23 "Get out!" cried The King, "Get out! If he has insulted Tr, then go pray to Tr. Let Tr punish him!" The High Priest quickly left.
24 Now, one day, just after spring harvest, The Old Fox was sitting in his office when he heard strange cries and noises from the fields behind the Temple. Curious, he went outside. There he found Gray Dove, Loyal Dog, and a large group of men. They were training in combat...how to use a battle spear, the bow and arrow, the war club and shield!
25 Now, The Old Fox approached Gray Dove. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked, "Why do you teach our people the ways of battle?"
26 And Gray Dove answered, saying "Lord, some nights ago I dreamed a dream. A Messenger of The Lords came to me and drew me up into the sky, taking me to many strange lands. I saw there great armies that filled the land.
27 The Lords spoke to me, saying, 'Someday your people will have to fight armies like those with the club, the shield, the spear and the bow. They must be ready. Call forth our young men and women. Teach them the ways of war.'
28 "We shall teach our women the ways of war?" I asked The Lord, "Put weapons in their hands?"
29 'Our women,' said The Lord, 'will not cower in the corner while their children are murdered. They will meet the enemy at the door with club, spear, and bow. If the enemy takes their blood, it will not be without the loss of his own. Now, as I have told you, make great fighters of your people.'
30 So, Lord, we have started with these few who will be a Temple Guard and protectors of our people in the streets."
31 The Old Fox nodded. "Our people cannot be helpless," he agreed. "I do not like training our people for war, but only a fool does not accept reality. But how will we pay them? The Church has no funds to support an army."
32 "All these men, Lord," explained Gray Dove, "are volunteers. They will do their regular labor, plus serve a short tour of guard duty each day. Also, they will provide their own uniforms and weapons."
33 "The Lords will surely bless them," praised The Old Fox, "because of what they do for Their people! Continue with your efforts. I will send messages to all The Churches instructing them to follow your example. I will have them contact you for instructions. This is your project. I will leave it to you and Loyal Dog."
34 A group of young men came up as The Old Fox started to leave. "Lord," they said, "we have a question."
35 "Speak," commanded The Old Fox.
36 "Lord, The King's soldiers and those of all other Kings have special uniforms, even the temple guards of Tr. We wish some special clothes that will distinguish us from other fighting people. Also, we want symbols such as the temple guards wear. And, what shall we call our leaders?"
37 Now, The Old Fox thought a minute, then bent down and picked up a handful of rich, brown, earth. "This," he said, "shall be the color of your uniforms; the color of life-giving earth out of which all blessings come. Your tunics, britches and leggings shall be brown. Your helmets and boots shall be black as the night, on the left side of your helmet shall be made The Star of Spirit.
38 Now, on the left shoulder of your tunic shall you bear The Lords Symbol, The Star of Spirit in a black circle. On the right shoulder of your tunic shall be the symbol of your clan. Upon your shield, also, shall be your clan symbol, and each clan may march with a banner. But, the only flag that shall ever lead you, shall be The Flag of Spirit. Their Star upon a black background.
39 Now, your leaders shall be called Warlocks, which means 'leaders wise in war.' And your squad leaders and group leaders shall be called Damons, which means 'terrible in war.' Are you pleased with these things?"
40 The young men nodded in agreement. "With these things, Lord," they said, "we are more than pleased!"
41 Now, as The Old Fox again tried to leave, Thorn Blossom, his daughter, and several of her friends walked up. "Lord," they pleaded, "The Messenger in Gray Dove's dream told him to train our women, as well as our men. We present ourselves here, as The Lords instructed. Train us in the use of weapons, and assign us, as any man!"
42 Now, a murmur went up among the men. The Old Fox smiled at Gray Dove. "This I leave to you!" he grinned, "It is your project, your problem!" He turned and walked away. Gray Dove looked at the women and shrugged.
43 "It is true," he announced, "The Spirit said to teach you, and that we will have to do."
44 Now, one of the men came forward. "Lord," he protested, "we object! That we share our rights with our sisters we have come to accept. And, that they now do much work that once was only for men, we can endure, but to put a weapon in a woman's hand, to deliberately teach the givers of life to kill....Lord, this is beyond our bearing or our understanding."
45 "It might be beyond our understanding," said Gray Dove, "but it is what we have been told by The Lords to do. Now, we have a choice here and now. Do we do what The Lords ask, not fully understanding the how and why, or do we follow what was always custom, and forsake The Lords for what is easier for us to accept?
46 But I tell you now, any who will not do as The Lords request might as well leave right now, for some day The Lords may ask you to give Them your life. And if you will not obey Them in this, how can you obey Them in that? The customs of old are gone. You have forsakened them with the gods. This is a new and glorious age. Will you throw it away?
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