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sir,” Jack said. He handed over his P90 to one of the guards, who took it gingerly like he wasn’t used to firearms and laid it down on a wool blanket spread out on the courtyard stones. Carter and Daniel handed over theirs as well, and after a moment’s hesitation Teal’c surrendered his staff weapon.
    That seemed to satisfy the guards, and as they didn’t ask about pistols, zats, or knives, Jack felt fine about not mentioning them either. Probably if they ended up drawing weapons in the presence of the High King, they’d be in trouble, but if it came to that it would be because things were already going badly wrong.
    Walat led Hammond forward at a slow, ceremonial pace, and Jack and the rest of the team trailed him, trying to look like a kingly entourage. They stopped a respectful distance from the High King, and Walat spread his hands as if in entreaty.
    â€œGreat King, Bull of Saday, Protector of the People,” Walat began, addressing the High King in resounding tones clearly intended to carry to the surrounding crowd. “You who bring forth the seed and bring forth the harvest, master of the winds and of the high places, lord of the thunder…” Jack settled into a comfortable stance and resigned himself to this being a long ceremony. Teal’c was clearly doing the same, although Daniel was listening with what looked like actual interest.
    Carter was looking up instead. Jack followed her gaze to see one of the bigger airships hovering some distance above the mountainside, its crimson banners billowing like sails. Steam puffed white into the air behind it, and he could see the flash of moving brass from its propellers and gears. She was shaking her head, and he could see her itching to talk through whatever she was thinking.
    He kicked the side of her foot with his instead, just hard enough to get her attention, and she lowered her gaze reluctantly and made a creditable if unconvincing attempt to look like she was paying attention. Walat had thankfully finished listing the High King’s titles and was now introducing the Great General George Hammond of the United States of the Tau’ri, although he looked like he would have been happier if they’d thrown in some extra ceremonial titles. Jack made a mental note to suggest ‘guardian of the orifice’ for next time.
    â€œWe are honored that you have chosen to trade with us,” the High King broke in finally, which Jack suspected was about a hundred words fewer than Walat would have used to say the same thing. “Please allow us to present you with this small gift as a sample of our wares.” He gestured to one of the attendants standing about nearby, who unwrapped a bundle containing a couple of pieces of flat metal. They didn’t look like much to Jack, but he could see Daniel practically quivering with the desire to get a better view.
    â€œThank you,” Hammond said. “We’re honored as well.” He nodded to Daniel, who came forward to take the tablets as the attendant handed them over. He did so reverently, peering down at them and tilting them so that they better caught the light. They flashed in the sun, and Jack glanced away from their glare, wishing he’d made a case for sunglasses as appropriate ceremonial garb.
    He heard the murmur of the crowd change, growing louder, and for a moment Jack thought it was just appreciation for the moment, a bunch of people saying will you look at that , until he caught the note of alarm. Teal’c looked sharply toward Jack, clearly hearing the same thing. He’d have had plenty of experience with upset crowds.
    Jack glanced up at the terrace above, but couldn’t see anything other than people milling around more restlessly than seemed appropriate to the occasion. Carter had her eyes determinedly forward. Teal’c was already turning to look behind them, and after a moment Jack gave up on protocol and did the same.
    In multiple