"I would also like to go," Chang said.
Cortin shook her head. "Sorry, Sis. Even if you weren't pregnant,
it'd be too dangerous. I know you're no more worried about yourself
than any other Strike Team officer would be, but with you at the top of
the Brothers' wipe list, if they tried for you, the Bains would get
caught in the crossfire."
"I had not thought of that," Chang said. "I would not wish to endanger
others, of course. Dave and Tiny, then?"
"Right. On permissive TDY--and," she turned to the designated ones,
"with orders to call me if the Transportation Office gives you any
static about storing whatever she can't or doesn't want to bring along.
Not that that's likely, with both of you members of the King's Own."
"True." Bain grinned. "I kind of hope they do, though. You cannot
believe how much I'd like to see their faces if Her Excellency the
King's Inquisitor had to talk to them."
"Oh, I'd believe, all right," Cortin said. "I've had all the usual
experiences with them myself, which is why I'm kind of hoping you have
to call."
* * * * *
Prince Edward tapped on the King's half-open office door. "Good news,
Father."
The King looked up from the papers he was working on. "Come in and
close the door." When Edward had obeyed and seated himself, the King
asked, "How good?"
"Colonel Cortin's just turned Strike Team Azrael into a family, and
Lieutenant Chang is pregnant with Lieutenant Pritchett's son. I don't
know what the new family name will be, yet."
"That's excellent news," the King said, smiling widely. "I was hoping
she'd do something like that, and of course she'd take care of her own
people first. Let's see--Chang was waivered with undetermined
fertility, but Pritchett definitely tested sterile, so I think that can
safely be classed as a miracle. Most gratifying."
"You're not surprised?" Edward asked, a little disappointed.
"I had some information you didn't," the King said drily. "Remember at
the Sovereigns' Conference, Pope Anthony called Czar Nicholas and
myself to a private audience?"
"Yes, of course."
"His Holiness told us that he'd be murdered soon, and that we should
take that as evidence for the rest of what he had to say. He was, and
we did. I don't think I need to tell you what the 'rest' was."
"Not if it's that this is the time of the Final Coming," Edward said
cautiously.
"And that the Royal Inquisitor either Nicholas or I would choose would
be, without knowing it, the Protector. From what we know of Colonels
Cortin and Stepanov, she's the one. Is that true?"
Edward hesitated, trying to absorb the idea that Cortin's true identity
was known--or at least suspected--outside her immediate circle. On the
other hand, Pope Anthony had been holy in fact as well as title; it
shouldn't be that much of a surprise that God would lay the same sort
of groundwork, through him, that Shayan had undoubtedly laid for
himself. "Acting Protector, yes, until the real one manifests," Edward
said at last. "Ursula and I are Sealed to him through her, along with
all of Team Azrael, Colonel Bradford, and Major Illyanov. Captain
Odeon and Lieutenant Chang are her priests, as well." He paused, went
on. "She's worried about what you'll do with Pritchett and Chang now
that they're going to be parents. And what Pope Lucius will do about
the marriage."
"I'm certainly not going to take her people away from her," the King
said. "Team Azrael isn't subject to the conventional Strike Team
dangers, so I can justify exempting them from the sterility rules. The
dangers they--and you--will face are of an entirely different nature.
One no mortal, I'm afraid, can do anything to protect you against. As
for Pope Lucius acting against the marriage--" the King smiled, grimly.
"I'm sure he'll try, but considering the celebrant, I doubt very much
he'll get very far. 'Whom therefore God hath joined together, let no
man put asunder.' The marriage is valid under His--" He paused, with a
bemused expression, then went on, "or Her--Law. Though I admit it
would be helpful if it were also valid under some temporal laws as
well, which I'm working on. I don't suppose she's part of this family
she's just created?"
"Not yet--but Captain Odeon is working on a way to correct that."
"Very good. Let me know as soon as he does; if this is going to work,
she'll have to have heirs."
"Of course, Father. Uh . . . what about additional spouses for Ursula
and myself?"
"I'm working on that, too. God willing, arrangements will be complete
for you a new husband and wife by the time I activate the Strike Force,
and she'll perform the ceremony."