had, in this one, lived a long and adventurous life.

On the other hand, a life-debt was sacrosanct, and the one owed it was
entitled to repayment whenever and wherever that repayment was asked.
The crucial question, then, was whether a change in universes by the
one owed it voided that obligation.

Ryan studied the Prince's carefully-impassive expression. The
personalities involved should have no bearing on his judgement as the
Vader in a matter of honor, but the human's courage and integrity had
earned his respect; it would be difficult to ignore those, though he
would have to try.

Restrict himself to the basic facts, then. James had done a warrior of
Clan Vader the ultimate service, sparing him the horrors of death in
need. That meant the clan owed him a comparable service. James was the
person owed, no question about that. Was this universe's Clan Vader
close enough to his universe's to be considered obligated, then?

The warrior Leigh had lived at the proper time, and Wylie had been
clan-chief then. Those were indicators that it was, but he'd like
more. "May I see your saber?" he asked, using High War Speech.

"Yes," Medart said in the same language, handing it over. "I've added
the improved power pack, but otherwise it's the same one I was given."

So he did know the warrior caste's language, another point of
similarity in his favor. Ryan examined the saber, checking for the
small traces of workmanship that distinguished Vader-made lightsabers
from those of other clans. They were there, including Leigh's engraved
signature inside the powerpack cover. That made four points--five, if
he counted the signature as extra verification of the saber's
provenance.

Since the Prince had no other physical evidence, and couldn't be
expected to know the clan as well as one of its members--wait, there
was one more detail. "Did you recognize the complete arms, or just the
chief?"

"The complete arms. They were a main clue to me, at home, of that part
of your culture. The clan name, combined with arms of a scarlet-bladed
light-saber, led me to study the Black Lord's part of the Saga. I'd
seen it as a child, of course, but as entertainment, not cultural
study."

"That's enough, then," Ryan decided. "As clan-chief of Vader, I judge
the similarity between the Clans Vader in the two universes to be
sufficient that we are liable for the life-debt. What repayment do you
require, James?"

Medart sighed, let