"Keltham's conditions were that we'd hear nothing back from Meritxell, and that if we demanded her back she'd return as a statue until ten years passed or he gave consent to un-statue her.  I pondered it for a time and finally refused him; I'd wondered if he would negotiate down, if it meant leaving Meritxell to Cheliax, but it seems not."

"Keltham's conditions were that we'd hear nothing back from Meritxell, and that if we demanded her back she'd return as a statue until ten years passed or he gave consent to un-statue her.  I pondered it for a time and finally refused him; I'd wondered if he would negotiate down, if the alternative was leaving Meritxell to Cheliax, but it seems not."