> *With that clue, I think I do know who you are.* Odeon braced himself,

wondering what Shayan wanted with him.



*A service that will be to both my benefit and Cortin's--and so

indirectly to yours. And you're right--I do not generally do things

for others, especially enemies. Nor am I changing that policy; this is

primarily for myself, if that will relieve your mind enough to listen.*



*Do I have any choice?* Odeon asked.



*About listening, yes, though only because I choose to give you the

choice. About doing what I ask, the choice is totally yours. Will you

listen?*



*In that case, I don't see any unavoidable danger; go ahead.*



*You're so kind. I gather you're one of Cortin's holy staff?*



*Of her core group, if that's what you mean,* Odeon replied cautiously.



*The same thing. Is the group complete?*



*No comment.*



*It isn't, then. So you have room for my protege, who will be arriving

this coming Saturday.*



*What!* Odeon was startled, though only briefly. Because someone had

served Shayan didn't mean that person was beyond redemption;

theoretically, Shayan himself could be saved, as he'd once commented to

Joanie. *I'll consider her when she gets here, but that's all I'll

promise.*



*That'll be adequate--you'll be surprised, I think, at her spiritual

state. She's committed few sins.*



That statement was almost as surprising as the Hell-King's

peculiar-seeming chattiness. Odeon knew better than to relax his guard

too much, but his investigator's curiosity was aroused. *That's hard

to believe.*



*Nevertheless, it is true.* Shayan gave the impression of a sardonic

smile. *I'm called the Father of Lies, priest, but that's to salve the

feelings of those who don't want to believe me. The truth is a much

more versatile and useful tool--and usually a far more painful one.

Sara has acted under my compulsions most of her life, so most of what

you'd call her sins are chargeable to me instead. And the fact that

she's been taking the Sacraments from me doesn't alter their validity,

which I find highly amusing.*



It was a good thing for the girl that was true, Odeon thought. *And

will you remove those compulsions before sending her here?*



*I think not,* Shayan told him. *I could, easily--but if I have to

lose her to you, you must be willing to pay my price. You will be the

one to remove my compulsions, if you want her.*



*You know I don't have any choice,* Odeon replied. *You'll have to

show me how--and tell me the price.*



*Showing you how is the price. Giving you that ability involves

restructuring part of your mind, which I promise will make you pray you

were enduring Inquisitor Cortin's professional attentions instead. I

won't injure you--for reasons you do not and cannot now understand,

that would not be to my benefit--but I can and will make you suffer.

I'd suggest you find a place where you can't be heard screaming, and

where you won't injure yourself. It might also be a good idea to use

restraints.*



It went against Odeon's grain to take anything from Shayan willingly,

but as he'd said, he didn't have a choice under the circumstances,

either as law officer or as priest. He'd take the instruction--and the

suggestions. *What about another of the team, to help?*



*If you wish. You'll feel me again when you're ready.*



Odeon shivered as he felt the contact snap. He'd known he'd have to

face Shayan eventually, and he'd been sure it would be an unpleasant

experience--but he hadn't expected it this soon, for even a remotely

similar purpose, and he'd underestimated the unpleasantness. This

definitely classified as something he'd much rather avoid, even though

he knew he wouldn't. He prayed for the strength to do it right, then

tried to decide who he should get to help.



Joanie was out for obvious reasons, he didn't care to have Sis see him

screaming, and Chuck didn't have the experience to handle a situation

like this promised to be. That left Tony, Dave, and Tiny--with

Priest-Inquisitor Bain the most logical choice.



* * * * *



"Are you sure you want to go through with this, Mike?"



Odeon tested the shackles that held him. Dave had padded them, but

otherwise he could have been the Inquisitor's subject instead of his

senior officer, spouse, and friend. "Of course not--got an

alternative?"



Bain shook his head. "No, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Okay, you're as ready as I can get you."



Odeon stiffened when he felt Shayan's mind-touch, but the promised pain

didn't come immediately. *I had intended to show my lady the less

pleasant aspects of my realm,* the Hell-King told him, *but she

believes it to be an illusion. So I will show her this operation

instead. She will also believe it to be an illusion--until you remove

my compulsions. Then she will know the truth, that they could be

neither imposed nor removed by a normal human agency. And beneath it

she has considerable empathy. Enough to fit into the group you--and

you, Priest-Lieutenant Bain--are part of.*



*Get on with it!* Odeon sent.



