<h2>Planet 5 / Ch. 29: Persuasion</h2>


    Post-contact report: thought-hearing anomaly


    The thought-hearing powers on this planet of little green people are confusing.


    There is no one who can hear all thoughts around them, but ''attunements'' on Tesk are common, and not unknown in other places, indicating that some kind of thought-hearing is possible. Also, there are a high proportion of nobles of the former Windward Empire who are able to project their thoughts to other members of the population, and some manage this in a selective manner. The emperor of the Dahel empire seems able to inspire awe, fear, and so on in those around him in a way that would correspond to him transmitting emotions. This evidence would suggest that the populace in general can actually receive thoughts at some level, but that their ''receivers'' are very narrow-band or selective; so selective that they are in effect useless, without attunement or someone able to blast past their normal limitations. Infuriatingly for our gifted friend, Sebastian, the people who have heard nobles do not seem to be able to receive thoughts from him. Thus he is left merely spying on the thoughts of people as we rely upon old-fashioned language learning. There is another suggestion, which is throwing up all sorts of ethical questions: if the only way that someone gets to hear another''s thoughts is attunement, should a team member seek to develop such a close emotional bond?


    <hr>


    </a>The heart of the empire


    The radio burst into life, and Naneela heard “Calling from Caneth, five percent power.”


    “Try one percent please.” Naneela said.


    “Trying again, one percent power. We have crown prince Hal and princess regent Esmetherelda here.”


    “That''s excellent, Father and mother are also here. And is duchess Hayeel also present?”


    “I am present, highness, and Salay wishes me to say that I argued away his objections to untying my hair this evening, because I consider us to be heading to a marriage arranged by God and have no desire to be a halfie.”


    “It is a long time since I heard that word, future daughter-in-law,” the Empress said, “but I understand it. Was your request to Salay driven by honour for God, or your own feelings for my son?”


    “My own feelings, majesty. Almost everything I have seen and heard today fills me with anticipation and makes me regret having written so many topics on my list of things that I wish to discuss with Salay before we marry. But since it is not everything I have seen and heard, sanity manages to reassert itself from time to time.”


    “And those exceptions? What did they fill you with?”


    “Mostly they were to do with Salay not believing that I agreed with him, majesty. Those moments were quite frustrating.”


    “Be careful there, young Hayeel. Salay has motives for being careful, ones that he cannot let be overheard.”


    “There are two in the room who hear thoughts, mother.” Salay said.


    “I hope you were thinking in this language then, my son.”


    “It will be most hard, mother, for that secret to remain such when there are thought-hearers in the empress''s guard, and I wonder if if is better to trust our friends.”


    “And will there be thought-hearers in the empress''s guard?” Hayeela asked, surprised.


    “This is a matter of an international treaty, mother, father. On compassionate grounds, Hayeel and I recommended that the Lady Captain who I will not name not look at the pattern of subtle dots that mark an acolyte of dum-semb, to compare them with what she remembers from her mother''s back. Memories can be hazy after all. But such a possibility must be considered. There are those who study Dahelese and Tunganese at the academy of Tesk, and Hayeel would like to recruit some help in interviewing the civil and military bureaucracies and the most change-resistant members of the central-zone aristocracy.”


    “The baroness will certainly be questioned,” Salay''s father said, “And you are right, Salay, if there are thought hearers willing to be part of the empress'' guard, then they will need to know. You may of course share the secret.”


    “I thank you, father, I will explain to the prince and princess.” Salay said.


    “And now “, the Emperor said, “I would like to hear about why the empire of Dahel does not need to worry about the plans of the windward nations, this new empire, so that I can silence the voices who say I should be putting the army on alert.”


