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With Calliope's choice of voicing her opinion about the knowledge of the Dragon Hunter's weakness the people decided to treat her even more like something distasteful. When she would attend a meal everyone would turn their backs on her as if she didn't exist. While there was literally a member of the guard by her side at every moment.

I notice the young archery wiz was also watching Calliope from behind a tent trying to not be visible. I look about and spy Jose and nod at him so the man walks over. I point to the boy attempting to hide behind the tent, {that the young man you've been training}? Jose looks to where I was pointing and nods his head, "yes Ma'am. Though I guess I need to give him a few more lessons on how to not be observable and how to pay attention to his surroundings. As you blatantly pointed him out and he did nothing, granted you can spot people better than most anyone due to your bloodlines. So it won't be too much of a dressing down."

Jose then rubs the back of his neck, "Hunter I have a question for you. I want to adopt the young man, so he has some kind of family; he's kinda grown on me." I chuckle and pat his shoulder, {why would you need to ask me? Any one can adopt any of the young orphans if they so chose to}. He rubs his neck again, "well Hunter I just want it to be official. He deserves it, he's such a good kid." I nod my head, {so; something akin to public acknowledgment? How about tonight at the evening meal}?

Jose smiles and shakes my hand then melts into the surroundings, I chuckle in Alberich's direction. {I think our little archery star is about to be surprised by his new dad, he wants to officially announce adopting the lad tonight so quietly inform Harriet}.

I watch as a hand appears on the boy's shoulder and the young man almost jumps then turns to Jose. I walk away before Jose decides to explain how the young man was sneaking wrong, it's always good to let someone with that skill have privacy while teaching to others.

I walk past the gathered young children whom Jessica was teaching history to, seems today's lesson was about the selfishness of the Internet age. An interesting cautionary tale that, it's interesting how in just a matter of a decade the world went from highly technological; to one where you struggled to survive. People of the old World tended towards selfishness, you can't be and hope for human survival now. Hopefully it'll be a lesson that is kept over time now.

I keep walking heading to the cooking area, it had been decided to keep the children away from the cooking area unless they were aiding in meal preparation. They tended to get into things they shouldn't, which as being children that is normal. Easier to just have them occupied in another location, and Jessica makes a good distraction. Alberich chuckles in my mind, she is; and I teach her and the older children in the evenings before they sleep when the younger ones are asleep.

Harriet as per usual was preparing food in the cooking area with Cassie nearby talking with her, and notices me approaching. "I see you are walking Hunter, did Gilorndir approve this,"she jokingly said to me. I laughed, {yes I saw a note left for me with this morning's medicine. Stating that he expected me to get exercise now, and I'd rather not annoy him. However he was very clear in saying I couldn't speak still for a few days or he would have to start over healing my windpipe.}

I look over to Harriet, {we wouldn't happen to have some tea and honey I could drink. My throat is still a tad bit sore from the damage.} Harriet thinks a moment while still stirring whatever was in her bowl, she then sets it down and rummages through some crates and pulls out a paper wrapped package and a small earthenware jar and sets them on a table and points to a kettle that has a tea steeping insert. "There you go, last 'gift' the dwarves left us had some packets of tea and a couple of pots of honey.. I imagine your throat is pretty sore based on what Gilorndir was saying about the injury."

I fill the kettle with water as Harriet resumes her work and I sit on a nearby rock while I wait for it to heat over the fire. {Calliope is certainly doing more harm to herself than she had originally. I am scared that people might lynch her after she gives birth} Harriet nods and pulls a pan out of a crate and starts setting out cookie dough and I look about for Cheshire. She chuckles, "oh I am sure he'll be by once they're done. I told him if he pestered me while baking he'd not get anything. As for Calliope, maybe it would have been best if she had stayed with her father. Yes, I'd not have Gwain to look forward to. However, she was a different person then. My guess is she wasn't ready for how difficult the world really is and therefore is acting out because she is really still a child inside."

I nod my head and pick up the pot of water and add tea leaves to it, then closing it to wait for it to brew. {Well I will try to enable her to 'get away' when she's well after childbirth. I imagine she'll be one of those bed ridden for a week after because it was so horrible. With of course Gwain being watched to ensure no one walks off with him}. I chuckle, {we'd probably have half the guard watching your house until she's gone.}

Harriet nods again while adjusting the cookies to make sure they're just right and she sets them inside a metal box that is open on one side pointed at the fire. "Hopefully she'll leave though, it would be worse if she thinks it'll be better to stay put and siphon off the rest of us." I shudder at the thought of the woman being with our group permanently. {Well, I am not against a public flogging if she stays and is a problem. As the council has already decided hands down you will raise Gwain}.

