"Sir, will you untie me, your holiness?" Bishop Julian slowly cut the bands off of his assistant.<br/><br/>"Were you mad? I could have been killed?" But Bishop Julian simply watched the woman walk away. "I didn't think she would do anything to you, but I wasn't sure. She's not an ordinary woman."<br/><br/>"That's what I've been trying to tell you" the assistant mumbled. "She's a ... " But Julian held his hands up not wishing to hear any more. "You are taken off this case. I will handle the case of Manuela for now; if she's a witch, she'll soon be discovered in the confessional. If she is not, I can only hope she ... " He watched her in the distance interacting with the child that had pointed her out. For a split second, it appeared Manuela turned to look at the Bishop, albeit briefly at the prompting of the girl. Perhaps it was just an illusion in his mind.<br/><br/>"I can only hope she forgives me. We need to put an end to the witch hunts and we need to let the gypsies live out in the pubic again. We did a disservice to the Jews, making them leave Spain. They say a people is not safe from benevolent dictators; soon they turn on the very people they pretend to defend."<br/><br/>But the assistant didn't want to listen any more. He stormed off.<br/><br/>***********************<br/><br/>Cardinal Francecso Bourbon read over the papers carefully while in his private quarters. A Bishop Julian Canaves of the smaller villages of Spain had quelled violence and corruption somewhat in the diocese, but he was also an outspoken critic of Rome's policies toward heretics and other unwanted elements of Spanish society.<br/><br/>Perhaps it was time to invite him to Rome; he was sure a feast at the Papal table and an explanation of the Church's true concerns especially in light of the recent Crusades would help to ... clarify what Canaves was supposed to be doing there.<br/><br/>************************<br/><br/>"That is not a sin" Bishop Julian told the penitent. "But, I shouldn't have thought of my brother's wife like that" the 'sinner' protested.<br/><br/>"And so you have done nothing about it? No sin. The more you dwell on what seems to be passing birds in your heads, the more you may do what you don't want to do. You need no penance; just a good breakfast with friends. Go to the monastery down the street and ask for Br. Damian. Tell him I sent you. They may be monks, but they eat well and they'll have you laughing in no time and you'll soon forget about these birds flying in your head. Err, say a hail mary before you leave, my child."<br/><br/>Soon, the penitent left, leaving Julian alone again. What a pathetic practice, Julian thought. People came to him far and wide; sometimes the confessional booth was more like a counseling session. Yet, once they got whatever it was that they felt they came for, they left. That was it; that was the extent of the transaction. Few cared if Julian lived or died; he was sure they could replace him with a monkey and no one would be the wiser.<br/><br/>Bishop Julian was more than curious if Manuela would visit; his encounter with her yesterday was something amazing. He had to do what he was told by his authorities; had he let all the witches go, it would seem as if he wanted them all. So he kept one, in case they asked him what he was doing about the problem of sorcery in his land.<br/><br/>But he supposed that was not the only reason he kept her; she had a gentle nature to her, forgiving. He wondered many thoughts through the night and some of them passed through his dreams. He wondered if he was keeping her because he was power hungry; no, but he did use his position of authority to keep her under house arrest anyway. Then he wondered if he was harboring romantic feelings for her; he didn't think so, though he felt she would make someone a very good wife one day. He wondered if he was lonely. He had read somewhere that every man needs to have one or two lady friends, even if they were platonic. Being a Bishop could be very lonely at times, especially with the type of policies Julian espoused. Another thought that passed through his head - was he going to be the teacher? Or was she?<br/><br/>Still, he would take his duty seriously. If she were a witch, he would find out about it. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he found out, but he was good at reconnaissance. Still, he couldn't help to think ... he didn't really want to be a Bishop today.<br/><br/><div class="inline-attachment">
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