70  The Voice had reached the courtyard when Singing Dove caught up with him.  "Lord," he explained, "we have about completed the work our former Teacher has told us to do. We have stripped the gold leaf from The Temple.  Already we have used it to feed the poor, and have them do worthy work.   As you can see, we have taken off our lavish robes, removed the gold inlay from our staffs, and now wear copper symbols.  But Lord, what are we to do with our OLD robes and symbols?"
    71  "Bring them to Gentle Bear's house," instructed The Voice, "we can melt down the symbols and the women can take the robes apart for the fabric.  We will regain some of the loss that way."
    72  Singing Dove nodded.  "Lord," he inquired, "already you have taught us much.  Your speech today was inspiring and I am afraid, hurt.  I am afraid I have many mistaken ideas in my mind.  When will you begin to teach us rightly?  When will you form a Circle?"
    73  "Soon," said The Voice, "there are some in the city I must yet find.  But we will begin our work, have no doubt of that!"
    74  Now, the young Temple Workers and Gentle Bear's people gathered the bundles of robes and banners from The Temple and carried them back to Gentle Bear's house, sitting them just inside the door.
    75  The Voice told the women what he had in mind. They undid the bundles and took out some of the robes.
    76  Sweet Blossom Bear held one up and looked at it.  "Lord," she cried, "this is such beautiful workmanship they are worth far more than the value of the fabric. If we remove the hoods, they would make beautiful worship robes and would fetch a good price. Would that not be better than destroying them?"
    77  The Voice looked at the garment.  "It would be alot less work!" he agreed.  "And you are right. They WOULD fetch a better price."
    78  Gentle Bear held one of the golden symbols.  "The same," he said, "is true of these.  Melting them down for the gold would be a waste of such beautiful craftsmanship.  I have a friend in the marketplace. He often sells items of value given to us and charges us no percentage. Can he not sell these for us, and the robes also?"
    79 "I bow," The Voice agreed, "to your reason.  Do as you will with these things.  The more you can get for them, the better."
    80  The women sat to work. When their nimble fingers were finished, you could not tell the robes ever had hoods.  As The Voice watched them work he called Gentle Bear over.  "I am ready," he announced, "to form my Circle.  Are you and Sweet Blossom willing to sit?"
    81  "Yes, Lord," Gentle Bear told him, "but there is one matter we must make understood.  We cannot break our vow of gentleness.  Though you may use our house, when you discuss acts of violence we cannot be present.  We understand there are things that you must do, for the people's sake, but we can have no part in it."
     82  The Voice nodded.  "Very well," he agreed, "you, Sweet Blossom, Singing Dove, Mountain Glory Boar, The Lords Beggar and Mountain Glory Dog; those are the ones with whom the Circle shall begin.  Your people shall be sending another, soon.  And there is another man on the road already coming toward us.  Your Circle will be complete soon."
    83  "My Circle, Lord?"  stuttered Gentle Bear.  "It will be your Circle."
    84  The Voice shook his head.  "I shall simply put you on the right road," he answered.  "In a few lessons I will step out of the Circle.  You are the leader in this city.  You have earned that place.  Singing Dove has already told me he will not be put above you."
    85  "As The Lords command," agreed Gentle Bear, "so must it be. I wish one of my brothers could enter the Circle, but neither has the Power, so it cannot be."
    86  Sadness came into The Voice's eyes.  "No," he said, "it cannot be."
    87  Several days later as they were sitting working, there came a loud banging at the door.  Gentle Bear went to answer it, and several men entered, carrying his brothers.  Their blood-stained robes left marks on the floor as they passed.
    88  As they were laid down, Sweet Blossom fell on their necks, weeping.  "They're with The Lords!" she cried. Stunned, Gentle Bear asked what happened.
    89  "They were walking through the marketplace," the men told them, "when several hooded figures ran out of an alleyway and stabbed them repeatedly.  They were screaming 'Death to any that oppose the Hoods!'  We could do nothing, but suddenly a stranger appeared with a sword, slew two of the attackers, and drove off the rest!"

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