Iron Men and Silk Men

The Gar return the empires' condescension in kind, and do it in two words.

They name the Arkeni the Iron Men — for the ore-stink of their armour, their chained sun, and the fact that everything they bring is hard. And they name the Teshari the Silk Men — for the cloth, the soft voices, and the contracts that go on long after the visit ends.

The valley is not sure which is worse, and says so: the Iron Men take what they want and go; the Silk Men leave something behind, and you are still paying for it.