*Such impatience for torment! Would that I could promise you eons of

it--but hours will have to suffice.* Both men were fully aware of

Shayan's regret at that--and his anticipation. *Still, I can make it

last that long, though it isn't truly necessary; the procedure need

take no longer than seconds, and would be equally effective if you were

unconscious. Either would rob it of what little pleasure I can extract

from my lady's loss, however. So, priest--suffer my pleasure.* All

true, Shayan thought, as far as the ability to remove compulsions was

concerned--but Odeon's pain, including that of believing the anguish

unnecessary, was essential to the tempering process. Seizing the

other's mind, Shayan began his mental surgery.



Odeon screamed, convulsing. Bain shuddered as they continued, going on

and on, pausing barely long enough for Odeon to inhale. The Inquisitor

was sickly grateful to Shayan for recommending restraints; without

them, Mike's struggles would be breaking bones. There was no skill

involved here, no subtlety, no hope for the subject to end it by

confessing when the pain became unendurable--which it did, as quickly

as Shayan had promised. Though Bain was no longer sharing their mental

contact, his Inquisitor's training let him know when Odeon reached his

breaking point and was forced beyond it, to agony no drug could keep a

man alive through, much less conscious.



But Odeon did remain conscious, with full awareness that it was

Shayan's power keeping him that way--and the understanding, at last,

that this was what Joanie and Sis had suffered from the Hell-King.

Rape was rape, be it physical or mental--and horrible as the pain was,

the worst part was the degrading violation.



Bain prayed. There was nothing else to do until, eventually, it ended.

With a final convulsion like he was being shaken, Odeon went limp.

Bain hurriedly freed him from the restraints and carried him into the

bathroom. Mike'd need a hot soak to relax strained muscles, then days

of recuperation--God, what would Joanie think when she saw him?



* * * * *



Cortin didn't sleep well. Her dreams were troubling, nightmares of

Shayan tormenting her team in ways she couldn't stop, gloating over

them, taunting her with her helplessness. And it didn't improve when

she woke; the feeling of something wrong with her people wouldn't go

away, even when she told herself it was nothing more than a bad dream.



After a quarter hour of being unable to get back to sleep, Cortin got

up and put on a robe. Foolish as it was, it looked like the only way

to settle her mind was to make sure everyone was all right.



It didn't worry her too much that Odeon wasn't in his room, though,

when she checked there first; he was probably with Sis or Betty. But

Sis was in with Tiny, Betty with Chuck, and Tony was sprawled out

alone, with a contented expression on his face. It wasn't until she

checked the common-room without finding either Mike or Dave that her

worry got serious. Dave hadn't said anything about having a subject he

needed to work on overnight, and Mike didn't have any plans she knew

about. Their not being in their rooms or the common-room didn't prove

anything, necessarily--but she couldn't help being concerned. She went

back to her room for her dungeon keys and gunbelt, then went below

ground.



Her worry got worse when she saw the "In Use" light at Bain's suite.

She went into the observation room, which didn't help--padded shackles

in the third-stage room?--but still nothing of the missing two.



She left the observation room and stood before the suite's main door

for several seconds, debating with herself. If Dave was conducting an

interrogation with Mike's help, she'd feel foolish intruding--but if

one or both of them was hurt, she'd never forgive herself if she

didn't. Deciding, she opened the door. "Mike? Dave?"



"Oh, God," a muffled voice said. More strongly, she heard, "In the

bathroom, Joanie. Sis with you?"



"No." Cortin covered the distance to the bathroom in record time,

appalled at what she saw when she opened the door. "What happened? Is

he alive?"



"Yeah--but he needs help. Take a look."



Cortin did, and crossed herself. There were no apparent injuries, but

Mike looked horrible--so pale the scar across his face looked

bloody-fresh, his muscles spasming in tiny tremors. It was obvious

he'd been severely tortured, though she couldn't imagine how, with no

wounds. She still wanted to know what had happened, but that desire

was nothing next to her need to remedy whatever had been done to her

second-in-command and heir. "Go get Sis--she and Tiny are in his room.

Have him bring down as many blankets as he can carry. Then call Ivan,

he may have information I need."



"Right." Bain hurried out.



