a sentry not only displays his blaster but also slaps his boots with his tail;
a gardener folds arms and bends;
Brechdan touches his forehead to both clients, as he would not do to slaves;
he salutes the sun, as is his hereditary right (Terrans can do that whenever they want);
his bailiff is an Ynvory so they exchange kin-salutes, right hand to left shoulder;
Brechdan will hear his client folk at his morning audience;
wives (plural) should be thrifty, trustworthy and cultivated;
the gardener goes beyond required ceremonial by kneeling and embracing the approaching Heir's tail;
Hand and Heir set the guard an example by first discussing matters affecting the race (pompous asses, if you ask me);
an Ynvory does not send personnel into danger but stay behind without higher duty.
Plenty of respect but mainly for fellow Merseians and, even then, not as equals. The race divides into kin, females, clients and slaves.
3 comments:
Hi, Paul!
The discussio the Hand and his Heir before the Merseian sentry might have seemed pompous to you, but I would consider it an example of how Poul Anderson was skillfully building up the background of ENSIGN FLANDRY. Also, the Heir was angry because he thought the Merseian mission on Starkad was understaffed and underequipped (not being aware, of course, that Brechdan planned to gradually build it up). The Heir even thought the Grand Council would make a shabby, "dishonorable" deal with the Empire.
Pompous? Maybe, but the discussion made sense to me!
Sean
Sean,
Yes, the content of their discussion made sense. I thought that the idea of setting the guard an example was pompous.
Paul.
Hi, Paul!
I can see that, yes. Even tho Brechdan thought it was important to stress the Wilwidh concept of "honor."
Sean
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