Lentan regarded all the Slayers as they came forward, telling him of their curse and their desire.  When Baz stepped even closer, he looked down at the short rat and smiled - not amused at Baz's height, but happy for his friendship.  He went down on a knee to draw even with Baz's height and took the rat's hand in his, shaking it firmly.<br/><br/>"I'm glad I finally found out about you," he said warmly, rising and shaking Jania and Sara's hands.  Then he stood back and said, "People like you shouldn't have to die to regain your honor."<br/><br/>Then he turned and witnessed Chiro drawn up to his full height, spreading his wings and asking him a question he had not expected to answer that day.  He paused for a moment, taking in the beauty of Chiro's scaled form, before he looked straight into his eyes and answered.<br/><br/>"Nobody has the right to kill anyone," he said evenly.  "But everyone has the right to their freedom.  Anyone who dies at my hand or at the hands of the Resistance is a victim, but I have given explicit orders that only the oppressors of humanity are to be attacked.  If anyone has forfeited their right to life, it is those who would oppress and torment their fellow beings."  He paused, thinking of how to finish, then said, "I have done the best I can to ensure that loss of innocent life is minimized.  But there will always be deaths among the innocent.  I accept their deaths as my responsiblity."<br/><br/>He didn't want to dwell on that thought, so he turned and looked around.  "What gives any of us the right to fight, kill, and die for our freedom?  Nothing but the right to our freedom.  You can't gain freedom by buying it, or stealing it, or asking for it."  He paused and thought of Karogen.  "And speaking of freedom, we have two people that need liberating from Lady Alhanda's fortress.  Anyone willing to take the job?"