him, the peasants gasped.
"God in Heaven," whispered Cassian into Antonina's ear, "he's never done that in his life." The Bishop was almost gasping himself. "It's why he's refused all the many invitations to Constantinople. He'd have to prostrate himself before the Emperor, or stand in open rebellion."
Michael rose. The peasants' murmurs died down.
"I have had a vision," he announced.
Utter silence, now.
The monk pointed to the Empress. Then, to Antonina.
"God has sent them to us, as he sent Mary Magdalene."
He turned, and began leaving. Halfway to the door, he stopped and bestowed a last gaze upon the elders.
The hawk, promising the hares:
"Beware, Pharisees."
He was gone.
Sittas puffed out his cheeks.
"Well, that's that," he pronounced. "Signed, sealed, and delivered."
He bent down to Theodora.
"And now, Your Majesty, with your permission?"
Theodora nodded.
Sittas stepped forward, facing the grenadiers. Spread his heavy arms. Beamed, like a hog in heaven.
"This calls for a drink!" he bellowed. "The casks await us outside! Your fellows—all the villagers—have already started the celebration! While we, poor souls"—a hot-eyed boar glared at the cowering elders, baring his tusks—"were forced to quell our thirst."
Once a village elder, always a village elder.
"The expense," complained one.
"We'll
"God in Heaven," whispered Cassian into Antonina's ear, "he's never done that in his life." The Bishop was almost gasping himself. "It's why he's refused all the many invitations to Constantinople. He'd have to prostrate himself before the Emperor, or stand in open rebellion."
Michael rose. The peasants' murmurs died down.
"I have had a vision," he announced.
Utter silence, now.
The monk pointed to the Empress. Then, to Antonina.
"God has sent them to us, as he sent Mary Magdalene."
He turned, and began leaving. Halfway to the door, he stopped and bestowed a last gaze upon the elders.
The hawk, promising the hares:
"Beware, Pharisees."
He was gone.
Sittas puffed out his cheeks.
"Well, that's that," he pronounced. "Signed, sealed, and delivered."
He bent down to Theodora.
"And now, Your Majesty, with your permission?"
Theodora nodded.
Sittas stepped forward, facing the grenadiers. Spread his heavy arms. Beamed, like a hog in heaven.
"This calls for a drink!" he bellowed. "The casks await us outside! Your fellows—all the villagers—have already started the celebration! While we, poor souls"—a hot-eyed boar glared at the cowering elders, baring his tusks—"were forced to quell our thirst."
Once a village elder, always a village elder.
"The expense," complained one.
"We'll