“It is-but if I were concerned with Little St. Peter we'd have taken that, too. Still… agents of Satan, you say?"
“Their women are wantons, their men cowards; their leader is a woman. The towns they ‘protect’ become soft and decadent. They have no faith-they insist their client towns accept any sort of heresy."
The Anointed nodded. “And your people intend to put a stop to these abominations?"
“With your help, yes."
“You propose to put an end to your plans for a war against my people?"
“We propose an alliance until the last of the People of Heaven is destroyed; I can't promise any more than that."
“And if I accept such an alliance, whose command would our armies fight under?"
John glanced at Peter and Habakkuk, then turned back to the Anointed. “That remains to be negotiated."
“I see.” He nodded again. “Is that everything?"
The True Worders looked at one another. “I think so,” John said."
“All right, then. You folks can wait in the yard; I need to pray and talk to my advisors. I'll let you know my decision before supper. God be with you.” He pushed his swollen body up out of the chair and plodded heavily from the room.
The Chosen guards herded the True Worders unceremoniously out before they could protest, out to the yard in front of the Anointed's house where rows of benches were available for petitioners.
After a moment of rebelliousness, John shrugged and sat down. He was in the enemy camp; he had no say here. He could not even use the standard diplomatic threat of war to demand better treatment, since what he wanted most of all was to avoid a war against the Chosen.
Miriam sat beside him, pressing up close; startled, John turned and looked at her, even as Habakkuk and the others, noticing her actions, discreetly took benches well away from the pair. She smiled winningly.
“What do you think you're doing?” he asked quietly.
“Oh, I'm just enjoying myself,” she replied in a near-whisper.
“You are?"
“Sure-I knew you were a coward and a hypocrite all along, and it's nice to have proof."
John felt his face going red, and glanced at Habakkuk. Habakkuk politely looked the other way; he had seen the red and assumed that his captain was blushing at something the girl had suggested.
“A coward?"
“Yes, a coward. You claim that you command an army of the Lord's own men, the only followers of the true religion on all Godsworld, but before you go up against the Heaveners-men you called decadent weaklings-you want to make sure you've got the help of the biggest bunch of heretics around. The big brave warrior!"
“They have machine guns,” he reminded her.
“A lot of good that did Marshside!"
Annoyed, he pushed her away and sat brooding silently.
The sun was well down the western sky when a messenger summoned them back into the Anointed's presence.
“I've decided,” the Anointed said without preliminaries, “that I can't afford to risk my people by getting them into a war that's none of our business. You may be right about the threat these heathens present, but we'll just have to trust in the Lord to protect us. We won't join your alliance.” He paused, watching the True Worders’ faces for reactions, then went on, “However, since these ‘People of Heaven’ may be a real threat someday, we will swear to remain neutral in any war you poor heretics may wage against them; we won't harm any of you so long as you fight the Heaveners.” He shifted in his seat and leaned forward. “In fact, we'd be glad to arrange a truce, whether you fight the Heaveners or not, so that our two peoples won't be weakened by fighting each other, such that the Heaveners could wipe us both out later."
John said, “I hope you'll reconsider…"
The Anointed interrupted him. “Boy, when I speak from this cathedra, it's final-I don't reconsider. You got that?"
John opened his mouth, then closed it again and nodded.
“Good. We've got a couple of rooms for you down the street; you stay there tonight, but be out of the city by noon tomorrow. Got that?"
John nodded again.
“Good. Thanks for coming; tell your Elders to send me a message if they want that truce, and I'll lay off you as long as you fight the Heaveners, truce or not. Now, get out of here, and God be with you.” He waved, then sat back and watched as the True Worders departed.
The rooms were in a boarding house, but the matron refused to serve heretics, so that supper consisted of cold trail provisions. After everything was eaten and the food had had time to settle John, Habakkuk, Peter, and Miriam gathered in one room to talk-or rather, the three men were to talk; Miriam was just there.
“I don't like it,” Habakkuk said.
“Which part?” Peter asked.
“Any of it."
“The truce offer isn't bad."
“It's interesting, certainly,” John agreed.
“It's a trick of some kind,” Habakkuk insisted.
“I don't think so,” John said. “The Chosen have been careful about treaties; they don't break them without provocation. I think that the Anointed means what he says."
“Why? A few months ago the Chosen were practically begging for a war, blocking our trade routes, taking hostages… why would they want peace now?"
“There's only one reason anyone ever wants to avoid a war, Hab; they think they'll lose. A few months ago the Chosen didn't know anything about our army; I would guess that they've learned a little since then. They may have spies, or maybe someone from Marshside talked to them. Or maybe it's something here in Spiritus; maybe there's been trouble in their army. Anyway, they think they'll lose if there's a war, that's plain."
“You're right, John-that's got to be it. And that's why they want us to fight the Heaveners-so they can take on the survivor while he's still weak."
John nodded. “I'd say so."
“But in that case, we need to attack the Chosen first; after we're done with them we can worry about the Heaveners. The Chosen are a lot closer to home, John, and truce or not, they've been our enemies for years, while the Heaveners don't even know yet that we exist. If we take the Chosen now, then take a year to rebuild, we should still be able to take on the Heaveners; but if we take the Heaveners now, as soon as they're defeated the Chosen will take us from behind, before we can get our men back across the New Jordan."
John shook his head. “I think you're right about most of that, Hab-but I'm not sure that we will be able to take on the Heaveners after a year's rebuilding. If we don't get them now we may never have the strength."
“You don't have the strength now!” Miriam spat.
The three men looked at her.
“You'll never take the Heaveners on; none of you have the guts. They'd blow you all to bits, squash you like bugs."
“Oh, shut up,” Peter said.
“Why? Will you hit me if I don't? You're all so brave against a woman, but when it comes to facing those machine guns you'd probably all turn and run! Where's the strength of your faith now? I thought God was on your side!"
“God is on our side,” Habakkuk said calmly, “but God helps those who help themselves. We mustn't depend on miracles; that would be the sin of pride. We can only accept them when they come."
“And if they don't come, you'll just let these Heaveners walk all over you? You won't defend Godsworld against the heathen unless you're sure you can win? Oh, I am just overwhelmed by your integrity!"
“Shut up, woman,” Peter said again.