A Song of Snow and Ashes

different assignments. It's quite rare for a new guard to get an assignment of any real danger or importance. They have to really impress their instructors. Or so Kennet's told us, at length," she said with a wry smile.

  "Well, at least the guard isn't totally corrupt. But I'd bet Kennet could've gotten patrol duty if his father had asked," he thought.

  "How's your brother?" she asked.

  "He got night patrol duty."

  "Really? He must have done very well during basic training to get that kind of assignment."

  "Yeah, he told me it was really good, but it doesn't seem like it should be, you know?"

  She gave a small laugh. "Yes, I know what you mean. I can't imagine how walking around the streets when it's dark and cold, looking for criminal activity, is considered a good thing. It's certainly dangerous, but dangerous assignments seem to be a mark of status within the guard even when some have moved off of patrol duty and to investigations."

  "I didn't know that."

  "I take it you haven't talked to your brother much since this assignment."

  "Well, no. He sleeps most of the day. I cook him dinner, then he goes out, or I go out, and I don't see him until breakfast the next mornin'."

  "I understand night patrol can be hard on the families of the guards," she replied sympathetically.

  "I'm not too worried. Alain can take care of himself." He paused, then said, "Can I ask you a question? It might be kind of offensive, though."

  She blinked, looking puzzled. "Alright."

  "Well, do you think it's fair that your father could get your brother any guard job he wanted?" he blurted, as though asking quickly would reduce the question's offensiveness.

  She looked upset. "No, I don't think it's fair," she answered quietly. "I know I've benefited a great deal from my father's position, and no doubt I'll continue to benefit even after he retires, or isn't re-elected. I still don't think it's right that I do get those benefits just because of who my parents happen to be."

  "Do you ever think about changin' the system?" he asked hesitantly.

  "Sure. I think about it all the time, but how am I supposed to change anything? My Father has power. I don't."

  "I'll bet you know lots about politics. You could maybe run for mayor someday."

  She laughed sardonically. "Goodness, you really don't know much about the political world."

  He flushed, embarrassed.

  "It's not a bad thing, really. But I couldn't go into politics. Not effectively."

  "Why not?"

  "To be successful in politics, a person has to have three things: wealth, connections, and a lot of knowledge about economics and the political system."

  "Don't you have all that?"

  "I do have the connections, but I don't have a lot of money. My father does, but I really don't. I know about the political system, but not enough about economics or how they work together."

  "Well, you could get money and knowledge, right?"

  "Not on a teacher's salary."

  "You could invest in a trade," he suggested.

  "I suppose I could. But it doesn't matter, since no one would take me seriously anyway."

  "Why not?"

  "I'm a woman."

  "Yeah, I noticed," he replied with a smile, "but so what?"

  "Women's opinions just aren't given as much weight as a man's here. That annoys me to no end, I might add."

  "I, uh, haven't noticed that. Nobody I know has got enough power for that to make any difference."

  "I guess I can see that." She sighed. "I don't think it's fair, but I don't think I can change things. The odds are against me, and I really just don't want that kind of turmoil in my life."

  "Would you change things, if you could?" he asked, trying not to sound too earnest.

  "I guess so. I've tried a little. I've talked to my father, but he's not really interested. He thinks the system works great. But he's the mayor, after all."

  "How would you change things?"

  She gave him a odd look. "Is this really that interesting to you?"

  "Well, sure. See, I've never thought things were fair. It's kind of nice to talk to someone who agrees, especially 'cause you've benefited from things bein' unfair," he answered, a bit flustered.

  "Oh, I understand. I guess people born in poorer circumstances must think badly of us born in better circumstances."

  "Sort of. I mean, you can't help how you were born anymore than we can. But it's just so frustratin' to not get hired for a good job, or not get into the guard, or not get into the church, just because we were born poor. I guess it depends on attitude. I don't like rich people who think they deserve so much more than me just 'cause of how they were born. But you don't seem like that."

  She smiled. "Thank you."

  "So, how would you change things?" he asked.

