findingfeather: riteofashkente: The new sergeant-at-arms picked up his badge with care and saluted
The new sergeant-at-arms picked up his badge with care and saluted yet again. ‘Oath, sir,’ he said.
‘Oh, er, that thing? Er, I believe I’ve got it written down somewh—’
Vimes took a deep breath. This probably wasn’t a good idea, but he was flying now.
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett, pp. 115-116.
It is very important to note the total lack of swearing to obey the monarch (or any other ruler).
The Watch swears to uphold the law, serve the public trust, and defend the subjects of the kingdom, without fear, favour (bias) or thought of personal safety, to protect the innocent and pursue evildoers, to the point of dying in the course of duty.
It is, as Vimes observes privately later, a very sneaky and terrifyingly free to interpret oath.
Thu, 26 May 2022 02:35:33
