Chapter Twenty-Two
Early the next morning The Priest of Tr entered The High Court. "Your Majesty," he announced, "I bring distressing news. The Children of Spirit have raised a vast army and their people have sold their homes, bought ox carts and tents. They are preparing, Your Majesty, to leave the cities, join together, seize part of your kingdom, and make war on you. There is no other reason they would do such things, other than to make war."
2 The King called his council. "What do you say of this?" he asked.
3 "There have been some strange things happening, Your Majesty, which I have received reports on, but as to their meaning, I do not know. The Children of Spirit HAVE been selling their property and promising the buyers they could take possession by mid-winter. They have gathered a military force, but it is small, Your Majesty, more of a Temple Guard than an army."
4 "Tell me," asked The King, "by chance have YOU sold your property?"
5 "I, Your Majesty? I have no property. All my wealth is in cattle and sheep. I rent all the land I use."
6 "Send for The Old Fox!" The King ordered. "I want to hear of this."
7 "Your Majesty," cried a page, "The Old Fox is here! He has been standing in the doorway for some time."
8 The King looked to the doorway in great anger. "Bid him enter," roared The King. "Now!" He rose and took his staff as The Old Fox entered, and stood before him. "Old Fox," he asked, "do you have an army that you intend to put into the field against me? Do you intend to make war on me?"
9 "We intend, Your Majesty," The Old Fox said, "to make war on no one. We have no army, only a few fighting people to defend our property."
10 The High Priest of Tr stepped forward and banged his staff on the floor several times. "He lies, Your Majesty, he lies! Every man, woman and child among his people is being trained to bear arms! Anyone who can pull a bow, practices. Anyone who can hold a spear marches. If this army is not for war, why is he preparing his people for movement? What other purpose could he have?"
11 "I do not like the way you ask," snapped The King. "Next time, hold your place. But it is a good question. If you do not plan war on me, Old Fox, what do you plan?"
12 "I plan, My Lord," The Old Fox told him, "to do what Spirit has told me, for They have said, "The Priests of Tr have made this land unbearable for you. The King's harshness made it unfair. Therefore, you will gather your people from among those of Tr, and lead them through the wilderness to the north. There we will show you a new land, an empty land, which the people that own it do not want, and which they will sell to you, so you may make it your own...where you will have no King over you, only The Speakers of The Law.' So, Your Majesty, I say to you this day, here before all; let me gather my people from your land and go in peace, in good will towards you all."
13 Now The King stepped back and sat on his throne, staring at The Old Fox. "Take your people!" he muttered, "Leave...all of you? Go?"
14 Now, a councilman rushed over and whispered in The King's ear. "Your Majesty, you cannot permit this! They are over one-third of our numbers! They hold more than one-third of our gold, silver, precious jewels, cattle, sheep and, their household goods! They will be removing from our land treasure uncounted!"
15 Now The King thought for a moment. "I will make an offer to The Old Fox, an offer that he cannot accept. Perhaps then he will see the foolishness of this idea, and not desire to leave my land, or, make me an offer I can accept."
16 So The King rose. "Old Fox," he announced, "being a just and honorable King, I respect my people's wishes. Therefore, if you desire I will let your people go. But you must leave behind all your gold and silver that is in coins, half your cattle, sheep and goats, and the first born son and daughter of each household, to be sold as slaves."
17 "No, Your Majesty," answered The Old Fox, "you will let all of my people go with all their goods, and all their cattle, for The Lords have said it shall be so. And if you refuse, not one drop of rain shall your land see until you say to me 'Old Fox, take up your people and go.'"
18 The High Priest of Tr banged his staff on the floor. "Blasphemy!" he cried, "Treason! Treason! Blashphemy! Hang him, my lord! Send your armies to seize the people! Sell them into bondage!"
19 The King just stared in disbelief. "Are you saying," he asked, "that if I do not let your people go, your Spirits, your Lords, will hold back the rain? That you will make no compromise?"
20 "Not a lame goat or an ailing child will we leave behind," answered The Old Fox, "not a half copper or even an eighth copper will we pay. For The King has already received the taxes for the sale of our land, and three years extra, by our reckoning! So The Lords have said, 'No rain shall they see until they let my people go.'"
21 The King was shaking inside, with both fear and anger. He jumped to his feet. "Get out!" he cried, "Get out! And don't ever come back again! If you do, you will swing from the city gate and after that your skull will rest on one of its spikes. Get out! Go! If my eyes ever see you again, you are dead." The Old Fox bowed and left.
22 "Your Majesty," cried The High Priest, "hear me. Now is the time to act while they are scattered. Send your soldiers to the city now! Destroy them!"
23 The King turned on The Priest. "Back to your temple," he roared, "holy man! Pray to Tr for the rain. If it does not come, we are in a bad position, do you understand?"
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