibles； covered in soil from the gardens at Bredsfor Manor。
Gaborn oversaw the whole affair。 The camp had bee busy since dawn； with thousands of warriors striking their tents in preparation to leave； others still ing in from around Heredon。
When Gaborn had finished loading the bodies and checked the wagon's wheels and undercarriage to see if they could hold the heavy load； he got up to find that a small crowd had gathered。 Locals who had lived here at Longmont。
〃We e to ask you；〃 a sturdy farmer said； 〃if you'll be willing to take our endowments。〃
〃Why do you e to me？〃 Gaborn asked。
〃You'll be our king；〃 a young man in the crowd spoke up。
〃You've got gold；〃 the farmer said。 〃You can pay。 We don't ask much； only that you care for our families； keep them through the winter。 I'm a strong man。 Been working all my life。 I could sell you my brawn。 And my son over therenever has been sick a day。 You could use him。〃
Gaborn shook his head sadly。 〃There will be gold enough for you without selling your endowments。〃 Gaborn spoke loudly； so that all the crowd could hear。 〃I'll need men to rebuild this fortress。 I'll pay you well for your labor。 Bring your families for the winter； and stay in the buildings that still stand。 Every man of you will have beef for your children； and bread in your bellies。〃 He thought to promise them moreacorns and mushrooms； deer and boar； all the fruits of the forest and of the fields。 〃You can work some days for me； others for yourselves； so you may build your own homes。 I won't buy endowments from a man in need。〃
〃And what about the rest of us who want you to fight for us？〃 an older man asked。 〃I've got no family。 I'm too old to swing a warhammer。 But you can have my wits。 They're sharp as ever。 I'll fight with you as I can。〃
Gaborn looked out over the crowd。 This was the only kind of man he'd be willing to take endowments from； a man who knew that this was an act of war； that giving himself was a mitment to be made in deadly earnest。 Yet Gaborn did not want any endowments； thought to wait before taking them until spring or some far future day。 Still； he knew that Raj Ahten was not far away； and might still send assassins。 These people needed a lord； and Gaborn needed their aid。
〃How many of the rest of you feel as this man does？〃 Gaborn asked。
As one； some fifty men and women shouted； 〃I！〃
That day； Gaborn and Iome rode with five hundred lords and knights back to Castle Sylvarresta on force horses。
At each village and town； they slowed their movements and let the heralds announce their presence： the Earth King； Gaborn Val Orden； and his bride…to…be； Iome Sylvarresta。 By now； the word of the rise of an Earth King had been shouted along almost every road in Heredon； and was making its way through the neighboring countries of Fleeds and South Crowthen； besides。
And before the King and Queen rode the wizard Binnesman； with an oak branch in his hand。
At every village； the children stared in awe and grinned at Gaborn； the young king。 The wooden effigies of the Earth King all adorned the doors and windows of every house； and the faces of the children were all filled with joy； for this day marked more than the defeat of Raj Ahten。 This was the first day of Hostenfest； and finally； after 1629 years； a new Earth King walked the land； one who could bless his people as did the great king of old。
And though children greeted Gaborn in awe