    “Prince Hal replies thus,” Hayeel''s voice said. “''Imperial Majesty, in some ways, what we are planning is an empire, but in many ways it is a long way from one. Certainly it will never be called the Windward Empire, because that was a place of slavery, death and terror. We also hope that if other countries join us, we will listen and discuss, far more than give orders.'' Princess Esmetherelda adds ''Central Caneth has always been different to the coast, and they long been unhappy about rules enforced by the coast without respect for their culture. We hope this new thing that we do will allow the two Caneths to have more of an equal footing. We may even find that we have three Caneths. Some things will not change, but other matters will. I hope to be harsh on corruption, and gentle on cultural differences. Much of what happens here will need a lot of haggling with Central Caneth. This is not something to impose on them, after all. But why would I want to have more citizens unhappy with my rule?”


    “And Princess-Regent, you are not afraid that the tolerance of differences might become an invitation, to organise to those who seek to overthrow your reign, say in central Caneth?” The emperor asked.


    “No, imperial majesty,” Hayeel translated Esme''s reply “because the army will not be, has never been, regionally organised. I do not intend to make the mistake of requiring a devolved central Caneth to raise its own army, as though they needed to provide soldiers in exchange for protection. They need to pay taxes of course, to support infrastructure, administration and law and order. But Central Caneth has always required a net investment, just because of the low population and large area.”


    “You have a law and order problem there, you mean?” Empress Hayeela asked.


    “It has been seen as that in the past, certainly.” Hayeel''s voice came back, “Princess Esme prefers to see it as a difference in cultures. Inexperienced merchants complain of cronyism and demanding of bribes, so it is investigated, and very often the result is that they were ignorant of the culture. But yes, there are also bandit groups. Very few people like them, though. Perhaps if they were more socially minded and took from the rich to give to the poor like in children''s stories, they would have more support, but normally it is just that they take money from the rich and food or water from the poor.”


    “But some people do like them?” The emperor asked.


    “Some, yes. The lookouts who are paid for information, for instance,” the radio replied, “The princess-regent expects that some government workers are in that category too. But she hopes that greater local influence over local spending will help that a lot.”


    “And other than law and order, what will your soldiers do?”


    “They will defend our borders, practice their drills, train their replacements, and get better at catching criminals.”


    “When you say ''our borders'', do you mean those within your almost empire or your external borders?”


    “A little of both,” Hayeel said, “They say: ''We expect that there will still be trade tariffs and the like that need enforcing, and of course it is unwise for border-towns to think they are unobserved. But more on the external borders than the internal ones. How does it work within the Dahel empire?''”


    “The honest answer is poorly and with corruption. Many solders provide internal security for tax collectors and so on, others occupy themselves with giving one another medals for no discernable reason or patrolling the coasts and border regions for high risk and little reward. I like countess Hayeel''s idea of interviewing the military command, and will insist that those guarding her are well trained and armed. You realise, I am sure. the military importance of this radio, princess-regent?”


    “As well as the diplomatic importance, imperial majesty. It gives those who enjoy stirring up trouble with false reports another tool, and we who ultimately decide on policy, or at least who decides on it, the ability to counteract them on the basis of friendship and fellowship.”


    “Your unification and idea of a government of governments does not come as a surprise to us in Dahel.”


    “I understand that, yes; you have the prophecy of the last kingdom.”


    “What I ask you is whether your new empire could be part of Dahel, or if, if there is to only be one empire in obedience to the prophecy, you expect Dahel to become part of yours?”


    “Prince Hal replies ''That is a very good question, imperial majesty, and I would like to be able to answer it. At the moment, though, we have not yet formed any sort of wording or structure which would even be remotely acceptable to Tesk, and I do feel that gaining Tesk''s agreement is important, for a number of reasons. Perhaps we should instead ask what Dahel would offer us and its other independent neighbours?''”


    “That''s a bit of a rude thing to ask, isn''t it?” Naneela commented.


