LifeV: Know Your Place - B “Noteveryone would lose their jobs, no doubt some of us would be sent to workin other places.” Triche said. “But again nothing has been decided yet.I’ve managed to be party to certain conversations about the fate of theWatch.” “And?”I tried keeping the fear from my voice. You have to hide your emotionsat all times on the Watch. “Andit isn’t pretty.” Triche said. “The Wardens are divided into three groupsby other Keeprs. First are those who put on the lantern to intimidatetheir fellow Keepers and collect bribes. Second are those two >>>Typo - too not two stupidto even collect bribes. And third are those who are genuinely committedto making Metamor a better place.” I was taken aback by this. “Oh comeon Janelle, surely there disrespect for us doesn’t surprise you.” “Thatisn’t what surprises me.” I said. “What surprises me is how it affectsus. No one in this Watch House has everaccepted a bribe.” “Corporal.” >>>What of the others? “We’venever accepted bribes, we’ve never ignored someone in need.” I said, tailslamming against the stone. “We are notdamaging the Watche’s good name.” Triche laughed. “Atthis point flaming debris flung by giants couldn’t damage the Watches nameanymore.” Triche said. “You’re right this Watch House is not guilty of anyof those things. But the Watch is thelaughingstock of Metamor. From theday we were chartered we had no clear powers or goals.” I tried to interruptbut by now it was too late. “Weare supposed to dispense justice throughout Metamor, except we can’t arrestnobility. And Low justice can only be processed by us, the Knights takethose criminals away. And mean justice amounts to stoping people from breakingrocks and getting drunk in public. We are the Metamor sobriety squad!” “YesterdayWarden Remmie broke up a four person drunken brawl involving magicand clubs.” I said. “I just resolved aninvestigation on prisoner Chamomilein just one day.” “Nota hard problem.” Triche pointed out. “You’reright but the point is I solved it.” I said. “I didn’t just ignore theproblem. So what if we’re the sobrietysquad? Metamor might need one. We do good work.” “Wedo work.” Triche’s ears drooped. “And we’re made up of people who can’t findwork anywhere else. Corporal Janelle I am proud of you and of every WardenI have under my command. I am lucky to be your Lieutenant. But I haveno illusions about the Watch.” “Iagree the Watch needs a change.” I said. My tail began treminbling in my hands.“If the government of Metamor gave us more authority-” “Theydon’t give us authority because they don’t trust us.” Triche interrupted.“I can’t say I blame them. Corporal, do you know why the Watch wascreated?” I shook my head. “An easier way for people to serve Metamor anda way to bring justice to the people.” “Andwe do that.” I said. “ThisWatch House does that. Because if I received reports that any of my Wardenswere shirking responsibility I would throw them out on there tail. Ikeep reports on every arrest we have in case we need the information for later. But thus far that doesn’t matter.” Iswallowed. “Something wrong Corporal?” “Possibly…”I rasped. “Uh, what does your Captain say about this?” “CaptainMenhenick told me about the discussion.” Triche said. “He’s ultimatelynot in favor of the Watch being dissolved, obviously.” “But?”I asked. My tail stilled in my hands. “Buthe won’t do anything to stop it.” Triche said. “It’s in the hands of ourDuke, our Senschel and those who have something to gain from the Watch beingdisolced. Our worrying about this won’t change a thing.” But I did worry.I worried a lot. Outsideof the Watch who was I? An observer, eternal and on the outside. Nota good enough fighter to join the military, not a conventional mage. I’dbe a private citizen again, able to see the flaws in Metamor and not be ableto help them. To know I can make my Metamor better and having to sit onmy hands. WouldI be better able to care for my son? Yes. And the terrible thing is evenwith that reason I couldn’t give up on the Watch. If we died, what wouldbe left? The terrible justice system Metamor has would be unchanged bydissolving the Watch, I know that. The Knights would probably officially takeover all duties of the Watch, while those who actually understand the flawedjustice system could only watch. Andthat frightened me. All of my life I had dreamed of making a better Metamor,in my limited capacity. Through the Watch I could do that. I could becomeJusticar, fix the justice system, angle for more authority for the Watch...butthere had to be a Watch. Thisisn’t something I do out of mere ego, though I admit ego is a part. I lovemy city, I have fought for it and will do so whenever I am called. And Iwant to make it a better place. On that day with Triche I believed I coulddo it alone. Looking back I know I was wrong there, but I was right towant to create a better Metamor. Iwanted to serve my fellow citizen. I wanted justice that was equal, unbiasedand beyond corruption. To be a lantern with the light of justice, alwaysburning in the dark. This is the goal of the Watch. “Corporalthere's no reason to discuss this matter any further.” Triche said.“And please remember these matters are being discussed and only discussed.With the Assault still in recent memory I wouldn’t expect any suddenchanges to the structure of Metamor.” “Yesof course sir.” I said. “May I request more information as it comes?” MyLieutenant’s shadow-masked eyes narrowed. “Requestdenied.” Of course. “This is a private matter for those of Lieutenantrank or higher. You shouldn’t even know about it. Now will there beanything else?” Well just one more thing… >>>Powerful stuff. If they want to save the Watch they had better act fast! And >>>do what?
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