Anad bowed his head, and B568-114 continued translating his thoughts to me, sounding happier and happier with each word.
"'Our village is already poor! With so many men dead or blind, we won't have enough hands to work our fields! If the law-makers rob us of our things for daring to ask their help, we will all starve! Please, help us, emperor of spirits…'" B568-114 paused and smiled at me victoriously. "Father, those thoughts were all true and desperate. This means that we already won!"
I shook my head, feeling a little bad for the poor villagers—just a little.
"A beast that convulses in agony can still kill many bees before it dies. But this is surely a great opportunity… Now tell him, B568-114, 'You ask for a lot of help, but suggest very little. If you want my patronage, then as payment, I accept nothing less than your eternal loyalty! Bow to me to the ground, and swear sincerely, and if you lie, death will claim you this instant.'"
