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lives in Mystarria。
He rushed； grabbed the broom from the girl's hand。 She tried to shriek； tried to yank free from his grasp。 She clawed at a table； overturned a bench in her terror。
〃I'm sorry！〃 Borenson said fiercely； then snapped her neck； not wanting to make the girl suffer。
He gently laid her corpse to the ground； heard a thumping sound in the butteryback in the shadows thrown by the lamplight。 Another young girl stood back there； black eyes shining in the darkness。
In all his heroic imaginings this day； he'd not envisioned thisan unguarded keep； where he would have to slaughter children。
Thus began the most gruesome night of Borenson's life。
Chapter 31
A TIME FOR QUESTIONS
As the horses raced through the woods； beneath the black trees； Binnesman held his staff high； shining its dim light for all to see by。 Yet the very act seemed tiring； and Binnesman looked drained； old。
The trees whipped past。
Gaborn had a thousand questions； felt as many uncertainties。 He wished to speak to Binnesman。 But for now he held back his questions。 In Mystarria it was considered rude to interrogate a stranger in the way that Gaborn wanted to question Binnesman now。 Gaborn had always thought this rule of civility a mere custom； formed without reason； but now he saw that it was more。
By asking questions； one intruded on another's Invisible Domain。 At the very least； you took time from him。 And information often had its own value； as much value as land or gold； so that in taking it； one robbed another。
To keep from musing about the obalin and the loss of Binnesman's wylde； Gaborn concentrated on this insight； wondering how often courtly manners were rooted in man's need to respect the Domains of others。 Certainly； he could see how titles and gestures of respect fit into the larger scheme。
Yet Gaborn's thoughts quickly turned away from such matters； and instead he considered what he'd seen。
Gaborn suspected that Binnesman knew far more about the dark time to e than he would say in front of Raj Ahten； perhaps far more than he could say。 The study of wizards was long and arduous； and Gaborn had once heard that certain basic principles could only be understood after weeks or months of intent study。
After long minutes； Gaborn decided that there were some things one should not ask a wizard。 What price had Binnesman paid to give life to the wylde？ Gaborn wondered。
Now the Earth Warden turned from the road and picked his way among twisted paths here under the shadowed trees。 No other scout could have made his way in such maddening darkness。 Gaborn left the wizard to his work in silence； in the starlight； for an hour； until they came upon an old road。 From there； Binnesman raced the horses north； until suddenly the road dropped down to a ridge overlooking the broad fields outside the village of Trott； twelve miles west of Castle Sylvarresta。
On the plain below lay hundreds of multicolored pavilions from the hordes of Southern traders who had journeyed north for Hostenfest but who had been forced to vacate the fields near Castle Sylvarresta when Raj Ahten's troops laid siege。
Binnesman called the horses to stop； gazed down over the dark fields。 The grass had been burned white by the late…summer sun； so that even by starlight reflecting off the grass one could see。
〃Look！〃 Iome whispered。 Gaborn followed her pointing finger； saw something dark creeping across the fields； toward the pavilions with their horses and mules for the caravans。
Nomen were down there； eighty or a hundred； creeping toward the tents on their bellies to hunt for food。 To the east； along the ridge； he saw several large boulders move； realized that a trio of Frowth giants were also prowling the edge of the forest。
Hungry。 They merely hungered for meat。 Raj Ahten had marched the giants and the nomen all this way； and they'd survived the battle at dawn； but now they would be hungry。
〃We'll have to take care；〃 Gaborn said。 〃These horses need to graze and to rest。 But until it's safe； maybe we should ride in the open fields； where we can't be surprised。〃 Gaborn turned his mount east； to head back toward Castle Sylvarresta。 From there he could take the Durkin Hills Road south。 〃No； we should go west from here；〃 Iome said。 〃West？〃 Gaborn asked。
〃The bridge at Hayworth is out。 We can't run the horses through the forest； so we can't go near Boar's Ford。 Besides； we don't want to run into Raj Ahten's army in the dark。〃
〃She's right；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Let Iome lead you。〃 His voice sounded tired。 Gaborn wondered how much his spell…casting had drained him。
〃West is the only wayover the Trummock Hills Road；〃 Iome said。 〃It's safe。 The forest does not encroach on the road。 My father's men cut it back。〃
Binnesman let the horses rest a few moments。 As one； the group dismounted； stretched their legs； adjusted the girths on their mounts。
〃e；〃 Binnesman said all too soon。 〃We have a few hours until Raj Ahten awakens。 Let us make good use of them。〃 He urged them downhill； into the plains。 Though the horses were hungry and the grass here grew high； it was also dry and without seed； worthless fodder。
They rode slowly along a dirt road for half an hour； and here at last they felt at ease enough to talk； to make plans。
〃My horse will be the fastest over these roads；〃 Binnesman said。 〃If you do not mind； I will ride ahead。 I will be needed at Longmont； and I hope to find my wylde there。〃
〃Do you think it is there？〃 Iome asked。
〃I really can't be sure；〃 Binnesman answered； and seemed to want to say no more。
The pany soon reached a weathered farmhouse beside a winding stream。 The farm had a small orchard behind it； and a sloping barn for a few pigs。 It looked as if the peasant who lived here feared attack； for a lantern had been set in a plum tree out front； another out by the door to the pig shed。
The farmer should be afraid； Gaborn realized。 This hut was isolated； without benefit of neighbors for a mile。 And giants and nomen were prowling the fields tonight。
Iome's father rode his steed up to the lantern； sat staring at it； mesmerized； as if he'd never seen one before。
Then Gaborn realized that the King probably never had seen one； at least not that he remembered。 The whole world would seem new to him； like a vivid and fascinating dream； something he lived through but never prehended。
Gaborn also rode up beneath the lantern； so his face could easily be seen； then called to the door。 In a moment； an old turnip of a woman cracked the door enough to frown at him。 She seemed frightened by so many riders。
〃May we have some water and feed for the horses？〃 Gaborn asked。 〃And some food for ourselves？〃
〃At this time of night？〃 the old woman grumbled。 〃Not if you was the King！〃 She slammed the door。
Gaborn felt surprised at this； looked at Iome for a reaction。 Binnesman smiled； Iome laughed softly； went up to the plum tree； then picked half a dozen of the large violet fruits。 Gaborn saw movement inside the house as the woman tried to peer out the window； but she had no fine window of glass； only a piece of scraped hide； which let her see nothing but shadows。
〃Leave them plums！〃 she shouted from i