The Philosopher in Arms

639 - Flames lengthening from my skin inward

There was no one who could be a credible threat to me militarily, now, by what I saw; not enough warriors were willing to oppose me to form a big enough army. But there were those who could hinder and harass, killing while they were at it, and make life difficult and dangerous for those on the Miyatara and in remote country. Chief among them was Farnias, working with a deviousness I could not help but admire.

The Philosopher in Arms

638 - Your luck in love has been bad

17 Jenir 4977 | City of Arko

Dear Mamin:

I shouldn’t be that upset about what happened with Klara. She and I made no plans to marry, weren’t having sex or even holding each other, weren’t even together nearly as much as that other woman and I were back during the war. I just... got very used to those regular dinners. It was so pleasant to be in her company. It did become part of my life, maybe the nicest part. (Curing people used to be a miracle, but now I do it every day.)

The Philosopher in Arms

637 - One word to him

Excerpt from the personal journal of Intharas Terren, High Editor of the Pages of Arko, for the eight-day following Risae 18, 54th-to-last Y.P.A.

It was time to meet with my oily team... the lawyers, I mean. I decided to get both Sirikas Aren, my usual libel man, and this Yeoli that Shefenkas recommended, pretty sure that Siri knows Arkan libel law better, while Feresinkas (as best I can spell it) knows better how these woolly-arm-pitted morons who have come after me think.

The Philosopher in Arms

636 - A chill through the entire public discourse

The wisdom of the short-chainers
Ipicha Shae-Shaila
Terera Pages, hyerasora 20, 1552

Observed shallowly, it’s a natural defense of reputation, the reaction of those who have been impugned and had that calumny produced on the Great Press of Arko, which can spit out a hundred thousand copies of anything in a day, making all whose writings go through it immensely powerful.

But look deeper and you will see it is just an offshoot of the tedious policy of harassment of Chevenga ascribed to by certain Servants of Assembly.

The Philosopher in Arms

635 - The mob cannot see its way clearly enough

Excerpt from the personal journal of Intharas Terren, High Editor of the Pages of Arko, for the eight-day following Risae 18, 54th-to-last Y.P.A.

Gentle reader! You would never guess who is suing me for libel.

Oh, I wrote bluntly about them. I waxed eloquent upon their errors. I characterized them with exasperation that is surely understandable considering their actions. But libelled them? Absolutely not. Libel is FALSE!

The Philosopher in Arms

634 - I have betrayed all my children

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t at all down-hearted in that time. I also felt I was starting to hear the whisper of fate, as I had in Yeola-e before the war. Great change is coming, it breathed, but there wasn’t a feeling of personal helplessness about it, almost more an itch, as if it was me who must set that change in motion. But the sense of boredom and stagnation, I mostly put down to sadness and loneliness.

The Philosopher in Arms

633 - An education in vilification

When Niku left, Shaina and Etana decided to as well, taking Kima and their kids, for their safety. I could not blame them. Fifth was steadfast about staying with me except in summer, though, so he and Younger Kallijas became the only two youngsters in the Imperial section, and their bond grew stronger.

The Philosopher in Arms

632 - The heart-slash of grief

The Assembly of Yeola-e should be told: “Down!”

Intharas Terren
The Pages of Arko, Risae 4, 54-to-last Y.P.A.

This morning, our beloved Imperator received a letter from his so-called masters in the Yeoli Assembly calling him to task for his expert handling of the slave revolt in Temono already covered elsewhere in these Pages. In fact, they are debating whether to command him—as by Yeoli law they have the right—to grant the ringleaders of the revolt full pardons and full freedom.

The Philosopher in Arms

631 - Love between you and her extinguished

From:
Assembly of Yeola-e
Per the Arch-holder of the National Crystal
(Acting Demarch Artira Shae-Arano-e having recused herself from presiding)
Vae Arahi

To:
Fourth Chevenga Shae-Arano-e
Demarch
City of Arko

atakina 88, Y. 1552

Demarch:

I write you with respect to a proposal entered to Assembly by the Servant of Lemanatal and seconded by the Servant of Michalere, which I cite:

“That, in the light of the fact that, by evidence received in Yeola-e through Arkan-papered means as well as his own report, the demarch has performed these following actions:

The Philosopher in Arms

630 - It is the fate of such pawns

It was two trials, really, that of the followers and that of the leaders. The atrocities they had been forced to suffer were all spoken into the record, with the writers taking notes too; then the atrocities they had committed. Some nine hundred Arkans had been killed, and many more wounded and raped.