Listen if you would, to Sir Mahieu as he speaks of the Escheat, and how much of House Beaumayn sees it...
"Bonjour, I am...eh? Oui, yes I really am French, but please.. if you get me started on stories of Gascon and such I am likely never to stop, and that is not why you've come here. Let us stick to discussions of the Escheat. You may have heard that one of our duties as a House is to uphold it, and we do, almost religiously, however, religion, as anyone can tell you, is the subject of much debate. Not all Beaumayn may interpret it the same, however, as I have been mentor to more than a few students already, I believe I can give you a, how should I say it, rough draft how many do." "The Right of Demense, indeed a difficult one for us. While we are new to some of the more interesting concepts such as démocratie, I dare say we are better equipped to handle such than the other Houses just arrived. What is more, with so few holds in our possession, we are rarely the ones holding the scepter. Still, those Beaumayn who do rule attempt to recall that implicit in the wording of this: Those who bend knee to you, you are to judge, lead and protect with wisdom and kindness. Those commoners who would assert their independence, well, they are free to do so as long as it harms none in your domain, but they remove themselves from our sheltering hand. One can not have it both ways. No Noblisse, No Oblige." "And what of the receiving end, since we are so often the wanderer, rather than the holder? However unfair we felt our judgment by the other Houses in Arcadia, we took it. Therein is the lesson. Should you defy even a king because of what your heart, your honor, and, perhaps, even your vision tells you? Certainement then, you must do what you must do, but be willing to pay the price. Accept the punishment, and remember, you are Beaumayn, hold your head proudly even when they remove it from your neck."
"The Right to Dream is precious to many Seelie, chief among them, our allies of House Liam. Too often their wisdom has been ignored, we know better, for we have glimpses of the consequences. Each Dreamer scarred, each bit of glamour wasted, brings the Winter the Fomorians delight in that much closer. Remember that before you try for that 'quick fix', it may be more than just one mortal's future you are hindering."
"Next is the Right of Ignorance. Our gift for prophecy complicates this...extremely, the Escheat could not take our visions into account. While we must follow it in that no mortal should be casually told of us, and never while unenchanted; there are times when one will find a mortal who is to play a crucial part in the choosing of paths. Tell them as little as you can, even if you must ...let us be frank, use them. Jalendral's Code also applies to the Sons of Adam, and the Daughters of Eve." "The Right of Rescue seems to have fallen by the wayside with many these days. Good changelings, of any kith, having forgotten themselves are oft treated as the walking dead and no effort taken to assist them. The Apathy is disgusting. Even in times of war, there is little excuse for such. Still, some kithain have been cut off from glamour for a reason. One should think twice before returning a butcher of kin, or a Ravager of mortals back to the Enchanted World." "Safe Haven? Honor it. Even if your pride stings as some Ailil churl cowers behind this tenet and hurls his verbal barbs when he might not dare do so outside the flame's glow, heed it. Each place of true glamour is a potential fortress against the coming Fomorians, and we will need everyone of them. Besides, if the Sight is kind, you might be able to make sure some holds fall to kinder masters. While time grows short, there is no need for rashness when patience will avenge." "The Right to Life, by the Dreaming, one wonders how the madmen of the Harbingers of Exodus can stomach their actions? Even chimeric death has it's consequences, and prophets that we are, we have less excuse pretending we will never know of them. Still, one of our tasks is to battle the agents of the Fomorians, and all battles have causalities. Think long and hard before you ever take a life of another kithain. You are not Atropos, to be snipping threads right and left, Oui?"
|