The Alembic Plot Part 37

And that's without using any of his powers--if he does use them, he could make it last for . . . years, maybe, knowing you'd be free of him as soon as you died."

"True, but years is still better than forever. And if playing with us keeps his attention away from civs . . . well, that's why we all joined the Service, isn't it?"

"Yes--though I doubt any of us thought, then, that it was Shayan himself we'd be diverting. I know I didn't."

"Not directly, no," Odeon agreed. "But some of the ones under his influence aren't much of an improvement." He paused, changed the subject. "You did a nice job with the Communion of Promise."

"Thanks." Cortin tested the water temperature in the vestry's small sink, then began washing blood off her arms. The wounds on her wrists were as painless as she'd been promised, and looked freshly healed, though she was certain they'd be open again every time she said Ma.s.s.

"Word of these and the Communion of Promise should reach Rome in three or four hours, which means Pope Lucius will guess--or know--I'm the Herald. He'll have to take some sort of action, even if it's not a direct physical a.s.sault." She turned to Odeon, her expression grim.

"Much as I don't want it to, Mike, I'm afraid this is going to tear the Church apart."

"So did the Great Revival, back in the 1500s," Odeon said. "It came out of that stronger and healthier than ever--it'll do the same this time, if the Protector wins."

"And if not, Shayan destroys humanity, at least in the Kingdoms."

Being acknowledged as the Protector's Herald--even "in part," whatever that meant; she still wasn't sure she wanted to know--was a relief, Cortin decided. At least also "in part", since she hadn't wanted that kind of responsibility and wasn't at all sure she was up to it--but if nothing else, it did explain why so many things had happened to her so fast. She'd do her best to live up to the position she'd been given, whatever her doubts; as Mike had said, G.o.d would test you to the absolute limits of your endurance, but not beyond them.

And she had help. Not only the Sealed ones, but civilians, which had been proven over the last week of getting ready for the Bains, especially the children. She'd expected help from the team and servants; it had astonished her to have the ladies from the New Eden joyhouse show up, several with children, to make the third floor--to quote Madame Bernadette--"a proper place to raise healthy, happy children."

Since the children who'd come along were obviously both, Cortin wasn't at all reluctant to defer to someone who clearly knew what she was doing. While they worked, Cortin got to know several of the ladies, discovering that their enthusiasm for the new family structure shouldn't have surprised her; in spite of the fact they were paid for s.e.x, what they had was more like a Family than she would have thought possible. Most of the men were regulars, and it was common for them to visit for other than the obvious reason--mostly to play with the children. Many contributed to their support, some quite generously.

And it wasn't unusual for working wives to board their children at the New Eden during the day. After all, as one of the ladies pointed out, where else would they get more adult supervision? Or, with so many Enforcement troopers as clients and supporters, better protection?

Cortin had to agree. She still hadn't been able to work out a way to provide for unmarried women who wanted--or had--children; the Families were almost certain to face enough popular resistance without their main proponent advocating the legitimizing of prost.i.tution as well. In spite of that, she had to agree there was considerable validity to the ladies' arguments that they performed a public service and should have the same sort of dispensation Enforcement did. Before the satyr virus'

appearance, she might not have thought that way; since it was a fact, it had to be considered, and there were times people would be away from even a large Family. Something would have to be done to accommodate them, male and female both. That would have to wait, though; establishing the Families had to come first.

In the meantime, she extended a standing invitation to the New Eden ladies: they would be welcome at Harmony Lodge, with or without their children, whenever they cared to visit. Prost.i.tutes were becoming more respectable; having the High King's Inquisitor/Protector's Herald welcome them shouldn't hurt the process.

Despite the help, though, she was keyed up when the Family gathered in the downstairs ballroom after Ma.s.s to wait for the Bains' arrival.

There was no reason for her apprehension, she kept telling herself; she'd never had any trouble making friends with children or animals, and Betty had been married to an Inquisitor's brother; she wouldn't be afraid of one, and the children were too young to have any real idea what an Inquisitor was. Her position as Herald wasn't anything to frighten them, either, and word of her stigmata had hit the news hours after they'd appeared; even those wouldn't come as a surprise. So what in the Protector's Name did she have to be worried about?

Certainly not the Bains' reactions, she discovered as soon as they came into the room and Dave started introducing them around. The two she'd sent to help had obviously given them a thorough briefing; they fit in as if they'd been part of the group for months, leaving Cortin with no doubt that Betty'd be marrying in fairly soon.

She was the last to be introduced, and she saw concern on the two men's faces as they approached. Bain made the introductions, then said, "We heard what's started happening to you at Ma.s.s. Does it . . . Are you all right?"

