Li nodded towards Jeanne, and the room took a collective look at Jeanne, and she blinked before stiffening up at the sudden attention. "Me?" she said almost wonderingly.
"Certainly, it does make sense," said Launcelot with a nod. "Among us adventurers, you are surely the most loved by the people. Decorated with a medal by the d.u.c.h.ess herself. A priestess of the Light. Born of heroic blood. A Rivieran born native. You hold all the marks of one to be adored and revered by the people."
Sylvie agreed, saying, "And none can ever hold anything against her, for she has genuinely led a life only for the good of others. There is no blackmail that can be waived against her."
"I"ve heard tell of your fame even down south," said Leon. "You"ve more fame than most of the golds, even."
"I am willing to fight at once for a just cause such as this," said Jeanne as she ignored the light blush gracing her cheeks. "But am I truly the only one among us that can speak out? Surely, Launcelot, you have a name as good as I?"
Launcelot considered her words. "At a surface level, yes. There are many that appreciate me as a silver ranked adventurer and a n.o.bleman, but at the same time, it is my very n.o.bility that props up a nigh insurmountable wall between me and the common man.
No matter how hard I work, how hard I sacrifice myself, there is a certain difference between myself, a man of wealth and privilege, and the commoner that nothing of either boon. It took Chevrette decades of generous works to overcome that difference, but it is not so with me."
Li knew what Launcelot said was true and was one of the reasons he did not consider the n.o.bleman to levy an accusation against Chevrette. Li also understood that while Launcelot did fight for a sense of justice, his main goal was never to fight for everyone, for each and every downtrodden common man. He fought to protect heroes in the memory of his longtime friend and acting for the common man came secondary to that.
"Not to mention that father"s reputation does not help at all," chimed in Leon. "Built up most of the walls keeping the poor out of upper Riviera and those big golden gates that make sure to let all know that there is a ma.s.sive difference between those of the n.o.ble estates and practically everyone else."
Launcelot shrugged. "That too."
It was evident that neither of them thought of their father too highly.
"By all considerations, Jeanne, you are the only one that can do this," said Sylvie. She gave Jeanne a rea.s.suring look. "All you must do is talk to the people, to rally them. That, you may have to do alone, but we will stand by you in the shadows, in any and every fight that sprouts from your words."
"Ya sure bout" this?" said Azhar. "That"s a lotta" pressure and danger yer gonna" put upon yourselves, y"know."
"When have we not faced danger?" said Sylvie.
"Yeah, but like the rich boy said, it ain"t like we"re gonna" take Chevrette out in a couple of days. We could hold off for a bit until my arm gets better. Don"t feel great havin" you all get in danger without me round"."
Li interjected. "Optimally, there will be minimal danger. If the law comes bearing down on Chevrette, then the knights can get authority to arrest him and seize his properties. If Chevrette tries to fight back against the knights, then he brings down the wrath of the entire duchy on himself, and that"s complete suicide. There shouldn"t be much bloodshed if things go smoothly."
"Guess ya got a point with that one," said Azhar.
Jeanne took in a breath, steeling herself. "And the longer we wait, even if it is a mere few days, the longer it is that this foul trade continues and that these poor girls suffer. I will speak immediately tomorrow."
"We must consider the most effective way for you to address the common folk," said Sylvie as she put a contemplative finger to her chin. "To reach a wide audience, it would be best for you to first speak with the temple and the city hall, working with both the priestly order and the knights."
"I would advise against that," said Launcelot. "There will be some compromised individuals among both authorities that may tip off Chevrette. A more spontaneous address of the people will work best. I can rent out the marketplace square for the day for this."
"But then how will you bring the law into this?" said Sylvie. "If she does not speak with official channels first, an arrest will be far more complicated."
"Don"t worry about official channels," said Li. He knew that Alexei with his close ties to lord Lys could likely handle much of the bureaucratic fluff. "I can cover that. She just needs to get the word out."
"And if the there are those among the authorities that are compromised, then a spontaneous speech that riles up the people is far more compelling," said Launcelot. "Laws exist for the people. If their will is such that Chevrette must face justice, then the law will bend to it, not to mention that this will grant Chevrette far less time to react."
"Chevrette is just as much a hero to the common folk"s eyes as Jeanne is," Sylvie countered. "It will take more than just her words to turn them against him. If the temple and the knights are behind her back, then that may grant us an edge."
"Not if there"s obvious evidence against him, right?" said Li as he motioned to the sleeping beastwomen.
Sylvie shook her head sadly. "The people are against slavery, yes, but the average common man holds little pity for beastmen."
"That, I"ve noticed, but consider this more a spark than the full fire. The real fire against Chevrette is a combined accusation levied by all the farmers that he"s extorting. The farmers aren"t acting because they feel that their lives are in danger and that nothing they do or say will change the status quo.
But if Jeanne shows the beastwomen, it proves that there"s someone that Chevrette can"t get rid of and that she also has the influence to affect a change in the status quo."
"Will that truly be enough to move all the farmers?" said Sylvie, concerned about the viability of this plan.
"As a farmer myself, I know how they feel and I can almost guarantee it," said Li. He knew that the original farmers respected all life. Living years while forced to be part of a trade that directly wasted away lives must have agonized their consciences dearly. They were all going to be looking for a way out of their current lives.
"Aye, the lad is right," said Old Thane. "The farmers of yore will not stand by if they are given a chance to rise up."
Azhar s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably. "Don"t mean to break the flow of this plannin" and all, but ain"t you all missin" somethin"? How are ya so sure that the beastwomen are gonna" be willin" to get up on that square? They"re probably gonna" be wantin" to cut and run the moment their eyes wake up."
"I would imagine that they would want to free those of their kind from captivity," said Li.
"Maybe." Azhar looked over to the beastwomen, first at the Feli, then at the Serpi. "But beastmen ain"t a monolith. Look at em", a Feli"s way different from a Serpi, and the two tribes fight each other all the time. There ain"t no real solidarity among em" all."
Li considered this. Azhar was right in this sense, and Li did have to profess he did not know much about the beastmen at all. Their culture and histories were largely misrepresented in the texts he had read, which was unsurprising considering that he had not read anything from outside the duchy which was anti-beastman to begin with.
"You seem to know a lot about them."
Azhar nodded. "There"s a few tribes west in the hinterlands. We"ve never really gotten" along, but after the demon wars put everyone down a notch or two, we"ve learned to come together."
"Perfect," said Li. "Then I"ll wake them up and you can be the one to convince them to join this cause."