161 "His blood father was an
acrobat," explained Swift Deer, "until he got caught with The King's
niece. They sold his whole family into slavery."
162 There was a loud cry and the sound of struggling on the roof. Two
heads appeared on the edge, rolling back and forth. The sound of
running feet was heard, then the struggle was over. A few minutes later
a young man escorted by Running Deer and Mad Cat's men was brought down
the street. "Alright, young man, explain yourself," commanded Great
Mountain, "why did you try to kill this man?"
163 "He murdered my grandfather," the young man snapped, "and forced
himself on my mother. I swore I would avenge them."
164 "You're Valley Blossom's son?" Mad Cat asked, slipping off the cart.
165 "You know I am," the young man answered, "unless you killed some
other father, too, and forced yourself on his daughter."
166 "Watch your mouth, boy," Mad Cat snapped, "there's a limit to a
man's patience. Don't cut me too many times! Who's your father?"
167 "YOU'RE my father!" the boy snapped. Mad Cat stepped back as if
someone had slapped his face. "That's impossible," he gasped, "she was
just a child. It was not her time...yet. She had never burned!"
168 "She started to burn," the young man explained, "the day after you
knew her, but she didn't need to burn. I was already inside of her!"
169 "Dammit, boy, why did you stab me? Your mother forgave me. I knew I
had done wrong the minute I finished. Shaming her the way my wife and
daughters were shamed in no way lessened my grief. It only made my pain
worse because I'd hurt an innocent child. She forgave me. She said she
under-