64 Furthermore, your name shall be removed from The Book of The Lords, and the record of your birth destroyed. So it will be as if you never were. Never will any man speak your name before The Lords. Take him away!"
65 Bold Fox did not like to witness executions, but it was his duty. And in the morning he did his duty. To say something good about the young man, he faced the end well.
66 As soon as it was done with, Bold Fox boarded an ox cart, and laying on a soft pallet journeyed north with Strong Wall. And he fulfilled his promise. He brought Shining Boar to his own house, and their children, and there rasied them as his own. After a few years Shining Boar became his third mate, and bore him three more children.
67 Again The Land of Spirit settled into peace. Shortly after the battle, The King of Tr was assassinated, and the new ruler, one of his cousins, sued for peace. The Children of Spirit were more than willing to give it to him, and the prosperity of The Children of Spirit began to grow again.
68 But even though they gave the King of Tr peace, The Old Fox decided that a great fortress should be built on the Tr side of The Valley of Shadows, and all their best engineers and the finest material was sent into The Valley. And a great fortress was constructed. Never again would an army easily dislodge the defenders.
69 A community began to grow. People tunneled into the mountainside. The families of the fighting men stationed at the fortress lived there. It was still a major trading post, and people came from great distances to see it. From that day forth, it was called The City of The Old Fox.
70 Now, five years after the second battle with Tr, messengers appeared at the Temples of all the cities. And when they told the Speakers their message, the bells and gongs of all the Temples began to be rung slowly. And Speakers walked through the streets crying their sad news; "The Old Fox is dead!" they cried, "The Father of Our Faith and The Glory of The Lords has gone to be with Them. Pray for our Land. Mourn him tomorrow, but the next day come to the Temple and praise The Lords. For he has said, with his last breath "Mourn me but a day, then sing with joy, for The Lords. For Theirs are the Gifts I leave you!""
71 Now The Council of Warlocks and The Council of Elders gathered in Northern to choose a new First Speaker. All were in agreement. They wanted Gray Dove to lead them. But he rose, and banged his staff three times upon the floor.
72 "I am deeply honored," he said, "and I would gladly serve my people, but I cannot. The fever that kept me from the battle of The Valley of Shadows affected my heart. I could not withstand the rigors of The First Speaker's Office.
73 So I must ask you, let me continue serving The Lords in the limited way I do, and choose another for this Great Honor. And if I might suggest, there is one in this hall who has been with The Old Fox from The Beginning, and has given much more of himself to The Service of The Lords than I have. His name is known in every city, in every village. I say, Bold Fox should lead us. He should sit in The First Speaker's Seat!"
74 He banged his staff on the floor and cried, "Bold Fox!" as he did so again, another Warlock joined him, and then a Councilman. Then more Warocks, and more Councilmen, until their cries and the banging of their staffs rang through The Hall.
75 Finally, Bold Fox rose. "My brothers," he cried, "My friends! I am deeply honored, sincerely honored, by the honor you have shown me. I do not feel worthy of such a task but if you desire I serve, I will do so, to the best of my ability."
76 One of the Councilmen came forward and motioned to a page. The Councilman removed Bold Fox's Family Symbol and hung about his next The First Speaker's Symbol. "You belong not to one clan now," he announced, "but to all the land, all the people." He stepped back and bowed down. "Long life and prosperity to The First Speaker, Supreme Warlock! May he be blessed and may his land be blessed!"
77 And all in The Hall bowed and cried, "Honored be The First Speaker, Supreme Warlock!"
78 And so it was Bold Fox became the second leader of his people. And he became known for his wisdom and fairness. And he made many judgments for the people. And he was called The Wisest of The Wise.
79 One time many people came to him with a complaint. "Speaker," they complained, "there are Speakers in our land that say they are of The Lords. They do appear to have great power, they give the people good advice, and through them our people speak with their Loved Ones.
80 But some of these Speakers, Lord, serve only the rich. They charge a high fee for a visit with The Beloved, or for counseling of any kind! Now some say this is not right, and others say that it is. Which of them, Lord, is right? Which of them, Lord, is right? What should they do?"
81 Now, when Bold Fox heard this he was quite angry. That any Speaker should neglect the poor was unforgivable, and that they charged for their services was unthinkable.
82 "This must not continue," he ordered. "It shall be made a Law; no Speaker may charge a fixed price for any service. Any who do so, are not of The Lords, but of The Darkness. They wish to fill their own pockets, not serve the people. But not saying a grateful people cannot give gifts to a Speaker, but those gifts should be for their support, not for their enrichment.
83 A good Speaker would use such gifts for The Temple, to house, clothe, and feed the poor, not to enrich themselves.
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