“The reforms of the Saviour Rules!” Akhgar says. Mart listens carefully although they were to hold on the idea until after the war.

“The Circle has asked me to talk to you about them. You are the main person against the reforms!” he continues. Mart knows what he wants to say. He doesn’t want the reforms to take place now, not according to the taste of Akhgar. He wants to postpone it to after their victory but Akhgar seems to be in a hurry for such changes. Maybe he is right; he has already waited too long, living by Hurmaz’s manners. If this is what worries Akhgar, perhaps Mart should rethink his attitude, play along to make them feel happier, and get his war order sooner. He lets Akhgar finish his words.

“How many bastard children do you have? I can’t even count mine! We can’t bring them all to the Saviour Ship and say they were outcast orphans of this fisher or that whore…” Akhgar continues. He believes the rule that prevents the disciples from getting married and have children is the most corrupting rule and it discourages people from wanting to join the Ship. On the other hand, the disciples are left without heirs. He wants Mart to think more thoroughly about all the coins, wealth and power that he is going to gain.

“What are we going to do with all that wealth? Would it not be more convenient and more reassuring if we could leave them behind for our children like the Oxan chiefs? Instead of giving them away to the Saviour treasury, spent on the free food for the pilgrims?” Akhgar asks. Mart agrees. It is what he wants too. But he only wants it for himself, not for the rest them that he is planning to get rid of very soon; they better owe their money to the Saviour treasury for now!

“I still believe such great changes could weaken us. We can’t change things like that overnight! People will be confused, not knowing which rules hold and which are omitted. It will be chaos! We should leave it for now and wait for the victory after the war. If we suffer many losses, we can more easily justify the new rule, saying that because we have lost many men the Saviour Ship encourages people to have more children, hence the change in the rules!” Mart justifies. But Akhgar seems more upset. He can’t argue with Mart’s logical reasons. Perhaps Mart shouldn’t show himself as the person who has all the answers. This smart and precise planning and thinking makes people scared. They might be right to be afraid. What Mart sees as his own vision of glory and victory is other people’s nightmare! His ideal future would mean the end for Akhgar and the Circle members. Akhgar looks down more worried than he was at the beginning of their conversation. Mart hopes he hasn’t spoken too much to make him feel despaired and less determined to give the war order. He looks down as well, trying not to say anything further. The sound of footsteps interrupts the heavy silence that has taken over the cabin.