"Good!" Cortin unfastened the collar of her tunic, sighing with relief. "It certainly was, even though I suppose I should have expected it. He's certainly hinted about moving to this world."
"He won't be the only one," Edward said. "From what I've heard, High Teton is going to have quite an influx of people wanting Families—a large percentage of them Enforcement, with their various Sovereigns' backing. Not all permanent, though."
"They'll be welcome," Cortin said. "I'm glad of the Sovereigns' reaction—but I'm still worried about Pope Lucius', when we go public. I simply cannot see him giving Church approval. I'm a little surprised that he hasn't revoked the Enforcement dispensation, in fact."
"Such a revocation would have little effect," Chang said. "Those I speak to during my work at the hospital have made that clear."
Cortin frowned. "They'd disobey the Pope? I wouldn't, even if I didn't agree with him."
"On the contrary," Illyanov said. "If his decrees conflict with what you think right, or what Michael and Eleanor tell us of the Protector's will, you will have no choice but to disobey. Which is true of all of us who are Sealed, and thus guided directly. We must prepare the Protector's way, and also encourage devotion to all three Aspects of the Triune—they are, after all, complementary—in hopes of protecting as many people as possible from Shayan and his deceits."
Chang nodded. "There is a certain protection available even to those not yet Sealed. I refer, of course, to the cartridges Joan has blessed."
"Oh?" Illyanov cocked his head. "I know they are growing in popularity, with civilians as well as troopers, but I am unaware of any special protection they might offer."
"I cannot say they truly do," Chang cautioned, "but many troopers, of late, refuse to go into the field without them. It is said that those who wear cartridges suffer fewer and less serious wounds than those who do not. More importantly, not one person with such a cartridge is known to have died under the shadow of mortal sin. There is growing belief that if Colonel Cortin is not the Protector herself, she must be the Protector's Herald."
"To the best of my knowledge, I'm neither one," Cortin said. "I don't want to mislead people, even by omission—but what if that misdirected belief helps pave the Protector's way? Should I say something, or should I keep silent?"