(Luis)
It took awhile to wrap everything up—trials, ceremonies, appointments . . . Then I more or less collapsed, burned out. It wasn't so much the war as the events at Hasty. I'd manipulated, withheld, told half-truths—and sometimes flat-out lied—in the hopeful cause of saving and bettering lives. The dishonesty takes its toll.
As cadets, our instructors, our reading, our meditations had prepared us for such things. Basically, society and civilization are the products of human beings. Particularly human beings with energy and ambition, who too often are also greedy and more or less ruthless. And to help humankind survive and evolve, in a free-choice universe, someone has to deal with the more dangerous of them. So said Saint Higuchi.
And that's what the Order is trying to do, as honestly as we can, as dishonestly as we must. Coercion, in the long run, is a crutch that fails. Survival and evolution require an increasing degree of freedom, which of course is dangerous stuff. It's a privilege to serve, but it can be hard on the soul. So I was ready for a few weeks at the Academy, enjoying R&R—rest and retrospection—and hiking in the Sangre de Cristo, indulging my nature-boy muse.
In Sota, over the next few months, numerous loose ends were tied up.
Lord Brookins formally accepted the regency until Mary Youngblood could relieve him. He promptly seated a court to try those involved in the death of her father, so that the trial might be over before she arrived. Two courts, actually. One for Djati, Owens, Jong and Uuka, the other for Bonde. All were found guilty of regicide, and sentenced to death by hanging, but their executions were postponed until the young queen should be ready to act on my requests for clemency. Carnes was found guilty of contributing to regicide, and received a suspended sentence dependent on satisfactory completion of suitable penance.
Shortly after her return from Sanlooee, Mary Youngblood was crowned queen of Sota. She did, in fact, grant clemency to all five murderers. Their sentences were reduced to life in the dungeon.
The young queen announced that an Althean convent would be established near Hasty, to train women in the healing arts.
Duke Edward Maltby's improved health enabled him to take over completely the management of his duchy again.
Donald Maltby returned to the brother school, not to become a brother—he and Mary Youngblood soon had other plans—but because he wanted the knowledge and skills he could gain there.
Stephen Nez also returned to the brother school. Tahmm has an eye on him as a likely future cadet. His performance as a novice had been unprecedented.
Kabibi Christian agreed to continue her duties as Mary Youngblood's secretary and companion on a temporary basis. Tahmm has plans for her at the Academy, not as a cadet, but a scholar, and later an instructor. The COB intends gradually to staff the Academy and the Terran COB operation entirely with us indigenes, and I'm sure we'll handle it suitably. But I'm glad we don't have to yet. I can't imagine not having Tahmm here.
Princess Elvi disappeared on the second night following her discovery in the tunnel. No one knows what happened to her.
Although he hadn't known it, Paddy Glynn had been earmarked for the Academy before leaving Moleen. All he'd lacked was a major field mission as a brother. This one had been about as major as they come. He's now at the Academy as a cadet.
When Lemmi Tsinnajinni and Mazeppa Tall Man arrived back at Dindigul from Mazeppa's healing, the chief's fighting days were over. But Mazeppa is basically healthy, and can walk and ride. Lemmi is riding with him to Many Geese, to begin the healing of the Dkota war wounds, through Mazeppa and Pastor Morosov. Leaving loose ends like those is akin to evil.
He'll also guide both men to a recognition of the effects of fasting and ambition on visions.
Jorval and his people are on their way to Dzixoss, in stasis, aboard the Satan's Delight, commanded by a fleet officer, its crew supervised by Commonwealth marines. According to Tahmm, Jorval's trial will almost certainly sentence him to rehabilitation, followed by an amends project that will occupy most of his remaining life. However, he'll have the option to choose life imprisonment at hard labor, instead.
Ench pleaded not to be sent to Dzixoss on the same ship as his uncle, even though they'd both be in stasis. So Tahmm exercised his executive authority to assign Ench as orderly to the marine officer barracks at the Sangre de Cristo HQ. He'll be sent to Dzixoss on the biennial personnel rotation flight. Meanwhile he spends much of his off-duty time reading Commonwealth history, and exploring his "subconscious" with an Academy supervisor of mental-spiritual training.
I never got to know him, but I wish him well.
Jaako Jarvi agreed to continue as general of the Royal Sotan Force-at-Arms, and break in his successor. He chose Sulo Ylvessalo for the job, and promoted him to major.
Gavan Feeny had preferred life as a buffalo hunter over life on the farm, but wasn't comfortable with the prospect of returning to the Dkota. So I sold him on trying something way different than either. He's a novice now, training under Carlos and Peng. I have no doubt he'll fit in well there.