"Then why does everyone say he's a good person?" Shansi asked, confused.
Eric looked up at the hawk gliding across the sky. "Robert is fair, actually," Eric said, trying to be honest. "He treats people fairly, or at least most people.
You can trust his word. And he's willing to listen to what you have to say."
"That's good," Shansi said.
"Perhaps. The throne is a well-deserved toy for him, but aside from that, all he thinks about is how to please himself."
"I will be fair," Shansi said. "I'll make people like me."
"They already like you," Eric said, "but they also have to fear you."
'Fear me?' He didn't like the idea.
"A King, any ruler, must be."
"Is your King Robert like that?"
"I hope he is, and I suspect he is. Or perhaps he has been all along, and many people, myself included, just haven't noticed," Eric said.
"He's a good King. I'll be just like him."
Shansi said excitedly, but just then, a group of men suddenly rushed toward them.
