97 The Voice nodded and continued on his
way. He was traveling through a dark alleyway on his way back to
the house when suddenly something wrapped around his throat and a knee
was driven into his back. He fell to his knees and tried to
struggle, but the attacker had him off balance and helpless.
98 Suddenly the attacker gave a loud cry and
let go of the choking cord. The Voice pulled it loose, struggled
to his feet, and turned around. The large man lay on the ground,
gasping for breath. His hands covered his manhood and blood
poured from them like water from a spring.
99 Sweet Blossom knelt beside him, the blade
of her knife at his throat. With one quick jerk she drew down the
blade. The man shivered for a moment, then lay still.
100 "Let's get out of here!" snapped Sweet Blossom.
101 The Voice accompanied her back to the
house. "I had to finish him," she remarked. "If I'd have
had my way, I'd have left him there like that, but we have to be
merciful, don't we?"
102 The Voice grabbed her and shook her.
"You could have cut his throat in the first place," he said, "without
doing what you did! Mercy, girl, doesn't come after you strike
the first blow, but WHEN you strike the first blow."
103 "I couldn't reach his throat with the
first strike!" the girl told him, "So I struck him in a place I knew
would make him let go, and a place that was exposed. Unless
you've forgotten, it, I just saved your damned life. Don't
complain how I did it!"
104 The Voice was beginning to worry.
This girl was brave and loved her people, but unless he could do
something about this hate inside of her, she would destroy
herself. He began to pray alot.
105 That evening as they sat for supper a
servant ran in. "Master," he cried, "The City Warlock is at the
gate and demands entry. He says there has been a murder down the
street and believes we have something to do with it. He says he knows
the Voice is here, and demands that he accompanies him, at once!
He will be kept in the prison tonight, and escorted out of the city in
the morning."
106 Great Bear rose. "No, he
WON'T!" he snapped. He went to the gate with The Voice and
the others following. As the gate was opened The City Warlock and
two other Warlocks entered, one of them was Strong Dog.
107 "You're taking The Voice nowhere," roared
Great Bear. "Here is a notice from The District Speaker,
canceling the order of banishment, so you can just take your fighting
people and get out of here!"
108 "What about the killing down the street?"
asked the Warlock, as he turned to The Voice. "I want you to
swear by your Speaker's Oath that you know nothing of the man down the
street and laid no hand on him."
109 "I so swear," pledged The Voice.
110 The Warlock looked surprised. "All
right," he gave in, "I have no witnesses, but do not think this is how
it will always be."
111 Strong Dog and Sweet Blossom were
exchanging glances, but when The City Warlock turned and strolled out
the gate Strong Dog followed without a word.
112 "He's one of your people, isn't he?" asked Sweet Blossom.
113 "How did you know?" inquired The Voice.
114 "The way he looked at you, the way he
stood. I don't think the others noticed it. Nice looking man!"
115 "I thought you weren't interested!" remarked The Voice.
116 "I can still appreciate things of beauty!"
she snapped back. "By the way, you broke your Speaker's Oath, you
didn't speak the truth."
117 "Under certain conditions," explained The
Voice, "we are allowed to lie, to protect our people from injustice in
those times. Anyway, I didn't lie. He asked the wrong question. I
know nothing of the man, where he comes from, or his name, and I laid
no hand on him."
118 Sweet Blossom stopped. "Damn!" she
laughed, "You're right! You did answer the question truthfully!"
She continued on her way. "They've got to get up very early in
the morning," she remarked, "to match wits with you. Of course in
a battle of wits that man would come out the loser anyway! He
can't even tell the difference between a boy and a girl, if you
understand what I mean!"
119 "You mean he's a Lover of Men?" inquired The Voice.
120 "He has no mates," Sweet Blossom told him,
"and every servant in his house is a man. Three young men live
with him, and do no work. YOU tell ME!"
121 They returned to the house and finished
their meal. Afterwards they all gathered in the common room for
some music and reading.
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