The Thane Answers the Summons of the Governor

[Kyonos Weatherstone]

The Eigth Candlemark on the Brightening after Kyonos was brought under Armed Guard to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor

This was the time to continue the conversation with the Governor. Kyonos hoped that the Lieutentant Governor would not be there as well. He had about enough of Raliric's taunts and accusations. The Lieutenant Governor published a foolish article in the Herald and he should be man enough to retract his mistake. The fact that Raliric had an obvious dislike of the new Thane made it difficult for Kyonos but there was no way around the fact that the Lieutentant Governor held a senior position and Kyonos would have to put up with what seemed destined to be a negative relationship. He would manage and hopefully be able to maintain a stoic demeanor.

When Kyonos got to enter the office of the Governor, the properly dressed Dwarf nodded to Sharinya and said, "Serale your Excellency. I am here as you requested." Kyonos was on the verge of mentioning that he much preferred her method of summoning him to that of the Lieutenant Governor. He thought better of it though, feeling that Sharinya already had enough of the anomosity between her Lieutenant Governor and her Thane on the previous brightening.

He waited for her to pick up on whatever matters she chose to continue discussing.

[Sharinya]

Sharinya had been up and about for a few candle marks reading through correspondence and doing odd jobs she had been putting off. The arrival of the Lord Thane bought all that to a halt as he was shown in to her office.

”Serale Sir Kyonos, please take a seat.” she said in response to his words. She waved a hand towards the seats that he might choose one and then she would position herself close enough that she would not have to shout or he have to strain his ears to hear what she had to say.

”I will get right to point of my request to speak with you this brightening.

As the Thane of Primus Gaudeo there are certain things that will be expected of you.

One is being loyal to the Office of the Governor.” she paused momentarily for emphasis on that point since it was in part the reason for his being here.

”Last brightening you were bought under armed guard to the Office of the Lt. Governor to be charged with Treason against this office. This was in response to the article you placed in the local newspaper speaking out against the Lt. Governors article in The Herald.

I shall be honest with you in saying that one of my first thoughts was to remove you from the Office of Thane and acknowledge that my faith in you had been sorely misplaced.

However I do not believe or have reason to believe that you were plotting either against this office or the Imperial Regent.

Being a dwarf allows you certain liberties Sir Kyonos, one of them being blunt and straight to the point without the use of artifice when saying what you mean. What it does not allow you, is to speak out against those who are in positions higher than yours even if you do not agree with them. As was the case with the article you wrote.” she paused feeling that it would be beneficial to allow the Lord Thane to respond. She may still have to take the option of removing him from office and admitting she had made a mistake depending upon his response.

[Kyonos Weatherstone]

When invited to do so, Kyonos sat in the chair closest to Sharinya to facilitate their conversation. It pleased him when the Governor said she would get right to point. He was not one for beating around the bush and from the little he had an opportunity to observe Sharinya, she was not one to gab idly either.

He listened to what she said about the Thane of Primus Gaudeo being expected to be loyal to the Office of the Governor. When she paused momentarily for emphasis the Thane nodded to indicate that he understood and agreed. What she said next shocked the Dwarf. Treason was one of the most vile crimes that a Dwarf could commit. It ranked right alongside of cowardice. He almost leaped out of his chair when that was said, but he restrained himself. It took a good deal of his self control to not interupt the Governor.

Then Sharinya mentioned that she had considered removing him from the Office of Thane. After all that, it was a relief to hear she did not believe that he was plotting against the government. She added that speaking out against those who are in positions higher than his was wrong.

Kyonos' composure was ruffled. Such an accusation as the Lieutenant Governor had in mind was a gross insult as well as a very serious offense. He used the moments it took to open a folder and take out some papers he had prepared, to calm down. He set them down on the desk right in front of him and stood. Looking the Governor right in the eyes, he started, "Your Excellency, I was honored that you appointed me as Thane. I'm responsible for doing a good job because I said that I would. I also need to do good to show that a Dwarf can do as good in a political position as a Human or an Elf." He was about to add Fae but thought better of it. It seemed that he was in enough trouble already. "So, I did not intend to mess up. I don't know a lot of governing but I'm trying to learn. I've been studying up on the Annarian Code and the Articles of the Imperium. Here's some of what I got from it. He read from the papers.

