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“Does anyone else have any more opinions?”
“Broud would speak, Brun”
“Broud may speak”
“All these ideas are interesting, andto think about on cold winter days, but the traditions of the Clan are clear Born to the Others or not, the girl is Clan Clan females may not hunt They may not even touch a weapon, or any tool that is used to make a weapon We all know the punisho women once hunted Because a she-bear hunts, or a lioness, doesn’t mean a woman may We are neither bears nor lions It makes no difference if she has a powerful totes luck to the clan Itor even that she saved the life of the son of rateful for that, of course—everyone has noticed I said so many times on the way back, I’m sure—but it makes no difference The traditions of the Clan make no allowances A woe that It is the way of the Clan
“This wholeis a waste of time There is no other decision you can make, Brun I am finished”
“Broud is right,” Dorv said “It is not our place to change the traditions of the Clan One exception leads to another Soon there would be nothing we can count on The punishirl must die”
There were a couple of nods of agreeht, he thought What other decision can I make? She saved Brac’s life, but she used a weapon to do it Brun wasn’t any closer to a resolution than he was the day Ayla pulled out her sling and killed the hyena
“I will take all your thoughts into consideration before I ive me a definite answer,” the leader finally said Thein a circle around the fire They each clenched a fist and held it in front of their chests A movement up and doould mean an affirmative answer, a lateral movement of the fist, no
“Grod,” Brun began with his second-in-coirl Ayla should die?”
Grod hesitated He sympathized with the leader’s dilemma He had been Brun’s second for hts, and his respect for hiroith time But he could see no alternative; he moved his fist up, then down
“What other choice is there, Brun?” he added
“Grod says yes Droog?” Brun asked, turning to the toolmaker
Droog did not hesitate He moved his fist across his chest
“Droog says no Crug, how about you?”
Crug looked at Brun, then Mog-ur, and finally Broud He moved his fist up
“Crug says yes, the girl should die,” Brun confirmed “Goov?”
The young acolyte responded i his fist across his chest
“Goov’s opinion is no Broud?”
Broud moved his fist up before Brun could say his name, and Brun moved on just as quickly He knew Broud’s answer