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The Sakuriji


Majel slipped into his seat at the Council table, the last to arrive. Despite three cups of wake-up, he was feeling . . . somewhat less than alert.

Worse, it was the Council of Claims this morning, which he found a challenge even on a good day. He was, in his off-hours, reading the minutes of previous Claims meetings, but as a new councilor, he was not—could not be—conversant with precedent, law, or when—and why!—it was permissible to vary from precedent. In fact, he, with azieEm, was more a spectator at the Council of Claims than a participant. Most often, he had a headache by the time the session was finished.

Today, for a novelty, he had a headache before the session had begun.

“Let the record show that all councilors are present to review current claims and petitions,” Council Chair gorminAstir stated. The bell rang, silver-bright. Majel winced.

“We have before us a petition from the kezlBlythe family to find xinRood a failed Line, and an accompanying petition, that xinRood’s assets be transferred to kezlBlythe, last of kin.”

She looked up from her screen.

“These petitions were filed at the municipal level, and the City Council ought to have handled them. However, the city chose to send both to the Council of the Civilized for resolution, citing the kezlBlythe’s standing as one of the foremost families in the city and Civilization. In short, the City Council did not feel itself able to rule appropriately on these petitions.”

That was rather odd, Majel thought, leaning back in his chair. The kezlBlythe were a force in Haven City; one could hardly do any kind of business without bumping into them or their interests. Still, there were other prominent families and cooperatives, and the City Council did not hold shy of judging them appropriately. Or so one hoped. Why should—

“Quite right,” seelyFaire said briskly. “The kezlBlythe deserve the honor of having their petitions reviewed at the highest level. They are a prominent family and Civilization owes them much.”

Majel blinked, his gaze crossing that of the Warden, who looked similarly amazed, and just as worn down as Majel felt.

“All honor to the kezlBlythe,” azieEm said in her soft voice, “but surely the City Council has precedent to guide them. The law must apply equally to all.”

That was encouraging line of thought. Majel made a note to seek azieEm out and get to know her better.

“Sometimes there are compelling reasons to sidestep precedent,” seelyFaire said. “Doubtless, the City Council saw that this was one of those instances, and did not wish to be perceived by other prominent families as having a preference.”

“If the City Council should not have preferences,” azieEm persisted, “how much less should the Council of the Civilized have preferences?”

“The Council of the Civilized exists precisely because sometimes, there is reason to circumvent precedent.”

“I see that Councilor seelyFaire has given some thought to this matter,” Chair gorminAstir said, dryly. “Have all present read the petitions under discussion?”

A general wave of assent flowed ’round the table.

“The petition to find that xinRood has failed seems to me precipitate,” said ivenAlyatta. “Observably, the Line has not failed. There are two children, both in good health.”

“And Haosa,” tryaBent growled. “Proof enough of failed genes.”

“Is it established that the children are alive and healthy?” Portmaster krogerSlyte asked.

“Yes,” said the Warden. “I saw them myself very recently. We had tea and spoke of their mother.”

“Clearly then, the children are the proper holders of the property left by their parent,” said azieEm, her timidity overcome by what appeared to be outrage. She turned to the Chair. “Chair gorminAstir, I ask for instruction: Why were these petitions not dismissed at the municipal level?”

“I suspect it may be as Counselor seelyFaire suggested—that the City Council feared being seen as partisan.”

Majel blinked. So, the City Council was protecting itself? That was not altogether unbelievable. The kezlBlythe were known to be sharp in their practice of business, and those who sat on the City Council were themselves in business. As were some of those who sat on the Council of the Civilized.

tryaBent, for instance, was old in textiles, and enjoyed the custom of the elite families. Which made it doubly interesting that she spoke now.

“If the remaining xinRood are among the Haosa, they have no need of whatever might be left of the family fortune. The Haosa live communally.”

“They do,” said the Warden, “but communities need funds to survive.”

“Why should the xinRood fortune fund the Haosa, when kezlBlythe will invest in Civilization?”

“It would do no harm,” seelyFaire said, as one granting a major concession, “to give the children a stipend so that they may buy themselves comfort off-Grid.”

“Nor would it do any harm,” the Warden said, very cold and precise, “to admit that the petitions have no merit, follow well-established precedent and deny them.”

“Of course the petitions have merit! They would not have been filed if the petitioners did not believe their case had merit!” seelyFaire was playing at being aghast, Majel thought, with her hand pressed to chest. “And as for partisanship, Warden, it is well known that you have been stalking the kezlBlythe for years. Have you found any evidence of wrongdoing?”

There was a long silence. seelyFaire smiled.

“You have not,” she said, with satisfaction. “Now, the Council may decide the amount of the stipend, and—”

“I propose—” Majel raised his hand.

“I am speaking!” seelyFaire snapped.

“Yes, but I am interested,” said the council chair. “What is your motion, Councilor ziaGorn?”

“I move that the precedents be entered into the record,” Majel said.

Silence greeted this, then ivenAlyatta laughed softly.

“Second.”

“This is a waste of time,” said seelyFaire.

“Only a matter of good housekeeping,” said Portmaster krogerSlyte. “Third.”

“I call the vote,” said gorminAstir crisply. “Those in favor of entering the precedents for finding a failed Line and for redistributing the property of Lines found to have failed into the records of this proceeding, raise your hand.”

It carried, with only seelyFaire and tryaBent voting against.

Five minutes later the next motion, to deny both petitions, put forth by ivenAlyatta, also passed, along the same lines.

Majel sighed and sat back in his chair, unaccountably relieved.

He noticed that his head wasn’t hurting any more.


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