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. Such a man's
worthiness was judged both by the priestess herself and the
current chieftain, her father. It was a tradition stemming
from antiquity, a tradition that had kept the royalty of the
Que-shu strong. Yet there were men, especially chieftains'
sons and spumed suitors, who rankled that their bids for
power were thwarted by one healthy girl-child grown to
womanhood. Arrowthorn had warned her once that many
argued against this tradition, though none dared do so in the
royal family's presence - yet. That was why she must be
perfect in her example. The people obeyed their goddess-to-
be, but evil men could turn them away from her if they
could make her seem no more than a mortal woman.
Arrowthorn continued, "And just as it would not be
expedient to probe these false claims of loyalty too deeply,
we accept the loyalty of those who claim a different belief."
"But why?"
Arrowthorn sighed. "Because they are only mortals, my
child. And though mortals are not infallible, they must be
given the freedom to make their own choices. How else are
we to choose the truly righteous when it comes our time to
judge as gods?" Goldmoon mused over that for some
moments, then argued, "But we must teach them the true
path
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