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<P>To distract, and reduce some tension, Strie'bog will tell the story posted earlier.</P>
<P>After the story, he will look around the gathering while moving to look at both Ben'dar and Cetric. </P>
<P>"My father was a holy man from far to the east. As I grew, we talked of many things. One is the confusion of words. We speak, but many times the words do not match our inner meaning. Meaning that even we have problems seeing or hearing."</P>
<P>"Once I came to my father, saying that another apprentice had dishonored me. We talked, and he heard my story. He then said to me, 'you have confused honor with pride my son.'"</P>
<P>Strie'bog will let that statment hang for a minute. "Each tribe has its own custom, but as a people I have seen that the Zen'da respect life." Looking at Ben'dar, "you will recall that I challanged Cetric. I did this because there was a breach in hospitality, a breach in the laws that bind us together. Friendship, and even trust, could not grow if this act was never challanged."</P>
<P>Turning to Cetric, "as I mentioned, it did not matter the outcome, but in the outcome, you have learned that even the one who appears the weakest of our party is one still to be reckoned with."</P>
<P>Looking at Ben'dar. "I have grown to respect you Ben'dar, so I ask, look deep in your heart. Will your renown, the respect of your friends, grow from fighting Cetric? From killing him? Will you feel better about yourself?"</P>
<P>He waits for the answer, and then walks over to Cetric, "the customs of your tribe confuse me, but I am not of your people. You heard my story, and I have seen different ways of honoring the spirits, giving them the respect that they deserve. Let the spirits have their say, and find some way of rebuilding the trust that has been muddied."</P></BODY><PRE>
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