Snippet #2479757

"Thank you," Avantia replied.

She lingered within the great hall for a time even after Shimizu had departed and just let her thoughts wander. She had been rash in ordering Joshua's execution, and she knew full well that all of her excuses and reasoning were just that. Joshua had died for the simple reason that Mile's was beyond her reach. He had died as a means to placate the masses, and to seek satisfaction for the crimes of another man.

Patience, tolerance, non-violence, forgiveness, absence of anger... were these not the teachings of the Sui'tara? And here she sat signing military contracts and preparing her people for war.

She rubbed at her eyes to ward away her weariness with a sigh.