Part 9 (1/2)

'No. Verity shook her head. 'You hold no blame. In some strange way I am pleased that I could look Vaun in the eye. At least now I can give a form to the pain in my heart.

'You should return to the mission of the Order of Serenity. Last night's attack will change things here, and I foresee that the bloodshed and turmoil will only increase.'Thank you for your concern, Sister Miriya, but I refuse. Don't think me a delicate flower just because I bear no sword or bolter in my duties. My Order has served on hundreds of h.e.l.l-worlds and battlefields. I know the face of horror well enough.

The other woman's head bobbed. 'As you wish. For a moment she was silent, studying the Hospi-taller.

'But Vaun... He did speak to you, didn't he? Your answer to Venik's question-'

'I was not entirely forthcoming. Verity looked away. Yes. He... He told me Lethe's death was just a matter of course. Nothing personal.

'A convenient excuse for his kind. How else could he commit such acts of barbarity and continue unfettered by guilt?'

Verity looked up at her, at eyes that were surpris-ingly gentle in such a hard face. 'But you have killed...

And now so have I.

And look how keenly we feel it, Sister. This is what separates us from the heretic, the alien. We fight and kill because we must, not for glory or the sport of it. Each death we inflict serves a greater cause.

The Hospitaller nodded. 'Of course, you are right. Forgive me if I seem irresolute, it is just that... these days have been most testing for me.

Miriya extended a hand to the younger woman. 'Look to the Emperor, Sister. Whatever clouds your vision, He will be there.

Verity's gaze turned inward. 'If there was ever a day I needed His guidance, this would be it. There is more that I did not reveal to Dean Venik. Vaun gave me a warning before he fled.

The Battle Sister sneered. 'His threats hold little sway over me.

'No, you misunderstand He spoke of the lord dea-con. Vaun said that Lord LaHayn was guilty of crimes far worse than any he had committed.

'Sedition and lies. Miriya spat out the denial instantly, although with less conviction than she should have.

The witch was trying to sow dissent in your thoughts.

Verity met her gaze. 'I have attended many inter-rogations in my service and seen many confessions and denials. I know lies when I hear them. What I saw from Torris Vaun was the truth, at least from his point of view. He believed it.

'What a heretic believes counts for nothing. said the Battle Sister, 'and were you to speak of this to the dean or anyone else, you might find an interrogator turning his skills to you.

'I have considered that, even entertained the idea that Vaun might have forced some seed of doubt into my mind with his freakish abilities. But all I can think of is that this witch spoke the truth to me while Lord LaHayn did the opposite at the cathe-dral.

Her words brought Miriya up short and her eyes narrowed. 'He is a high priest of the Imperial Church, the voice of the Holy Synod. It is within Lord LaHayn's remit to deny us whatever facts or truths he feels are in our best interests. Despite her reply, Verity could tell that the other woman was not convinced by her own argument.

'Why do that when by his own command he charged us to pursue this man? You heard the dean a moment ago. We are promised help in one breath and denied it in the next. Make no mistake, I want Vaun to pay for his misdeeds - but I cannot escape the fear that there is much more at play in this matter than we know of. There are falsehoods and secrets shrouding us, Miriya. I know you think the same.

For a long moment, Verity was afraid the Battle Sister would give a sharp denial or censure her for such doubts, but instead the Celestian's head bobbed in regretful agreement. 'Aye. Curse me, but aye, I feel it as well. There are too many questions unanswered here, too many things averted from close scrutiny.

Verity sighed. 'I am conflicted, Sister. Where does our duty lie?'

To the church and the G.o.d-Emperor, as it always was. But I see the real question you are asking -does Neva's deacon serve Him as well, or is there another agenda at hand?'

She shuddered. 'I dare not even voice such a thing.

Then prepare yourself. Miriya said darkly, 'for a time may come when you must do more than that. Never forget that the price of vigilance requires we watch those who march under our banner as well as those who stand against it.

'I pray it will not be so. Verity got to her feet, test-ing her injured arm. 'What are we to do now?'

'I believe you said something about the Adminis-tratum?' The Battle Sister raised an eyebrow.

