“Because if he had, the Pope would’ve thought he was a raving maniac,” Yorick said promptly. “But since he put down just the bare-bones-vital information, and made an accurate ‘prediction’ about who would be Pope…”

“With a little help from your agent in the Vatican,” Father Al amplified.

“Don’t say anything against him, Father, he’s from your Order. Anyway, with that much and no more in the letter, the Pope believed it, and sent you.”

“Ingenious. Also devious. But why bother with the letter at all, since you were coming to meet me anyway?”

“Because you wouldn’t have believed me if you hadn’t read the letter.”

Father Al threw up his hands in mock despair. “I give up! I never could make headway against a circular argument—especially when it might be valid. But tell me—why did you bother? Why does Mr. McAran care?”

“Because SPITE and VETO keep trying to sabotage us, anywhen they can. It’s us versus them, Father—and you and Rod Gallowglass are part of the ‘us.’ If he loses, we lose—and a few trillion people, all down the ages, lose a lot of individual rights.”

“Especially patentholders,” Father Al amplified.

“Of course. And by the way, Doc Angus did finally patent it—in 5029 AD.”

“After the secret was finally out?”

Yorick nodded.

“How did he manage to get a patent when its existence was already public knowledge?”

“Did you ever stop to think how difficult it would be to prove when a time machine was invented?” Yorick grinned. “It’s a fun puzzle. Think it over when you’ve got some time—say, on your way to Gramarye.” He glanced at his watch-ring. “Speaking of which, you’d better hurry—SPITE and VETO are already massing for their next big attack on Gramarye. Massing behind a poor dupe of a front man, of course.”

“Oh?” Father Al inquired mildly. “Who’s the poor dupe?”

“The Church, of course.” Yorick grinned. “Good luck, Father.”

 

CHAPTER THREE

How dare this tatter-robed priest so flout our power!” Queen Catharine stormed.

They were pacing down a hallway in the royal castle, heading for the state audience chamber. Rich oak panelling flashed past; thick carpet soaked up Catharine’s angry stamping.

“His robe is scarcely tattered, my dear,” Tuan answered. “And he governs all priests in our land.”

“An abbot?” Rod frowned. “I think I’ve been overlooking something this past decade. Doesn’t he take orders from a bishop?”

Tuan turned to him, perplexed. “What is a ‘bishop?’ ”

“Uh—never mind.” Rod swallowed. “How come an abbot of a monastery governs parish priests?”

“Why, because all priests in this land are of the Order of St. Vidicon!” Catharine snapped impatiently. “How is it that the High Warlock does not know this?”

“Uh—just haven’t been taking religion very seriously, I guess.” Rod hadn’t even been going to Mass on Sundays, but he didn’t think this was the time to mention it. “So the Abbot’s the head of the church, here—and I understand he’s not too happy about your appointing all the parish priests in the country. Now it makes sense.”

“Some, but not overmuch,” Tuan said grimly.

“Where was he when the barons still named their own priests?” Catharine stormed. “Oh, he would not go up against them! But now that ‘tis accepted that we appoint them… Uh!”

A cannonball of a body hit her in the midriff, crowing, “Mama, Mama! Chess time! Chess time!”

Catharine’s face softened remarkably as she held the small one away from her, kneeling to look into his eyes. “Aye, sweetling, ‘tis the hour we usually play. Yet your mother cannot, this morn; we must speak with the Lord Abbot, thy father and I.”

“Not fair, though!” the little prince protested. “You couldn’t play yesterday, neither!”

“Either,” Tuan corrected, tousling the boy’s hair. “Aye, Alain, thy mother had need to speak with the Duchess d’Bourbon yestere ‘en.”

“Not that I wished to.” Catharine’s tone hardened a little. “Yet not even kings and queens can do only what they please, my boy.”

She, Rod reflected, had definitely matured.

Alain pouted. “Not fair!”

“ ‘Tis not,” Tuan agreed, with an achingly sad smile. “Yet…”

“My apologies, Majesties!” A middle-aged lady in a grey coif and gown, with a gleaming white apron, hurried up and dropped a curtsy. “I but turned my gaze away for the half of a minute, and…”

“ ‘Tis no matter, good nurse.” Tuan waved away the apology. “If we have not an occasional moment to spare for our son, what worth is our kingdom? Yet thou must not keep us long from matters of state, child, or there will be no kingdom for thee to inherit! Come, now, go with thy nurse—and take this with thee.” He felt in his purse and produced a sugarplum.

Alain glared at it accusingly, but accepted it. “Soon?”

“As soon as we are done with the Lord Abbot,” Catharine promised. “There, now, go with thy nurse, and we’ll be with thee presently.” She gave him a kiss on the forehead, turned him around, and gave him a pat on his bottom to speed him. He plodded off after Nurse, looking back over his shoulder.

His parents stood, gazing fondly after him.

“Fine boy,” Rod said into the silence.

“He is that,” Catharine agreed. She turned to Tuan. “But thou dost spoil him atrociously!”

Tuan shrugged. “True; yet what are nurses for? Still, Madame, remember—he has not yet come under my tutelage.”

“That, I want to see,” Rod said, nodding. “Papa as swordmaster.”

Tuan shrugged. “My father managed it. Stern he was—yet I never doubted his love.”

“Your father’s a grand man.” Rod knew old Duke Loguire quite well. “What does he think of your appointing priests for his parishes?”

Tuan’s face darkened as he was wrenched back to the topic. He started toward the audience chamber again. “He is not overly joyous about it, but sees the need. Why will not the Lord Abbot?”

“Because it encroaches on his authority,” Rod said promptly. “But isn’t the appointment just a matter of form? I mean, who do the priests take their orders from after they’re appointed?”

Tuan stopped dead, and Catharine whirled about, both staring at Rod. “Why, that is so,” Tuan said slowly. “Barons ruled priests, when barons appointed them—yet since Catharine began that function, our judges have watched to be sure the lords give no orders to clergy.” He turned to Catharine, frowning. “Hast thou given commands to priests?”

“I had not thought of it,” Catharine admitted. “It seemed it were best to leave God to the godly.”

“Sounds like a good policy,” Rod agreed. “See any reason to change it?”

Tuan beamed. “I would not want to, save when a priest breaks the law—and I must own the Lord Abbot deals more harshly with a soiled cassock than I ever would, save in matters of death.”

“Point of conflict?”

“Never,” Catharine stated, and Tuan shook his head. “For any offense great enough to be capital, the Abbot’s punishment is to strip the cleric of office, and cast him out of the Order—whereupon, of course, our officers seize him. Nay, I catch thy drift—we’ve let the Abbot rule all the parish priests, have we not?”

“ ‘Twas a grievous omission,” Catharine grated.

“Not really,” Rod grinned. “It put the clergy solidly on your side, against the barons—and their flocks with them. But now…”

“Aye, now.” Tuan’s face darkened again; then he shrugged. “Well, no matter; for a priest, there’s small choice between Abbot and King, in any event. Aye, if ‘twere only a matter of granting him power of appointment, the form, why, let him have it! Since he hath already the substance.”

“If ‘twere all,” Catharine echoed.

“There’s more?” Rod could almost feel his ears prick up. “You’ve got my attention, I conFESS.”