[A sealed letter for Legate Balstan]

[cmenden]

Dear Legate,

I have reviewed your laws and find them as splendid as anticipated.

I am particularly pleased with the plan to crack down on Laches as it will curtail Janissaries who would leverage the threat of a case as blackmail in perpetuity.

Well done, truly.

The only change I might suggest is the mention of undermining Legates under the Treason law. I expect many Voiced to protest such under the assumption that it is an expansion of Legate authority.

I would remind you both that you will not be Legate forever and the office could be taken by another Sol Auk type, as well as the fact that my own protests against Marcellus could have been considered "undermining" him.

I believe the right to protest a Legate's actions without fear of legal reprisal is important to any Asterabadian government.

It is a minor concern, however, in an otherwise well written and thought out set of laws.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

[Ziya]

Apothar Azimi,

Your words are very pleasing to read, and I am grateful for them.

We had taken the view that the present offense of 'energetically undermining [...] the government for any reason' was too broad a phraseology, and certainly 'the government' included the Legates - but who else? It was thought that the new wording was a suitable restriction. Nevertheless, It is not ideal, either, for the precise reasons you have pointed out. The use of the word 'undermine' at all may be too broad.

Balstan Gloamingdaith
Legate of the First Seat