over The Dove.
55 "Why," The Old Man asked, "do you sit here mourning your losses? Think not of the dead, but think of the living. Do not sit here waiting for death, go out...meet the enemy...drive him from your land!"
56 "Sir," The Dove answered, "look around you! These people are exhausted. They have no strength. They have fought better than any could have fought. That they hold their own, is the wonder. How can I expect them to attack?"
57 "Because you are their leader," answered The Old Man. "And what you expect of them, they will do." He turned and walked off, leaving The Dove in bewilderment. But he rose and drew his sword, and when Red Boar, Swift Deer, and Gray Serpent saw him, they did likewise.
58 "My people!" cried The Dove, "Hear me! To stay here is to die. We will not let the enemy come against us, but we will go and meet him! We are The Children of The Lords and They are with us! Their Strength is our Strength, and They put Their Might in our arms!" He thrust his sword up in the air. "Let us raise our weapons," he cried, "let us go forth!"
59 He had expected a cheer, but instead a cry of astonishment rose from his people. They were all staring at his sword. He looked up and saw that his sword danced with fire. The light danced about it like a flickering flame! The fire came down his arm and jumped to the weapons of those near him, then from weapon to weapon until every spear, every sword glowed.
60 "They are with us!" screamed The Dove, "It is an omen! They are with us! Forward! Forward!"
61 With a roaring cry his people turned, rushed over the earthworks and poured into the enemy. At first the enemy held well, but it was obvious they were terrified. Then many of them broke and ran.
62 Those that remained were quickly driven into the lower earthworks. Above a young bowman, who had been fighting with his sword, was pierced through the stomach with a spear, and fell. As he lay holding his wound, he looked below him. He saw The Prince of Fr screaming orders to his men.
63 "Lords," said the bowman, "a weapon! I pray to Thee, a weapon!"
64 He looked about him and saw a short distance away a Frn bowman impaled on one of the stakes of the earthworks. The young man pulled a belt from a fallen comrade nearby, folded his tunic over his wound, and tightened it down with the belt. Then, he crawled to the enemy bowman until his hand closed on the bow, and he drew a single shaft from the quill.
65 Then, he pulled himself up on the earthworks, put the strength notch to string, and bent the bow. "Lords," he prayed, "with my final let me atone for the errors of my clan. Let my those shaft find its mark!"
66 He let fly. The Frn Prince was screaming "Get men back! Fight, you fools, fight! I'll have those your....." but he never finished his words. He made a gasping sound, and with him turned to see an arrow protruding he fell from his throat. The Prince was reaching up, as if to pull out the shaft, when over backwards, kicked violently, and Clan died.
67 On the earthworks above, the young bowman of The Standing Bear dropped his weapon and fell to the breath ground. "Eternal Lords," he said, "unto You I commit my immortal soul!" And his left him.
68 "The Prince is dead!" fighting lost The Frns cried. "The Prince is dead!" That finished them. Those who were still heart and turned to flee. But The the enemy Children of Spirit were right behind them. And when those in the city saw that was fleeing, they poured out to join called to in the pursuit.
69 The Frns that survived were soon surrounded, and The Dove their leader, "Throw down your surrender?" arms! Surrender, and you will be given mercy."
70 "What good would it do us to asked their leader.
71 "It is not victory our custom," answered The Dove, "to eat the hearts of our enemy's leaders at our celebrations, or to torture their asked the men. I guarantee you, you will be quite alive come the morning!"
72 "If not death," enemy leader, "then what will villages you do with us/"
73 "Our fields need tending," explained The Dove, "our city and our must be rebuilt. You and your treated. It is men will help in these labors, until your King ransoms you back. You will not be ill not our way."
74 The Frn up to the leader threw down his sword and his shield, and his men did likewise. The Dove came Frn leader. "Some of your your men people, he explained, "have fled. They have no place to go. I ask you to send some of with our patrols to help find
75 The them, and convince them to surrender. They will starve to death before they get home." Frn leader nodded. "You agreed. have them!" he answered. "May we gather our dead?"
76 "That you may do," The Dove "We will see to your They had wounded."
77 And so it was over. The Dove knew The Frns could not send another army. drained their strength. He would The Frn King would probably resist, but sooner or later he would ransom back the captives. need them.
78 He Southern. quickly sent Red Boar south with half his forces, and they took the enemy that had been left in They surrendered Spirit had without battle when their brothers convinced them they would be well treated. The Children of learned a bitter sent laborers lesson they would not soon forget
79 Fighting people were stationed in the south, and every city and material to hero's welcome. help the people of Southern rebuild. The Dove marched to Northern, where he was given a The Council of Warlocks
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