JS stretched out a hand to take Eve's hand and said: "I'm listening." "The S'skash have proved unworthy of the covenant." From the Nowhere the voice verbalized. "They supplanted our majestic almightiness with their petty squabbles and mean minds. Jay Sea, thou spoke with the stars, thy ways speak keenness and sagacity. We will make a new covenant. This Naga is witness of the covenant with the Eartheners." "But you never learn!" Eve yelled. "The Eartheners will not give a better result! They are as foolish and greedy as the S'skash! It's Jay who's different!" There was a stony silence that made them shudder. JS squeezed Eve's hand and clipped his words: "You want to see action? then it's to me, the two of us, you promise a covenant, period!" "Thy life span is short." the ships' tart reply. "Also the first Naga's wasn't long." JS countered. "I commit myself to find Nagas and captains who'll conjure you from the Nowhere. Together, as equals, we will establish the rules. The new covenant will work between you and persons chosen for their value. The species of the captains or the Nagas doesn't matter, believe me! Take it or leave it." There was another long silence. Later Vickie told them that in the Nowhere the discussion lasted for eons, finally, the voice spoke: "We agree." then added: "We suggest you exploit the Nagas' privileges to free your fellow comrades." JS and Eve summoned the Shaurr notables. "It's a Naga's privilege to free condemned prisoners by touching them. If a person sentenced to death sees a Naga on his way to the scaffold, he is automatically pardoned." the notables said. "How could this serve you, sir?" "The high priest was negotiating with us, but now he has his hands tied." JS stated. "Indeed." they nodded. "Then I'll offer him an honorable way out." JS grinned. "As their liege, it's my right to escort the defendants to court. Our Naga has the right to attend the trial. The prisoners ask for clemency and the Naga will grant it by her privileges. No trial, the medico's diagnosis isn't questioned and the clergy see confirmed the Hallow Law. Then we'll leave Shishfirr." The plan was good, but the others looked puzzled and grim. "It's a good plan and will likely work," the Shaurr thanes objected, "but our dead won't be avenged. Blood calls for blood, my lord. A Jarl's honor calls for revenge. You should scorch their castles mercilessly!" "They butchered Mapaya, sir," O'Mailley growled grimly. "Are the Dark Ages contagious?" JS wondered. Eve stared at JS and felt him also beckoned by action, but reining in his demons. In a flash she knew what hell he could unleash. She felt herself frantic with rage, too. A muscle in JS's check twitched. It took both wills to keep their sang-froid. Eve eared herself saying: "Reasons of State have reasons that heart knows not of." "Let me try to bring them back home alive." JS said. He invited the clan's chaplain to the dungeons as his escort. He knew the prelate, divided between the clan and the order, would send a message to the High Priest. "I'm the clan's Jarl. I'm escorting my liegemen to court under the law." Calm, collected and resolute JS roared in the House of Lords daring them to naysay him. "If someone moves a single hair, the ship will turn the planet into a ball of fire." Full of impotent rage the Lords gave way. "Hey doc, JS is getting us out of this gaol!" Flotsam cried. "Do exactly what I tell you!" JS said. The square was packed with crowd. The atmosphere was jittery. Eve saw JS and the others push through the crowd. The abbess appeared from a balcony. The High Priest with his cortege made his entrance into the square. "Stick to the plan, Eve!" JS mind-said. Touching Lee and Flotsam, Eve exclaimed: "You are forgiven and free by the Naga's rights!" In the highly charged silence S-Sonny's voice raised high: "Hallow High Priest, do the S'skash rights apply to non-S'skash people or animals?" --- Thanks!