She forced herself to stop that line of speculation; the Protector's identity would be revealed at the proper time. In the meantime, speculation was pointless; she'd have enough to occupy her doing whatever the Herald was supposed to do without having instructions. Follow her instincts and Mike's guidance, she supposed. When she opened the vestry door to approach the altar, she was surprised to see the entire team--except Bain and Pritchett, who were probably at Betty's by now--waiting, along with the rest of the Sealed ones, Their Majesties, and some others of the Household, who normally attended Mass at the Cathedral. Her surprise didn't last, though; as usual, when she approached the altar her mind had no room for anything except the ceremony. That went normally until the Consecration. When she raised the Host and the bell rang, the pain in her back vanished, and she remembered the trade she'd agreed to. As she raised the Chalice, she felt warm wetness circling her head, and on her wrists, back, side, and feet. Her absorption in the Mass was complete enough she couldn't spare real thought, but she was able to include a wordless prayer of thanks with the Remembrance and other prayers before Communion. The rest of the Mass went normally--the bleeding stopped as soon as she'd administered Communion to the last of those who wanted it--until the after-Mass prayers were finished. Then she was able to notice a small table had been set up just inside the altar rail--a table like the altar in the common-room--and she knew this was the beginning of the Communion of Promise. But . . . should she give it, or should Mike or Sis? She glanced at them, got the thumbs-up from Mike, and took a deep breath. Addressing the entire congregation, she gave a brief explanation of the Protector--what she understood, at least--and the Families. She could see doubt on several of the Householders' faces as she described them, mixed with revulsion at her bloody state. She could understand that, from civilians; the Enforcement people, to her relief, seemed more intrigued and willing to believe her. "All of my team, myself included--and a few others--are Sealed to the Protector, with Captain Odeon and Lieutenant Chang as His or Her chief priests." She paused, cocked her head, then smiled. "To simplify things, I'm going to use the male pronoun; just remember the actuality could be either." She paused again, sobering. "Under their authority as His representatives, I invite those of you who wish to support Him, giving up the ability to sin when He comes into the open and you can be Sealed, to come forward and take His Communion of Promise."