e broken by a Sealed
representative; as the only Sealed member of the press, and the only
reporter who was there, you're the logical one to do so. At my
request, you'll also be allowed to do the first stories about the
existence of Family Cortin and the new Archduchy; no other reporters
will be officially briefed until tomorrow morning. That should give
you adequate time, I think."

"More than adequate," Blackfeather said. "Since I knew I'd be able to
publish soon, those two stories are already written--but I hadn't
expected that much of a lead. Thanks!"

"You've earned it. And thank you for saving Chuck's life."

Blackfeather shrugged. "I've changed my opinion of Enforcement,
Colonel. Before Mike did what he did for me, I'd probably have enjoyed
watching a trooper die, though I can't be sure since it never came up.
I'm glad to find out that now I'm not like that." She shook her head,
her expression rueful. "It seems my attitude's become exactly the
opposite of what it was, in fact. I used to defend the Brothers, you
know."

Cortin nodded. "I know, and say the troopers who were hurt or killed
fighting them deserved what they got. The only thing I could find in
your favor then was that you believed what you were saying."

"I couldn't do that now," Blackfeather said. "It's not just seeing
Brothers and troopers in action for the first time, though that did
help crystallize my new feelings. Mostly it's seeing the Family being
a family, seeing the Special Ops troopers I thought were the worst
playing with kids and kittens, and . . . well, the part I'm not going
to be able to write about because no one who hasn't at least been
around it could possibly believe it. But being troopers--especially an
Inquisitor--gives you a whole new kind of understanding."

"You liked being part of Dave, in particular?"

"Oddly enough, yes." Blackfeather hesitated. "They're all good men,
but there's something special about Dave . . . something I have a hard
time describing, even if I am a reporter. A special kind of idealism,
maybe . . . tougher, not that any of them are soft . . ."

"I know what you mean," Cortin said, glancing around at the rest of the
team and getting nods. Unity during sex was most intense between man
and woman, but it was there between any Sealed; they'd all felt what
Blackfeather was talking about, with her, Bain, or both.

"He reminds me of Larry, in a way," Blackfeather went on, surprising
t