Part 41 (1/2)
”I do not like it either, and it may not be the case. Some of the more ambiguous prophecies of that time, however, can be interpreted in the light of such contact without distortion. What, for instance, if the Great King references were to the Emperor rather than the High King?
And what if the Protector's form, which 'none can predict', is not human, or at least not fully so?”
Odeon winced. ”Ouch, Ivan! That's even worse.”
”I am not sure I find it so,” Illyanov said thoughtfully. ”As I told Joan, I believe contact will be to our ultimate benefit, though it may be difficult at first.”
”Even if one of them turns out to be the Protector?”
”Perhaps especially then.”
”Do you think Shayan would permit contact if that were the case?” Chang asked.
Illyanov chuckled. ”I doubt he will have any choice in the matter.
The Protector will manifest, that promise is definite; the questions are only when, and in what form.”
”Yeah.” Odeon shook his head, rubbing the scar across his mouth, and stood. ”I'm sorry, Joanie, folks--I need to be alone for a bit.”
”Go ahead, then.” Cortin watched him leave, frowning. ”Sis--is that a good idea?”
”I believe so, for him. I would be happier if I could be sure he would be doing something other than brooding over his mishandling--but I think it likely he will be; Ivan's speculation could well be providing him that distraction.”
”I can distract him further,” Illyanov said with a smile. ”I received word late yesterday that my resignation has been accepted; with Your Grace's permission, I will ask Michael's help in setting up the High Teton Enforcement Service. Although I do not as yet belong to it, since it has not been officially established.”
Startled, Cortin looked at him more closely. He was in uniform, but now she saw he wasn't wearing any rank or territory insigne. ”That can be remedied easily enough. As of right now, there is a High Teton Enforcement Service, commanded by Colonel Ivan Petrovich Illyanov.
You're out of uniform, Colonel--would somebody please get him an eagle from my room?”
A grinning Powell left on that errand while Illyanov stared at her. ”I had not expected to be put in charge, Joan. To the best of my knowledge, no Enforcement Service has ever been headed by an Inquisitor, due to the public opinion of our profession.”
”You're the only qualified candidate,” Cortin said, grinning. ”High Teton's not going to be a normal fief, Ivan; all of the top people are going to be Sealed. And I think the public perception of a Sealed Inquisitor is going to be different from that of a non-Sealed one. So you're it.”
”Yes, Your Grace.” Illyanov managed a seated bow. ”I will, of course, do my best.”
”Prince Edward's going to administer it for the present; get in touch with him for what you need. And coordinate with Brad and his Strike Force people.” Cortin grinned again. ”I don't think you'll have much trouble finding recruits, in spite of the climate. Just make sure you find a good-sized house for your Family, and let me know when the wedding's to be.”
”Of course. If you are free at the time, I would be honored to have you perform the ceremony.”
”I'll make a point of it,” Cortin a.s.sured him. ”Oh, thanks, Chuck.”
She took the silver eagle from her aide and pinned it on Illyanov's collar. ”There, that's better. Not quite complete yet, but that'll have to wait till you can have territorial insigne made. Go to it, Colonel.”
”As Your Grace commands.” Illyanov rose, smiling. ”If I may be excused, I shall find Michael and discuss the details with him.”
Odeon had gone to his room, made himself a cup of herb tea, and settled into his seldom-used armchair to do some thinking. First Shayan's torture, now Ivan studying the Empire and speculating that the Protector might be one of them--maybe not even human!
He stared at the circled-triangle marks on the backs of his hands, deeply disturbed. Maybe he shouldn't be--the idea of the Protector coming from the Empire didn't seem to bother anyone else, though Joanie seemed troubled by the prospect of contact itself. He couldn't pinpoint why it bothered him, since the Protector was by definition divine rather than human, loaning Joanie some of His or Her powers; why should he be disturbed if the physical body was non-human as well?
After several minutes' thought, he still couldn't come up with a reason; all he knew was that he didn't like it. He finished his tea and was going over to the prie-dieu when there was a knock on his door.
He swore briefly under his breath--the last thing he wanted right now was a visitor!--but went to answer it, grinning despite himself when he saw Ivan's new collar insignia. ”Come in, Colonel sir.