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The Floodgate :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 58 из 212Procopio prepares to wear that mantle."
"Lord Procopio is ambitious," Iago repeated cautiously.
"War is often the path to power. Stay with Procopio if you can," Matteo urged. "He should be watched."
The jordain gave him an incredulous look. "What are you suggesting?"
Matteo considered his next words carefully, for he was picking his way through new and dangerous territory. "We jordaini swear many oaths, binding us to our patrons, to Halruaa, and to truth. What happens when these pledges conflict?"
"But-"
"Hear me out. What is our primary concern? Do we serve the ambitions of a single man? The good of the land? Truth? And what defines this 'good, this 'truth? Our own perceptions or those of our patron? Do we listen to the voice of conscience or the demands of ambition?"
Iago was silent for a long time. "You should be careful about speaking such thoughts, my friend. Some might call it treason."
"Others might call it honor," Matteo pointed out. "If we jordaini abandon honor, what good can we possibly do? Can we be Halruaa's guardians with no moral compass other than the whim of the wizard-lords? You know history. You know what wizardry ambition can do."
"We serve the wizard-lords," began Iago.
"Yes, and so do the message boys that carry word from the wizard's kitchen to the butcher. If we do everything we are bid, without thought, how are we any different?"
The small man fell silent. "I will consider your words, Matteo. Since you are a friend, I will not repeat them."
Iago spoke with great finality. Matteo was surprised, therefore, when Iago picked up the awkward threads of their conversation.
"You have spoken plainly. Will you hear some blunt words?"
"Of course!"
"You're quick to trust," the jordain observed, "and far too impulsive. You seem willing to do whatever a friend requires of you. Perhaps you care too deeply about your friends."
Matteo's brow furrowed. "How is that a fault?"
"I didn't say it was a fault, exactly, but it is a danger. What will you do, Matteo, if you must make a choice between your jordaini duties and your friends? You puzzle over the conflicts of truth, the good of the land, and the will of the wizard-lords. How much more difficult would you find it to weigh the good of Halruaa against the life of a friend? And what of truth? Would you lie for Andris?" His steady black gaze narrowed and sharpened. "Or perhaps for Tzigone? It seems to me there is little you would not do for that girl."
Matteo felt his cheeks flame.
"Lord Procopio is ambitious," Iago repeated cautiously.
"War is often the path to power. Stay with Procopio if you can," Matteo urged. "He should be watched."
The jordain gave him an incredulous look. "What are you suggesting?"
Matteo considered his next words carefully, for he was picking his way through new and dangerous territory. "We jordaini swear many oaths, binding us to our patrons, to Halruaa, and to truth. What happens when these pledges conflict?"
"But-"
"Hear me out. What is our primary concern? Do we serve the ambitions of a single man? The good of the land? Truth? And what defines this 'good, this 'truth? Our own perceptions or those of our patron? Do we listen to the voice of conscience or the demands of ambition?"
Iago was silent for a long time. "You should be careful about speaking such thoughts, my friend. Some might call it treason."
"Others might call it honor," Matteo pointed out. "If we jordaini abandon honor, what good can we possibly do? Can we be Halruaa's guardians with no moral compass other than the whim of the wizard-lords? You know history. You know what wizardry ambition can do."
"We serve the wizard-lords," began Iago.
"Yes, and so do the message boys that carry word from the wizard's kitchen to the butcher. If we do everything we are bid, without thought, how are we any different?"
The small man fell silent. "I will consider your words, Matteo. Since you are a friend, I will not repeat them."
Iago spoke with great finality. Matteo was surprised, therefore, when Iago picked up the awkward threads of their conversation.
"You have spoken plainly. Will you hear some blunt words?"
"Of course!"
"You're quick to trust," the jordain observed, "and far too impulsive. You seem willing to do whatever a friend requires of you. Perhaps you care too deeply about your friends."
Matteo's brow furrowed. "How is that a fault?"
"I didn't say it was a fault, exactly, but it is a danger. What will you do, Matteo, if you must make a choice between your jordaini duties and your friends? You puzzle over the conflicts of truth, the good of the land, and the will of the wizard-lords. How much more difficult would you find it to weigh the good of Halruaa against the life of a friend? And what of truth? Would you lie for Andris?" His steady black gaze narrowed and sharpened. "Or perhaps for Tzigone? It seems to me there is little you would not do for that girl."
Matteo felt his cheeks flame.