  "I'm not sure. It would be difficult. The politicians and merchants benefit from the way things are, so they have no reason to change the system. As I see it, there are two ways to go about it. One is to make friends, influence the right people, spread around a little money when necessary, and become part of the system. Then try to change it from the inside by becoming an advisor to the mayor or part of the leadership of the trade organizations. But that would take years, and probably be very frustrating."

  "Years?" he repeated, feeling dismayed. "I don't think I've got that much time," he thought.

  "The other way would be much quicker, but no easier. Basically the other way to change things is scrap the entire system and start over from scratch."

  He looked at her sharply, but she didn't seem to notice.

  “Not that anyone would go along with that," she finished with a slight laugh.

  "What do you think about unitin' the city-states?" he asked cautiously.

  "Oh, that idea has been making the rounds for decades. But since Renfrew is the most powerful, there's no reason for my father to try to change that. Besides, it's hard to just run this city. To run all twenty-seven city-states would be nearly impossible. The governing body would have to integrate all the different trades and the different guards, then try to maintain control of them." She shook her head. "No, that would only work if the current system was removed, and if a group or person had enough influence in all the city-states to unite them under a new government."

  "Do you think that could ever happen?"

  "Not right now, no. The trades squabble too much between city-states, as do the politicians. I think such a unification would almost require an outside force. And that's conquest, and I don't think anyone really wants that," she explained.

  "Is it conquest if a group just gets all the merchants and politicians to agree to unify?"

  "Yes, and no. I guess if a group could give everyone involved enough positive incentive, it wouldn't be conquest. But politicians are a stubborn lot. If it ever came to force or negative incentive, that'd be conquest."

  "Negative incentive?"

  "A nicer term for blackmail," she clarified.

  "Oh, I see."

  "I had no idea you were so interested in politics," she commented.

  "Well, why not? It's somethin' new and different. I think it's interestin'. Maybe I'll even go into politics someday."

  She laughed slightly. "I wish you luck with that, if it's really what you want to do. If it's not, it'll drive you crazy. Trust me on that."

  He smiled nervously.

  She glanced out the window. "Oh, goodness," she exclaimed suddenly, standing up. "I've stayed too long. I'm sorry, but I need to go. I have another engagement this evening, and I'm afraid I'm going to be late."

  "Oh. Alright. I guess."

  "You keep your average above ninety-five percent for four more quizzes, and we can do this again. Is that a deal?"

  "Deal," he replied.

  "Great." Then she dashed out.

  He paid the bill and wandered out into the street. "I wonder where's she
going. I'll bet to spend the evening with someone of the upper class," he thought bitterly. "She seems really nice, and seems to know that things here aren't fair, but she's always benefited. I wonder if she even knows how much being born well has benefited her. I'll bet I'm the poorest person she sees on a regular basis." He sighed. "Maybe I'm being too hard on her. I don't know what she does or who she sees." A thought slowly dawned him. "I guess I could follow her, just to see if she what she does. But that's wrong." The thought wouldn't go away. "So it's not a nice thing to do. Alain'll just have to get his own dinner tonight." With that, he turned down the street in search of Aolani.

  Being autumn, it was already starting to get dark and clouds were gathering in the sky. Feeling embarrassed, he slipped into an alleyway then stepped into the shadows.

  "Can you find someone for me?" he called to the darkness.

  "Yes, Master," answered a darkling, from behind him.

  He jumped. "Right. I just want you to find this woman for me. Don't do anythin' or be seen or nothin'. Just find her and lead her to me."

  "Describe her."

  "Um, alright. She's beautiful. A little shorter than me, with long, curly, strawberry blond hair and light brown eyes. She was wearin' a light blue dress and carryin' a leather bag. Her hair was down," he said wistfully.

  "That is enough. We can find her now."

  This made him distinctly uncomfortable.

  "Wait."

  He stood there for what seemed like about five minutes, and was starting to think following her was a very bad idea, when the darkling returned.

  "Follow."

  He did so, and was brought out in an alleyway in the nicer section of town. The sun had started to set, and the cloud cover was now thick, so it was quite dark.

  "She is in