I followed him through another door and down a short hallway. We stopped at yet another door—some dark, dynamically grained wood this time—and paused. He turned back to me, gave me one last once-over—his frown telling me he didn't like what he saw any better this time—and started in on a protocol lecture. "The Ali'i will acknowledge you," he said. "Until that point you will stand with your eyes averted. You will not speak unless addressed, and then you will limit yourself to answers to the Ali'i 's questions. You will not—"