167 Chapter 164 Finishing Up The Meeting (2/2)
”This isn't related to the G.o.d stuff, or money, but rather some of the laws.”
”Go ahead.”
”Well, I can't buy a lady a drink, but can I change her water into ale for her?”
”It wasn't a big concern before, but with so many people becoming mages, it is bound to come up more often,” said Stella, handing Joseph a cookie.
”I would like to say no,” he said, taking a bite of the cookie, and pausing to chew it. ”I'll have to think about it. The reason I made the law was because if **** is punishable by death, and a man buys drinks for a woman until she accepts his advances, is it ****? For him, she was willing, and for her, he drugged her and she wasn't willing. If the woman is dulling her own senses by consuming alcohol, then it is much harder to end up in this situation. Most men who consume too much alcohol can't perform, so it isn't much of an issue the other way. Now, if you attack a woman who is so drunk, she's unconscious, then it's pretty hard to say she gave consent, but I was trying to avoid the gray area.”
”King Joseph, what about the gambling law, or the wages at the end of the day law?” asked Theon.
”Well, barbarians don't have a tradition of gambling, like the kingdom does. It was meant to prevent being tricked into agreeing to trade property the person wasn't aware they were betting, or hustled in a double or nothing game. Many of the people aren't good enough at math. Bad people could still take their daily wages and drink or gamble away a lot of it before bringing it home, but they can't bet slaves, family heirlooms or other property when drunk. I've seen it end poorly too many times.
”The reason for employers to pay at the end of the day, was to keep people from being cheated out of more than a day of wages, as well as depending on the wording when hired. I've seen some of the king's men, before we fled north, agree to large wages but then have an if statement said very quickly. They would get someone to work for a week, or even a month, before cheating them.”
”What were your reasons for the ruling on pregnant women?”
”There were several. The first was to show that, at no point is the child ever a slave. I worded it, ”a citizen of the kingdom upon conception” so that n.o.body could claim children of slaves automatically became slaves, or that they ever were. Secondly, a number of demon summoning rituals were strengthened through child sacrifice, and children not born yet still count for that purpose, so I figured it should count for murder, too. Lastly, I want more people in my kingdom, so killing babies still in a pregnant woman robs me of a new subject. Even though I can summon their spirit after they've died, I can't resurrect them. They would be forever gone, unless I put their spirit in a weapon, or machine. I still wouldn't get a new citizen though.”
”You would put a baby's soul into a weapon?!” asked Ca.s.sandra, shocked and somewhat frightened.
”I doubt it. Most of those spells also work with animal spirits, and I would prefer to let the poor child pa.s.s on, but it is possible.”
Theon looked at him.
”Yes, Theon?”
”Then, when my sister died to that cold monster in the north, while with child?”
”The avatar would have absorbed both your sister's soul, and the souls of however many children she was with, when the ice killed her. When Stella and I killed it, they would have been freed and able to escape NURKONG.”
Theon bowed in the way of the barbarians. ”I thank you once again, my Kenrick, for what you have done for us.”
Joseph nodded. ”As Kenrick, I will never see my people held captive by our enemies.”
Mira spoke up, ”Master king?”
”Another t.i.tle?” muttered Stella.
”Some have complained that with summer,” continued Mira, not having heard Stella. ”It has been too hot lately. Is there any way it could get a little cooler?”
”Yes, I can allow a light rain during the night only, and bring down the temperature a little. Make sure everyone knows that a hard rain is still scheduled on the first of the month though.”
Laughs traveled up and down the table, as none of them could have imagined spreading that around before Joseph came.
”Ok, then. If that is all, everyone is dismissed. Have a good evening.”
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