..."
"All that is as it should be," von Schlichten agreed. "Except that it
must be done quickly and all at once, before the memories of these
crimes fade from the minds of the people. And great care must be taken
to kill only those who can be proven to be guilty of something; thus
it will be said that the justice of King Jonkvank is terrible to
evildoers but a protection and a shield to those who keep the peace
and obey the laws. And when the priests are to be killed, it should be
done under the direction of those other priests who were faithful to
the gods and whom King Firkked drove out of their temples, and it must
be done in the name of the gods. Thus will you be esteemed a pious,
and not an impious, king. It must not be allowed to seem that the city
has come under foreign rule. And you must not change the laws, unless
the people petition you to do so, nor must you increase the taxes, and
you must not confiscate the estates of those who are put to death, for
the death of parents is always forgiven before the loss of
patrimonies. And you should select certain Skilkan nobles, and become
the father of their young, and above all, you must leave none of the
young of Firkked alive, to raise rebellion against you later."
Jonkvank nodded, deeply impressed. "By the gods, Karlok vonk Zlikdenk,
this is wisdom! Now it is to be seen why the likes of Firkked cannot
prevail against you, or against the Company as long as you are the
Company's upper sword-arm!"
Honesty tempted von Schlichten, for a moment, to disclaim originality
for the principles he had just enunciated, even at the price of trying
to pronounce the name of Niccolo Machiavelli with a geek-speaker.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119