When he and Cortin got to the common-room, it took an effort to let himself be embraced and kissed; it was impossible to return either more than perfunctorily, and he couldn't bring himself to touch Illyanov's offered hand. Their understanding and sympathy helped, but he felt distanced, remote--as if Shayan had stolen something in the process of breaking him. He looked around at them, shook his head. "Sorry, people. God willing, I'll get over this soon--but right now the only thing that seems to have any meaning at all is that I . . . don't feel like I'm worthy of you. Nothing else matters." "Which is foolishness," Chang said. "Natural, after what you have been through, but foolishness nonetheless. You will indeed get over it, as Joan and I have. Soon, as you say, if the Protector sees fit to aid you further--which would not surprise me, since He chose you as one of His first two priests." "In the meantime," Illyanov said, "I am intrigued by this ability Shayan has given you to dissolve his compulsions. Does it apply only to those he imposed on Miss Blackfeather, I wonder, or can you dissolve any of them?" The change of subject was a relief for Odeon. "I don't know," he said thoughtfully. "Either way makes sense. He wouldn't want me dissolving any except hers, but he probably only used one technique for all of them, since he didn't know--then--that he'd be giving anyone the ability to eliminate his tampering. We'll have to find out, when we have someone else who's been conditioned." "And I'm intrigued by what he called mental speech," Bain said. "His touch wasn't exactly what I'd expected--more awesome than repulsive, until he started working on Mike. And can you imagine how much more convenient it'd be if we could communicate that way? Especially in action?" "He said if I survived, that would be just the first taste of mental speech," Odeon said. "I don't know if he meant just me, or the Family, or the Protector's Sealed--I wonder. Dave, do you think his using it with the two of us could've sensitized us enough we could use it without him?" *I don't know,* Bain replied silently, *but it's worth trying. Can you hear me?* "No need to shout," Odeon said. "I heard you fine." He looked around at the rest. "Anybody else pick it up?" Cortin shook her head. "Not me." "I heard nothing either," Illyanov said. "That is unfortunate; it could have been useful." Cortin frowned. "It sure would. Sounds like it's something he does to you by touching your mind, maybe sort of a side effect. What he did to me was purely physical, but--Sis, he mind-touched you; did you hear Dave?" Chang nodded. "Quite clearly." "I think I'm jealous--for the first time, I wish he'd mind-touched me." "Never wish for that," Odeon said grimly. "It's a horrible sensation, though the mind-speech itself isn't bad."