I look over at the fresh deer waiting to be cut up and Harriet steps into my line of sight, "no. You might have been told to exercise, but I doubt he wanted you working yet." I sigh, {you're right. He emphasized that I am to do a great deal of walking and maybe on the second day Alberich can have me practice sword fighting for no more than an hour}. I wave a hand, {of course he also stated if there was grave need I could fight something. However he was quite explicit in what he would do to me if it were not necessary and I harmed myself before I was fully healed}.

Harriet nods her head, {if it's not an imposition. I would like to have the rest of the council come here and we discuss a bit more about our justice system}. Harriet sits next to me and after pouring me a cup of tea pours herself one as well. "That is probably a good thing, I know you don't want to use a death penalty. However we will need something to deter crimes from being committed." I nod my head and Gilorndir speaks, "while I detest violence. Sometimes it is an excellent motivator." He walks over and picks up my cup of tea and smells it, then reaches into his pouch and sprinkles something into it swirling it to mix it. He hands me the cup back, "this should help ease that soreness more. Unfortunately you did a great deal of damage to your windpipe."

He then sits next to Harriet and pours himself a cup of tea, I focus on Alberich. {So I guess considering Gilorndir is here I should expect the rest of the council shortly?} Alberich chuckles in my mind, {of course my dear. I am sometimes one step ahead of you}. I turn my head as Starburst settles himself along the shoreline with his large head close enough he could talk softly, for a dragon anyway. The rest gather except for StrongWing, Cheshire says, "she told me to say she is going hunting today so I should decide in her stead for standard gryphons." Everyone nods their heads, Lance who had been passing through looking for some fruit to share with his sister asks. "Can't the other's just hunt for her in cases like this?"

Starburst rumbles out an answer, "youngling in societies where the species is a predator. Those at the top must display their strength to their subordinates to keep their position. I wager you might have extra meat tonight as she may hunt up something to large for her to eat herself." Harriet looks around as Shadow steps up and starts butchering the deer that still needed work and started arranging them for smoking. Lance stares at him and Alberich speaks up, "good lesson there youngling. Shadow has many skills and sometimes you might need to know how to do something as simple as saving your own hunt if you are out alone for any reason. You can never know what your future may hold so it's best to know enough of take care of yourself in the event of any problem." Lance nods his head slowly and then walks over to watch Shadow.

Jake chuckles, "well now that the little man has something to occupy him; shall we get started?" I nod my head in agreement and tilt my head toward Gilorndir, {now as I am still required to 'take it easy'; per my healer's orders. I figured we should discuss crime in Hope Point as we need to make some official decisions regarding how we handle crime}.

Samuel speaks, "so we need to best decide what different crime are and their sentencing?" I nod my head, [I have some proposals for it. Some of which could be considered a bit harsh, but I think necessary}.

Samuel nods, "please tell us then." {Well first lets a dress thievery, simple theft should be some form of restitution to the aggrieved party. While I think major theft be punishable by public flogging}. Tammy speaks up, "what about children who are being foolish though?" I lever her a angry look, {we are not pandering to children who make poor choices, they make the choice they have to pay for it just like an adult. That said, if someone is stealing to feed their family while they still need to be punished for the crime. I think rectifying the situation is imperative. In those cases only, punishment is a year in the guard. The guard will need to keep records of anyone who has had training so if someone is a repeat offender you are not wasting time retraining someone with the same training.}

Samuel and Tammy talk a moment and then Tammy speaks, "alright how about anyone serving time in the guard has to take a training test first to determine skill level then we decide if they have to be trained?" Everyone agrees, {good that one is taken care of.}

I look over at Gilorndir, {do you have anything that could make some one a eunuch permanently?} The elf thought for a few minutes and Tammy got a gleam in her eye, "if you are going where I think you is Hunter. How can we prove it occurred?" Alberich knowing where I was going answered her, "unicorns of the magic kind can tell if someone was raped. Verses the idea that after they regretted having an encounter with someone. I know some of the women might have an issue with this idea, however there is false reporting of rapes even in the previous world. This way it will only be a sentence for those who actually committed the crime."

