“Great,” the archbishop said with a smile. He looked at the young centaur by his side. “Cherri was it? How would you feel if you hypothetically became the new tribe leader?”
“I refuse,” Cherri said and shook her head, her hair flying and smacking Cory in the face. “I can’t do that to my dad. You’re a bad person for even suggesting such a thing. I can’t believe you’re the archbishop.” She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away while closing her eyes. The group turned around a bend, and Cherri walked straight into the wall.
Cory snickered. “Are you sure you want someone like her to be your new leader?” she asked. The harpy shrugged before the archbishop or Cory could reply. “Well, I guess she is pretty smart … for a centaur.”
“Cory…,” Raea said. “Are you disobeying my words?”
“I complimented her!” Cory said. “Compliments don’t antagonize!”
The archbishop sighed and lowered his head as he spoke to himself, but just loud enough for Cherri and the rest to hear, “Well, it doesn’t matter who becomes the new leader, I suppose. But what’ll happen to Mathias after he’s overthrown will be a real shame. The new leader will probably have him made into an example; ah, what to do? It’ll be a great loss for the tribe if such a powerful centaur is exiled. If only there was a compassionate leader to replace him, but everyone who wants his position hates him.” The tattooed centaur shook his head and clucked his tongue. “I never expected his daughter to be so heartless. Was he such a bad person that his children are also estranged from him? I guess that’s not a surprise considering his personality. I guess there can only be one outcome from all this after all.”
“I’ll do it!” Cherri said as she wiped her nose with the back of her hand. There were tears in her eyes caused by the collision. “Wait. Why can’t Palan just support my father and use him as a puppet instead?”
“It’s okay, Cherri,” the archbishop said and sighed. “The tribe leader’s position is a very large burden to bear. I wouldn’t want to force you into it. We can arrange for Palan to support Mathias since you’re shying away from responsibili—I mean—just a child. It’s unfair of me to expect you to take up such an important position. By the time the discontent and anger boils over because Mathias is such a terrib—terrific leader, you’ll be old enough to become the new chief after suppressing the rebellion.”
“I said I’ll do it!” Cherri shouted and stamped her hooves. “Stop being so wordy! You’re making me feel bad.”
“Are you sure you’re up to the task?” the archbishop asked and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want you saying someone manipulated you into the position. Do you really want to replace your father as the new chieftain? It has to completely be your decision with no outside influences.” He clapped his hands on Cherri’s shoulders. “Are you willing?”
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“Yes!” Cherri said. “I’ll do my best!”
“That’s a little terrifying,” Justitia said to Raea and Palan. “I guess you don’t become an archbishop by being bad with words.”
The archbishop cleared his throat. “Then I’ll count on you, Cherri,” he said. “I believe you’ll do your best to not let your father down.” He patted her back before walking in front of Palan, leading the way down the passage. He winked at Justitia. “I’m the embodiment of kindness. A little bit of empathy allows me to relate with the people I want to persuade. From there, it’s just a little bit of prodding and pulling.”
“A really kind person wouldn’t be so manipulative,” Justitia said.
“Kindness to your enemies is being cruel to yourself,” the centaur said. “Cruelty to your enemies is kindness to your friends. I’m doing a good deed to the tribe by manipulating one person. Who can judge my actions as kind or unkind? Personally, I believe everything I am doing is out of kindness even if I may have to hurt someone in the process.”
“Did you just admit to manipulating me?” Cherri asked and furrowed her brow.
“That can’t be right,” Justitia said, ignoring the young centaur. “Kindness is all about relating with another person, loving them completely for who they are, and never wishing to do them harm.”
“Even if they’re hostile?” the archbishop asked, also ignoring Cherri who was tugging on his arm.
“Even if they’re hostile.”
“Then how do any angels of kindness exist after what they’ve done to the dwarves, the harpies, the centaurs, the trolls? And what about the goblins and the lizardmen?” the centaur asked. “They justify to themselves that what they’re doing is righteous. Blind faith in their belief allows them to ignore the cruelty everyone else is subjected to. Can’t I blindly believe that my actions, though a bit manipulative now, will benefit Cherri in the long run?”
“But is it really kindness if you know you’re being unkind to another person?” Justitia asked and furrowed her brow. “The angels don’t know about the consequences of their actions. You do.”
The archbishop snorted. “So you’re holding me to a higher standard than your angels?” he asked. He raised his hand, forming a large globule of milky light. “This is my answer to you.” He threw the light into Justitia’s face, causing her to yelp. The light ran down her body like liquid, healing all the minor scars that were inflicted during her time in prison. “I can use what you angels call the power of kindness; therefore, I am right.”
Justitia wiped at her face, but it wasn’t wet and her hands came back dry. She bit her lower lip. “I guess that’s all that matters in the end, huh?” she asked. “Whether or not you can use it. I’m sure your logic is flawed somewhere. Maybe you’re able to use kindness now, but I don’t know how far you’ll be able to advance. I don’t think your powers would even be as great as they are if you hadn’t eaten so many angels.”
“My powers are on the level of an archangel,” the archbishop said. “Wouldn’t you say that’s enough?”
“No,” Palan said.
“Right,” the archbishop said as he gazed at Palan. “If someone like you didn’t exist, then it would be. But you do exist, so it isn’t. You’re too wise, honored one.”
“I know I’m wise,” Palan said with a slight smile on his lips. “That’s also why I know if I exist, then someone else like me can also exist.” He wet his lips. “And I’m going to eat them.”