'But the dean said the enforcers-'

The enforcers are nothing more than armour-clad night watchmen. The day I accept the second-hand words of their investigators is the day that Sol burns cold in the sky. She walked away. 'I must attend to the welfare of my squad. In the meantime, I suggest you might use the confusion of the day to visit the hallsof records and look for these facts that may help us find our quarry.' Miriya paused on the threshold. That is, if you truly do wish to remain here?'

”You ask me to defy the dean.

Miriya gave her a quizzical look. 'I have done no such thing. The dean merely said that the enforcers have already checked the records. What harm can come from a second examination? Just to be sure?'

Verity threw her a wooden nod. For better or worse, she suddenly understood that a choice had been made in this small room that could d.a.m.n them both.

With a sharp backhand slap, Vaun sent the medicae scuttling away from him. 'Go on with yourself, now.

I've had enough of your fussing. He tested the places on his face where small cuts were daubed with blobs of healing gel. 'Like a thousand paper cuts. he grimaced, glancing up as Ignis approached him from the creaking gloom of the barge's hold. 'What now?'

The younger man saw the thought forming in his mind and handed him a lit tabac stick. Ignis had been muted since they returned to the boat, ill at ease over Rink's sudden absence. The two of them had been friends, or close enough. 'He's here. said the youth, without preamble. 'Brought his aeronef right down on the deck. He pointed at the steel roof above.

Vaun took a long, hissing drag on the tabac and stood up. That was what all the commotion was about, was it?' Here in the barge's makes.h.i.+ft sickbay, Vaun had heard the clatters and shouts of the crew-men. They were all afraid to be carrying the witch and his cohorts but they had been paid very well. He spat, hard.

'Idiot. Why can't he just be a good lit-tle sn.o.b and play his role?'

Heavy footsteps were descending from the upper deck and Vaun sneered, taking another puff. 'Watch me now. he told Ignis. This is how to handle this kind of man.

The sickbay hatch came open with difficulty, creaking and moaning. The new arrival was in dis-array, his fine robes smeared with soot and a little blood. He found Vaun and shook a fist at him. 'What... What was all that?'

The psyker put on a neutral face. 'All what, milord?'

The other man stamped forward. 'Don't you milord me, Torris. You talked to me about speed, about clean kills and surgical attacks. That...' He pointed in the vague direction of Noroc. That was nothing short of a military strike!'

Vaun threw Ignis an amused, comradely look. What did you expect? A few discreet murders and some swinging from chandeliers in the chapel, perhaps some disquieting deaths for the servants but nothing more?' In a rush, his face darkened and he swept towards the n.o.ble, bunching the cigarillo in his fist. You wanted power? Power has to be taken. Perhaps if your ridiculous legions of spies and soldiers had an ounce of sense, last night might have gone all the way. The church's stranglehold on Neva broken, LaHayn dead along with Emmel-'

'Emmel lives. spat the man. 'You couldn't even give me that!'

'Huh. Vaun paused, considering. 'But he'll be in no state to govern. I don't doubt LaHayn will fin-ish the job for me. He sighed. 'How amusing.

'Amusing!' The dam holding back the n.o.ble-man's rage broke. 'You wreak havoc and leave me exposed, and call it amusing! You crooked witch-freak, you have jeopardised everything-'

Vaun crossed the distance between them in a flash, swatting the man to the floor. The n.o.ble squealed and clutched at his cheek, where a fresh burn wound lay. The only thing in jeopardy is your complacency, baron. For too long you've played your stupid little rivalry with LaHayn like some regicide game, all polite rales and how-do-you-dos. He stamped out the tabac stick. 'It's not a silly diversion any more, Holt. I've taken it up a notch. Now it's a fistfight, a stabbing. A real feud.

'I'm not ready. whimpered the n.o.ble. There will be killing. War.

'Yes. agreed Vaun, 'and when it's done, when Viktor LaHayn is crucified in Judgement Square and you are in the governor's palace signing my pardon for all the good I've done for Neva, on that day you will be thanking me for making it happen. He leaned closer to Baron Sherring's face. 'For freeing you. After a moment he stepped back. 'Get to your 'nef and start making plans. It's time to tell the world what a bad man the dear old deacon is.