50  Yellow Blossom looked very angry, but stepped aside and let him pass. The Voice studied all of this with concern.  After the meal was done, and the women were cleaning up, Bay Blossom went to help Yellow Blossom but she sent her away.  "You have helped me enough," she sighed. "I do not need you."
    51  Mountain Glory spoke up.  "Come and help us, sister," she said, and made room between herself and Valley Blossom.  The Voice noticed as Mountain Glory moved away, Valley Blossom seemed to be upset.
    52  Gentle Bear saw where The Voice looked. "I, too, have seen these things," he commented, "but being an unmated man I did not know how to deal with such things.  Will you speak to them, Lord?"
    53  "Soon," answered The Voice, "they will come to me.  I will wait until they do."
    54  Gentle Bear nodded.  They were just beginning to make a Circle when there came a loud knock at the door.  Gentle Bear answered and quickly returned.  "Lord," he announced, "there is a young Speaker from The Temple.  He must speak to you at once!"
    55  "Lord," the young man pleaded, "I beg of you, come to The Temple and speak with my master.  He was so upset by what you said today, he went about the city looking upon the people. When he returned to The Temple he was weeping, and in great sorrow threw himself from his window.
    56  The Healer says his neck is broken, and he will not live until dawn.  I ask you, Lord, forgive him!  Have mercy.  Come to The Temple and pray for his spirit."
    57  The Voice nodded, took his cloak from the peg, and followed after the young man.  As he neared The Temple, already a crowd was gathering.  This Speaker had made mistakes, but it was obvious the people still loved him.
    58  The Healers had managed to carry the man back to his room, and he lay there in great distress.  When The Voice entered The Old Speaker raised his voice, crying, "The Lords have forgiven me, for Their Servant has come to minister to me in my last hour.  Praise be The Names of the Lords!"
    59  The Voice took a stool and sat by the bed.  He asked, "Why have you done this thing?  Did you not know The Lords would forgive you and help you make amends for those errors you made?"
    60  "I am an old man," The Speaker answered, "stubborn and set in my ways.  I know The Lords would forgive me.  But I cannot change.  I would try, but my old habits would return, and I would again lead my people into error.  Better I leave them, and they be led by those who are wiser, stronger than I.
    61  I have already given my students instructions.  Come here, you two," The Old Speaker commanded, and two of his students came forward.  "This is Singing Dove," The Speaker continued, "and Mountain Glory Boar.  They are my best students .  I have told them to become your followers, to obey your Teachings.  They are good, strong, and wise.  They will obey you.  They already have my final instructions and will carry them out.  When those are done, they belong to you!"
    62    Now, my hours are almost gone, and I desire terribly to sleep.  I awaited only your coming.  Now I can depart in peace.  Stay with me, I beg of you!  Make swift my passage, for I am afraid of what awaits me."
    63  "Have no fear," comforted the Voice, "for The Lords have forgiven you, and will await you with open arms."
    64  "Then I fear no more," The Old Speaker answered, and closed his eyes. An hour or so later his breath quietly passed.
    65  The Voice lit a candle and prayed.  "Oh, Holy Spirit, Divine Light of Love and Truth, oh, Blessed Fathers and Holy Mothers, open The Way, oh Lords, through The Darkness for this, Thy Servant.  Let him, Oh Lords, find peace with You.  In Your blessed Names we pray, so must it be."
    66  The Speaker's students knelt, also, and prayed, then lifted up their master and took him to The Temple that the people might come and say their last respects.
    67  The Voice returned to Gentle Bear's house, and told those there what had occurred.
    68  "It is a sad thing," commented Gentle Bear, "that he took his life.  He could have yet done much good service for his people."
    69  The Voice nodded in agreement.  "But he is at peace, now," he said, "and he has given the city over to others who will serve well, and this is what he had intended.  Let us work with great effort, to make sure his sacrifice was not in vain."  The others agreed.



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