by Ann Wilson
22. Sara
Saturday, 21 March 2572 CE
Blackfeather was still apprehensive when she arrived at Harmony Lodge.She'd been met at the airport by a staff car driven by a young man whointroduced himself as Lieutenant Charles Powell, Colonel Cortin's aide,though he looked too young to drive, much less be an Enforcementofficer. He'd helped with her luggage, then driven her silently butefficiently to the Palace Complex, gotten her through the formalitiesof a temporary pass, and brought her to the Lodge's main entrance, nearthe front of the estate.
Servants approached as Powell opened the door for her and helped herout of the car. "They'll take your luggage to your room, MissBlackfeather," he said. "Her Excellency and Captain Odeon are waitingin her office; I'm to escort you to them immediately."
"I would prefer to clean up first."
"Sorry, Miss Blackfeather," Powell said, not sounding at all regretful."Her Excellency was most specific; if you will come this way, please."
Young or not, Blackfeather thought, he had the false-polite presumptionof an Enforcement veteran. Still, what else could she expect from anInquisitor's lackey? "Very well, Lieutenant, take me to HerExcellency."
Moments later, Powell showed her into a large office with Cortin seatedbehind the desk and a tall, grim-looking scar-faced man who had to beCaptain Odeon standing to Cortin's left at a stiff parade-rest.
Cortin rose as the reporter entered. "Thank you for coming here first,Miss Blackfeather. While I'm sure you would have preferred to batheand have a brief rest before meeting my team, we have a compellingreason to've asked you here. Captain Odeon assures me it will takeonly seconds, then Lieutenant Powell will show you to your room."
Despite her irritation, Blackfeather was intrigued. "What reason, YourExcellency?"
It was Odeon who answered. "Something your . . . patron . . . wantedme to do. You don't remember that you were there when he . . . made itpossible for me, but you'll remember once it's done. It won't hurt atall, and it'll only take a few seconds, as Colonel Cortin said. It'dbe easier on me if you make eye contact, but that isn't reallynecessary."
Although Blackfeather normally had no interest in making anything easyfor an Enforcement killer, there was something in Odeon's expressionthat made her waver; she stared into his pale blue eyes.
The promised seconds later, she collapsed in shock, to be caught bystrong arms. Larry was Shayan, and he'd had her under compulsions todo things she never would have dreamed of on her own, and he'd donethings to her body that were horrible, and she'd enjoyed them and whathe'd done with his changes, and oh dear God the horror he'd done to theman who'd helped her in spite of what had been done to him and--"Sis!" she heard Cortin snap.
"I am here, Colonel," a soft voice said. "Miss Blackfeather?" Apause. "Miss Blackfeather?"
"Go 'way."
"I am a medic. With your permission, I can give you something forshock. Otherwise, I can treat you only with warmth and quiet."
Drugs were bad . . . but the horror of these sudden disclosures wasworse. "Do what you think best," she managed.
An immediate needleprick startled her; the quick blackness thatfollowed came as a distinct relief.
Cortin watched Pritchett carry the reporter out, Chang accompanyingthem, then she turned to Odeon. He looked tired and a little shaken,but nowhere near as bad as he had after Shayan's "lesson". "Are youall right, Mike?"
"I will be, after a nap." Odeon rubbed his temples. "He said theoperation would be nothing compared to the lesson, and he wasright--but it was rough enough. I don't have the kind of strength hedoes."
"You're a human, not a fallen angel," Cortin said drily. "I wasthinking about emotionally, though--you don't look quite as wound up asyou have been."
"Not quite," Odeon admitted. "I do feel a bit more human, now I'vemade some constructive use of what he put me through. My studies arehelping, too, but . . ." He shook his head. "I'm not back to normal,no."
"Close enough for unity? I'm still convinced that's what you need."
Odeon thought for a moment, then shook his head again. "No, I don'tthink so. I'd like it, but I'm still afraid of touching you. Give meanother day or two of Tangerine and studies, though, and I think I'llbe okay."
Cortin looked at him curiously. "Really? A kitten and studying theplace our ancestors fled from seem like odd therapy. On the otherhand, I'm not about to argue with anything that works."
