It’d all be very amusing, if the reason for your consternation weren’t so obvious!”

“And what reason do you think that is, ma’am?” I demanded, flustered.

“It is that you believe we do little significant in our work!” Ana
thundered. “And thus, you dream of transferring to the Legion!”

I gazed at her, stunned. I had no idea she’d known of my secret wish. I
wondered how I had been so obvious.

“How…” I said. “How did you…”

Ana sighed and tried to collect herself. “Your mind is easy to guess at,”
she said. “For you are a decent sort, Din, and a decent young man dreaming
of serving our most honored Iyalet is not the most preposterous thing. And I
know you did not choose the Iudex. Rather, I chose you. Yet tell me—do you
really think you do no good in your service, child? That this duty does not
matter?”

“I… I do try to think so, ma’am,” I admitted quietly.

“But?”

“But… when we come, the deed is already done. The body is cold, the
blood cleaned away. We often find the killer, but that heals nothing, as far as I
can see. It only leads to a rope, or a cage, and many more tears.” I swallowed.
“Is it so strange a thing, ma’am, to helplessly look upon the slain and dream
of instead saving lives?”

- A Drop of Corruption, Chapter 19 pgs. 142