"That's everything," I announce, bringing an end to a long and tedious discussion.

"An adequate resolution," Morgene says over the rim of her glass, casual yet effortlessly imperious. Once the conversation went past noon with no sign of slowing down, I had Geneva bring refreshments—the only thing that kept me from abandoning the session until tomorrow.

"You seem happy with it at least," she adds.

"I am." Sigh. These CFQ idiots better appreciate it. No noble would blame me for burning the garbage they had the audacity to send, but I've managed to turn it into something workable. "Let's go over it one more time?"

The elf sighs but inclines her head. There's no need to check with the succubus; she's been paying rapt attention from the beginning.

"Alright. Starting from the top. Their voice. We like the idea of the council. The key is to give them enough power to make them feel important, but not enough to take over the city." Easier said than done, of course. "To accomplish this, we are going to give them menial work and so much of it, they don't have time or energy for schemes."

I had a mountain of objections when the succubus suggested I agree to their demand but, as always, she presented it with logic that is hard to refute. Someone being too busy to be an idiot is an interesting concept. I initially thought working someone to the bone would breed resentment. However, the succubus presented incredibly persuasive points to support her position.

Firstly, everyone's first concern is survival. Sometimes, it is the survival of their bloodline rather than themselves, but preserving what they have usually takes precedence over reaching for more—so long as what they have is enough. A man with nothing to lose can't be predicted, but if he has a warm house, food to feed his family, and enough for the occasional drink, it would be rare for him to risk it all for more rather than work to preserve his comfortable standard.

She proposed that if we gave them a smidgen of power and made the requirements to maintain it extremely difficult, those with power would expend their energy sustaining their small authority rather than seeking more. However, if power is guaranteed without effort, like a hereditary title, they will inevitably become dissatisfied and reach for more without considering consequences.

Apparently, two things can be exactly the same, but if the owner has to bleed for one and stumbles upon the other, the one he bleeds for will be worth infinitely more.

As for the duties of this council, we've pulled from their suggestions. I was offended that they outright demanded the power to determine fates, but while it is a power that has been monopolized by nobles, it's not an enjoyable duty. Navigating grudges is nasty business, and when it isn't nasty, it's tedious. Worse, it's historically rife with corruption and exploitation. I'd love to entrust it to the Temple, but they aren't law-minded. They'd just exile troublemakers large and small to spare themselves the trouble of complicated trials and dubious evidence. No, they aren't suited for it. So why not make the eager souls do it?

It'll be the chain that binds them to my agenda too tightly to cause trouble.

Judging guilt and sentencing criminals is only the beginning, though that alone is plenty. With all the rebels hanging about, sorting them will keep the council busy for quite a while. It won't be as simple as locking them away and forgetting them. Why? Because Geneva is drafting a whole new set of laws—ones where circumstances influence sentencing and must be weighed as carefully as evidence.

As it stands, mercy is strictly a prerogative of the ruling noble. That means the rich and powerful can buy their way out of punishment, even when undeniably guilty. That's why the Grimoires got away with their heinous actions for so long. Not in my city.

I don't think a child stealing food to stay alive should face the same punishment as a lowlife stealing someone's life savings. Sensible people will know to stay their hand, but what happens when the crime gets muddier? Does a woman who kills a man that assaults her deserve the same punishment as a man who kills his wife for sleeping with his best friend? Does a man who kills his father's murderer deserve the same punishment as a man who kills his lifelong rival in a drunken brawl?

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Who deserves punishment? Who deserves leniency? How much? When? In New Quest, it won't be a matter of how the judge feels—it'll be a matter of law, codified based on my opinions and optimized to discourage crime.

The hunters want to be judges? Fine. I assume they think council positions will be an internal matter, perhaps an election or a question of seniority. Heh. In their dreams. I'll use the most annoying method: merit.

Anyone who wants a seat on my council will have to work for it. Memorize the laws and prove they can use them with good judgment. A knowledge test to prove they know the law, a situational test with hypothetical crimes to prove understanding, and a moral test to show they can at least act like decent humans.

That'll dampen some of their enthusiasm. So much so, I worried no one would be interested. But we'll give them a reward. Something to fight for, another of the things they asked for: the ability to make laws.

