[Sabriel takes a few long seconds to think about that. Some might see him as a hero, a just-reward for a system that they had rallied against, that was always at the center of what they did. No Circles, some said. Others wanted them, missed them. But there was so much they needed to figure out because of the lack of them, to realise that the foundations had not always been without cause.]

If that were suggested- [it would take a while to get to it, she's quite sure] -they might see it as only an excuse. He was already a Warden when those crimes were committed. At best, they would lose faith in us if we were to shield him. At worst...