Summary

In Chapter 5, Ven describes the region, the culture, and how the government works. There are seven Provinces, each with a delegate that serves on the Council. Vien is in a Province called Maze. There is trade with people from other lands. There is music, and the people attend festivals. Ven is shocked to hear a church official offer blessing, safety, and prosperity in return for payment. There are occasional conflicts. There are objects left from the past, such as the supports of a huge bridge and a former palace that once housed a museum and is now the office for the Provincial assembly. There are hearths (homes) nearby, each with walls of flowers and herbs. Ven notices some homeless people who would once have been cared for. Now, the Chief Minister says, “Maze is not here to empower laziness” (39). Though the Council has...