    “No, dear, it''s a sensible reply,” her father said, and replied. “Dahel offers nothing our rebellious neighbours trust us to give, and given the present problems with some in the army, I''m not convinced that I blame them. They would be on the outer periphery, and we would not offer them stability, for the outer periphery prefer flexibility. As they have had a long-standing good relationship with one another, the only neighbour they fear is Dahel. There are regular tit-for-tat incursions which keep the soldiers busy on both sides, but which serve no real purpose. I add that they are also are carefully orchestrated to do as little harm as possible. It has, somehow become almost a game. Almost, I say, but not entirely.”


    “Prince Hal curiously asks what Dahel''s intention is in continuing with this almost-game?” Hayeel''s voice came back.


    “There are disputed territories, the only good grazing land for a week''s journey, for instance, or an excellent position to launch an attack from. These were part of the principalities of Tunga before they joined Dahel. Their neighbours consider those portions that they moved into during that traumatic time as theirs, the spoils of bringing Tunga to it''s knees as an independent confederation. The citizens of the Tunga protectorate consider them theirs. Dahel controls those areas now, of course, but there are constant incursions.”


    “Hal asks, ''Which bring screams of outrage from the Tungan citizens?''”


    “Precisely. And demands for the tit-for-tat responses.”


    “Esmetherelda says, ''There are legal incompatibilities between Dahel and the Windward nations.''”


    “She is thinking of slavery?”


    “And forced marriage, which the Isles treat as slavery and Caneth would treat like a series of rapes over a long time.”


    “And what if the woman is in favour and the man against?” The emperor asked, curiously.


    There was a longer than normal pause before Hayeel''s voice came back on.


    “There was some discussion, Esme did not think it would really happen. But Hal spoke about the girl wanting the connection and the boy thinking her ugly, and I spoke of cases with among slaves. She agreed that it would certainly be a crime, and in any case forcing a marriage was already a separate crime, just the same punishment as multiple rape.”


    The Emperor said, “Yes, it is an evil, and Salay was horrified to hear that no one had asked your thoughts. Fortunately the assignment of people to such positions are rare. And parents do not normally ignore the signs of a girl approaching her wedding day with her hair still up.” There was another, longer, pause.


    “My friend wished me to ask why such an evil is permitted under the law. I pointed out that not showing respect to one''s parents and rulers is also an evil, and the debate continues.”


    “Who is winning so far?” Naneela asked.


    “Interpreter Saval thinks he will win, because he is resolutely saying nothing of his own opinions. The lady captain and Gathal believe they will lose.”


    “I think I can guess for the captain, but why Gathal?” Empress Hayeela asked. “I would have thought he was beyond embarrassment.”


    “Gathal has admitted that he was asking only where he was sure of a no, mother,” Salay said, “and has some matters to discuss with his mother if that can be arranged. But I now ask the Captain to speak.”


    “Majesty, I am prompted to make a request. If it might be possible for my father to visit the research centre, perhaps, I would like to speak to him. I assume my mother will not speak to me whatever is discovered.” Takeel said.


    “Captain, your parents will be investigated together, before their emperor,” empress Hayeela said. “Such possibilities should not be left to those who might have other loyalties, or have tongues that might wag. Certainly you may speak to them while they are here. We will want to tell you of the verdict in any case. It is evening with you, is it not?”


    “Yes, Majesty.” Takeel said.


    “Call back in the morning. What you wish to tell your father counts as good news?”


    “It is one of the things that Gathal wishes to discuss with his mother, majesty.”


    “It is too early to be certain, of course, Majesty,” Gathal added, “And we would like to hear of parental approval, but the Lady-Captain and I have discovered that we have things in common beyond missing Nulay, loving God, and struggling with Windwardese grammar.”


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    “Too early, Gathal? Do we hear caution?” Naneela asked “This from the man who was asking five girls a day to marry him not so long ago?”


    “I was deliberately asking in such an inappropriate manner that I collected many refusals, highness, to keep my promise to my prince. And I tried to pick those I was certain of, and who I hoped would not be insulted. A yes from any of them would have been most shocking to me.”


    “So those women you did not ask should not feel you considered them too ugly for marriage?” The empress asked.


