Chapter Twenty-Three
Several weeks after The Dove first began to see this strange vision, messengers rode in from The Western City with a letter from its Warlock. The letter stirred the capitol into frantic action.
2 For it read, "First Speaker, a band of mountaineers have arrived in my city with shocking and disturbing news.
3 While climbing in the mountains by The Valley of The Standing Bear, they have discovered Trns building a great road into our land, which will enter it at the head of the valley.
4 The Mountaineers were curious as to why there were so many fighting people; old men, women, and children, working on this road, that they slipped down into their camp and listened to their conversations.
5 They learned that the King of Tr has hoarded food for three years, forcing the people to live on short rations so that everyone could be put to work on the road, and so every able-bodied man could be impressed into the army.
6 They talked of the great army training at the Tr end of the road, waiting only for its completion to begin their attack.
7 The Mountaineers made their way along the road into Tr and watched this army training. It's numbers were incredible, and they are being trained to perfection.
8 And Lord, there are Mukans with them. I am sending Swift Goat, the leader of the Mountaineers, to you to tell you what he has seen personally.
9 I am sending scouts to The Valley of The Bear with some of his people, to keep an eye on The Trns and awaiting your instructions."
10 The Dove put down the letter and called his pages. "Go to the scribes," he ordered, "tell them to write letters to the Warlocks of every city and district.
11 All regulars and a fourth of all all militias are to proceed toThe Western City immediately.
12 All villages are to prepare for evaculation. All cities are to bring in extra supplies in preparance for seiges.
13 All Warlocks are to gather here so we may plan our response to this tragedy. The Trns prepare to make war on us again."
14 So The Warlocks gathered and in The Great Temple they sat in council.
15 "I do not see we have any choice," announced The Dove. "I will take the army to The Valley of The Standing Bear, and there we will await the enemy. When he enters our land, we will meet them and destroy them!
16 Their numbers will be great, but we will, and, must overcome them! We will depart tomorrow.
17 If Swift Goat's calculations are right, we have plenty of time. It will be three months before the enemy completes his road. When he comes out he will find not a defenseless valley, but an entrenched army ready to fight him."
18 Near The First Speaker, his Healer rose. "My Lord," he cried, "I am sorry, but you cannot go. Your health will not permit such a journey, and at such a crucial time the land could not afford to lose you. I must call on my authority as your Healer and forbid you to go."
19 All in The Temple fell silent. They had been counting on The Dove's magic to give them victory. What would they do without him?
20 Swift Deer rose. "As The Dove cannot go," he announced, "that leaves only one alternative. Bold Dove must go in his place! Who knows more about the army and its leaders? Who is the greatest Warlock among us? If not The Dove, then his son must lead us!"
21 Bold Dove rose. "I am honored," he cried, "by the confidence that this great Warlock expresses in me. But I have only been my father's regent. The very man who has spoken is senior to me, and a fine Warlock in his own right. It is not proper that I should take such an honor from an Elder.
22 Though I would gladly serve, I do not feel it right. Someone senior to me should take this honor, not I."
23 He seated himself and the Warlocks began to talk among themselves, until finally Red Boar rose. "I am senior of any Warlock here," he announced, "Warlock of the army, second only to The First Speaker in authority. But I draw my sword," he cried, undressing his weapon, "and lay it at my superior's feet."
24 He knealt, putting his sword at Bold Dove's feet. One by one every other Warlock came forward who had seniority, and did likewise.
25 "It is said," The Dove cried, "by show of honor, who shall lead. I have not chosen, but you have, and your faith in my blood brings me as much honor as it brings him. Always will my heart be lifted with the remembrance of this day.
26 As First Speaker I will hold you no longer. Your land is in danger. Your duty is clear. The enemy must not leave The Valley of The Standing Bear. If he does, it must be over your bodies!"
27 All the Warlocks rose and drew their weapons. "They shall not pass!" they cried.
28 The Dove nodded. He ordered the special dog cart his daughter had built for him, and rode with the troops as they marched from the city, his heart very heavy with grief that he could not go.
29 The people, too, came out and waved and cheered as the men marched out. They knew many would not return.
30 In The Valley of The Standing Bear, Bold Dove sat up his camp. His mountaineers kept him advised daily on the enemy's progress, and daily more of his army arrived. The Giants came, and The Black Death, and some reinforcements he had not been expecting.
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