61 I do not consider that you are an evil man.
What you have done you have done because you love your people.
But in doing it you have shamed them, for you feel that they love their
property and their lives more than they love The Lords, and you are
wrong. They put The Lords before all these things. And to keep the
peace, to avoid strife you have let certain rich families and Speakers
have their way. You allowed them to commit many wrongs in the
name of peace and harmony."
62 The Voice motioned, and his followers
dumped parchment after parchment on the table before The First
Speaker. "These are the wrongs you have permitted," continued The
Voice, "we have righted them. We will right more, when we find
them. I do not wish your position, nor do any of my
followers. You could still be a great Speaker. I ask only you
forsake this evil, return to The Law, make peace with the people. That
is all I will say. I will come back tomorrow to hear your answer."
63 Without waiting to be dismissed The Voice
walked out of the Hall and his people followed. The City Warlock
approached The First Speaker. "My men are ready," he announced, "do you
wish me to seize him?"
64 "They would be torn apart in the streets if
they tried," answered The First Speaker. "Let him go his way. He
has won, and he knows it. Go on, get out! Leave me alone!"
65 The First Speaker went to the table, picked
up several of the parchments, brought them back to his chair, and began
to read. Finally he let them drop to the floor from his hands,
and merely sat in his chair, weeping, saying over and over again, "I
only wished to avoid war, to keep the peace." The two pages
standing just outside the door peeked in now and again, wondering what
to do, in the end doing nothing.
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