Vorgens recognized Merdon among the Shinarians. The young rebel was going over a long list with Okatar while the others at the table listened in silence. For several minutes, Vorgens and his six guards stood in the middle of the tent, while Okatar carefully ignored them.
Finally he put the list down on the table and turned to face Vorgens.
“I am Okatar Kang,” he said, in standard Terran, “and you are the Terran prisoner who tried to escape last night. Prisoners who spurn our hospitality are traditionally executed. Therefore …”
“Before you go any farther . . .” Vorgens began.
“Silence!” roared one of the Komani nobles.
Okatar glanced at the roarer, then returned to Vorgens. “Pleas for mercy will not avail you.”
“I am not pleading for mercy,” Vorgens said, “and I did not try to escape from your camp last night. If I had wanted to escape, I could have done so easily with my two fellow prisoners.”
“You aided their escape,” said another Komani noble, “so the death penalty still holds.”
Sittas interrupted. “He is not a true Terran,” the old priest said, walking up from the doorway toward the table, “and has never been in contact with the Komani before. Your customs and laws are probably strange to him …”
Vorgens disagreed. “I am familiar with your customs. 1 helped the two Terrans escape because I knew they would be put to death ultimately by you. Which of you would have done less for his own men?”
Okatar gave a grunt of grudging approval. “And why did you not escape with them?”
“Because I have come to this planet to see you, Okatar. I have been sent by the Star Watch to offer you peace.”