    “Not at all, your majesty. It means only that I was not so sure of how they would respond, or I thought they might take my question more seriously than I wanted them to. I have admitted that I changed my mind about coming when I heard the captain and lieutenant would be making the journey.”


    “And my lieutenant has expressed her relief that Gathal is not seeking her company.” Takeel said, “But so far she is not admitting which of his highness'' companions her eyes are drawn to linger on, though she''s given a hint which narrows the field to two.”


    “Thank you for that update, captain. I trust neither you will allow your hopes to distract you from your duty.”


    “Hayeel has called the debate to an end now that those important messages have been sent, mother, father. The matter is obviously not settled. Clearly there are matters of interpretation and relative values, which makes me believe that it is more likely that a structure that does not impose a particular culture on the other will be acceptable.”


    “A structure that can cope with Tesk, Caneth, Dahel, Tunga and the outer kingdoms, without imposing a culture, able to exercise force but not ruling through fear.” The emperor said. “It would be good to invite the outer kingdoms into this discussion, would it not? Especially those kingdoms where only a queen may rule.”


    “My own comment is that it should indeed do all that, while also doing all it can to stamp out all traces of dum-semb within the power-structures of the world, imperial majesty,” Hayeel''s voice added, “Princess Esmetherelda agrees that we should invite others, and asks if academician Teng even spoke to their ambassadors, so they have some idea of what is happening, forgetting that I had told her that they did not have ambassadors.


    "And prince Hal suggests that rather than one ruling another, would it be better at the moment for rulers to discuss things and reach common accord, and could we call that a global system of rule, as the Tesk challenge speaks of, or do we simply follow Academician Teng''s suggestion and say, ''we''re talking, that''s as far as we got?''”


    “There are no ambassadors here,” Empress Hayeela said, “but there are known merchants from the outer kingdoms who relay messages. The academician spoke to two of them, but yes, more formal messages should be sent. And talking is certainly an important stage. As is allowing people time to be persuaded. And this is much better than writing letters and waiting three months for a reply, is it not?”


    “Very much better, your majesty,” Hayeel said. “And I will certainly be talking to Salay about persuasion. Prince Hal asks if it is the right time to agree to talk again, and send invitations to other nations to join in these talks. Getting some input from Tesk is easy, of course, but getting decisions will be harder.”


    “We will cause total shock, and invite the outer kingdoms to send ambassadors,” the emperor said. “Perhaps even persuade one of these brave traders to deliver the invitation by sea. Certainly we will hold discussions with representatives from Tesk. But can someone please explain their government to me again? How did it come about?”


    “Everyone is pointing at me, your majesty,” Hayeel said, “So I will try. Imagine, please, something like a committee, where the honourable chairman has sent a message that he is very sick, possibly dying, and the alternate chairman is on a long-planned fact-finding trip. The committee members are in factions and neither faction will allow the other faction to be the chairman. They decide rather than spending all the time arguing about who will be chairman to discuss other things, and try to get work done. With no chairman, there are needless arguments about who will speak next, or set the agenda, but somehow they get work done. As time goes on, this becomes normal. The chairman lingers on, but unable to actually attend meetings, and jobs get done by people who are agreed to by most of the committee. This is how the parliament of Tesk began. It started off as a committee for public works from the academy, arranging things like roads on the island, and it had the authority to collect some payment from islanders. After the windward emperors were killed, the nobles had no desire to choose a new single authority, and the committee was the closest thing to an island-wide structure. The different members each represented a different part of the island, and with the emperor gone the nobles started off trying to choose someone who would represent the district well, but some asked all the minor land-holders to elect one of their number, because they valued an alternative viewpoint and didn''t want to choose one friend over another. The aliens came and said, ''yes, we recognise this pattern of government, it''s not particularly good at long term planning and there are risks of corruption, for instance, and it works best if there''s someone in charge of the parliament, but it''s a lot more stable than a dictatorship.


