"Good. Sis, how soon can we move him someplace more comfortable?" "When he stops trembling--a few minutes, I should say." "Will it be safe to take him upstairs, or should I have a bed brought down?" "It will be safe." Chang smiled. "His hurts are not life-threatening, though he will be easily fatigued and probably uncomfortable for three or four days. Possibly longer, though I would be surprised if he is not fully recovered within a week." They had Odeon upstairs and settled in his own bed by the time Illyanov arrived, and the entire Family--the rest awakened by the commotion--was gathered in the common-room. Bain had told them he'd really rather not have to go through the story more than once and Cortin had agreed--his distress was obvious--so it wasn't until she'd apologized for getting Illyanov up on what now looked like an unnecessary errand that Bain explained. As Cortin listened, she got coldly angry. Shayan was Evil personified, true, but that gave him no right to torment one of the Protector's priests! Kill him, yes--they'd all die, and Service personnel didn't expect an easy death--but not subject him to agony for no reason except the sheer pleasure of it! She was the one who was supposed to face Shayan--and while the thought frightened her, she'd prefer it to having her people do so. When Bain finished, she said as much. "Not that he had any choice under the circumstances, of course," she added. "But try not to get into similar circumstances, would you all?" "We will try," Chang said. "However, we may have no more choice in the matter than Mike was given. And you should be in no hurry to face him." "I didn't say I was in a hurry," Cortin said. "It might be a good idea to get it over with, though. I won't win, but I might weaken him enough the Protector will." "You must not act prematurely," Illyanov cautioned, frowning. "You have not found all the Protector's staff yet, and there may be other things equally necessary to prepare His way." "Not act prematurely!" Cortin snorted. "At this point, I don't really feel like I'm acting at all, much less prematurely!" "If you consider leading an attempt to completely restructure society, extracting information vital to fighting terrorists, and preparing for the Final Coming, to be not acting, I will agree. Otherwise, I would suggest you remain cautious; direct action against Shayan, unless unavoidable, is the Protector's prerogative."