This comes back jarring. Faye as deputy headmaster must know something about the politics involved, and putting the ruler on the spot like that (asking for a decision rather than asking for his opinion–on a weak-looking guy like that) is an exceedingly dangerous play when she failed to make her case like that.
Of course, I can think about it for an hour why it doesn’t sit well with me, but still. Just shouting “innocent” is just about the stupidest you can do, for the ruler doesn’t know that and frankly doesn’t care. He cares the plebs won’t stir. Hence “tolerable justice”, and demonstrating that this is not that would make a much, much stronger case in front of the ruler. As it stands he’s being asked to admit his deputy for justice acting in his name has made an error, making him look weak, when the plebs is shocked and thus he wants to look strong in front of them. Demonstrating that he looks weak now because this was a rash decision on iffy evidence, moreover one that that upsets the academy because nobody believes a word of it, has a somewhat better chance. Add a decent way out, a way for him to save face, which Faye isn’t offering him, and the chances go up still.
Of course, the plot-train has to leave the station somehow. But seeing this page again made me remember I thought this was a jarringly poor play the first time around.
This comes back jarring. Faye as deputy headmaster must know something about the politics involved, and putting the ruler on the spot like that (asking for a decision rather than asking for his opinion–on a weak-looking guy like that) is an exceedingly dangerous play when she failed to make her case like that.
I think the reader can make a safe assumption that they’ve been talking for quite some time, and we’re simply coming in on the tail end of the discussion. Plus, even if Delvor is vocally opposed, you have to remember that at the end of the day he’s (in theory) not the one who gives the final decision on the matter.
Side note, but the armor on those guards is really cool. 😀
This comes back jarring. Faye as deputy headmaster must know something about the politics involved, and putting the ruler on the spot like that (asking for a decision rather than asking for his opinion–on a weak-looking guy like that) is an exceedingly dangerous play when she failed to make her case like that.
Of course, I can think about it for an hour why it doesn’t sit well with me, but still. Just shouting “innocent” is just about the stupidest you can do, for the ruler doesn’t know that and frankly doesn’t care. He cares the plebs won’t stir. Hence “tolerable justice”, and demonstrating that this is not that would make a much, much stronger case in front of the ruler. As it stands he’s being asked to admit his deputy for justice acting in his name has made an error, making him look weak, when the plebs is shocked and thus he wants to look strong in front of them. Demonstrating that he looks weak now because this was a rash decision on iffy evidence, moreover one that that upsets the academy because nobody believes a word of it, has a somewhat better chance. Add a decent way out, a way for him to save face, which Faye isn’t offering him, and the chances go up still.
Of course, the plot-train has to leave the station somehow. But seeing this page again made me remember I thought this was a jarringly poor play the first time around.
Cellar wrote:
I think the reader can make a safe assumption that they’ve been talking for quite some time, and we’re simply coming in on the tail end of the discussion. Plus, even if Delvor is vocally opposed, you have to remember that at the end of the day he’s (in theory) not the one who gives the final decision on the matter.