"Truth to tell, I'm surprised how much the studies, especially, dohelp." Odeon rubbed the scar across his lips, unsure of himself. "I'mjust scratching the surface, of course--can't do much else with nothingbut comm intercepts and what's left of the records the Founderskept--but even this early, I'm starting to develop respect for theImperials. Maybe a little bit of liking, too."
Cortin's expression became quizzical. "That's pretty fast, isn't it?Especially for you?"
"Faster than I'd expect, yeah." Odeon paused, frowning. "I'm not evenas upset as I was yesterday about the Protector maybe coming fromthere."
Cortin grinned. "I'd be looking forward to contact instead of itscaring me if I could believe that; at least then I'd know for sure itcouldn't possibly be me. And the Empire'd be less likely to attack usif one of their own became our ruler. Did those ambiguous propheciesIvan mentioned say anything about the Protector's relationship to theGreat King?"
"Nothing I could make any sense out of, though Ivan might be able to.Unfortunately--for me; fortunately for him--Shayan never touched hismind, so I won't be able to check with him till he gets back fromArchangel. As for the Empire attacking us--" Odeon smiled briefly, "Idon't think I'd waste time worrying about it. They've got a whole newSector full of non-humans to cope with, as of three years ago; I can'tsee them wasting resources on a mere dozen planets."
"If Ivan's right, we'll find out soon enough, and frankly, that's asubject I'd rather avoid as long as possible. What's the verdict onMiss Blackfeather?"
"About what he said," Odeon replied. "She's in shock right now, but Igot the feeling she's pretty resilient; she should be settled down in afew hours. And she's basically a good person; outside his compulsions,she hasn't committed more than the normal venial sins. She's confessedthem, too, as of just before her flight left New Rome, and beenforgiven. By him, but as he pointed out to me, the sacrament'svalidity doesn't depend on the priest."
"And acts committed under compulsion are chargeable to the compellor,not the compelled. Other than that?"
"I think I could get to like her. She's intelligent, honest, and giventhe chance I think she'd have a decent sense of humor. No more devoutthan usual, which is hardly surprising considering her patron; ifanything, I'm surprised she's as devout as she is. After the shock shejust got, she may even be willing to listen to us about the Protector."
"And be Sealed, become part of His staff?"
"I'd bet so. Probably not immediately, though I think we should lether attend services."
Cortin frowned briefly, then nodded. "If Sis agrees. I'm not sure howBlackfeather will react with her background, though. She can'tpossibly be used to public nudity, much less anything like theProtector's celebration."
"She was Shayan's mistress," Odeon said drily. "He's taken her toHell, though only his palace--we might both be surprised what she'sseen. And she's adaptable."
* * * * *
Blackfeather wasn't feeling particularly adaptable when she woke fromChang's drug; she was still too shaken by what she'd found out whenOdeon had released the compulsions that had held her for so long. Itwas a relief to find a woman sitting beside her bed--and almost arelief that the woman wore Enforcement gray, with a medic's specialtybadge. "You're the one who gave me the shot?" she asked as she sat up.
"I am. Medic-Lieutenant Eleanor Chang, otherwise called Piety or Sis.I regret that your welcome to our home was so traumatic, though thedrug should have helped. We have waited lunch, in case you cared tojoin us."
To Blackf
eather's astonishment, the medic's words made her realize shewas hungry--and the idea of eating with Enforcement troopers was moreattractive than not. After what Odeon had suffered to help her, shewas willing to believe there might really be more than talk to theirmotto of "We Serve, to Protect". She might not manage to feelprotected just yet, but at least she no longer felt threatened. "Do Ihave time to clean up a bit, Lieutenant?"
"Of course. Colonel Cortin has asked me to apologize for her earlierinsistence on meeting you immediately, and hopes you will understandand forgive her."
"Let's just say I'll withhold judgement until I find out more. Though. . . I can't deny I'm grateful to Captain Odeon."
"He is a good man, Miss Blackfeather, a priest of both Jeshua and theProtector. He is also, though he would probably laugh at the term, awise man. He is, however, deeply troubled by the Hell-King's touch, soif he should seem wary of you, please realize it is nothing at allpersonal."
"I think I can manage that," Blackfeather said. She went into thebathroom to take care of her needs, then emerged to dress. When shewas done, Chang led her to the dining room--where she was astonished tofind three young children munching on cookies, and anapologetic-looking Colonel of Enforcement.
