22 "I'll consider her reward later," announced The King, "as for you dogs, what will it be? Do you surrender or do you die? I give you no other choice."
23 The temple guard looked around. He wasn't a stupid man He knew they didn't have a prayer. He nodded to those with him, and they threw down their weapons. Then, he signaled those behind them to do the same. Then, the temple guard took up his own weapon, fell to his knees, and laid it at The King's feet. "Not me," The King snapped, "him."
24 The guard rose, stepped before Gray Dove, and repeated the procedure. The King turned to his personal guard. "Sort them out," he ordered, "form them into ranks." The guards hurried off to obey.
25 The King motioned to the leaders of the three groups surrounding the attackers and they ran forward. "You!" he said, "Clean up this mess! Strip the bodies of these rebels, find a hole somewhere, and throw them in it! They do not deserve burial! Everything on them belongs to The Children of Spirit and their weapons, also. If anyone is caught stealing anything, cut off his hand. Also, help The Children of Spirit with their wounded. Go!" The man nodded and led off his troops. To another man he ordered, "Form a perimeter around this camp. The safety of these people is your responsibility." The leader nodded and led off his troops. To the third man he commanded "Follow me!"
26 He turned to Gray Dove. "You, too," he ordered, "but send the rest of your people back to their duties."
27 Gray Dove obeyed and followed after The King. The first group they reached was the temple guards...what was left of them. The King walked up and down before them. "You, come here!" he ordered. "Kneel! Do you swear to obey me, and never obey an illegal order from your Priest again?"
28 "I do, My Lord," the man answered, "Forever to you will I be loyal."
29 "Good," acknowledged The King. "Get up! Go and get the rest of your men. Any that will swear the same oath shall have their freedom, any that do not, I will put in my prison."
30 The man quickly obeyed, while The King walked on. Now, he came to the survivors of his own troops. As he came to each group leader, and, troop leader, he ripped their symbols of authority from about their necks, and knocked them to the ground.
31 "Crawl after us, you worms!" The King commanded. When he was done, he took some of his personal guard to replace them. "Take these men back to their barracks," he ordered, "and in the public square strip them, and give them ten good lashes. For the next three months they will serve without pay, and eat only bread and water."
32 Gray Dove stepped forward. "Your Majesty," he pleaded, "those who have families will not be able to feed their wives and children, if they are not paid."
33 The King nodded. "Very well, I will see their wives and children have money for rent and food, but only because you asked. Get them out of here," he said, "before I change my mind!"
34 The next group they came to was a sorry-looking sight, indeed. Many were in rags and most needed baths. The King backed off a pace or two, and motioned their spokesman to come forward. "You fight for gold?" he asked.
35 "And a share of the takings," the man answered.
36 "Of any of those here," The King said, "you disgust me the most." He took off the helmet of one of his guardsmen, and placed it on the ground. "Put every piece of gold, silver, and copper, gems or anything else of value in there, now. And I warn you, you will all be searched. And if so much as an eighth of a copper is found on anyone, I will give that man to the temple of The One for sacrifice!"
37 The men quickly obeyed, filling the first helmet and a second.
38 "Very well," The King commanded, "see that group leader standing over there? Go to him. Tell him he is to take all of you to the public square, strip you, and give each of you twenty lashes. Then you may go your way. But make sure that when you are healed, you get out of my city and then out of my kingdom."
39 The man fell to his knees and kissed The King's boots. "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you!" he cried.
40 The King kicked the man over and he quickly rose and led his people away. "Sufficient?" The King asked Gray Dove.
41 "Sufficient," Gray Dove answered.
42 Now, The King returned to the temple guard, and they had formed ranks and looked considerably better. "I will not beat men of the temple," The King announce, "though I am tempted and as you receive no pay, I cannot punish you that way. SO THIS is your punishment. You will go to the temple, find The High Priest, take him to the city gate, strip him, and hang him! After he has hung there for a couple of days, you'll take him down, cut off his head, and put it on one of the spikes above the gate!"
43 The temple guard suddenly seemed to have a very hard time swallowing, and developed a sudden stutter! "H-hang T-the Hi Priest, Your Majesty?"
44 "From the mid-point of the gate!" The King commanded. "And you shall pin a notice to his chest, stating that this is how anyone dies that defies his King!" The King turned to Gray Dove. "Satisfactory?"
45 Gray Dove looked at the dead and dying scattered about the battlefield. Satisfactory!" he said, and nodded.
46 "Well, go!" The King told the temple guards, "GO!" And the temple guards hurried off.
47 Now, The High Priest heard that his plan had failed, and that The King had interfered, so he feared for his life. He disguised himself and fled the temple, but a novice had followed him, and when the guards returned, the novice led them to The High Priest, and thus, sealed his fate.
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