"I am not a saint," Al-Adil replied. "I have killed many men. The world of my youth was a much different place. If you say he is a good man, I will believe you."
"But it is you I have come to meet. It is good to see that you have others to help you here, but before we begin our discussion, I feel I must make myself clear. I have agreed to help you, and I will do so because I do not believe that humans should live in privation only because they choose to live freely. You have defied the Sanguine, but understand also that I cannot. I have given my oath to them, and I may not betray it. I will help you how I may. I will gladly bring you food, clothing, whatever supplies you might need from the city, but should you decide to make enemies of the Sanguine, there would be little I could do for you then. For all that, I do not believe that they have any interest in bringing you under their domination. If you leave them to their affairs, they will leave you to yours."
Al-Adil spoke seriously, but placidly, laying out facts that would not be altered. "Now that I have made my position clear, you may choose what requests to make of me, and what information you wish to give me... and what you wish to keep to yourself." He gave Mike time to absorb that, to sense the warning in his words and the consolation. Do not tell me what you do not wish them to know, and I will not ask beyond it.