Chapter Twenty-Five
Now, with Mi besieged The Trns made one final, desperate effort. Acquiring more troops from The Mukans, and raising the last of his reserves, The Trn King attacked the besiegers at Min.
2 For three desperate days they fought, but finally he raised the flag of truce and came forward to parlay. "What terms will you give me," he asked, "for peace?"
3 "Min," demanded Bold Dove, "will be surrendered to us. All territory we now hold will remain ours. You and The Mukan King will pay the cost of the war, not counting what treasure and goods we have already captured."
4 "If I agree to this," asked The Trn King,"you will release my captured troops, and all of my citizens that do not wish to live under your domination?"
5 "We will release the troops," explained Bold Dove, "in exchange for the wives and families of your leaders we now hold, and also you will send one-hundred persons from your own household including your heir to be held as hostage until your debt is paid. As our losses have not been great, and we have not been in the field long, what you owe will not be substantial."
6 The Trn King bowed. "I will not surrender," he announced, "you are my enemy. I will not forgive what you have done. But to save my people I will agree to your terms."
7 He returned to his troops and left the battlefield. Bold Dove sent word to his father. Victory was at hand! Great celebration broke out throughout The Land of Spirit.
8 Over half the people of Mi and Ti left the city, plus many from the villages surrounding them, and the land going up toThe Valley of Shadows. The Dove gave their abandoned property to any who had served in the fighting.
9 So it was, the land was quickly taken over by The Children of Spirit. There was also much available land in the valleys along The Tr Road which now belonged to The Children Of Spirit.
10 A second fortress was built on The Holy Land end of the road, and the two fortresses soon became cities in their own right.
11 The one in The Holy Land was called The City of Bold Dove, or just Dove. The city on the Trn end was called The City of Nameless Fox, or, sometimes, Nameless!
12 As this new route, because of its shortness, quickly became popular with caravans, both cities prospered. The Land of Spirit was again at peace. And The Dove saw no more shadows in the future.
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