A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Mrs. Reardon, my history teacher. Basically everything that Myles says comes from her. And all the history facts were learned in her class.

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"Someone is working against us!" the lioness growled, punching the nearest available surface in frustration.

            "Ow," said Numair, the nearest available surface, clutching his arm. Gary was too busy pacing and thinking to notice, and the two squires in the room (Kel was helping Neal serve Alanna and her friends during her free time) controlled their laughter carefully.

            "I have to admit," Gary mumbled to himself, "everything's going better than it might be. I've heard some good ideas, and I can sense the outlines of a government. But where is all this resistance coming from?"

            "My lord?" asked Kel. Gary shook himself out of his thoughts and looked up to see his friend's squire offering him a cup of tea. He took it gratefully.

            "Thank you, Squire Keladry," he said. She bowed and went to serve the others.

            "It seems to be mostly nobles from old families—no offense Gary, Alanna, Neal," Numair said, nodding to each in turn. "People who have opposed every change in this kingdom since Jon took the throne. I don't see why this time should be any different. You can work around them, as usual."

            "It's not that simple," Gary said. "I hear their arguments against our efforts, and they all mention the same basic points. There has to be leadership coming from somewhere. But where?"

            There was a loud crash as Kel dropped the tea service. "I apologize," she said, stooping to pick it up with a face as unreadable as stone. The adults returned to their conversation, but Neal watched her hands, becoming increasingly white-knuckled as Gary continued to describe the opposition.

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            Raoul looked up from his work as he heard a sharp rap on the door that connected his squire's rooms to his own. "Come in, Kel," he called. She entered, looking at the ground and carrying a large stack of papers.

            "Thanks," he said. She nodded, still looking down and breathing deeply. She seemed to be trying to get her anger under control.

            "What's wrong?" he asked gently. She looked up with an expression of anger he had never before seen her wear.

            "What are you doing?" she said in a hoarse whisper. "I'm not stupid—I hear you at night, I hear you plotting. You want to destroy everything that my lord of Naxen has been trying to create. You think that the people can't rule themselves, but you're wrong! You and Lord Imrah and Lord Wyldon think that you're trying to save Tortall and bring back the old system of ruling, but your selfishness is really going to destroy your kingdom and throw it into a state of anarchy! Is that what you want?"

            Raoul blinked. He had never expected such a passionate speech from quiet, controlled Kel. She was still standing across from him, glaring angrily.

            "It's not my fault," he said. "I'm not the leader—Imrah is. I'm just helping. And how do you know we're not right?"

            "You told me yourself, sir, that conservatives can rarely see both sides of an issue," Kel replied, calming herself down using her Yamani methods. "If I'm not mistaken, you haven't been walking in my Lord Naxen's shoes for very long."

            Raoul considered. She's right, he realized. She's completely right, and I've been a fool.

            "There's nothing I can do about it now," he said with a sigh. "The conservatives would still go on without me."

            "My lord, you know what they're going to do to ensure that these meetings fail," Kel said. "All you have to do is go to Gary, tell him you were wrong, and give up as much information as you can. Think about it, sir," she said when he looked on the verge of protest. "It's the right thing to do."

            Raoul sighed. "You're right, Kel," he said. "I've been in the wrong completely. Thank you."

            "Any time, sir," she said. "Absolutely any time."

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            The fourth-year pages sitting in Myles's history class were unaware that Kel had almost made the conservative rebellion against democracy come grinding to a halt. They were looking at current events from a philosophical point of view.

            "Freedom…" Myles said, scribbling it onto the chalkboard, "versus law and order. How do we balance the two? The balance is important—too much freedom and you get this…"

            He wrote a word under "freedom:"

                        ANARCHY

            "…but too much law and order and you get this…" he wrote under "law and order:"

                        TYRANNY

            "Which of these do you want? If you cannot balance, you will have to choose. Yes, Peat?"

            Peat of Silverforest cleared his throat. "I'd rather have the tyranny, sir. The realm under King Jonathan was very organized, and His Majesty had a lot of power, but everything worked well." Myles nodded thoughtfully.

            "True, very true. Who would like to refute his argument?" No hands were raised. "All right then, think about this: Emperor Ozorne."

            Another page raised his hand. "Emperor Ozorne abused his power. We can't take the chance of letting that happen. It would be better to have no one person with all the power."

            "True again," Myles said. "But make sure you don't get too close to this." He tapped the word "anarchy" on the board.

            "A great thinker named Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that in order for a governing body to be legitimate, it had to have the approval of the people. Has anyone here read the works of Rousseau? Yes, your highness?"

            Jasson of Conté had read every book on history in the palace. "I read a compilation of the works of Rousseau and similar philosophers."

            Myles nodded. "Good, good. Enlightened Thinking, I assume?" The prince nodded. "I don't suppose you remember his suggestion for a balanced government?"

            "He said that a government should have three branches: one that creates the laws; one that implements the laws; and one that deals with lawbreakers."

            "Excellent," Myles said. "Thank you, your highness.

            "This is what Gareth of Naxen and his troupe are trying to create. A balanced government, one that protects you without oppressing you. At your young age, knowing so little history, you can't even begin to imagine what a difficult task this is. Yes, Peat?"

            Peat spoke quietly. "Do you think they'll be able to do it, sir?" he asked timidly.

            Myles nodded gravely. "Yes. Yes, I think they can."

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A/N: I am opposed to shallow patriotism. "Oh, we're in a war, I think we're right, let's put out a flag." Instead, I believe people should strive to understand what makes our society unique and why our form of government has failed in every other place where it has been implemented.

            Some people know current events; others understand them. If you want to begin to comprehend our current situation, I would suggest you read the main article of a Newsweek that came out in early October: "Why do they Hate Us?" We read it in history class (thank you again, Mrs. Reardon!) and I found it extremely enlightening. And speaking of the Enlightenment, it's a good historical people to read about. Intellectuals like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire (who are only two of many) shaped civilization in the United States today (they were influenced by Great Britain's Glorious Revolution and were driving factors for the revolutions in nations such as the United States, France, Haiti…). If you don't know why we're free and yet not free, balanced precariously somewhere between anarchy and tyranny, how can you possibly claim to believe in your stars and stripes?