90  Gentle Bear joined his sister in grieving for his brothers. The door was still open.  Few noticed a man come in and stand silently by it.  A leather patch covered the side of his face, and he made a strange sight with his great sword hung on his back.
    91  Though The Voice had his back to him, he smiled. "You are weary, sir," he said.  "Come in! Be seated!  How fared the battle?"
    92  "I killed two more of them," the man answered, "and nicked two more.  Sorry I didn't get there sooner."
    93  Everyone turned to look at the stranger.  "It is unfortunate," Gentle Bear commented, "that you had to shed blood in defense of my kin."
    94  The stranger shook his head.  "You people are crazy!" he cried.  "Those butchers attacked your brothers like a pack of wild dogs, but you regret my freeing them from their heads?  I'll never understand the way you people live!"
    95  "It is our way," answered Gentle Bear.  "For a moment, when I saw my brothers, I wished I could lift a sword and cut down those that had so terribly treated them.  But then I remembered the writing 'Violence brings only violence, hate brings only hate.  But peace brings peace.  The answer to gentleness IS gentleness!'"
    96  The stranger straightened up.  "I like what The Old Fox wrote, better!" he remarked, "'If a man slays your kin without cause, lift up your sword and go after him with the righteousness of The Lords.'"
    97  "Each must follow his own path," said Gentle Bear.  "If you will excuse me, sir, we must see to our dead."
    98  The stranger bowed as The Children Of The Gentleness gathered up their fallen.  "You The Voice?" the stranger asked.
    99  "I am he.  What are you called?"
    100  "Those who will speak to me at all," the stranger replied, "call me Half Face."
    101  One of Gray Toad's children was staring at the stranger.  The stranger wrinkled his nose and snorted at her. The girl giggled and ran away.
    102  "Come," requested The Voice, "sit down.  Are you a Warlock?"
    103  "I was, once," Half Face answered.  "Not any more.  That distinguished calling no longer desires my presence."
    104  The Voice nodded.  "Why are you here?"  he asked.
    105  "I was on the road," the stranger answered, "and I had a Dream.  Some friends I used to know blocked my path and would not let me proceed until I put my feet on the road to this city.  Passage by passage, road by road they guided my feet until I entered this house.
    106  Now, I don't much believe in these things any more, but when I learned who was staying here, I figured I'd hang around a while.  Then, when those two were attacked in the marketplace, I figured my skills were needed.  Gentleness.......sometimes I can't stomach these people!"
    107  "Perhaps," explained The Voice, "a man that must always seek combat to prove himself in his own heart cannot understand those that could do no living thing harm."
    108  "That hurt!" answered Half Face.  "You've got a sharp tongue!"
    109  "It was meant to," The Voice replied.  "I want you to command Guardian here in this city.  Will you do it?"
    110  "If they'll follow me," the man answered.
    111  "They will," The Voice told him.
    112  "By the way," the stranger inquired, "you know there's a girl standing out by the door?  She was there when I came by this morning and is STILL there, now."
    113  "Not another one!" The Voice sighed.  He motioned to Yellow Blossom and sent her out.  She returned in a moment with a timid-looking young woman.  "Sometimes there's two or three of them a day."  The Voice explained, "sent from villages or rich houses in the city. I have TOLD the people I do not follow the old customs, but still they send them!"
    114  "OH!"  Half Face smiled, "Glory Children!  Being famous in some ways does have its advantages!"
    115  The Voice gave him an angry look.  "Come," he commanded, "I want to get you secured in a room."
    116  "Tell me," asked Half Face, "do you ever take any of these sweet treasures?"
    117  "I speak to them all," explained The Voice.  "Sometimes, if they are old enough, and, sincere, I let them do me honor. It is an ancient custom among our people.  And who am I to say that it is wrong?  The young ones like her, I send home with an escort I can trust."
 
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