Chapter 38

Kilthanis was brought up short by Lucas’s question. His righteous anger had no outlet against this simple admission. It suddenly evaporated in the face of concern for a man he had known for over a decade. His voice was almost as soft as Lucas’s when he continued.

“Then why?” he asked plaintively.

Lucas stared down at his desk, refusing to look his friend in the eye. “Because I hate them, Kilthanis. They’re simpletons and they can’t be trusted.”

Kilthanis just gaped at Lucas. He was at a loss for words.

“I come from the riverlands, Kilthanis. You know this. We don’t see many of the desert people there. And those we do get are looked at with distrust.”

“Lucas, you’re a smart man. You know better than—“

“It has nothing to do with intelligence, Kilthanis. I was raised not to trust them. Sure, individual members of the race might be good people. But as a whole? They use their monopoly on magic to wring concessions from the Empire no other people get. So why should they get all the benefits of Imperial citizenship, if they don’t bear all the costs?”

Kilthanis fought to keep the revulsion from his face as he listened to a man he thought he knew spew the most ignorant hatred from the hinterlands of the Empire. “They provide a valuable service to the Empire, Lucas.”

“Really? Their so-called magic? They can cloud men’s minds with their tricks. We all believe that they merely compel men to speak the truth. But what prevents them from fooling your mind as to what the truth really is? Nothing, that’s what! So what’s to say they can’t be bought off?”

“Do you really think Bokiyem would allow them to corrupt the legal process?”

Lucas snorted. “Now who’s being ignorant, Kilthanis? Do you really think Bokiyem exists? I’m a priest of his order, and he’s never given me guidance in my decisions. My intelligence does that. If he really influenced us, there would never be a disagreement about the law. And yet this Court regularly splits its opinions. Bokiyem is a fairy tale.”

Kilthanis’s eyes grew wide. “That’s heresy!”

“It’s truth! And if it isn’t, then that means my opinion was given me by Bokiyem. What say you to that?”

Kilthanis hesitated. Lucas had a point. If Bokiyem truly guided the High Court, then his case was lost. But he couldn’t believe that the God of Law would countenance such a result. But if He didn’t….then it undercut the basis for the power of law. That was even more troubling. Kilthanis shook his head, trying to clear it.

“That’s not necessarily true, Lucas. Bokiyem guides your decision. He doesn’t dictate it. And in this case, you’ve clearly let your personal biases corrupt your opinion in this matter. Duty demands that you recuse yourself from the case.”

“Well, counselor, it’s too late for that. The Opinion of the Court has been rendered.”

“Then I’ll file a motion for rehearing.”

“That’s unprecedented. The Court never rehears an issue once its been decided, unless new facts come to light or circumstances change.”

“I would say both are true, here,” Kilthanis said pointedly.

Lucas looked like he was about to snap a retort, then sighed heavily. “You’re right. I will inform the Lord Chief Justice that my opinion was in error, and that I should not have been involved in the case. I will urge him to grant your request for the Court to reconsider its decision. Without my influence, you should have no trouble convincing the Court to change its mind. The Chief Justice will be a hard sell, but if anyone can do it….”

“Thank you, Lucas. For the vote of confidence and for agreeing to this.”

Lucas sighed again. “It’s not easy to admit you’re flawed, Kilthanis.”

“You’re not flawed. Just human.”

Lucas nodded, his eyes tracing the books of law lining the shelves of his office. Kilthanis could only guess at what he was thinking. Probably trying to seek solace in the law, as he always had. Maybe seeking absolution from the silent tomes. Kilthanis turned to go. When he reached the door, Lucas called his name. He turned back.

“Yes?”

“Forgive me?”

“I do Lucas. I only hope you can forgive yourself.”