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Updated: May 24, 2025
As far as I'm concerned, that part of Clan Vader's life-debt has been discharged." "I thank you for your generosity, James. I will have you returned to the Empire; perhaps they can heal you where we cannot." "No. My job's not done, and you still owe me one thing I have a duel to fight, as soon as you can arrange a meeting." "In your condition, I cannot permit that."
"I am Ryan, a warrior of Clan Vader and Warleader of this fleet. You place me in a difficult position, bearing a lightsaber you claim was a death-gift, and claiming further that Clan Vader still owes you life-debt. If either is true, I cannot honorably hold you prisoner but I have only your word and a lightsaber that could have been taken from a dead or captured warrior in this universe."
It couldn't be, was Ryan's automatic reaction. The debt had been incurred in a distant alternate, involving an enemy and a warrior who had, in this one, lived a long and adventurous life. On the other hand, a life-debt was sacrosanct, and the one owed it was entitled to repayment whenever and wherever that repayment was asked.
And for his already-uncertain plan to have any chance of success, he'd have to have more than belief; he'd need active cooperation from at least one of the two clan-chiefs who owed him life-debt. Which in turn depended, of course, on whether they'd consider that debt binding in a universe other than the one where it was incurred.
Ryan looked chagrined. "I never even thought of them I did a lot at first, when I added the chief, but I've gotten so used to them since that I no longer really notice the difference." "And you're not used to deception, so it's easy to understand how you'd miss that." Medart sobered. "But since you are clan-chief, I need to know whether the life-debt your clan owes me at home is valid here."
He unhooked the lightsaber from his belt, held it where the Sandeman could see. "I was bequeathed this by the warrior Leigh of Clan Vader, for giving him Last Gift. Both he and the warrior Keith, of Clan Lewies, named me as battle-companion for that service, and I have never claimed the life-debt owed by either clan." "You know things you should not, Prince James," the Sandeman said.
That will bring an immediate truce, which will last until after the duel. And the duel cannot be fought until Clan Vader has finished discharging its life-debt, now that we've begun." "How do I do that?" "Since you're leaving the choice of opponent to us, you inform a Warleader or clan-chief. You've already told me, and I'm willing to pass it along as a formal challenge if you want me to."
"Do you claim life-debt now?" "No." Medart grinned. "I would if I thought it were necessary, but the Sandemans I know would be curious enough to invite me to their ships, or to Sandeman itself, to talk about it." "You wish to surrender?" "Not hardly but I will, if that's what it takes to get a chance to talk to you." "I will have to consult the Warleader on that, Prince.
"As clan-chief of Vader, I judge the similarity between the Clans Vader in the two universes to be sufficient that we are liable for the life-debt. What repayment do you require, James?" Medart sighed, letting his relief show. "I want you or someone you choose to teach me Sandeman magic, clan-chief.
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