begged them not to harm him. They said he had
saved them from the other men, tricked them into thinking he was using
them, when in reality he did not touch them, then tried to escape with
them out of the village."
101 Screaming Hawk looked at the man. He was obviously an old fighter.
He had the scars of many a brawl. But a kindness seemed to shine in
him, something he rarely saw in people of The Oneness. "What
do you say for yourself, sir?" asked Screaming Hawk.
102 "I am your prisoner, sir," the man answered, "but of those terrible
things that happened here, I had no part. It is without doubt my War
Leader lost his mind. I could do nothing for the men, save not taking
part in the cruelty that was done to them. But these two little
treasures I managed to pluck from the horror and this morning they are
still maidens, and will be, until some decent man takes them to his bed at the appointed hour.
103 I once had two treasures like this, but for some reason The Lord of
Hosts took them from me. I could not bear to see such as these used like animals. Whatever
fate you give me, I, with honor, accept. But promise me these two
little ones will see no harm."
104 Screaming Hawk knelt and looked at the two girls. "What do you
think," he asked , "I should do with this man?"
105 The older of the two, perhaps a little more than nine seasons, came
forward, and took the man's hand. "Leave him here," she pleaded, "to be
our father. For our father sleeps with The Lord , and my mother, too, I
think, has gone to be with him. Let him stay, and we will keep his
house and