from the gutters and the
madhouses and the prisons, have food and water, beds and shelter, clothing and protection, supplied by us from cradle to grave.
They want for nothing, and they want nothing, and they live long lives.”
“And you burn them as fuel in payment for your ‘generosity.’ And now you will be burning not just what is mortal about them,
but what is immortal, too. Do not be too quick to applaud yourselves for your generosity—for your humanitarianism. Not everyone
in this world is equal, Rone.”
“Equality is a myth. A fantasy of dreamers and revolutionaries. We do the best we can. There are always costs. But I think
we have done well in keeping our costs within reason, and offering good to the most people for the least price.”
“If you and yours were the ones who had to pay the price, I suspect that you would think it a little less reasonable.” She
gave a formal bow to all of them—coldly precise, almost insulting in its perfection—and said, “I won’t wait for the results
of your vote. I’ll simply go and ready the information you will need. And will, in the meantime, come up with a suitable story
for my sudden resignation.”
She left, and in the wake of the slamming of the door, the Dragon Masters of the Hars sat in quiet contemplation.
Finally, however, the Grand Master of the Dragon Council, who until this time had been silent, rose and said, “A vote must
be called. We have a quorum present, and due to the severity of the situation we face, and the way that history will judge
what we do here, I hereby declare that we require not a simple majority but a two-thirds majority in the question we must
now answer. Before we bring the question before this body, you have heard discussion both for and against the use of this
new form of energy. Does anyone among you have anything further you wish to add?”
No one spoke. No one moved. To Rone’s eyes, it seemed they barely breathed.
The Grand Master nodded. “Then I ask that one of you present the question to this body for consideration and vote.”
The Grand Master stood and waited. A few of the Dragons cleared their throats uncomfortably. Finally the Master of Air and
the Master of Cities both started to rise at the same time, and the Master of Air, junior in both age and seniority, bowed
slightly to the Master of Cities and sat back down. Tare Desttor-fator straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath.
“I bring before the Master Dragons of the Council of Dragons of the Empire of the Hars Ticlarim the following Question of
Merit, requiring a two-thirds vote of approval of a quorum of this body: I move that we—with all haste and yet all caution—bring
into use soul-energy drawn from current fuel units. Furthermore, I move that Oel Maritias and such other undersea cities as
are found to have low-energy damage be immediately given access to the first energy drawn from this new resource, in order
to effect emergency repairs and prevent unnecessary loss of life. Finally, I move that no new fuel units be acquired or placed
at this time, but that we make all efforts to efficiently use those units already in place.”
“Second,” a couple of voices from around the table said.
“Duly moved and seconded,” the Grand Master said. “At this time we will entertain discussion either for or against the merits
of this motion— each speaker has three minutes.”
No one rose to defend either the pro or con views. Rone watched, already quite sure of how he would vote. Everyone else seemed
certain, too. The Grand Master waited long enough to be sure that no one would leap to his feet at the last moment for one
impassioned plea, then said, “Very well. We have a motion on the floor to make more efficient use of our current energy units
by adding soul-energy usage to their current utility. This motion specifically excludes the possibility of adding new units
to our energy production, and
madhouses and the prisons, have food and water, beds and shelter, clothing and protection, supplied by us from cradle to grave.
They want for nothing, and they want nothing, and they live long lives.”
“And you burn them as fuel in payment for your ‘generosity.’ And now you will be burning not just what is mortal about them,
but what is immortal, too. Do not be too quick to applaud yourselves for your generosity—for your humanitarianism. Not everyone
in this world is equal, Rone.”
“Equality is a myth. A fantasy of dreamers and revolutionaries. We do the best we can. There are always costs. But I think
we have done well in keeping our costs within reason, and offering good to the most people for the least price.”
“If you and yours were the ones who had to pay the price, I suspect that you would think it a little less reasonable.” She
gave a formal bow to all of them—coldly precise, almost insulting in its perfection—and said, “I won’t wait for the results
of your vote. I’ll simply go and ready the information you will need. And will, in the meantime, come up with a suitable story
for my sudden resignation.”
She left, and in the wake of the slamming of the door, the Dragon Masters of the Hars sat in quiet contemplation.
Finally, however, the Grand Master of the Dragon Council, who until this time had been silent, rose and said, “A vote must
be called. We have a quorum present, and due to the severity of the situation we face, and the way that history will judge
what we do here, I hereby declare that we require not a simple majority but a two-thirds majority in the question we must
now answer. Before we bring the question before this body, you have heard discussion both for and against the use of this
new form of energy. Does anyone among you have anything further you wish to add?”
No one spoke. No one moved. To Rone’s eyes, it seemed they barely breathed.
The Grand Master nodded. “Then I ask that one of you present the question to this body for consideration and vote.”
The Grand Master stood and waited. A few of the Dragons cleared their throats uncomfortably. Finally the Master of Air and
the Master of Cities both started to rise at the same time, and the Master of Air, junior in both age and seniority, bowed
slightly to the Master of Cities and sat back down. Tare Desttor-fator straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath.
“I bring before the Master Dragons of the Council of Dragons of the Empire of the Hars Ticlarim the following Question of
Merit, requiring a two-thirds vote of approval of a quorum of this body: I move that we—with all haste and yet all caution—bring
into use soul-energy drawn from current fuel units. Furthermore, I move that Oel Maritias and such other undersea cities as
are found to have low-energy damage be immediately given access to the first energy drawn from this new resource, in order
to effect emergency repairs and prevent unnecessary loss of life. Finally, I move that no new fuel units be acquired or placed
at this time, but that we make all efforts to efficiently use those units already in place.”
“Second,” a couple of voices from around the table said.
“Duly moved and seconded,” the Grand Master said. “At this time we will entertain discussion either for or against the merits
of this motion— each speaker has three minutes.”
No one rose to defend either the pro or con views. Rone watched, already quite sure of how he would vote. Everyone else seemed
certain, too. The Grand Master waited long enough to be sure that no one would leap to his feet at the last moment for one
impassioned plea, then said, “Very well. We have a motion on the floor to make more efficient use of our current energy units
by adding soul-energy usage to their current utility. This motion specifically excludes the possibility of adding new units
to our energy production, and
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