32 So it was the trial was prepared. The Speaker from the neighboring village came and ten judges were gathered from all about.
33 The Prince and his nobles were brought to The Temple, and the case against them was heard.
34 The boy and girl testified as to how she was taken and the rescuers told how they found her.
35 The Prince continued to claim they had no right to try him, that he was an emissary of a foreign King, and not bound by their stupid laws, that he and his nobles should be released immediately.
36 The Judges considered only a few moments and returned. "These men are guilty," they announced, "on all charges."
37 The Speaker opened The Book of The Law and read, "You have been found guilty of abducting a woman and then forcibly putting your manhood upon her. Therefore, according to The Law, you shall be taken from here to a place of confinement, and in the morning, before witnesses, you shall be taken to the surgeon and without drugs to ease the pain, your manhood shall be cut out.
38 By Law, you would be put in Punishment for the rest of your life, and the wages you receive used to support this woman for the rest of her days. But as you are foreigners, I will permit you each, after your punishment, to pay three-hundred gold pieces and be on your way."
39 You are insane!" screamed The Prince, "Insane! You would take away my manhood for a common girl? For a little whore? I am a Prince of The Royal House! You are mad!"
40 "Take them out!" ordered The Speaker.
41 The guards dragged the struggling men to the prison. As they neared its door, a group of fighting men entered the village and came up. Their leader approached Red boar. "Warlock," he announced, "I am Swift Deer from the garrison at Northern. I have a message for you from The First Speaker, concerning these men."
42 Red Boar took the message and read it. It said "Red Boar, I understand you are upset because of this matter. But these men are foreigners in our land, my guests. Their Law is different from ours, and they do not understand our ways. This is all a tragic misunderstanding. Release these men immediately. You cannot judge them according to our Law. I will make amends to the girl and her family, guaranteeing her support for the rest of her life. After all, she is only one woman, and why should we go to war over one woman?"
43 Red Boar threw the message down on the ground and ground it with his foot. "Never!" he cried, "The First Speaker knows that he has no right to issue such an order! He cannot interfere in local affairs, unless the people conducting those affairs break The Law. And we have not broken The Law. These men committed a terrible crime. That they are foreigners of high birth does not excuse it. Sentence WILL be carried out. Nothing will stop us!"
44 "If you do not hand the prisoner to us willingly," Swift Deer told him, "we are ordered to take them by force."
45 Red Boar undressed his sword. "Then by force," he cried, "it will have to be. For there is no other way you will take them."
46 "I don't understand," questioned Swift Deer, "what is the problem? We do not want bloodshed. The First Speaker told us there was only a little misunderstanding about a girl's honor, noting serious. That it was nothing of importance, and these men should be quickly released so they can be on their way."
47 "Just a LITTLE problem?" screamed Red Boar, "Just a LITTLE PROBLEM?" He explained to Swift Deer exactly what had happened.
48 Swift Dear stared at the ground for several minutes, then reached up ripped the First Speaker's Symbol from his shoulder, and threw it to the ground. He stepped to Red Boar's side, turned and faced his men. "I can no longer," he announced, "with free conscience, obey The First Speaker. You have all heard what has been said here. I stand with these men. The First Speaker breaks The Law. There is no question of it. What you do, is up to you."
49 One by one, all but two of his men followed his lead. "We cannot forsake The First Speaker," one of them argued, "he is The Voice Of The Lords."
50 "Then go to the inn," ordered Red Boar, "get provisions and return to your First Speaker. Tell him what has happened here. He breaks The Law. From now on none of his decrees will be obeyed unless they are LEGAL ones within The Law. 51 In the morning the sentence against these men will be carried out. When they are well enough to travel, they and their party will be released. Let The First Speaker do whatever he will do."
52 The men quikly left. In the morning seven screaming prisoners were dragged to The Healer , and the man quickly did his work. The eighth noble had given himself a greater punishment, for in the night he hung himself.
53 Several days later The Prince and his party were escorted into the desert, and their weapons returned to them. "I will be back!" screamed The Prince, "And when I do, this land will run with blood. I will not even keep your whores and children for slaves, but I will butcher them as the cattle they are. I WILL BE BACK!"
54 Into the desert they disappeared.
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