“I will give thee the missionaries, against thy word to support me on this throne.”
“Against whom?”
“Against all comers.”
“If I refuse, what then?”
“Jaimihr—who by this time must surely be thy very warmest friend!—shall attack thee unmolested. Pledge thy word—take thy missionary people—and Jaimihr must oppose thee and me combined.”
“Should Jaimihr ride after me, what then?”
“If he takes many with him, he must leave his camp unguarded, or only weakly guarded. Then I would act. If he goes with few, how can he take thy castle?”
“Then I have your protection against Jaimihr, and the missionaries, against my promise to support you on the throne?”
“My word on it.”
“And mine.”