Role

Chapter 9

Ilyana smiled warmly as she took her leave of Karvesh, it had been a good conversation - the Curator had been right. The Provost was a good man and one open to exchanging ideas, discussing matters and adopting new positions where appropriate.

Tensions between Spire and Palace had been on the rise - their genesis: some Imperials' misapprehension that the Provost had quietly been stalking them from within city limits, only to strike outside, the Maran company he tended to keep.

Following on from there, an ambush on him at sea - by two Blades while he was en route to the Outlander Tree no less. Then an ill-timed attack by him on an Imperial bardess, which happened to coincide with her fighting the Sun Warden.

The situation had devolved to Imperials harrying younger Magistrates out learning, but fortunately things now appeared to be on the mend. Karvesh had just promised not to be the one to strike first, only in self-defence.

He had expressed his support for giving diplomacy a chance, and accordingly Ilyana had his blessings to continue her dialogue with the Council and newly anointed Empress. Indeed much of the recent troubles was attributable to an empty Throne.

And yet, and yet... Ilyana sighed as she read again the volume "The Imperial War Machine" in the Eternal Library. Taken together with "Exegesis of the Blood Oath", it spoke loudly as to the heart of what was wrong with the Palace.

Such emphasis on War and subjugation, such dependence on blind loyalty - unthinking. Could they not see that, over the long term, War can only ever be a destroyer of accumulated Knowledge? That blind loyalty is anathema to the creed?

Yet perhaps in Servielln's "Bellum" did she see some some glimmer of hope for the Imperials' salvation. While the author of that dark volume decried unfettered Collaboration as Charity, at least he then also acknowledged the former's necessity.

Indeed that had been ever Ilyana's vision and conviction, that the Laws provide a platform for peaceful co-existence and cooperation (or in Servielln's words, 'collaboration') between people who might otherwise be at each others' throats.

And perhaps if they co-exist, cooperate or collaborate long enough, under the Aegis and upon the stable Foundation of Laws, then that 'unfettered collaboration' might lead to the beginnings of charity among such.

Imagine, if you will, a charitable Palace, a charitable Empire - down this path surely may someday lie that holy grail of a Hegemony of Light. And so still she keeps Faith, trusts in the seed of good that is in every person.

Even so, the recent tensions with the Palace had also reminded her that it cannot truly be perceived as an ally to the Spire. Candidates for redemption, yes, but little more. The Spire must be strong on its own!