"Yet I must try," the old priest continued, "to teach you the difference between rightful pride and sinful, destructive arrogance. I must try to make you see that these Tellurians you profess to hate so...."
Here Telis' eyes sought the girl, but her expression told him nothing. He looked back at the High Superior.
"... that you profess to hate so are now Laurr's only chance for survival."
"Words," Telis said coldly.
The old man nodded slowly. "But true words. Words that can bring life instead of death. Better words than you will ever hear in that barbaric Maldia!" His old eyes seemed to bore through Telis now, stripping him bare of intellectual barriers and misunderstanding. "We could," the priest mused, "turn you over to our psychologists and let them drive the devils out of your mind...." He paused thoughtfully. "But no. That would not be the same. You, yourself, must come to understand. You must be allowed to learn of your mistaken ways without interference."
Telis frowned. "Abduction, then, is not interference."
"We regret the necessity. But the lack of time made it necessary. The attack on the camp had to be delayed and the Maldia chose to act almost too quickly," said the High Superior. "At least we have been able to cause a delay of that wanton act."
"Now or later," said Telis carelessly. "It will come."
"And with it death to those who offer us redemption and life?"
"Redemption?" asked Telis hotly, his eyes full on the girl. "Slavery!"