Restricted, of course. I'm not letting them near money or swords—that's asking for rebellion. But I see no issue with letting them set guidelines for public order. I've also given them another boon: managing the guilds. I don't care about the guilds, but to the hunters, they symbolize power. They asked for sanctioning authority, so I'll let them decide on guild formation, standards, and membership limits. I'm even giving them the ability to enforce chivalry clauses. Imagining rough hunters learning manners to keep selling pelts makes me laugh.

A small pond for them to flap around in, sized just right to make them feel bigger than they are. We even plan to shift their grudges toward less dangerous targets.

The top scorers on the exams will become the first council. The runner-ups? Competition. A group trained in law, monitoring the council, ready to challenge unjust rulings. If they prove a law unjust, they can remove the proposing council member. Vacancies? Filled from the defenders.

"The council can judge criminals, govern guilds, and pass public ordinances. In the future, if they get too comfortable, we'll find new responsibilities to occupy them."

"I have a few ideas," Geneva says, with a faintly unpleasant grin.

"Of course you do. Write them down; I'll review later. Compensation? No taxes for a few years. Reduce taxes for merchants to encourage trade. One group can sell tax-free." The city needs merchants. Buildings and slaying monsters mean nothing if no one is willing to trade with us. Sponsoring a food merchant solves that. My coinpurse will take a hit buying initial stock, but needs must. Lady Teppin is already in Rosentheim, the city's breadbasket. I'll have her make the arrangements and that'll be enough punishment. She can collect her daughters and reunite with her husband.

"I still argue you should raid Rosentheim," Morgene says, amused. "Nothing will motivate them more to sell you their goods than the knowledge that it will be taken otherwise."

"Not wrong," I admit, "but razing cities isn't sustainable. Reputation matters. Right now, I'm sure they have their doubts about me, but this mess is seen as an internal matter. If I go around mugging everyone, this city will be lumped in with Graywatch." No future in that.

Her shrug shows her disregard for peace, but her silence is enough. If she objected, she'd speak.

"While I won't bleed myself for the families, we'll ensure everyone has housing, meals, and support. Verified merchants and crafters can take low-interest loans, payments deferred for three years. Orphanages, daily meals, and temporary support will secure basic needs.

"Finally, they'll resume hunting and they can keep whatever they dig up from the rubble of the guilds. As for returning heirlooms and the like to their families, we'll throw that duty on the council." Another way to keep them focused on keeping each other in line. I can't wait to see their unity crumble under the weight of their combined greed.

"Any final objections?"

"Not if you insist on keeping blood in bodies and leaving your territory to its own devices," Morgene says, stretching.

"The contingencies we discussed?" Geneva asks.

"Require more discussion. Alright, done here. Write copies, send one to the CFQ leaders, and tell them it'll be a few weeks until implementation. Our first priority is restoring the city. How long for the laws?"

"A few days to draft," the succubus replies. "It's a lot of paper and ink, especially if multiple copies are needed."

"Just two copies then. Scribes will handle the rest in the capital." I'm not thrilled to return to Summer Spire, but I owe it to Father. While I'm there, I'm sure I'll have to deal with Uncle Jackal and the king will likely wish to speak with the kingdom's newest countess.

I still think it's a pain, but my thoughts wander to ignoring everything, my mind goes back to standing on that hilltop with Cloud. Death…I'm numb to death. To misfortune. To suffering.

But not to grief. Not to missing someone taken from you in circumstances you can't understand. Not to never having a chance. I can't be knowingly responsible for that.

So I'll bear this burden… until I can disappear quietly. Or a dragon swallows me. Unfortunately a real possibility and something that might truly threaten this ridiculous constitution of mine.

"Meeting over," I announce, stretching. "Thanks for your help."

Morgene smiles softly. "Once, I imagined sitting like this with my daughter before passing the crown. A daughter-by-choice isn't much different."

"Oh? There was a time you wanted to be queen?"

She chuckles, the sound lacking humor. "I wanted to be strong. There was a time when I thought the two were inseparable. But few things are absolute and nothing in this world lasts forever.

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