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 felt the hesitancy dissolve, felt Bradford's awed pleasure as God's Presence filled and cleansed him, shared his fear that it would end—and then his joyous realization that it wouldn't, that he'd been accepted and was wholly God's now.
When it was over, Bradford shook his head, looking dazed. "I had no idea … and Mike, I don't feel like conducting even a Stage One after that. I need to come down, if you don't mind."