Raj Ahten cocked his head to the side, studied young Gaborn. “Tell me, Earth Warden, what spell is this, that I cannot see the Prince, but instead see rocks or trees when I look at him? Such a spell would serve me well.”

Jureem wondered at such a strange question, for the Prince seemed . . . visible enough to him. He wore no mask or cloak.

“It is a small thing, this spell,” Binnesman answered. “But you asked another question of me but a moment ago. You asked why I had led you here. And I confess that I did lead you. Now I have something I want of you.”

“What do you want?” Raj Ahten asked.

Binnesman said, waving to the stones that lay about, “These are the Seven Standing Stones of the Dunnwood. Doubtless you know of them. Perhaps you even know what a dire portent it is that they have fallen.” He spoke sadly, as if he felt great loss.

“I see them,” Raj Ahten said. “In your tongue they are the obalin. In mine they are called the Coar Tangyasi—the Stones of Vigilance, or so the old scrolls name them. It is said that the duskins fashioned the watchers to protect mankind.”

“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 earth—of the shaping of things, of preservation. Mine is the power of the shallow earth—of 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.”