"They were hungry," Cortin said. "I'm afraid I'm not as strict as Ishould be--but they did want to see you. Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Blackfeather said. She'd never been all that fond ofchildren; on the other hand, she did know they were humanity's future,and fewer than a replacement number, here in the Systems, were beingborn. "They aren't yours, I know; more company?"
"Not exactly." Cortin studied the reporter. "If I give you somebackground information, will you treat it as confidential until I sayyou can publish it? That should be less than a week."
"Of course!"
"I'll brief you while we're eating, then."
* * * * *
When the meal was over, Blackfeather was full, but scarcely aware ofwhat she'd eaten. Taken as a whole Cortin's revelations, evendelivered in the unemotional tone of what she'd called it, a briefing,were a shock. Blackfeather had anticipated or guessed at parts, whichalong with her training helped her conceal that shock, but didn'tlessen it. Especially since she remembered that Larry had expected andintended her to become part of the Protector's staff, opposing him.
She didn't want to go into that right now, though. A nice safe neutraltopic would be better . . . if she could think of one, and somethingtouching her ankle provided the perfect subject when she bent down topick up the tiny culprit. "Children, and now a kitten--not at all whatI expected when I got your invitation, Excellency."
"More normal and civilized, right?" Cortin smiled. "I'm not offended,Miss Blackfeather, so you needn't look defensive. Until recently, Iwas careful to conceal such things; a reputation can be most useful toan Inquisitor. Since the situation's changed, I can let the truth beknown." She grimaced. "And since I've found out myself what the truthis, which was a shock at times."
"I can sympathize," Blackfeather said with feeling. "All these yearsI've thought I was free . . ."
"And I thought I was immune to love--free in a different way. But I'mglad I was wrong." Cortin looked around the table at her Family,smiling. "In my admittedly biased opinion, you won't find a bettergroup of people in the entire Kingdom Systems, and I couldn't be moredelighted that they adopted me. I'm sorry Mike had to break yourconditioning so abruptly, but I hope that having it broken will let youenjoy your stay here."
"It'll make it possible, at least," Blackfeather said. "What I'm sorryabout is what he had to go through to help me."
"I was simply doing my duty, Miss Blackfeather," Odeon said, startlingher. "I had no choice, and given the same circumstances, I'd have totry doing it again. Though I'm not sure I'd be able to, a second time."
"Since I don't think I could have done it the first time," Blackfeathersaid, "I certainly couldn't fault you for that! And duty or not, I amgrateful, and I feel I owe you a debt."
"No debt," Odeon said. "You don't owe me--us--any more than you oweanyone else you write about. All we ask for is objective observationand reporting, in spite of the fact that most of us are Enforcement."
"My word on it," Blackfeather said. "I can't promise favorablereports, but they'll be as honest as I can make them."
* * * * *Monday afternoon, 23 March 2572
Cortin grinned as Odeon entered her room and took one of the armchairs,his lap immediately occupied by the kitten who'd become hisalmost-inseparable companion whenever he was available. "I know it's aday earlier than the deadline I gave you, but--"
Odeon chuckled. "I'm fine, Joanie, between Tanj here and thestudying." He rubbed the kitten's ears, smiling at her loud purr."She's a little darling, and I'm almost afraid to say I'm reallyenjoying my research, as much as I got teased for it in school. Idon't think that's what you called me in for, though."
"To find out exactly how you're doing, yes; the details of yourresearch, no. And I hadn't expected you to bring your little friendalong."
"Who brought her? I can't keep her away! Don't worry, though, shewon't interfere."
"And just how do you know that?"
"A trip to the New Eden in the wee hours this morning, when I startedfeeling interested for the first time since Shayan worked on me. If Irecall my explorations here correctly, you were with Chuck and Dave,Sis and Betty with the other two, and I didn't want to wake anyone. Ialso didn't want to take Tanj, but you know what a sucker I am--evenworse than you, where kids and animals are concerned. So she wentalong, in my pocket. She watched, the first couple of times, then wentto sleep. A pillow on the floor, if you're curious."
"Not primarily about that," Cortin said. "May I be nosy and ask howmany you enjoyed?"
