Jethri fiddled with the feed on the audio board, but only succeeded in lowering the old man's voice. Sighing, he upped the gain again, squinting in protest of the scratchy, uneven sound. "Liaden honor is--active. Insult--any insult--is punished. Immediately. An individual's name is his most important possession and he will kill to preserve its integrity. Think twice before trading with--" "Jethri?" Uncle Paitor's voice broke across the tape's recitation. Jethri sighed and thumbed 'pause.' "Yessir," he said, turning his head toward the intercom grid set in the wall. "Come on down to the trade room, will you? We need to talk over a couple things." Jethri slipped the remote out of his ear. His uncle was Senior Trader on Gobelyn's Market and Jethri was Senior Apprentice. Actually, he was the only apprentice trader, his sibs and cousins being well above him in years and rank, but the ladder was immutable. "Yessir," he said again. Two quick fingertaps marked his place in the old notes file. He left the common room at a brisk walk, his thoughts half on honor.
