Styx took the cake and invited her inside, but Seshat hesitated to take the step that would bring her into Hate's home. Because of the way Styx's question had been phrased, and because Seshat knew what a promise would mean to this goddess, she needed a moment to consider her answer.
"No," she said reluctantly a moment later. "I cannot promise to keep the rude questions and comments to an utmost minimum. There is no definition of the parameters associated with the term 'utmost minimum' in that statement, and I worry that your perception of what they would be and mine would likely clash. Without a clear delineation, there is no way that I could honestly say that I would be able to keep that promise. Additionally, I believe that what you may find rude, I would think of as no more than curiosity. Again, that is a nebulous concept, open to too much interpretation from both parties. I cannot make you a promise when I believe there is a high percentage of failure given the problematic wording."
Giving Styx a level look, she concluded, "I do not want to be so disrespectful as to offer the goddess of oaths a pledge that I am uncertain I can keep. All I can do is offer to try my best to keep my curiosity from running away with me and assure that I mean no offense. If that is unacceptable, I will understand and go."
This was not going as well as had been indicated in her books. Perhaps she needed to find some other authors.