Uncharacteristically, Odeon flushed. "Uh--I can't match you, but--allthe ladies who were awake. You know what it's like when you've beendry for a while."
"I sure do." Cortin tried to look stern, but failed miserably and gaveup, grinning instead. "I should chew you out for not waking me,Captain. I assume, however, that you're back to normal and willing todemonstrate?"
"Willing and eager, Excellency."
* * * * *
Both of them were far more relaxed when they dressed for dinner, thoughTangerine meowed plaintively at Odeon and tried to climb his trouserleg. He shrugged, grinning at Cortin, and sat down. "Part of herroutine this time of day, I'm afraid," he apologized as the kittenjumped to his shoulder and began nibbling at his earlobe.
"Has you pretty well trained, doesn't she?" Cortin said, chuckling.
"Uh-huh." Odeon dug into a pocket, unwrapped and handed the kitten apiece of something Cortin couldn't identify but Tangerine obviouslycould; she hopped down to his lap with a sound halfway between a purrand a growl, eating her treat. Odeon let her finish, then put her onthe floor. "I'm cleared for the convent defense, then."
Cortin nodded. "You are. I just wish I were, too."
* * * * *
The following evening, Cortin went to Odeon's room shortly beforesupper. "Mike, got a minute?"
"Any time. What's up?"
"Not that, this close to supper--will you and Sis be holding servicesthis evening?"
"Of course. Are you going to bring Blackfeather?"
Cortin hesitated. "I don't know," she said at last. "She'll have tobe exposed to it sooner or later, but I'm not sure an evening beforethe team goes into combat is the right time. If she reacts badly toeither the nudity or the ceremony itself, it might make things harderon them."
"She's going in too," Odeon pointed out.
Cortin grimaced. "I know, blast it! She can and I can't--so you tellme which would be less damaging."
"In your place, I'd brief her, then let her decide whether she thinksshe can accept it as a religious function." Odeon grinned. "As Imay've said, I don't think anyone who's
spent time in Hell is going tobe shocked by anything as mild as that--my only hesitation is about howshe'll react otherwise."
"Understood. All right, that's what I'll do."
* * * * *
In spite of Cortin's briefing, Blackfeather had trouble at firstaccepting a nude man and woman as real priests conducting a realreligious rite. That changed quickly, though, in large part because ofthe Family's obvious acceptance of precisely that, and theirequally-obvious devotion to the Protector. She didn't--yet,anyway--share that devotion, and if it hadn't been for Larry'scertainty that the Protector was real, she thought it unlikely she'dhave believed what was going on was an act of worship.
But Larry--no, she chided herself; she ought to start thinking of himby his real name--Shayan was certain of the Protector's existence andimminent arrival. Or . . . Blackfeather looked sharply at Cortin. Herlover hadn't said it in so many words, but now that she thought back,he'd certainly given the impression that Cortin was the Protector!
Even though it had seemed pointless at the time, Blackfeather now foundherself wishing she'd paid more attention to prophecies of the FinalComing. Nothing she could remember from them said Cortin couldn't bethe Protector instead of simply the Herald, which was disconcertingenough. A lot of things, in fact, pointed to it, now that she began toanalyze everything she'd heard and read about Cortin and herunprecedented, rapid rise from being a curiosity as the only femaleEnforcement officer to High King's Inquisitor and Archduchess--not tomention her tumbling of some of Enforcement's strictest regulations,such as Special Ops' lack of close family, not only with impunity butwith the backing of all the Sovereigns. And working for drasticchanges in the social and religious systems with divine sanction thatbecame obvious every time she said Mass.
Cortin wasn't reacting the way Blackfeather would expect from a divineincarnation, though. Desire for revenge after rape and maiming was ahuman thing the Protector should be beyond. So was becoming anInquisitor, nothing like Jeshua's forgiveness of His enemies and Hisgentle nature. Still, she thougt, there was precedent, if you wentback to the First Testament; she'd never been comfortable with thingslike the innocent Job being tormented simply as a demonstration toShayan, or the she-bears being sent to kill forty-two children whoseonly offense had been to tease Elisha about being bald. Cortin atleast confined the punitive parts of her Inquisitorial attentions tocriminals, and her truthsense let her be certain who those criminalsactually were.