A Fortuitous Encounter?

Before any of Fred, Tarsa or Satrina could reply, the face of an elderly man emerged from the window of the carriage. "What is the matter?" he asked querulously. "Why have we stopped?"

Back at the temple, Suivant was confident that the Ceremony would fail. His earlier arrangement with Melfice that Valmar should provide him with a pretext for dismissing Tarsa had gone exactly according to plan. Had Tarsa remained as High Priestess she might have been awkward to mislead. In contrast, it ought to be easy enough to ensure that the inexperienced Niala should go calamitously astray at some point in the Ceremony. And no blame for her mistake would attach to Suivant himself. After all, how could it be his fault that Tarsa had been defiled only a couple of weeks before the Ceremony, forcing her nervous understudy to take over the lead role with little time in which to prepare? He would point out that it was such a pity that matters had been so desperate that the Ceremony could not have been postponed to give her more time to prepare.

The Ceremony was so vital that the Pope would naturally be attending it in person, even though it would mean a long journey for him and his escort. It would be devastating for him when he saw Niala fail, for he would know that Valmar's speedy victory was now assured. Suivant almost felt sorry for the old boy.

1. Meanwhile Niala was talking to her brother.
2. Meanwhile Tarsa was saying: "It's His Holiness the Pope! Pleae help us, Your Holiness."
3. Meanwhile Tarsa was saying: "It's His Eminence Cardinal Richelieu! Please help us, Your Eminence."

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