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without turning a land into a prison, that is the task of a ruler.
Power is not respected or feared when it is never exercised. Yet, if it is
exercised excessively and in an arbitrary fashion, people will become unhappy
and unproductive, and that will cause the order of a land to decline. People
also become unhappy when power is always used harshly and disproportionately
to an offense against order. Likewise, they become confused when the laws
governing the use of power are complex and difficult to explain or understand.
Thus, the laws of a land must be both fair and simple. Sometimes, this is not
possible, and if it is not, a ruler should err on the side of simplicity,
because, no matter how hard administrators, mage-guards, and rulers attempt to
assure fairness, absolute fairness is by nature impossible, and attempts to
create it always lead to a wider and more complex set of rules and laws, which
seem unfair because of their very complexity. In the end, attempting to create
absolute fairness will create a greater impression of unfairness than
maintaining a firmer and simpler set of rules.
The last precept about laws is this: Create no law that is not absolutely
necessary to maintain simple order. Beyond the minimum for maintaining order,
laws are like fleas or leeches. The more of them that exist, the more they vex
a land and bleed it into chaos and anarchy..
Page 148
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Manual of the Mage-Guards Cigoerne, Hamor 1551 A.F.
LII
1 he mist that had cloaked Swartheld on eightday had given way by oneday
morning to high clouds that in Recluce would have promised rain. Rahl had
doubts that they would and went to work sweeping and mopping the floors. The
brasswork could wait a few days, but he did oil and polish the woodwork and
furniture. When he finished, he washed up and dressed. He replaced the
registry bracelet in his belt wallet, wrapped in cloth once more, rather than
wearing it. Then he went and bought some bread from Gostof that he ate in his
own cubby, before returning to the front and waiting for Daelyt to arrive.
The older clerk came in whistling, but Rahl thought the melody was a bit off.
Good morning, Rahl.
Good morning. How was your end-day?
Quiet. We slept late and went and saw friends. What about yours?
I explored a little and had a meal at Hakky. Rahl laughed. I won t be doing
that again anytime soon.
I can see why. I took Yasnela there once for her birthday. She told me she
wouldn t stand for my spending that many coins on food ever again.
Rahl chuckled politely, even though he knew the older clerk was lying. I
suppose once will have to be enough. At least, the Association pays for our
meals at Eneld s.
In a way, replied Daelyt. We probably get paid less, but Shyret can get the
meals for us cheaper than we can.
Rahl hadn t thought of it quite that way.
The day went quickly, with traders coming in and seeking consignment space on
the Montgren and even on the Black Holding, which wasn t scheduled back until
an eightday or more after the Montgren, or the Diev, which would arrive in
Swartheld even later. Others came in looking to purchase various goods in the
warehouse, or to see if they were available.
We re in the last eightday of summer, getting on toward fall, Daelyt pointed
out in one lull. It gets busier then.
And winter? .
That s busy, too. Late summer is the slowest.
As the sun dropped lower in the west,- and the shadows lengthened outside the
Association, a slender man-wearing a pale blue fharong hurried into the
Association. I ve got a remittance for the director.
I can take it, offered Daelyt.
No. It has to go to him personally. The trader wouldn t be happy otherwise:
Daelyt nodded at Rahl, and the younger clerk jumped off his stool and hurried
back through the archway.
Shyret looked up from the ledger open before him. What is it, Rahl?
Ser& there s a man here with a remittance. He won t give it to anyone but
you. Daelyt sent me to tell you.
The director rose, shaking his head, then ran his fingers through his short
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