"It's painless, and I'm fine. Once I get cleaned up, anyway. What about you?"

Pritchett looked at his gloved hands, then at hers. "No pain--but what do they mean?"

Cortin explained as she had to the others earlier, then went on to tell them the rest of her vision, pleased to see their expressions go from worry to satisfaction.

"What about the others?" Pritchett asked.

"Brad and Ivan yes, Edward and Ursula I don't know; I haven't seen them since."

"Doesn't seem right, somehow, to keep them covered," Pritchett said slowly. "Now I know what they mean, I think they should be seen."

Cortin looked at him in momentary puzzlement, then shook her head ruefully and removed her gloves, tucking them in the back of her belt.

"You're absolutely right, Tiny--with the meaning changed, they should be. I suppose wearing gloves has gotten to be so much of a habit it simply never occurred to me not to."

The older boy tugged on her sleeve. "Can I see, Gramma Joan?"

Cortin knelt, extending her hands to the three children. "Of course, Luke--and Kateri, and George. G.o.d willing, you'll have them yourselves some day."

"Pretty," Kateri stated unequivocally. "Want now."

"Sorry, sweetheart," Cortin said. "You can't have them till you're older--but I can offer you some milk and gingerbread our cook made special for you."

"Okay." With that, the three hurried unerringly toward the refreshment table and Cortin rose, chuckling.

"I apologize for their rudeness, Excellency," Betty said. "I am teaching them better manners than that--I'm afraid the trip and the excitement have taken their toll."

"I understand perfectly," Cortin said. "Despite what some people say, I was a child myself once. And Dave should have told you: in private, I'm Joan."

"He did--but I wasn't sure." Betty hesitated. "He and Tiny have told me so much about you and the team that I feel I've known you all for years. I don't know how to thank you for inviting us into your home, though. Or wanting us to be part of your family."

"No thanks necessary." Cortin gestured at the children, who were eagerly devouring milk and gingerbread. "They, and the child Sis is carrying, are the reason for families--or Families." She smiled. "I think I'm going to like being Gramma Joan. I gather you intend to accept their proposal, then."

"Yes--though I'm not at all sure about taking part in group s.e.x."

Cortin raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to if you don't want to; Dave must have told you that. And who knows, you may get to like it."

"From Dave and Tiny's descriptions, I may; I'll try, at least."

"I think that's my cue," Odeon said. He bowed to Betty, extending his hands. "Elizabeth, would you do us the great honor of becoming our wife?"

"I would be delighted." Betty took his hands and kissed him, repeated the gesture with the rest of her spouses-to-be. "When?"

"That," Odeon said firmly, "is the bride's prerogative. Privately, at least; publicly, not for at least ten days."

"As soon as possible, then, once the children finish." Betty looked around, defensively. "Pete taught me never to put off anything important, and this is."

"He was absolutely right," Odeon agreed. A trooper's life was too risky to procrastinate; if you did, you were like as not to get killed before you did what you'd been putting off. That didn't mean rushing into things--but once you thought something through and made your decision, you did it--even if the decision was to wait. "We've all had the same training," he told her. "When the children are done, then."

Betty smiled at him. "Thanks--civilians think I'm being impatient, or even impetuous, when it's not that at all."

The children were upset at first about not being allowed on the "grown-up" floor except for meals, but got over that quickly when they were shown their floor. And Betty was pleased with her room, though she said it would take her a while to get used to the luxury. And to the servants, and living next door to the Palace, and-- "Well, right now I'm just overwhelmed. Even though Dave and Tiny described it all, that's nothing like actually seeing it." She gestured, taking in the common-room where they'd finally settled.

"You'll get used to it," Cortin a.s.sured her, smiling. "The only part of Harmony Lodge that isn't luxurious is the dungeon level, but you won't be going there. And you'll get used to high-ranking visitors, too--though aside from Dave's and my colleagues from the Center, and the rest of the Sealed ones, we haven't had many guests."

"That may change now--" Odeon frowned. "Dave. Betty called Joan 'Excellency'--didn't you tell her about the promotion?"

"No--I was afraid I'd scare her off." Bain turned to their new wife.

"Joanie's still Her Excellency the High King's Inquisitor, and you know about her being the Protector's Herald--well, she's also Archd.u.c.h.ess of High Teton, what used to be the Northwest Territories." He went on to explain what had happened the morning he and Pritchett had left to pick her up.

"'Dukida Elizabeth'," Betty said slowly. "You wouldn't have scared me off, Dave, it's too good for the children--but if I'm one of those who can be Sealed this early, I think we'd better take care of that, too.