Father Dorian bowed his head. “Your Holiness, apologies for ambushing you like this, but I was hoping you could spare me a few extra minutes?”
“We can talk about this next week. Unless this is urgent?”
The scrunch of Father Dorian’s nose and the sag of his shoulders suggested it wasn’t. “No, but, it really won’t take long…”
A flare of irritation made the Cardinal scowl. Father Dorian was the one in charge of intel-gathering, and while he didn’t personally go in the field, it was his department that had failed the Cardinal and indirectly led to his unsuccessful negotiations with the Asians.
“I am sure you are well aware how the discussions with the representatives went,” the Cardinal clipped, letting some bite in his tone. “I am disappointed, Father.”
“I… Apologies, Your Holiness. I will take care of this matter personally and have a file on your desk before the week is over.”
The Cardinal sighed. That file should’ve been with him before the meetings, but what was done was done.He needed to focus his attention elsewhere and make sure such a slip up didn’t repeat itself.
“We are doing important work, Father. God’s work. We can’t afford anything like this again, or we won’t meet our projected timeline.” The Cardinal stepped in, feeling the other man grow tense. “We are closer than ever to ridding the world of sin and we are both lucky to be part of that.”
Father Dorian’s eyes gleamed with pride. “We are, Your Holiness. It’s the greatest honor anyone can hope for.”
It was, and not just because it proved one’s soul was worthy of God’s grace. Being chosen brought opportunities beyond the spiritual, and the Cardinal couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead of him once the Holy Empire had taken the next step in its expansion.
With his help.
“You see then, Father, why you must prioritize this matter. We will go over budget next week as intended. I expect to hear an update from your department by then or not just I, but you as well will be answering before the messenger next time he shows up.”
A shiver racked through Father Dorian, draining some of the reverence from his eyes. “Yes, Your Holiness. I have already appointed extra personnel and fired those responsible. Something like this won’t happen again, I assure you.”
Of course it wouldn’t, because Father Dorian knew his position was on the line even if the Cardinal hadn’t said it out loud.
“Good.” The Cardinal smiled, but kept his look stern. “Now, if you will excuse me. I will see you next week.”
With his spirits lifted, he continued down the corridor, making a mental list of the things he needed done before the ambassador change in the Eastern-Pacific Region at the start of the new year. He felt in control again by the time he reached the gilded fountain gracing the inner gardens, so instead of continuing to his chambers, he crossed the green space and pushed open the great doors at its other end.
A slender figure sitting in a replica of God’s marble throne welcomed the Cardinal when he entered the Ordinance Hall. The messenger’s white wings were draped over the armrests like frilly feather blankets, fluttering slightly as their owner repositioned himself and rested his chin in one hand.
If the Cardinal was to describe him right now, it would be most accurate to say that he looked extremely bored.
“Cardinal,” the messenger’s honeyed but stern voice said, carrying a note of discernible annoyance. “God wants to know how your meetings with the representatives went.”
The Cardinal studied his visitor. He couldn’t see the messenger’s face well due to the elevated dais, but he couldn’t mistake that inflection or timbre of voice. This had to be Gabriel.
Anxiety stirred in the Cardinal’s stomach. Unfortunately, there was no good news no matter how he tried to spin it. The newly appointed diplomat for the Asian Federation’s Eastern-Pacific Region had simply been a bust. The Cardinal had hoped the man’s inexperience would make him easy to manipulate, but that had not been so regardless of what trick he had tried, thus leading to his current predicament.
It was a mere setback however, not an end to the grand mission God himself had bestowed upon the Church.
“I was expecting Jaoel,” the Cardinal hedged, feeling a little nervous to be in the presence of an Archangel.
Gabriel cocked his head in his palm. “Jaoel is indisposed, so I took over in his place.”
“Ah, that is unfortunate. The Church sends its regards,” the Cardinal responded, dipping his chin slightly. Gabriel waved on dismissively. “As for the representatives. They weren’t very forthcoming… Our progress has been temporarily halted.”
“How surprising.” Gabriel huffed out a scoff-like sound, his eyes flickering golden. Even if the Cardinal couldn’t make out the Archangel’s exact features, he knew the messenger to be beautiful. All angels were—narrow and slim with fair skin often decorated by golden or silver patterns and wings the purest white. Their faces were as if sculpted by the masters of times past and their voices always had a pleasant lilt to them.
“It is a setback, yes. But you can assure our Lord that we are doing our best so the upcoming visit of one of our most decorated agents will alleviate that,” the Cardinal rushed to say.
“In other words, you are working out an alternative approach?” the Archangel rephrased. “Very well. And the other matter Jaoel oversees?” He waved his free hand, indicating the surrounding space. “The soldiers. How is that coming along?”
The Cardinal smiled. “We’ll have the next batch ready for collection by the end of the month as scheduled.” He felt a thrill of accomplishment and pride climbing uphis spine as the messenger’s lips curved up in an approving sneer.
It took a weight off the Cardinal’s shoulders. He’d worried about the diplomatic visit and his failure to set his initial plan into motion, but fortunately, the other matter God had tasked him with was progressing as it should.
