A rescue that is not a rescue…
A security guard interrupted Megal and Sarita’s report to Francos about their meeting with Valentino. “Ser Francos, there is a crowd coming toward the Residence yelling and screaming. “It looks like they are chasing someone.”
“I’ll go look off the deck,” Sarita said. She went up the stairs the roof above the open area in the harem. There was a man running up the hill. It was a priest from his clothing, and the crowd was quite large. He seemed to be heading for the steps of the Residence. Sarita recognized him and began to laugh.
She hurried down to Francos, who was resting in the shade. “It is Keeper Malfe, and the crowd is very large, women chanting something about running and blood.”
“Much as I don’t want to, we will have to protect him,” Francos said.
Megal took the security guard and went to open up the main entrance to the building. Fortunately, the street narrowed in front of the Residence, so fewer of the crowd could follow the besieged priest to the top.
“Help me, they are mad,” Romerie said. “They have lost their minds.” He panted as he reached the steps. Megal grabbed him and pushed him into the arms of a guard. “Take him to the empty root cellar and lock the door.”
“What, you can’t…” Malfe was drug away by the guards. Megal called out loudly to the crowd to stop. When the first of the women came right to the lowest step, the security guards wanted Megal to withdraw, but he knew this was too important. He had to speak and calm them.
“I am Megal Morales. My father is recovering from the attack at my wedding. This man who has caused so much damage to our people is now being locked in our cellar and will remain there until the Church and the House of Justice can determine a suitable punishment for him.”
He projected his voice so he could be heard to the edge of the crowd at the bottom of the hill. “His murder of our infants has touched all the families, from ours to the lowest unaffiliated mother. My father and I mourn as many of you are mourning. We are a civilized people.” Megal’s words were having an effect. The crowd had gathered closer to the steps of the Residency.
“We Humanos Verdaderos,” he added, “the true humans are people of laws and justice by a court, not justice by a mob. Please return to your homes and let us begin a time of mourning for our lost children.”
A woman at the front of the crowd called out. “How can you understand when you have no children?”
“I was told just as you were that these deaths were necessary to protect our people. They lied to all of us and that makes me angry. The lies will stop now. The House of Morales gives you its word.”
Francos had been listening and when Sarita saw his eyes fill with tears, he smiled at her.
***
Because the Keepers of the Blood were part of the church, Malfe and his staff were turned over to the Poh for discipline. The hearing for Malfe and his staff was held quickly because there was so much evidence to convict Romerie and he did not deny the charges. Two of his assistants protested his imprisonment and were added to the group in custody. Many of those who worked for the Keepers of the Blood were shocked when they learned there was no genetic screening equipment, only political decisions by Malfe and selected staff. The Poh and Simeo Path ruled Malfe and his two assistants would be sent to the Casa Penitencia for the rest of their lives. The convicted men’s statements at sentencing made it clear. They had no regret or apologies for what they did.
To insure they remained in the Casa, Francos directed his security people to work with the monks at the Penitencia. While the monks were not happy about the changes, they realized setting up a special area for the miscreants was necessary. A few family heads had expressed agreement with the infanticide. The notion was as old as the Roman Empire, said one. The man caused the child — why could he not destroy the child? An attack to free them was possible and had to be protected against.
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