    "It''s also good if there''s another set of people that checks the laws of the first one to make sure that everything has been thought of. And so, when there started to be women with the gift of Tesk, the laws of the Island were changed to make them form the high council with that role, checking that the laws didn''t hurt people in unexpected ways.”


    “And the chairman of this council really became sick?” Naneela asked.


    “So I learned when I was on Tesk, yes, highness.” Hayeel said, “The fact that the alternate chairman found was that if you go far enough past Dahel you really do get back to the Windward Isles, but it takes more than half a year. When he got back no one wanted him to take over as chairman. He then left to try to sail due north from northern coast of Caneth, and was never heard of again on Tesk, except there are rumours he fell in love with a woman up there while waiting for spring and never actually left port.”


    “Maybe he saw one of the sea-monsters up there and decided that staying put and raising a family was much safer,” the empress suggested. “But what you are saying is that it was circumstances that led to Tesk''s government, not a philosophy of government.”


    “Esmetherelda says, there was a deep-seated fear that a new king would mean the return of the Windward Empire and the doom-guard. When Tesk voted to join the kingdom of the Isles, after the aliens left, a key part of the decision was that the king would live simply, with one wife, and be based at Captita, and only visit Tesk occasionally. She adds, ''When Hal and I suggested that our new joint rule might be based in Tesk it became clear that those fears are still present.''”


    “Ah,” the Emperor said “So, Tesk will be happier to accept distant rule than local?”


    “Prince Hal says, Tesk will be happier to accept a ruler who visits and listens rather than one who stays and commands, but it would prefer a committee rather than an individual.”


    “I would suggest that we talk again next week and we invite Tesk to join this committee of nations,” Naneela said, “And if Esmetherelda can promote Hayeel from ambassador''s wife to ambassador, I will suggest that father and mother might do the same and convince one or two of our traders'' wives to represent their countries.”


    “Are you thinking of someone in particular, Naneela?” Her father asked.


    “I cannot remember their names, father, or even which countries, but I remember half a year ago, two traders from countries with queens came with their wives, and it was plain to me that the wives were far better informed of their queens'' views than their husbands.”


    “Ah! Yes. Our neighbours Kunga and Azunga who love to shock us with bold policy changes.


    "Excellent idea, Naneela, let us shock their queens by accepting their respective daughter and sister as ambassadors. Hayeela, could you invite them?”


    “Certainly my husband. And I suggest the lady-trader from Kanuga too? Another ruling queen, and although she is not a relative, she''s certainly the one her queen confides in, not her body-guard.”


    “And the Kanugans are still here?” the emperor asked.


    “I have heard so,” his wife replied.


    “Excellent!” Pressing the transmit button once more, he said in passable Windwardese, “My apologies crown-princess Esmetherelda, we will surprise our neighbours and you will not have the first ambassador to Dahel.” Switching to Dahelese he finished, “Now we must spring our surprises on three unsuspecting traders and send for the baron and baroness. Powering off.”


    “I hope there are no unfriendly ears listening in, father,” Salay said.


    “They will hear that there will be a new social category in the central region soon enough, anyway.” The emperor said.


    <hr>


    </a>Caneth, the embassy


    Hayeel translated for Salay, “In the palace complex there is a courtyard called the court of the knife, so-named because there an alien became rather upset about something the then-emperor said, and stuck her knife into the barrel of a cannon. It rather surprised my forefather. It was the first time he had ever failed to persuade anyone of anything when he wanted to. The nobles of Tesk can say one thing and sensitive people hear another. We have something similar, but with emotions. It is a dangerous ability for a king in terms of getting honest advice, but very useful at times, of course. Would any of you like a demonstration?”


    “I would,” Hal said.


    “Are you absolutely sure? It is dangerous. You will find yourself thinking differently.”


    “Yes. I''m sure.”


    “You should be a bit scared of people push feelings on you, prince Hal.”


    “Urm yes, OK, I was silly, wasn''t I?”


