John Ringo - There Will Be Dragons

“And this body that we propose is not just a body of aristocrats. It will have, as full voting members, elected representatives from the states as well as members who have been chosen for their history of civic works. Last but not least, the aristocratic portion will be flexible. Familes… die. Members will fall by the wayside and new members will be brought in. Further, as the size of the body inevitably rises from territorial increases, a like number will be brought in from the civic and aristocratic side. It is a flexible body that can change with the times but still act as a check upon those moment-to-moment passions that so often have been the downfall of democratic societies.” He nodded at the group and sat down.

“Edmund Talbot, Honorable Representative from Raven’s Mill, will now present the rebuttal,” Sheida said, nodding at him.

Edmund rose to his feet with a sigh, knowing the futility of what he was about to say.

“There is something within the human breast which seems to love the slave chain,” Edmund said, looking around at the assemblage. “For this is what we debate, make no mistake about it. Both the Honorable Representative from Chitao and the Honorable Representative from Westphal speak truths. There is a danger in any democratic society from the mindless passions of the moment, whether they be for bread and circuses or for or against wars. And filtering those passions is what a representative democracy is all about. But the filters that they so passionately support are not filters, they are chains upon us and upon our children. The Representative from Chitao speaks of a permanent underclass and make no mistake. Once debt bondage can be passed from generation to generation there is no escape short of rebellion or death. And yet, which of those permanent serfs, born in bondage and dying in bondage, is the next Washington, Tsukya or Assam? How will they reach their potential if the only choice that they have, by binding law upon which we now place our signature and our honor, is to slave away day after day in their master’s fields or factories?

“As to an hereditary aristocracy, there has never been an argument for it that stood the test of time. The Honorable Representative from Westphal speaks of ‘standing against the mob,’ but who was it but the Senate that opposed the actions of Scipio Africanus in the Punic Wars? And who but the mob supported him? Again and again you see such bodies acting not in the interests of the long-term good of the nation but because of the memes and beliefs of a tiny, self-selecting body that wishes to retain power to itself. The failings of the latter North American Union stemmed not from the ‘mob’ but from the fact that some of their political parties became fat and bloated by a de facto aristocracy of the rich. Rich that were so divorced from the reality of life that they could not see disaster looming on any number of fronts. The same can be said for Ropasan Union that created a bureaucracy that became effectively hereditary and was always self-selecting. It started out divorced from reality and reached critical mass in short order.

“For myself, for my fellow representatives of Overjay and Kalinas, we will join this union. But know that within our borders, every one of the ‘mob’ is free, free to act, free to vote and grab whatever treasure and happiness they can under the law. If any ‘serf’ reaches our lands, they are free and you’ll have to send an army to ‘recover’ them. Furthermore, while we will bear the mantle of ‘aristocracy’ if thrust upon us, we repudiate the concept utterly!”

Sheida nodded at him as he sat down, glaring at the representative from Chitao, and lifted her hand.

“The issues of aristocracy and debt peonage are the last that remain. We will now take a vote on the specific changes and determine which will remain and which will not. On the subject of allowing debt peonage in territories that support it, while disallowing it in those that do not, we will now take a vote.”

As she had feared, the amendment stood. There were simply more representatives that supported it than those who rejected it. She wondered if she had made too many compromises in the towns she invited to this meeting. But she needed all the allies she could get. And, right now, that meant permitting a return to serfdom. If that was the cost, so be it.

“The measure passes,” she said sadly, looking at Edmund who just shrugged.

“On the composition of the upper house to include both hereditary aristocracy and persons chosen to lifetime appointments for their civic virtues, we will now take a vote.”

Again the vote was for aristocracy, by a wider margin than the debt peonage. She had to wonder if that was because most of the delegates knew they were shoo-ins for the first round of appointments.

“The draft constitution so stands,” she said, gritting her teeth. “Copies of it will begin circulation immediately. When the copy reaches your locality, you should debate it as you see fit within your own charters and return it as soon as possible, either with or without approval. But this is the last draft; any society that chooses to reject it rejects it totally and is outside the support and succor of the Free States. Or myself,” she added, looking at Edmund.

Edmund frowned at her but nodded his head and kept his peace.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said with a nod and then dismissed the virtual figures except for Edmund. “Are you going to toss this overboard?” she asked.

“No,” he answered after a moment. “But I’m serious about serfs who make it to Overjay. And I’ll take my legions to damned Chitao if it takes that to make them get the point.”

“How is the ‘legion’ coming?” she asked.

“It’s not even a century,” he admitted. “But it’s going well.”

“Well, as queen I’m going to have a say in the cabinet appointments,” she said. “I want you for secretary of war.”

“I don’t,” Edmund said. “I want a field command. I’m so sick and tired of being behind a desk you can’t believe it.”

“You were the one who told me to think strategic and not tactical,” she reminded him.

“I am thinking strategic,” he said. “I happen to know without a doubt that I’m the best general you have right now. Putting me in charge of forming the army is silly. That’s a job for a military manager. As long as he knows to let the professionals do the job.”

“Suggestions?” she asked.

“It’s going to depend upon who is Prime Minister,” he admitted. “But I’d suggest Spehar. He’s not nearly as good a commander or a strategist as he thinks he is. But he’ll accept insubordination from me or I’ll damned well beat his head in with my hammer.”

“I can believe it,” she said. “Get going Edmund. And say hello to Daneh for me. How’s she doing, by the way?”

“Better on the mental issues,” Edmund said. “But the pregnancy is starting to slow her down.”

“Pregnancy, yeck,” Sheida said.

“Uhmm, my queen?” Edmund said with a smile. “You do know the primary duty of a monarch, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do,” she replied. “ That is why I went yeck .”

“Are you planning on a body birth or a replicator?” Edmund said with a grin.

“We’re far from that,” Sheida pointed out. “Unless I clone myself, I have to find another genetic contributor. Got any plans for the weekend, Edmund?” She grinned.

“Try anything and Daneh will kill you,” he replied with a grimace. “I’ve got to get back.”

“Have fun with your army,” Sheida said with a wave. “And keep the offer in mind.”

There followed more weeks of training. Sword drill, pilum throwing, shield maneuvers marching in formation in the morning and engaging in sword and pilum training in the afternoon. The sword technique was simplicity in itself, consisting of nothing but a series of almost mechanical chops and jabs. They had set up wooden stakes wrapped in hay and they chopped and jabbed until they felt their arms would fall off.