that was that. At court, however, I see people every day who have power, and
that has caused me to change my views. Seeing things on a grander scale, I’ve
learned that power can be used for right or wrong, to create or destroy. While
everyone thinks they use their power for the best, narrow-visioned or
shortsighted exercise of power can be as destructive as deliberate wrong …
sometimes even worse, because in the case of deliberate wrong one is aware of
what he is doing and moderates it accordingly. Unintended wrong knows no
boundaries.”
“This is a strange thing to say to me,” Jubal laughed mirthlessly. “I have been
accused of being the greatest wrongdoer in Sanctuary’s history.”
“I’ve never believed that,” Hakiem said. “Frequently your activities have been
illegal and often brutal, but you have tried to maintain a degree of honor …
right and wrong, if you will. That’s why you wouldn’t sell Monkel protection you
couldn’t give, even though the price was tempting.”
“If that is true, then what distresses you? I haven’t changed the way I do
business.”
“No, and that’s the problem. You haven’t changed. You still think of what’s best
for you and yours … not what’s best for everybody. That’s fine for a small
time hoodlum in a dead-end town, but things are changing. I’ve long suspected
what I heard you say openly today … that you’re playing the other factions off
against each other to weaken them.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” Jubal snapped.
“It weakens the town,” Hakiem shot back. “Even if you succeed in gaining