    “You were curious. Now you''re a bit scared of people pushing feelings on you. It''s a dangerous thing to demonstrate, as I say. If I push too much fear on you then you''d never come near me again. If I impose the thought that you can trust me, then what sort of an abuse of trust would that be? You can understand why it is a secret, and why few people see the emperor.”


    “It doesn''t wear off?” Hayeel asked.


    “Hal will remember this time, when he asked for a demonstration, and the sudden wave of concern he felt, overriding his curiosity. And he might not even believe me that that was my demonstration, and not his own thought processes.”


    “You mean you could convince someone of anything?” Esme asked “Probably not. Deeply held, re-enforced thoughts are more resistant. But attitudes to a new suggestion, feelings about a new experience? There is not much resistance.”


    “First impressions count.” Esme said, nodding. “And if someone is debating something already...”


    “A little emotion can push them over the edge. My ancestor was used to convincing his people that they served a god, he was used making them think that his slightest whim must be obeyed. He didn''t even need to give orders, most of the time.


    "So when he told the aliens they wanted to give him their cutting tool, he was really surprised that he did not get that, but he did get the knife, and he and his descendents have preserved the knife. It is one of our greatest treasures — the reminder that imperial will, even backed up by military might, can be thwarted by strong principles.”


    “I still think it''s a scary ability.” Hal said. “And I imagine it is quite a challenge for child-rearing.”


    “Fortunately it does not develop in the very young.” Salay said with a half-smile, “Naneela and I used to have sort of competitions of who could convince the other of the most unlikely but useful things. Father was furious when he heard about it. But before then I convinced her that studying physics was incredibly useful and not that hard. I suppose I could claim that as my contribution to the development of this radio.”


    “What did she convince you of?” Hayeel asked.


    “That I''d be disobeying God if I didn''t pay attention to the prophecy, and that I''d be very glad in the long run. She didn''t manage to convince me that I liked eating vegetables. But she did convince me that she''d start collecting any I left and one day I''d find them going mouldy in my pillow.”


    “Did it work?” Hayeel asked.


    “I found not eating my vegetables quite a scary thought afterwards. It helped of course that she was there at meal times saying things like ''You don''t want to leave any vegetables on your plate, do you?''”


    “Can you tell when someone is doing it to you?” Esme asked.


    “Yes, but I still feel the emotion.”


    “Try to convince me of something.” Hayeel said.


    “No.”


    “Why not?”


    “Because it''s not a thing to be played with.”


    “Something useful I mean.”


    “Like what?” he shot back.


    “That I don''t need to wear my modest servant outfits any more. That''d make Taheela happy.”


    “How would I convince you that? I send feelings, not logic. Do you want me to make you think your modest outfits are ugly? They''re not. Are they not fitting for someone in your position? Only if you stop being ambassador. Do you want to feel you must tempt me with your clothes? We''ve had that discussion, I think. There''s nothing I want to convince you of, Hayeel. I want your emotions unaffected by me.”


    “Did you notice him doing it Esme?” Hayeel asked. “He tried to make me think it was a silly thing to ask at the beginning, and that he never wanted to use it on me, even though he was using it on me.”


    “Yes. Thank you, Hayeel. It''s not very different to feeling Hal''s emotions through attunement.”


    “So now that we''ve finished playing, I''m going to stop pretending to be scared, now.” Hal said. “Interesting ability, prince Salay. I imagine it''s more effective against people who''ve never met attunement.”


    “Don''t be so disappointed, Salay.” Hayeel said. “We''ve just proved that Hal and Esme don''t need to run away from you, and that you don''t need to be too afraid of influencing me. Now, about attunement. Pay attention and see if you hear this thought.”


    “Let me guess, you want a kiss?”


    “Stop guessing and listen. You heard me thinking about my room earlier, I''m pretty sure.”


    “You don''t mind, Hayeel?” Esme asked, standing up.


    “Of course not, you know the way.”


