The air filled with a silence for a little while. Julian couldn't think of anything more to say, it was just a waiting game to see what might happen next. He extended his hand to Manuela's in case she needed some comforting. He looked around and he could hear the drip, drip, drip of water in the very near distance.<br/><br/>Gradually, footsteps barely heard became footsteps barely concealed. There was a shuffling sound and Julian immediately tensed. He patted Manuela's knee, turned and winked at her indicating this may be show time, and turned back around just in time for the door to open.<br/><br/>One of the guards had opened the door and Sir John was behind him. "We've come to take the girl" the guard indicated. Julian stepped in front of Manuela and said "Then, you'll need to take me." The guard seized his weapon, but Sir John stepped in front of him. "I'll take her now so she doesn't have to watch this, and then you guys can fight."<br/><br/>Julian said "No. You're not taking my Manuela from me."<br/><br/>"Your Manuela? She's suddenly yours now? I think it's a little too late seeing you two could have just concocted a scheme to buy time. She's my girl. I've got orders to ship both of you to Rome unless one of you recants. But there's plenty of travel time, so I thought I would have a little fun first."<br/><br/>And in a split second, Julian slapped his assistant on the face especially hard, leaving definite red marks and slight blood drawn from the lips. The guard instinctively raised his knife, but Sir John stopped him. "Now this is the Bishop I like to see; not a pushover Bishop or a flower. Someone who knows he's a King and this Manuela and others like her are his subjects to do with as he pleases. Not endlessly reading books and showing pardon to the guilty. Do you recant and bring yourself back into the fold? Can we return you back to your rightful place on the throne?"<br/><br/>Julian hesitated, his head bobbing back and forth because he was both stunned and uncertain. But he knew he couldn't stay that way for very long, there was much at stake.<br/><br/>"Yes, I'm your ruler and I deserve the position I have." He slapped the lackey with his other hand.<br/><br/>"This I like a whole lot better; I would definitely serve you, your excellency. All I ask is a place at your table, and the disposal of this woman." He pointed toward Manuela.<br/><br/>"No; she's mine now. And when I say she's mine, I mean ... I wish to exercise my unspoken right to ..." But Sir John stopped him. "No, we probably shouldn't talk about it, I mean not in front of her. No doubt you and her discussed this arrangement?" But Bishop Julian retorted, "Absolutely not. She knows; I told her I don't deserve to be in such a pathetic dungeon with the likes of her ... unless, she wants me to make an honest woman out of her and she must abandon witchcraft."<br/><br/>The lackey smirked. "Fine, prove it." This is what Julian feared. He took a deep breath, a deep sigh, and moved closer to Manuela, ready to kiss her. He would have to make this good ...<br/><br/>But he wouldn't have to because Sir John stopped him. "No! I'm jealous of you, my Bishop. I want her, she knows it, I know it, you know it. I couldn't stand watching you kiss her. No, that's not how you are going to prove it. Instead, we will institute a tradition normally reserved for married couples."<br/><br/>Bishop Julian relaxed, thinking it was over. "Of course, her and I will definitely enjoy each other's company."<br/><br/>Sir John: "Well, that's a given. No, no, no.  I mean, the custom that those in royalty sometimes experience when people in their royal family are married, or other arrangements like this." Julian hesitated, then he said, "No, no. That would be unseemly." "Ahh, but necessary" John remarked. "You see, I'm going to believe you, that she is now your concubine. Give you a day, guard both of your rooms heavily. Tomorrow night, however ... we shall have the single females of the higher nobility come and watch your passionate night together. Then they shall report it back to me, and if what they say is true - then all is well. But if what they say is not true ... I don't know if you'll be in once piece on your way to the Pope. As far as I'm concerned, she's mine if she's not yours and how else will I know if she's yours unless the hopeful maidens of the castle who are longing for their own loves don't report to me what they saw during their training?"