Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Finally The First Speaker called out, "Pages!
Come here!" The boys entered. "Each of you," he commanded,
"go get me a blanket." The boys obeyed and as they watched, The
First Speaker took off The Dove's Sword and rolled it up in a blanket.
Then, he took The Staff of The Shadow and rolled it up, also. He gave
them to one page, saying, "Take these things to The Voice. Take a squad
of my personal guard with you as escort. Tell him the victory is his,
and so is the solution. He will understand. Go on! Get out of
here!"
2 The young man politely bowed and departed.
As the other page watched, The First Speaker took from about his neck
his Seal of Office, went to a writing table, wrote a note, and rolled
up the Seal inside it...then, put them both in the drawer of the
writing table.
3 "Stay here," he commanded, "and guard
this. I will send some fighting people in to be with you."
The Speaker walked to the back of the house, instructed the guards at
the door to join the page. When they were gone, he donned his cape,
opened the door, and walked out of history. He was never seen or heard
of again.
4 When the page arrived at the camp everyone
was overjoyed as The Symbols of The Speaker's Office were unwrapped;
everyone except The Voice. "We have won, Lord!" praised Gray
Deer. "Why aren't you happy?"
5 "We have won," answered The Voice, "by
breaking the heart of a kind and gentle man, whose only crime was
loving his people too much. In that I can find no joy. Let us all
go back to our beds. In the morning we will return to the city, gather
The Council, and choose a new Speaker."
6 "What is there to choose?" cried Gray
Deer. "You shall be First Speaker. It is what all of us desire."
7 "It has never been meant to be," The Voice
told him, "that I become First Speaker. The Lords have already
chosen another. Let The Council gather and confirm the decision. There
is no sense choosing a First Speaker who would only be Speaker for a
day!"
8 All about The Voice heard his words but none
understood the sadness of his meaning.
9 The next morning as they marched into the
city, Gray Deer carried The Shadow's Staff, while Great Bear carried
The Dove's Sword. "Lord," insisted Great Bear, "do not deny us
our victory. Take The Sword. Put it on. Carry the staff. Claim your
right. None deserves The Speakership more than you. No one will
question your taking what is your right."
10 The Voice shook his head. "The Lords
choose," he protested, "not man. I tell you, I am not the one. Let The
Lords pick him who will serve."
11 They entered The Speaker's Hall and the
page showed the Voice where The Speaker's Seal and the message
were. The message simply read "In The Name of The Lords I
surrender my post as First Speaker, and authorize the one called The
Voice to call Council, that that Council may choose a successor worthy
to hold my office. By my right as First Speaker do these things I
order."
12 It was not hard to gather a Council.
The Voice had brought most of its members with him! In The
Speaker's Hall of Judgment they gathered. Gray Deer was
suggested, but he refused. Great Bear was suggested, but he did not
want the position either. Gentle Bear was mentioned, but he was a man
of peace and did not want to take a fighting person's position.
13 "This is a fine mess!" said Pepper, sitting
on the edge of the crowd. "The most honored position in our land,
the highest authority among our people, and not one of those suggested
even wants to stand for consideration? Do we have to draw lots to
see who will be First Speaker?"
14 "Child," praised The Voice, "your tongue is
sharp, but you speak with wisdom. Let's let The Lords decide. If
all will agree, almost any in this Hall are worthy. Each has risked his
life. All know The Law." He took The Speaker's Sword, undressed
it, and laid it on the floor. "Form a Circle," he ordered, "I will spin
the blade. Whoever it indicates, that one will be First Speaker."
15 The Councilmen looked at each other, and
then nodded. "With so many worthy to choose from," they agreed,
"perhaps this WOULD be the best way!"
16 The Voice spun the blade. It turned very
rapidly, then suddenly jerked to a stop. The Voice looked along it. At
first he thought it pointed to Strong Dog, but then he realized it
pointed to Silent Dog, who stood close to him. "It is Silent
Dog!" cried The Voice.
17 "No," said Silent Dog in sign. "It cannot
be! It is my brother. It is because I am standing near him."
18 "Very well," agreed The Voice, "enter the
Circle, and have the rest spread out. We will try again!"
19 Again he spun the sword and again with a
sudden jerk, it stopped, pointing directly at Silent Dog.