"It's just—well, nothing, I suppose," the High Priestess said. "Your expression."
"Training," Forrester explained. "An acolyte does well not to express his emotions too clearly."
The High Priestess nodded casually and patted the couch at her side. "Sit down here, next to me."
Forrester did so, gingerly.
A moment of silence ensued.
Then Forrester, gathering courage, said: "Thank you for getting a Healer. But I'd like to ask you—"
"Yes?"
"How do you know I'm not under some sort of carefully concealed arrest? After all, you said before that you were sure—"
"And I am sure," the High Priestess said. "Aphrodite herself has ordered a sacrifice in her favor. A sacrifice from you. And Aphrodite does not accept—much less order—a sacrifice from those standing in her disfavor."
"You're—"