she hasn't committed more than the normal venial sins. She's confessed
them, too, as of just before her flight left New Rome, and been
forgiven. By him, but as he pointed out to me, the sacrament's
validity 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 given
the chance I think she'd have a decent sense of humor. No more devout
than usual, which is hardly surprising considering her patron; if
anything, I'm surprised she's as devout as she is. After the shock she
just 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 let
her attend services."

Cortin frowned briefly, then nodded. "If Sis agrees. I'm not sure how
Blackfeather will react with her background, though. She can't
possibly be used to public nudity, much less anything like the
Protector's celebration."

"She was Shayan's mistress," Odeon said drily. "He's taken her to
Hell, though only his palace--we might both be surprised what she's
seen. And she's adaptable."

* * * * *

Blackfeather wasn't feeling particularly adaptable when she woke from
Chang's drug; she was still too shaken by what she'd found out when
Odeon had released the compulsions that had held her for so long. It
was a relief to find a woman sitting beside her bed--and almost a
relief that the woman wore Enforcement gray, with a medic's specialty
badge. "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 the
drug should have helped. We have waited lunch, in case you cared to
join us."

To Blackfeather's astonishment, the medic's words made her realize she
was hungry--and the idea of eating with Enforcement troopers was more
attractive than not. After what Odeon had suffered to help her, she
was willing to believe there might really be more than talk to their
motto of "We Serve, to Protect". She might not manage to feel
protected just yet, but at least she no longer felt threatened. "Do I
have time to clean up a bit, Lieutenant?"

"Of course. Colonel Cortin has asked me to apologize for her earlier
insistence on meet