44 So it was The Voice insured the fairness of
The Law. No one knew this would be the last time he would sit in
Judgment. Two days later he marched for Northern.
45 It was like a great holiday procession, for
the people all knew that he was going to challenge The First Speaker,
that the years of shame were coming to an end, that The Land would be
returning to The Law.
46 Already Speakers who had abused their
privileges were stepping down. Temples of The One in some villages were
closing their doors, so many of their people had gone over to The
Worship of Spirit.
47 And in other villages Warlocks stood guard
in The Temples, making sure no animals were sacrificed.
48 As The Voice entered Northern to the cheers
of the crowd, eleven Priests of The One watched him from the steps of
their temple. Then, they retired to a meeting room deep inside.
There, the temple's High Priest spoke to his councilmen. "This
curse," he cried, "this Voice, this Speaker of lies has ruined our
years of work. If he removes this coward who is now their First
Speaker, and puts in someone we cannot bend to our way of thinking,
then all we have gained will be lost. Should we lose everything because
of one ignorant savage that clings to the ignorant beliefs of his
Ancestors? We must put a stop to it. We must stop him now,
before all the good work we have done is destroyed!"
49 "But how can we stop him?" asked another
Priest. "The Hoods could not! He destroyed our allies among
them!"
50 "There is only ONE way to stop him," The
High Priest insisted, "and ONLY one way. We must destroy
him! We must send him to these Ancestors he loves so much.
We must make him one with Them!"
51 "No," one Priest protested, rising. "Our
god teaches we must live in peace and harmony with our neighbors.
He has taught us we must not make war without just cause. We must be at
peace with all men. We cannot plot the murder of a man because he
believes differently than we do.
52 For generations our people have lived
peacefully with The Children Of Spirit. We worshiped our god in
peace among them. Why do we now plot evil against their leader?
We got by without sacrificing before. Our people that had to have
sacrifices went to the desert temple. Why can we not return to the old
way, forget these grand designs and live in peace with The Children of
Spirit? We have our own land, we do not need to take this one.
Let us follow our lord's teachings, and live in harmony with our
neighbors."
53 The High Priest rose. "The teachings of
brotherhood," he screamed, "apply only to those who share our faith,
not to nonbelievers. To them we may do as we wish, for they are less
than animals in the sight of our god."
54 "There is no writing anywhere in The Book
of Wisdom," the young Priest argued, "to testify to such a
teaching. Our god never taught anything like what you're saying."
55 The High Priest became enraged. "How
dare you question my authority?" he screamed. "I am The High
Priest! I say what The Holy Writings testify to, what they don't
testify to! And I will have no more argument. Our course of
action has been decided; you will keep your Priestly vow, guard the
secrets of the temple with your life, otherwise, begone from our
worship!" The young Priest seated himself.
56 "The question," The High Priest continued,
"is how and when? As soon as this Voice is gone, his followers
will crumble, and our plans to win this people for our god be
completed. It is late. Let us depart now to our beds. A good
night's rest and we will council again tomorrow and come up with a
plan."
57 While The Priests of The One were plotting,
The Voice had marched to The First Speaker's House, and answered his
summons. In The First Speaker's Hall of Judgment The Voice stood.
58 "Why," asked The First Speaker, "do you
challenge my authority, do you tell people to disobey my decrees?
I have given the people of The One permission to sacrifice in our
land. It is a small price to pay for peace. The lives of a
few animals are better than the lives of our children on the
battlefield. I made a decision, it was a good decision. By what
right do you interfere?"
59 "I interfere," answered The Voice, "because
the decree was illegal, and you know it was. The shedding of blood, the
committing of sacrifice The Lords forbid. Now, they demand only
animals; what if in the future they demand a man...a human
sacrifice? Will you avoid hostilities by giving them that?
You are sworn to defend The Law unto death, not bend it to suit
foreigners.
60 These people are welcome in our land.
We do not demand that they pay us tribute, that they worship our Lords,
but The Lords do demand that they shed no blood. You have been swayed
by threats and promises. Because of fear you have forsaken The Law.