Consequences

 

      In the book "Exile's Valor" by Mercedes Lackey, there is a scene where two weaponry students come to class loudly arguing with each other. One student is Kadhael, born into a noble family. The other is Osberic, who was in training to become a Herald. The fight gets more heated by the moment. Other students start to choose sides.

  Alberich, the weaponsmaster, ends the argument immediately by boxing both young men in the ear sending them to the floor. He then tells them that they are going to fight each other outside and will continue to fight until Alberich decides the fight is over. Kadhael sneers at Alberich and refuses to follow Alberich's orders. Since the weaponsmaster has a special status which permits him to dismiss disobedient students from his class, Alberich dismisses Kadhael who refuses to leave. Alberich picks up Kadhael and walks him out of the salle. 

  Alberich then decides that he will spar with Osberic using staffs. Everyone goes outside and forms a circle with Alberich and Osberic inside. While the two of them spar, Alberich delivers a lecture on consequences while they spar. 

  Alberich explains to Osberic that the consequence of losing his temping and fighting with a highborn student has far reaching effects. It would cause cause problems for the Heralds as they could be perceived as a band that follows their own laws. It could also cause problems with the Queen who have to inquire as to why discipline is so lax that trainees and highborn were fighting. After tripping Osberic for a final time Alberich ands his lecture this way. 

   "A Herald cannot merely right be, Osberic. A Herald must guided by the law be. He cannot dispense the law, if he follows it not himself. He cannot dispense the law, if he thinks himself immune from it. He cannot dispense the law, if he will not deal it to his fellows in the same measure as he does to those whom he has in charge."

  Five people died in the riot on at the Capitol in Washington DC. Those who participated in this act along with those who organized and encouraged the people attending to march to the capitol building should not be spared the consequences of their actions. This applies to anyone in the Executive branch and Congress who may have given behind the scenes help or encouragement to those who participated in the riot. Those who dispense the law should not be immune from or above the law.