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Goldmoon moved into position before Riverwind,
wondering idly what emotion she would see in his eyes, but
he stepped back with a feline grace. Startled, and annoyed
at the break in the smoothness of the ceremony, Goldmoon
managed not to show her surprise. Believing the young
peasant too simple to understand the ritual, she said softly,
"We are not quite finished. If you will kneel before me, I
will bless you."
"I need no blessing to pass this day's test, and I will not
kneel to you or any other mortal creature," Riverwind
replied. He spoke quietly, but his deep voice sounded across
the platform.
Goldmoon stiffened with repressed anger. She would
not be embarrassed before the tribe, her holiness denied.
She gestured for the guards to come from the side of the
platform. They stood behind the infidel, prepared to haul
him away at her command.
Before she could motion for them to remove Riverwind
from her sight, however, Arrowthorn was by her side
interceding. "If it please, your grace," he whispered to her,
"this one" - he glared icily at Riverwind - "intends no
disrespect; he simply does not believe as we do."
The chieftain spoke up so the crowd could hear,
"Riverwind, grandson of Wanderer, why are you here at this
ceremony? It is not required for you to attend
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