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Page 326
cepted that angry warning with a whole heart?"
Alinor sighed with relief. "That sounds more reasonable to me. It is like John to wriggle his way out of a mess of his making by claiming that God helps him."
"I am not sure God did not," Ian said soberly. He shrugged at his wife's startled expression. "My love, I have told you over and over what our state should be if John would be deposed or be killed. I do not love the king. I doubt that even the infinite love and compassion of Jesus and Mary would be sufficient to embrace John as he is. However, I do believe that the people of this land are beloved of God, the Son, and the Mother. Would the Holy Ohes abandon us all to chaos, to unending war and blood and death, only because they disapproved the actions of one man? I know the priests tell us it is not for us to question or understand the ways of God, why, for instance, pure babes die and evil men live and flourishbut this matter is so very"
"Yet the people have been sore punished by the interdict for the king's fault," Alinor interrupted rebelliously.
Ian touched her hair gently. "No man or woman is sinless," he said softly. "God knows we all deserve a whipping, and the interdict is a light lashbut that is no matter. I do not ask you to believe in a miracle if you do not wish. What is important is that I think John believes it. Setting aside the time of arrival of the messengers, which John may well have arranged, he is convinced that God intervened to protect him."
"He would be." Alinor snorted lightly with contempt. "And doubtless next he will convince himself that God's help was owing to the modesty and perfection of his past behavior.
Ian grinned at her, but shook his head. "There you are wrong. I think John has learned a sharp lesson. Unfortunately, I do not know whether it is the right lessontime alone will tell thatbut there are already some excellent results. John has sent a message inviting Stephen Langton and all the exiled bishops to return. He will restore their prop-

 
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