ng acting Protector,
maybe not make the final judgement?"

"I can't be sure myself," Odeon said. "I have the feeling that
anything she does in that capacity will be permanent, or there'd be no
reason for an acting one, but it is just a feeling." He paused. "And
acting normal around her's possible. Not easy, but possible, because
Sis and I are doing it--and essential." He quirked an eyebrow, smiled.
"Fun, too, at times. One thing she's doing is reclaiming the
jurisdiction over sex that Shayan claimed in the Garden. If you've got
any doubts on that score, just remember the shelter party."

Bradford did, his mind going back to her enthusiasm and the incredible
pleasure she'd given her men and her guests. "That is going to be one
of the hardest things to convince most people of," he said eventually.
"Is that going to be the Seal of Life God said the Protector would
bring?"

"No--though that's not a bad guess." Odeon told him about the
early-hours visit by the man in the white Enforcement uniform,
including himself and Sis drinking from the still-unconscious Cortin.
"From that and everything else I've seen," he concluded, "the New
Kingdom--for lack of my ability to imagine a better name--is going to
be a lot more enjoyable, as well as a lot more challenging."

"A lot more sensual, at any rate," Bradford said drily. "Do you think
that means all Her priests will be women?"

"I doubt it," Odeon said after a moment's thought "Even though
Jeshua's were all men until not long before the War, which would only
be fair. But we have a life fluid of our own, and knowing our Joanie,
she'll want it used both ways." He paused, then grinned. "And it
wouldn't surprise me if the normal arrangement was to celebrate this
Sealing with a priest of the opposite sex."

"Normal--but not necessary?"

"No, or Sis wouldn't have been able to take it from Joanie." Odeon
hesitated, then went on. "I wouldn't have been able to tell you all
this unless it was highly probable you'd want to be on her team if you
knew. If that's right and you do, either Sis or I can Seal you to her;
if not, you'll have to wait till she goes public."

"I do," Bradford said without hesitation. "From you, since I agree
that there's no time to waste."

"Good." Odeon rose as Bradford knelt in front of him. "Drink, then,
the Seed of Life."

Bradford was hesitant at first, taking only what welled out--and that
was enough for the union to form. Odeon f