    “Thank you,” Hal and Esme said together.


    “Swimming again?” Salay guessed.


    “I can hear your thoughts, Salay, you''re dismissing what you''re hearing from me and guessing instead.”


    “You''re not really suggesting that I persuade Malene not to keep things a secret, and Saval to express his misgivings?”


    “Excellent! I guess that means we''re attuning and you''ve got enough Tesk blood or native ability that that''s possible.”


    “So why do you want Saval to express his misgivings?”


    “Because they''re there, aren''t they Saval? And they''re interfering with your work.”


    “I apologise, duchess. Many things here are so strange. I hope it is just that I am tired and there is so much surprising here.”


    “You anticipate strangeness from our hosts, but I do not react as you expect me to.”


    “Correct, duchess.” Saval said.


    “And I am causing outrage again, by confronting you about them?” Hayeel asked.


    “You do not know?”


    “One part of your outrage was that I listened to your thoughts, and those of he who untied my hair. I am not listening to yours now. Salay finds it reassuring that I listen to his, and I rejoice that he begins to hear my thoughts. I also find it encouraging that we will have no secrets between us.


    Name the thing that most jars you sense of right and wrong, Saval.”


    “That you question me like this, duchess...”


    “Is appropriate for a future empress to a member of staff,” Malene said. “It would not be one staff member to another, except in a chain of command situation.”


    “By which Malene points out that I am allowed to question her,” Takeel said, grinning.


    “About matters that interfere with the performance of my duty or my fitness to serve, certainly captain.”


    “And on other matters, only as friend.” Hayeel concluded. “Saval, I feel I can question you for multiple reasons. One is that according to an ancient copy of empire law I found in the Caneth library, an ambassador in their country of assignment is responsible for instructing and correcting the behaviour of all employees of the state or royal they represent, even in the presence of that royal. The other is that I fully expect to marry Salay, and thus be the undoubted future empress, unless Salay decides to try and convince everyone that Naneela would be better on the throne. Lastly, I do normally hear thoughts, and I would much rather challenge mistaken thoughts sooner rather than later. If you remember, I lightly grilled Malene and Takeel when I first met them.”


    “I remember it feeling a bit warm.” Takeel said, “but now I think it might have been a bid for friendship rather than a roasting.”


    “Thank you for saying so, Takeel. Saval, will you name the reason we''re having this discussion?”


    “You have named it already, countess. Your behaviour. If I must spell it out..?”


    “Please do. Do I sin in the eyes of God? If so, please rebuke me.”


    “I would not name it sin, countess. But... some of the things you have done are not how an unmarried countess ought to behave. You are too blatant, too open.”


    “For the central zone?” Salay asked.


    “Yes, my prince.”


    “Saval, this is not the central zone. Hayeel has lived in the palace complex, which officially is part of central zone, but you know it is different.”


    “I never attended a ball or other social gathering in the central zone, I was never even informed I had any income from my teaching post. I never considered myself a noble, I considered myself a slave of the state fortunate enough to have been given an honourable position, and was very very careful not to offend, because unlike the descendents of nobility or wealthy merchants around me, I was an unmarried daughter of a slave whose mother had been sent back to the slave pens to die.


    "I taught, I ate with the students, I read, I slept, and when I had vacation time I visited my sister. That was my life in the central zone, excluding Wahleet, and I thought I had no choices, because I was too ignorant to know what to ask.


    "The real central zone was never really my home. I grew up in Wahleet, one band away from the port. Please try to judge me by those standards of normality, rather than those of the true central zone.”


    “I will try not to judge you so harshly, duchess Hayeel. I''m sorry.”


    “Adjustments to a new language and culture are hard, Saval. Emotionally hard. We cling to what we know and think it is the only way things should be. Now, I gave the princess-regent permission to swim in the pool with her new husband.


    "They do not have that luxury at the palace, and I imagine they would appreciate privacy. May I suggest that we have a time of studying scripture together?”