Hèctor was not expecting the Four-Day War, any more than anyone else. He was also not expecting the Tarrasque, or for Her Majesty Catherine de Litran to deal with it personally. These firmly establish in his mind that Her Majesty is entirely suitable to rule, despite her prior weakness in Galt, a position he is aware Lictor Adom and Master of Blades Mardinus share. The reforms she demands over the operation of the Order of the Chain are disappointing, but she is the rightful ruler and has the power to enforce her decrees, so the Lictor acquiesces and Hèctor does not fault him for it. They are maintaining the fortress and its prisoners, and still have rights to pursue known criminals, and this is the core of the Order; their charge will continue.
This is shaken significantly when they receive the notification that a constitutional convention will be held, and they are required to send a delegate to it. This is a dangerous weakness; any Knight of the Chain has seen enough of the common people and what they will tolerate to recoil at the prospect of allowing them to have a say in the structure of the government. Hèctor does not ask his fellow knights their opinion; he can see the Lictor's displeasure, and that is sufficient for him. Something must be done, and it must not break their oaths or their commitments.
"Paralictor Rosa," his Lictor says, having called him to his office, "What are your thoughts on this constitutional convention?"
"A bad idea," he says immediately, "Possibly a catastrophe. They'll never build a lawful kingdom this way."
"Much the same as mine, then. Good. I cannot be spared from the Citadel, nor can Master Mardinus. You are well-spoken, and I trust your judgment and your adherence to the Order. You will attend as our representative."
Hèctor grimaces, but nods. "I will serve as best as I am able."
"You will. Your primary orders are to maintain the Order's operation; secondarily, for the other Orders. We must be able to enforce Law even if the politicians pursue corruption and folly."
"Yes, sir. I would assume that our priorities are, first, the Citadel and its prisoners; second, the right to pursue and capture; third, our rights to administer other punishments; fourth, to retrieve what rights we ceded to the Crown if possible."
"I am not sure I am permitted to Lawfully endorse you in pursuing restoration of our prior rights. It is quite possible Her Majesty will reject them even if the convention endorses their return. That said, if she was persuaded to restore them, I would be extremely pleased."
"I will do my best to respect your commitments, Lictor."
"Very good. Your prioritization also seems appropriate. Vicarius Magdalena has the records of established meeting points in Westcrown if you need to contact our brothers and sisters in the area. Go."
"Sir," he says, saluting, and then leaves to prepare for his trip to Westcrown.
