Lloyd took the point of the lance into one of his hands and nonchalantly moved it away from his throat, then cleared it before he spoke. "We are from Besten. We have permission to pass through your beautiful city!" he said. "We know nothing of such a thing!" yelled the main guard, then ordered. "Follow!" "They are 'Mas'?" Boyce guessed. "Yes!" confirmed Lloyd, as the guards took their supplies from them. "No speaking till you are given permission!" ordered the guard. The two men began to follow the lead guard but were stopped momentarily by another one who ripped the belt case from around Boyce's waist. They were escorted to the palace of the Sedash ruler, Mas-Trephor. Under a strict watch, they were forced to sit for several hours. That was to be their wait for an audience with the great ruler of Sedara. During the lengthy wait to see Trephor, there was a Dam that brought to them some food and drink. The guards refused to let her through at first, but then as if they had no choice, allowed her entry to see the two men. She served each one individually but said nothing to them. The men glanced at one another when she handed them some goblets of drink. "Don't drink it, yet!" Lloyd whispered. He took Boyce's goblet and took a sip from it, then soon after took a gulp from his own. "Can't be too cautious!" Boyce whispered back at him and the Dam hermaphrodite smiled. "I assure you both that the drinks and the food are quite safe. If you do not believe me let me drink." Lloyd examined his server. From the slight form he guessed sixteen years of age, and from the look of those bright green eyes, he soon nodded to Boyce that he could drink. "I am Dam Lehnar. I am the Dam offspring of Mas-Trephor." She bowed her head to the men and Lloyd introduced himself and his friend. He told her that they hailed from Besten, but didn't burden her with much more. The response excited her because she had heard many interesting stories about that fantastic city and it was always her wish to one day attend the Blaisaman there. "My apologies for your detention. I will go now to Trephor and ask that your petition be expedited." "It would be our greatest appreciation if you did so, Dam-Lehnar." Boyce kindly smiled at her. She smiled back at him then turned and hurried down the long hallway adjacent to the room in which they were being kept. In a very short order a page entered the room and summoned the two men to appear before Mas Trephor. Lloyd was beginning to realise why these people were behaving unlike the reports of their non-hostile ways. They had arrived in Sedara at the time of the month when the major part of the population was in their phase of inconceivability; as relative to their menstrual cycles. It was during this week-long period of time that was usually set aside for public exhibitions. Prisoners and slaves were violently beaten and raped, and even killed during those festival days. These violations became