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Gaborn dared not touch it。 Even going near the bushes made his lungs feel constricted； his eyes water。 But Binnesman walked up to a low bush that held a few wilting； yellow flowers。 He pulled off some leaves； taking no harm。
The kitchen maid would not draw close； either。 Though she could feel nothing； she had grown careful。
The herbalist looked back at Gaborn； and whispered； 〃You do not need to fear it。〃
But Gaborn knew better。
Binnesman reached down to his feet。 〃Here。〃 He picked a handful of rich； loamy soil； placed it in Gaborn's palm。
〃I want you to make a mitment；〃 Binnesman said； in that special way that let Gaborn know this was serious； that much depended on how he answered。 He spoke each word with gravity and ceremony； almost chanting。
Gaborn felt dazed by all that had happened； frightened。 As he took the soil in his hand； he felt almost as if the ground wrenched beneath his feet。 He was suddenly so weary。 The soil seemed tremendously heavy in his palm； as if it contained hidden stones of enormous weight。
The wizard is right； Gaborn thought。 This is not mon ground。
〃Repeat after me： I； Gaborn Val Orden； swear to the earth； that I will never harm the earth； that I dedicate myself to the preservation of a seed of humanity in the dark season to e。〃
Binnesman stared into Gaborn's eyes； unblinking； and waited； with bated breath； for Gaborn to speak the vow。
Something inside Gaborn trembled。 He felt the soil in his hand； felt。。。a tickling at the back of his consciousness； a presence； a powerful presence。
It was the same great presence he'd recognized yesterday； in Bannisferre； when he'd felt the impulse to ask his bodyguard Borenson to marry the beautiful Myrrima。
Only now that presence came immensely stronger。 It was the feeling of rocks in motion； of trees breathing。 An odd power pulsed beneath his feet； as if the earth trembled in anticipation。 Yes； he could feel itthrough his bare feet； the power of the earth rising beneath him。
And Gaborn saw that he'd been traveling here toward this destination for days。 Had his father not told him to e here； to learn to love the land？ Had some Power inspired his father to say those words？
And in the inn at Bannisferre； when Gaborn drank the addleberry wine； the best wine he had ever tasted； the wine with the initial B on its wax seal； he had felt this power。 Gaborn knew now； knew without asking； that Binnesman had put up that bottle of wine。 How else could it have had such a marvelous effect？ The wine had quickened his wits； led him here。
Gaborn feared to take the wizard's vow； to bee a servant of the earth。 What would it require？ Was he to bee an Earth Warden like Binnesman？ Gaborn had already taken other vows； vows he considered sacred。 As Myrrima had said； he did not take vows lightly。
Yet somehow he also feared not to take this vow。 Even now； Raj Ahten's hunters would be ing after him。 He needed help to escape； wanted Binnesman's aid。
〃I swear；〃 Gaborn told Binnesman。
Binnesman chuckled。 〃No； you fool。 Don't swear to me； swear to the earth； to that which is in your hand； and that beneath your feet。 Say the whole oath。〃
Gaborn opened his mouth； painfully aware of how the herbalist clung to his words； painfully aware that this vow was more significant than he could imagine。 Wondering how he could maintain a balance； keep his vows to both the earth and to Iome。
〃I〃 Gaborn began to speak； but the earth quivered at his feet。 All around； through the fields and woods and garden； the earth went still。 No wind stirred； no animal called。 The dark trees surrounding him seemed to loom larger； shutting out all light。
Darkness； darkness。 I am beneath the earth； Gaborn thought。
Gaborn glanced round in astonishment； for he had thought the evening quiet until that moment。 Now； absolute stillness reigned over the face of the land； and Gaborn sensed a strange and powerful presence rushing toward him。
In reaction to this； Binnesman backed away from the rue plant； stood with an astonished demeanor； gazing about。 The soil twisted near his feet； grass parting as if some great veil of cloth ripped。
And from the bushes at the forest's edge； a man emerged； a black form stepping from the shadows。 Gaborn had discerned his shape moments before； had seen his shadow once the eyebright was administered； but had never guessed at the creature's true appearance。
For this was no mortal man。 Rather it was a creature of dust； formed from rich black soil。 Minuscule specks of dirt and pebbles clung together； molding his features。
Gaborn recognized the form。 Raj Ahten trod toward him。 Or； more accurately； a being of dust in the form of Raj Ahten marched from the woods； plete in armor； scowling imperiously； his high helm spreading wide with owl's wings； black as onyx。
Immediately； Gaborn froze in terror； wondering what this manifestation might mean。 He looked to Binnesman； the wizard had fallen back in astonishment。
The creature of dust stared down at Gaborn； a slight mocking disdain on its face。 In the gathering shadows of the wood； it might have seemed human to a casual observer； but for its lack of color。 Every eyelash； every fingernail； every feature and fiber of its clothing seemed perfectly formed。
Then the earth spoke。
The creature of dust did not move its mouth。 Instead the words seemed to e from all around。 Its voice was the sound of wind sighing through a meadow or hissing through lonely peaks。 The groan of rocks moving through a stream； or tumbling downhill。
Gaborn understood none of it； though he recognized it as speech。 Beside Gaborn； Binnesman listened intently； and interpreted； 〃He says to you； Gaborn； 'You would speak an oath to me； O son of a man？' 〃
The strange sounds continued； and Binnesman thought a moment before he added。 〃 'You say you love the land。 But would you honor your vows to me； even if I wore the face of an enemy？' 〃
Gaborn looked to Binnesman for answer； and the wizard nodded； urging Gaborn to speak to the earth directly。
Gaborn had never seen anything like this creature； had never heard tales of it。 Earth had e to him； choosing a form that Gaborn could see and prehend。 Some men claimed to look into fire and see the face of the Power behind it； but it often seemed to Gaborn that fire was the most approachable of elements； while air was the least。 Gaborn had never heard of the earth manifesting itself in this way。
〃I do love the land；〃 Gaborn said at last。
The strange clamor of faraway noises rose again。 〃 'How can you love what you cannot prehend？' 〃 Binnesman interpreted。
〃I love what I do prehend； and suppose I would love the rest；〃 Gaborn tried to answer truthfully。
Earth smiled； mocking。 Boulders rumbled。 Binnesman said； 〃 'Someday you shall prehend me； when your body mingles with mine。 Do you fear that day？' 〃
Death。 Earth wanted to know if he feared death。
〃Yes。〃 Gaborn dared not lie。
〃Then you cannot love me fully；〃 Earth whispered。 〃Will you aid my cause despite this？〃
Raj Ahten。 The thing looked so much like Raj Ahten。 Gaborn knew what Earth desired of him。 Something more than embracing life。 Something more than serving man。 To embrace death and decay and the