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Practical Philosophy, Monday

The weather had improved, at least in terms of temperature, and the clouds overhead didn't look like they were going to burst. So Ender had directed his class to the lawn again, where he sat in the grass with the bag of sandwiches by his side.

"So," he said, "How do you feel about the future now?"

That was all.

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It was. To the point where Sholeh preferred to think about the events of this morning to the events of the weekend. One was kind of traumatizing. The other was heartbreaking.

She nodded mutely, trying to come up with words. "We did the best we could, but it wasn't enough. We did what we were supposed to, what we'd been told to do. And even though we ended up saving our home, it wasn't enough to be forgiven."

"Do you think that's unfair?"

With Sholeh, it was a toss-up whether she'd answer honestly or answer like she thought she was expected to.

Today was for honesty. She didn't have the emotional capacity to do otherwise. Besides, she'd done as she was expected her whole life, apparently, and look where it had gotten her.

"Yes," she said softly. Then, more firmly, yes. "I think it was wrong and unfair. Two sisters shouldn't have to be killed just because the third falls in love with a one-face. Err, I mean, with an outsider."

Ender made a mental note of that slip, but he wasn't going to press - especially not in front of the entire class. "I agree, they shouldn't," he said. "Would you act differently in the future, knowing what might become of it?"

"I...don't know," Sholeh said. "I'm already starting to forget things."

She darted a hasty glance at Evan, them immediately looked back at Ender, even as the blush began to rise in her cheeks. "But, as terrible as things were, we succeeded. We got Tryadnea anchored. If we don't do that, our home might continue to drift. That wouldn't be fair, either."

"So you'll have to find a compromise," Ender surmised. "Change what must be changed because it's the right thing to do, but don't expect to reap great rewards for it."

Such was the way of these things. Ender would know.

"Is it really a great reward to hope that my reward for all this is not being punished?" Sholeh asked. "Because I kinda think that that's less a 'reward' and more 'something to expect.'"

"You'd think so," Ender said, leaning back. "But reality rarely decides to use the same definition. Especially where heroics are concerned."

"We didn't do anything particularly heroic," Sholeh grumbled. "My sister fell in love with someone. His sister happens to be an incredibly powerful Landscaper. So, her love saved our people, but results in us getting...killed...in order for her to be with Lee. Whether that's what they want or not."

Sholeh was very not best pleased with things right now.

Ender raised an eyebrow. "That seems like a strange custom," he said. "Why?"

"Because long ago, two sisters had the same lover, an outsider," Sholeh said quietly. "They fought with one another and became bitter and angry. One day, when they couldn't take it any more, they began fighting in earnest and with deadly intent. The third sister ran in to try to stop them and they ended up murdering her in their blind rage. So now it is law that if one of group of three siblings falls in love with an outsider, loves deeply enough to become a spouse of that outsider, by law the other two must die, so the third can be free to marry."

"Despite the third's wishes, or the relationship of the siblings?" Ender asked.

It was a very specific law, by the sounds of it. He couldn't shake the thought there was more going on here.

Well, yeah. Like them all being three-in-one. But Sholeh was trying to step around that.

"The only other option is for her to stand up in front of witnesses and declare that she has no special feelings for him and banish him from her presence forever. But she has to be believed, too."

Sholeh shook her head. "That's the price of loving an outsider."

Evan didn't say anything. He didn't feel that it was his place to speak up during this particular conversation.

But wow, were his knees ever interesting this morning.

"And you agree with that?" Ender asked quietly.

This time, Sholeh didn't let herself look anywhere but at Ender. "I used to. It made sense to me. Outsiders are dangerous. But now...now I don't think so. Not just because of love..."

She frowned, trying to articulate concepts grown hazy from over the weekend. "We go out into the world and need to be part of it. That includes loving and being loved in all the forms love takes. We have to do that, for Tryadnea's sake. But to be punished for it, to be considered broken and wrong, to lose your sis--siblings. That's wrong."

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Practical Philosophy, Monday

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