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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