"The Governor of the Province, through the grace of Emperor, shall select a Lord Thane in whatever fashion and manner is most appropriate for the inhabitants of the city over which the Lord Thane shall rule and reign, and once selected, the Lord Thane shall thusly assume office and domicile within the limits of the city in which he shall serve.

"Now, that's what I know about being Thane and I've been doing my best to serve you and the Regent who rules in place of the Emperor. I've been doing my best to follow the Articles. There's another Article I want to mention.

"The Governor of the Province shall appoint a Lieutenant Governor from among the citizens of the Allerian Empire holding active residency within the locality. The Lieutenant Governor shall serve as President of the Council of the Province, and succeed the Governor as Governor Ad Interim should the Governor become incapacitated or die, which, if necessary, the Imperial Senate shall then confirm a new permanent Governor. The Lieutenant Governor serves at the pleasure of the Governor, and at the grace of the Emperor.

"The way I read it, as Thane I work for you, not the Lieutenant Governor. So when he's trying to something that I know is wrong, I let my city know that I was against it. I didn't get it published outside the City, I kept it right at home. I now know that you don't want me contradict the Lieutenant Governor in public. I won't do it again. Let me ask you though, do you want me to do the same with all the Provincial officials? So no matter how much harm they might be ready to do, you want me to keep it between you and me. If that's what you want, then I can handle it."

[Sharinya]

Sharinya listened to Kyonos as he spoke. She had not made up her mind completely until he mentioned studying the articles of imperium and the Annarian code. That was her answer and it gave her a way to resolve the first part of her problem in the province. She could only hope that Kyonos would see it as an opportunity to grow.

”Kyonos, I do believe you have solved the dilemma with which I have been faced.
I am going to ask you to step down as Lord Thane! In doing this I am not going to replace you but instead take over the running of the city myself.

Instead what I am going to suggest is that you undertake furthering your education in politics and diplomacy so that you may in the future be able to take on the responsibilities of the job or indeed any government position of your choosing.
The Dwarven race needs strong leaders and I believe you have it in you to be one of them.” she said her face remaining impassive as she made her request. Truth be told he really had no choice in the matter.

[Kyonos Weatherstone]

So, it had come to this. Before he could do anything more than make one appointment of a city official, Kyonos had been removed from his position as Thane of Primus Gaudeo. Well, not really being removed but asked to step down, however this nuance did not make him feel any less the failure. His hopes of being part of a Government that included Dwarfs were no more. He was disappointed and he knew that his family would be disappointed in him. He did his best to expose the stupidity of the Lieutenant Governor's intent to welcome Orcs into a law abiding community. The Governor did not show any indication of even being annoyed by this usurping of her authority that could well lead to drastic ramifications, civil unrest at the least, and a great deal of bloodshed at worse. If anyone was to be brought up on charges of treason, it was Raliric.

She will be assuming his duties. She then suggested that he undertake furthering his education in politics and diplomacy so that he may in the future be able to take on the responsibilities of the job or indeed any government position of his choosing. She cited the need for strong leaders by the Dwarven race. She stated her belief that Kyonos had it in him to be one of them.

So, the honorable thing to do was to resign as the Governor requested. "I resign as Thane of Primus Gaudeo. I still aim to be part of Dwarven participation in the rule of Dwarfs. I will continue to speak for it. As a private citizen I will not be restricted by the constraints of one who holds office. I aim to study politics and diplomacy as you suggested. Maybe what I learn will temper what I say. You can be sure that you have not seen or heard the last of me."

Kyonos got up and added, "Your Excellency, by your leave I will proceed to remove my belongings from the Thanal Manor".