Praying as hard as she could, Cortin knelt beside the tub, touching

Odeon's forehead. He wasn't chilled, so Dave was treating him for

shock rather than cold. Wrists and ankles were bruised, consistent

with the padded shackles--but it didn't make sense! Even if she

ignored the impossibility of Dave interrogating one of the team, he

wouldn't use padded shackles, and his subject would certainly have more

serious injuries than simple bruises! Yet Mike had been terribly hurt,

despite his lack of wounds, and Dave had been there--watching, if

nothing else. What was going on?



At least Mike didn't seem to be in immediate danger, as far as she

could tell. His pulse was weak but steady and his breathing was

regular, not labored, though also not as strong as she'd like. The

muscle tremors were slowing too, which was a good sign.



Moments later she heard the door open, and turned. "Sis? We're in

here."



"Dave told me." Cortin moved aside, making way for the medic to kneel

beside her patient. Chang opened her kit and began checking Odeon's

condition. "What was done to him?"



"I don't know," Cortin said, controlling her frustration with an

effort. "I can't even make a realistic guess--didn't Dave tell you

anything?"



"He was too upset to tell me more than the basic information I

required--that Mike had been hurt, but only minimally injured." Chang

continued her examination for a few minutes, then stood. "He is

exhausted, and there may be some muscular strain in addition to the

bruises; otherwise, he is well. He requires only warmth, rest, and

time for complete recovery."



"He'll get all he needs." Cortin turned to Pritchett, who'd come in

while Chang was working. "You brought the blankets?"



"In the office."



"Good. Sis, how soon can we move him someplace more comfortable?"



"When he stops trembling--a few minutes, I should say."



"Will it be safe to take him upstairs, or should I have a bed brought

down?"



"It will be safe." Chang smiled. "His hurts are not life-threatening,

though he will be easily fatigued and probably uncomfortable for three

or four days. Possibly longer, though I would be surprised if he is

not fully recovered within a week."



They had Odeon upstairs and settled in his own bed by the time Illyanov

arrived, and the entire Family--the rest awakened by the commotion--was

gathered in the common-room. Bain had told them he'd really rather not

have to go through the story more than once and Cortin had agreed--his

distress was obvious--so it wasn't until she'd apologized for getting

Illyanov up on what now looked like an unnecessary errand that Bain

explained.



As Cortin listened, she got coldly angry. Shayan was Evil personified,

true, but that gave him no right to torment one of the Protector's

priests! Kill him, yes--they'd all die, and Service personnel didn't

expect an easy death--but not subject him to agony for no reason except

the sheer pleasure of it! She was the one who was supposed to face

Shayan--and while the thought frightened her, she'd prefer it to having

her people do so.



When Bain finished, she said as much. "Not that he had any choice

under the circumstances, of course," she added. "But try not to get

into similar circumstances, would you all?"



"We will try," Chang said. "However, we may have no more choice in the

matter than Mike was given. And you should be in no hurry to face him."



"I didn't say I was in a hurry," Cortin said. "It might be a good idea

to get it over with, though. I won't win, but I might weaken him

enough the Protector will."



"You must not act prematurely," Illyanov cautioned, frowning. "You

have not found all the Protector's staff yet, and there may be other

things equally necessary to prepare His way."



"Not act prematurely!" Cortin snorted. "At this point, I don't really

feel like I'm acting at all, much less prematurely!"



"If you consider leading an attempt to completely restructure society,

extracting information vital to fighting terrorists, and preparing for

the Final Coming, to be not acting, I will agree. Otherwise, I would

suggest you remain cautious; direct action against Shayan, unless

unavoidable, is the Protector's prerogative."



Cortin grimaced. Illyanov's quiet, level words stung; she knew she was

doing useful work. It was just that it didn't feel like enough,

and--especially after Mike's gratuitous torture--she wanted to take the

sort of direct action Ivan said she shouldn't. It would be so

satisfying to go into the Vatican during a major public event and

challenge Lucius with his real identity, force him to take some sort of

action that would prove it! He'd kill her, of course, but it'd be

worth it to bring him into the open. "I'll behave, I promise--even

though I'd rather not. Isn't there anything I can do for Mike?"



"There is a possibility," Illyanov said thoughtfully. "According to

some of our writings, the Herald may be granted the use of some of the

Protector's powers--your truthsense may be one. Another should be

healing--though as Michael's problem is not life-threatening, that

might not come into play."



"It might, though, since it's due to Shayan's direct action." Cortin

stood. "I've got to give it a try--if it works, I'll be back with him."







For Shayan's reaction: 20a. Decision