Tammy nods her head with a smile on her face, "good I knew people who were falsely accused because they thought the person cared about them." She turns to look at Gilorndir who seemed to be smiling, "yes Hunter Gwen I do have something that will work. It renders someone who takes it unable to perform any sex act unless an antidote is given and the longer it is in their system the stronger the antidote has to be." Tammy looks quite pleased with this, "alright I agree to this anyone disagree?" She glares at everyone, who all quickly agreed to the ruling.

I smile, glad to make Tammy happy; so. {On to torture of another intelligent being, I suggest a fine and payment of a good healer for the first offense}. Gilorndir smiles, "good and I can be that designated healer and will charged them through the nose. Then I would turn over the entire payment to the city to be used to aid the poor, this could work out very nicely." Tammy chuckles, and Samuel speaks up. "Maybe a public flogging for a second offense, with the fine and healer. The harmed party is to not watch it, but if multiple people commit the crime they have to watch each flogging. None of them are healed swiftly but with Old World medical uniqueness instead?" Gilorndir shivers but nods in agreement, "that is a sound idea; your thoughts Atsuko?"

The small woman thinks a few minutes, "I can agree to that provided the third offense the person/s in question are exiled after medical attention is given." Everyone nods in agreement,how about on top of that. If they attempt to return to the city they are given an immediate death sentence. The rest nod in agreement, Harriet then comments. "Now what should we do if they are exiled and later petition to be allowed back in?" I thought a few moments, {I guess the proper thing to do would be to hear out the petition. However I think maybe have it done outside of the city as legally they would not be allowed in it}. Everyone agrees though grudgingly so.

I turn to my guard captains, {we need to address dereliction of duty, do you have thoughts on what you would think is appropriate}? They look at each other and then back to the assembled group, and Samuel speaks. "Well, we have given it some thought already. We thought floggings would be best, maybe first few offenses just to the guards. If they start piling up make it city public, if that doesn't work we would probably petition the city for a more stringent sentence." The people talk among themselves a moment and Harriet asks me a question. "Don't you think we're being very harsh in our punishments?" I shake my head, {Harriet; one of the biggest problems of the Old World. Was that people felt they weren't responsible for anything, people need to understand there are consequences for their actions}. "I agree with the Hunter," we all turn toward the water to see the Queen mermaid sitting on the shore. She bows slightly to me and I do in return, "as I plan to have a group of my people move near your city I believe we will qualify as residents. So until we have a set group to make council members I shall sit in when I am able to," she tosses a bundle at me. "I am certain your Healer had to damage your garment when you were injured this way you have another." I thank the merwoman, {we I believe only have one more major sentence to decide on. How would I be able to summon you for any more council sessions Queen...?} I trail off not knowing her name, she smiles and indicates the bundle. "It's Azure, Hunter; as to summoning me. I included a whistle in the package that can be heard underwater. It will be good to notify me when we are needed." I nod and bow slightly in thanks.

I turn to the rest of the group, {the only remaining crime I think we need to address is murder. My thoughts are public flogging then permanent assignment to the guard unless the crime is egregious. In this case however, I think the flogging should be a set amount; like 20 lashes with a glass tipped lash. Then a facial branding to denote a murderer. Anyone who commits this crime repetitively will be given a death sentence. What are everyone's thoughts?}

The people talk a few minutes Azure speaking with Starburst on his opinion of it, the dragon was in favor of it. "I have learned over the years that the slow aged ones tend to follow rules if they are given incentive to do so. Whether it is societal or criminal code that is the incentive." In the end everyone agreed, and everyone went back to what ever task they were performing previously. Gilorndir came over and looked me over while Harriet started deciding on our evening meal, "Queen Azure. Will you be staying to eat with us this evening?" Harriet asked looking over at the merwoman, who shook her head. "I wish I could but my husband was very specific that when the meeting concluded I should return. Seems I annoy my body guards if I overstay myself," she grins in Shadow's direction. Then she dives below the surface, and I turn my head to Alberich.

{Alright, now I am really curious at what you are hiding from me}. He gives me an innocent look, "it's not my surprise to tell Gwen. You will see it when we reach Hope Point." Gilorndir taps the bridge of my nose, "now don't you worry about that. You need to finish healing Hunter, don't make me threaten you with more bed rest." I shake my head, {alright; I don't need you dosing my drink again to make me sleep either}. He pats me on the head, "good. Now I've been telling Ecthelon about you, he seems unimpressed. We'll see how he reacts when you meet him." That sounded very cryptic to me, I wonder what the Healer meant by that.