The evening was warm, fairly normal for an evening this early in the season. The heat would come soon enough. Summer on Crete, even in the mountains was an arduous affair. But for now, the Villa would enjoy a blissful prelude to the coming heat of the summer.
The Villa's gardens were immaculately manicured. Upon stepping down as the leader of the Brotherhood, Senor Sephardi had thrown himself into the management of the acre or so of gardens. The old man had played the role of ambassador for the Brotherhood and the Council a few times since his retirement, but mainly he stayed here, in the Villa.
The table set for dinner stood in the middle of a gazebo, near the entrance to the garden. The gazebo was built of a glossy brown wood and lattice, Rose bushes grew all around it, and their vines wound their way up and through the gazebo, so that it was almost enclosed in the bushes.
Miguel Sephardi sat waiting for his dinner guest. Clad in his now customary brown cloak, he held the walking stick that was his constant companion nowadays, rising to welcome the Pontiff as he saw him approach.
"Your Eminence, please join me." The old man said as the Pontiff entered the gazebo.
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