plete enough she couldn't spare real
thought, but she was able to include a wordless prayer of thanks with
the Remembrance and other prayers before Communion.

The rest of the Mass went normally--the bleeding stopped as soon as
she'd administered Communion to the last of those who wanted it--until
the after-Mass prayers were finished. Then she was able to notice a
small table had been set up just inside the altar rail--a table like
the altar in the common-room--and she knew this was the beginning of
the Communion of Promise. But . . . should she give it, or should Mike
or Sis? She glanced at them, got the thumbs-up from Mike, and took a
deep breath.

Addressing the entire congregation, she gave a brief explanation of the
Protector--what she understood, at least--and the Families. She could
see doubt on several of the Householders' faces as she described them,
mixed with revulsion at her bloody state. She could understand that,
from civilians; the Enforcement people, to her relief, seemed more
intrigued and willing to believe her. "All of my team, myself
included--and a few others--are Sealed to the Protector, with Captain
Odeon and Lieutenant Chang as His or Her chief priests." She paused,
cocked her head, then smiled. "To simplify things, I'm going to use
the male pronoun; just remember the actuality could be either."

She paused again, sobering. "Under their authority as His
representatives, I invite those of you who wish to support Him, giving
up the ability to sin when He comes into the open and you can be
Sealed, to come forward and take His Communion of Promise."

She was pleased that all the Enforcement people did so, followed by the
King and Queen. More slowly, a few of the civilian Household followed
suit, though most held back. That was too bad, Cortin thought, but
she'd known not everyone would accept the Protector fully--some not at
all. And she had to admit her condition wasn't the most reassuring; it
was entirely possible they'd respond better to another celebrant.

When it was clear that everyone who wanted the Communion of Promise had
taken it, she dismissed the congregation and returned to the vestry,
where she began removing her bloody uniform. If this was going to
happen every time she said Mass, she'd have to have a shower installed
here--and get something to wear that wouldn't be ruined, or that didn't
matter. Whatever her position, she didn't care to ruin either a
uniform or a se