you be strong enough to make war on us. You may
keep a regent, but you may never again have a king.
108 The First Speaker of Spirit from now on, will handle your affairs
for other lands. You will rule your own cities, but I will rule the
land, and, my successors. Your present King will remove himself from
the throne.
109 If these conditions are agreed to, then I will spare the rest of
your cities.They will not see my fighting people. But if my conditions are not met, one by one your
cities will be crushed."
110 The Trn emissaries covered their faces in grief. "Also,"added The
Hawk, "you will pay your share of this war's cost up until now, by
sending your armies into the field under my command to defeat those
enemies that still oppose us."
111 "Can there be no mercy for our cities?" pleaded the emissaries.
112 "None," roared The Hawk, "the emissaries return to their city."
113 All night The Children of Spirit waited. In the morning the city
gates opened. The emissaries and six ox carts made their way in somber
silence to The Hawk's camp. "All you have commanded," announced one of
the emissaries, "has been agreed to. All your terms will be met. The
King has removed himself from the throne. Here are the bodies of The
King, his wives, and children, his brothers, and their wives and
children."
114 "What do you mean," gasped The hawk, "their bodies?"
115 "Surely, sir," answered the emissary, "your people come from our
land. You should know our law! No man may claim the throne of Tr while any legitimate heir lives! The
King poisoned his wives and children, and so did his brothers. Then
they, too, drank the sweet sip of death."