"Yes, I know that now," answered Eric Nelson sickly. Free children of the forest, hunted and slain and enslaved as in the outer world! Swift sentient folk of the Clans, crushed beneath a stupid human tyranny! He deserved what was coming—
"You are free to leave L'Lan," said Kree. Nelson stared, incredulous. "You're not going to kill me for what I've helped to do?"
Kree shook his head. "By your work last night, you redeemed the crime that you committed in ignorance. You can go."
Nelson looked at the Guardian, then around the watching leaders of the Clans.
"But I want to stay!" he cried. "I want to help you save the Brotherhood, to undo what I helped do here!"
Nsharra cried eagerly to her father, "Give him the chance! He will be loyal to us, I know!"
"He will be loyal," Tark's thought agreed. "And he knows the ways and weapons of the outlanders."
Kree's eyes searched Nelson's face, seemed to be searching his soul. Finally the Guardian spoke.
"So be it, outlander. Your help can be valuable in this hour of peril." He swung toward the others. "Clan-leaders, let the word run through all your Clans that this outlander fights on our side!"
"We shall see how he fights," growled the thought of Quorr the tiger.