#fenixtj

"She can be challenged.. . the and if the Storm, Mountain AND Hearth agree, she can be vetoed.. but that almost never happens" She says

Ash just enjoys her meal

"Well - a King can be challenged, too."

"Or like here, a ruler can be deposed."

"Some are chosen by leaders, like your elders. Others, well - Caliburn is MAGICAL."

"Magic swords wouldn't pick a bad person."

"How do you know? " Ariel says "how do you know someone didn't trick the sword or bend magic?"

"How do you know someone didn't lie to be elected?"

"Well, mostly because it's a single hold and we know folks" She says "You can lie for a little while but if you pull it too often gets found out"

"But what about for a Barony, or a Kingdom? There's lots of mews..."

"Well... " She says "Can't they just have their own chiefs?" Ariel says "Works for us. Works for others don't need a king to report to"

"Well, some threats are bigger than one hold."

"Or sometimes, two neighbors... like, what's to stop a bigger hold from just beating up and overpowering a small one? If everybody is alone, there's no oversight or no controls."

"We need to help each other to fight Winter, so the Darkness doesn't destroy us all."

"Oh" Ariel says "Well, I guess.. lodges sometimes Ally but..." She seems less sure

"The King is bound by magic and oaths. There are bad kings, but... if you look at the stories, they don't last."

"Or they last for a thousand years and then FINALLY a good king shows up," Ariel says "That's a long time to put up with a lot of bad Kings to wait for one good one"

"Plus, sometimes, a ruler has to do things that are unpopular - but are the right thing."

"That's why you need heroes, sure. But you have bad leaders that are elected, so what's the difference?"

"Because at least we get to pick it's.. people want a voice" Ariel says looking.. a bit annoyed "No ruler is always right, and if he's wrong, even if he's a good person and wrong, you have to be able to block him from doing the wrong."

Ash eats her meal

"Absolutely. No ruler is always right."

"But how can you stop a king if none is allowed to speak against him? See. That's why the Democracy is.. well, better" Ariel nods

"How do you stop a tyrant if he's got more followers? Just because more people like a thing doesn't make it right or better."

"Well..." Ariel sighs "I don't know. I just think kings meddle too much. "

"Kings don't usually deal much with everyday people."

"They're usually managing dukes and counts and big things."

"I guess... but then they make a choice that takes over the whole lands and little folks have to endure it. I just dont' know" Ariel says

Ash looks over at the kids "I fear waht comes will leave us little time for debate ... but it is good I think for a noble to have friends to remind her of the little person"

She nods.

"It's really important to have a GOOD King."

"or Queen" Ash adds

"Or queen!"

And the idea of a queen seems pretty sensible

And much spanish is learned.

Or English for Holger, who must be VERY Careful how he pronounces Fork... lest it sound rude

Poor Ahpuch and Holger - there's only one more, but somehow, three girls vastly outnumber two boys.

Ahpuch is lucky to be heard.. Holger is lucky to speak

Ash observes this with amusement... but she knows it will not always be so.. for she knows a door will open t o a place of vales and rivers... and lead to a guest who will be boy enough to give them quite a few challenges