“Well, I still don’t see why, just because there are a few bad people in charge of things in Karse, we should assume that nearly everyone that comes from there is bad,” she said stubbornly. “Well, look, one of them has just been Chosen! I don’t see why there shouldn’t be as many men of honor there as here.”

“The problem with that assumption is that once a man of honor sees what his leaders are doing is wrong, shouldn’t it be incumbent on him to do something about it?” Talamir asked the princess, who made a little grimace of impatience. “With the sorts of things that the Sunpriests have been doing, even the most devout worshiper of Vkandis is going to run out of excuses for their excesses.”

“What if he can’t?” she asked. “Do something about it, I mean.”

“If nothing else, he should leave,” Sendar pointed out. “By giving his support to a bad leader, he reinforces the position of that leader. People see that he is good, and since he continues to act in support of the leader, however inadvertently, they assume there must be very compelling reasons for the leader to act as he is, and they continue to bear the intolerable.”

Talamir nodded. Selenay looked uncertain, but not entirely convinced.

She’ll learn, he decided. Experience, that was what she needed. “The point is that it’s rather ironic, that this Karsite, who has already had his own leaders turn against him and try to execute him for the use of a Gift that has been the saving of their own people, should then expect us to prove ourselves to him. Not that we blame him at all, we just find it ironic.”

“I can see that,” the girl replied with a frown. “But I can also see why he has even more reason to want us to prove ourselves.”

“What do you propose we do with this fellow?” Sendar asked, changing the subject. “There are bound to be objections to his presence once more people discover where he’s from.”

“I don’t see any point in even trying to keep that a secret,” Talamir replied, shaking his head. “It’ll be out no matter what we do. It’s a pretty problem, and one that isn’t easily going to be solved. We can hardly expect people to set aside old grievances.”

“It’s one I wish we didn’t have.” Sendar looked as if he was getting a headache. “I suppose all these things happen for a reason, but I would be happy enough for this to be occurring in someone else’s reign.”

:Everyone always says that,; Taver observed.

Taver should know. :I suppose they do.: