"It is a civilized custom, to take Sundays off; but the Queen has seen fit to try Valia Wain today, and the country will contemplate abolition tomorrow, and it is also a civilized custom to in urgent times respond with urgency. You will all get a day off midweek, in compensation for working without breaks this week-end.

I've reassigned Issa; she's departing for Chelam. I think there are a few matters important to clarify. Firstly, you represent me, and your conduct reflects on me. I expect you not to sleep with our guests. Issa asked me quite reasonably, if the guest is a Duke, what in the world is one supposed to do instead? It cannot be presumed safe to refuse him. The first answer I want to give you is that I do consider it my responsibility not to have anyone here in this manor who it is not safe to refuse. If I am obliged to invite the Duke of Gandia again he will have a chaperone, to keep an eye on him and ensure he is inspired only to idiocies that do not endanger my people.

The second answer I want to give you is that if you refuse a man something he had no right to ask of you, and he assaults you, I will support you, and I will complain to his lord, and I predict I'll find his lord sympathetic. The Archduke Shawil is of Osirion, where it would be a grave offense for a man to wander into a woman's room even if no more came of it; he would owe her restitution the minute he opened the door. The Archduke Xavier is of Molthune, which always regarded itself as Cheliax in exile and I have found him to share my sensibilities in these matters; if I went to him with a servant injured by a lord sworn to him I believe the lord would regret it, one way or another. The Archduke Blanxart is a man of old Cheliax too. The Archduke Narikopolus has been diligent in rooting out the Evil among his men, and would be glad to know of any more of it. 

And the Archduchess would probably find little a more valuable political gift than a senseless and reckless offense committed by some stupid lord sworn to her, a chance to demonstrate for ever to the people of Kintargo that she does believe the law applies to everyone.

But if you want me to advocate for you to any of these people, I must be able to tell them that you behaved honorably, and were the victims of a crime. So here is what you are supposed to do instead, if a Duke solicits you. You are supposed to tell him that the Duchess you serve forbids this, and that Iomedae forbids this, and that you cannot disobey them. You are supposed to attempt to flee, or attempt to fight, or scream, or if you are too frightened to do any of that at least cry out for the Good gods to change this man's mind and free you from him. If you do that, I will in your defense demand of the most powerful men in this land that he suffer for his crime. But I cannot do that if he did not commit a crime.

Some of you are wondering, what would you gain by angering a powerful man, even if I can and will protect you from him, even if the outrage is avenged. Some of you are wondering if it could possibly be worth the risks. I am not sure I can explain it to you. It is one of the things that has been terribly eroded, in this country, in Asmodeus's rule. But it is how it works in every Good country. You say 'no'. You separate the rapists from the drunken but well-meaning. And then you hang the rapists. And in those countries the men who are not rapists know that only by honorable conduct and diligence will they win a wife, and that the wives are worth having, and so they are honorable and diligent; and the women know that they can have a worthy man, and disdain the unworthy ones. I am not sure it is the kind of thing you can build in pieces. But on my staff I do expect honor of all of you, even if the world does not expect it. Marry, if you meet someone worth marrying, and otherwise be chaste and virtuous, like Iomedae, even if the only reward for it is in the world to come. Are there any questions."