Fear And Fire Part 24

Dozens of quick twinkling stars were falling down towards the Null Keep.

By the time the Shockwave of the first impacts reached them, they were safe in the canyons, and leaving LaHayn's mad dream further behind with every pa.s.sing second.

Through the chapel window, Verity could see the tower of the Lunar Cathedral, clad in flapping tar-paulins where the work crews were busy putting the hallowed church back to the state it had been in before the attack. On the streets, the newly appointed governor, Baron Preed, had softened the news of his predecessor's death by declaring a national holiday, and a bloodless one at that, lacking in any enforced t.i.thes. In part this was due to the hasty installation of a new deacon at Noroc's church, the moderate cleric-teacher Lord Kidsley. In the days that followed the obliteration of the Null Keep, news spread quickly about the perfidy of Lord LaHayn. His name was anathema now, icons of his face taken down and torched by the hundreds.

Privately, Verity held the opinion that only one death would never be enough to pay back such a base and self-serving man. Sister Miriya's thoughts on the subject had been predictably harsh, involving more profanity than was mannerly for a woman of the doth.

As if the thought of her brought her into existence, the door opened to admit the Battle Sister. She was without armour, still limping from her recent injuries, and yet she seemed no less imposing than the day Verity had first met her. They exchanged nods.

'I was not aware that Galatea had summoned you as well'

'She did not,' said Verity. 'I came of my own voli-tion.'

Miriya frowned. Why?

'I could do nothing less.'

The Celestian was about to say more, but the chapel door opened once more to admit the Canoness, and with her Sister Chloe, her acting adju-tant.

Galatea threw Verity a hard look. 'I had thought you would be off-world by now, Hospitaller.'

'Soon, Canoness. However, before I left, I felt my expertise might be needed here.

'No one is sick here, girl.'

'I speak of matters of truth, not illness. I am well versed in both.'

Galatea took up a place at the altar. 'Neva rebuilds,' she said at length. 'I have begun a series of purges among the ruling cadres to expunge any lingering traces of LaHayn's sacrilege. This sorry episode will resonate through this world's history for centuries to come... if indeed the planet survives that long. She gave Miriya a steady, unflinching stare. 'You proved me right, Sister. You brought me trouble... So much trouble.

That was never my intention.

She snorted. 'It never is. The Canoness pointed to the distant cathedral. The Synod want you executed, Miriya. Despite the part you played in terminating the heretic and the witch, your wayward disobedi-ence colours everything!' She banged her fist on the altar. Twice you openly defied me, and by extension, the Imperial Church!'

'I did what I thought was right. said the Celestian.

'Right?' snarled Galatea. You invite a death sen-tence. You place me in a very difficult position, Sister.

What am I to do with a woman who blatantly flouted the orders of her superiors?'

'Let her live. said Verity. 'Let her serve the church with the same honour and courage she showed at the keep.

Those things are meaningless without order. Chloe broke in. 'Each Sister serves as part of a whole. None of us are a law unto ourselves.

'I will accept whatever outcome the church decrees. Miriya murmured.'You would die?' snapped the Hospitaller. 'Even though you did what any loyal Sister would have done?'

Verity faced Galatea. This is how our faith tests us. Not by rigidly adhering to books of ancient canon without care or thought, but by placing us in harm's way and trying our resolve with challenges beyond our experience. If we are forever rigid and unbending, if we never dare to take a chance against our enemies, then what good are we to our Emperor?' Her pa.s.sion was sudden and heartfelt. We become nothing but mindless zealots locked on a course, blinkered and bound... like Viktor LaHayn.'

There was a long silence before the Canoness addressed Chloe. 'She's quite eloquent, this Hospi-taller.

Yes, I thought so. agreed the Sister Seraphim.

She sighed. 'I do not wish to see you perish, Sister. But nevertheless, insubordination cannot go unpunished.

Galatea's gaze rested on Miriya, and in a moment of cold familiarity, she repeated the words of LaHayn. 'There must be reciprocity.

The woman nodded. 'I understand.

The Canoness approached her. 'Sister Miriya, it is my judgement that you be stripped of all your honours within the order and your status as a Celestian elite, henceforth reduced to the line rank of Battle Sister. She took the chaplet ecclesiasticus from Miriya's belt loop and broke it, tearing off a handful of beads from the length before handing the mutilated rosary back to her. You will continue to serve the G.o.d-Emperor in the church's mission. Perhaps in time, if you temper your bouts of non-compliance, He may grant you the chance to regain these privileges. If not, then at least you may right and die in His name.

Miriya bowed. Thank you for your mercy, hon-oured Canoness.

Galatea turned away. 'The Mercutio breaks...o...b..t at ten-bell, Miriya. I want you aboard it when it does.

I will have enough to deal with in the coming days without you to concern me. Go now.

Verity could see the rejection wounded her, but she hid it well. 'As you wish. Ave Imperator.

Ave Imperator. chorussed the other women, as Miriya hobbled from the chapel.

Mercutio detached from the commerce station with elephantine slowness, the broad prow of the frigate turning away from the orbital complex to the open seas of s.p.a.ce. In the observatorium, Miriya was alone with her thoughts.

She felt conflicted: part of her was relieved that at last the debt she owed to Lethe and the others was paid in full, just as part of her felt isolated and morose at her dismissal and censure. The Sororitas was to take the Mercutio's journey to the port on Para-mar and there submit herself to the local convent for a new tasking.

Something in the ebon sky caught her eye. There were shapes moving out there, dark as the volcanic gla.s.s of the Null Keep. She crossed to the transparent dome to get a better view.

Black Ships. There were two of them, approaching Neva in a silent formation. The sight made her shud-der, it was almost unheard of for more than one of them to be seen at a single time.

They have come to pore over the materials and research left behind by LaHayn. said a voice. Miriya turned to see Verity, clad once more in her travelling robes, as she entered. They will take what they want and sanitise the rest.

The Sororitas did not question the Hospitaller's presence; she felt comforted by it. 'I find myself won-dering, Sister. What if LaHayn did have some flawed insight into the Emperor's works?'

'Perhaps he did. admitted Verity, 'perhaps not. It is not our place to know such things. At least, not yet.

One day, when He rises from the Golden Throne, all questions will be answered.

'Yes. Miriya made the sign of the aquila, watching the dark vessels pa.s.s them by.

"You have other questions. noted the younger woman.

'My destiny is clouded, Sister. For the first time in my life, I know not what my destination will be. She closed her eyes for a moment. 'I am unsettied.

Verity drew closer. Then, if you wish, I might offer a path to you. My duties in this system are at an end, just as yours are. I have already been given orders to join the mission of Canoness Sepherina, who jour-neys from Terra to perform a rite of reconsecration on the planet Sanctuary. You would be welcome to join me.

'I would appreciate that. She extended her hand. Thank you, Verity.

'I owe you my life, Miriya. I do it gladly. The Hos-pitaller took her hand and smiled.

Mercutio sailed on, amid stars as constant as their faith.

About the Author.

James Swallow's stories from the dark worlds of Warhammer 40,000 feature the Blood Angels books Deus Encarmine and Deus Sanguinius, as well as short fiction for Inferno! magazine. His other works include the Sundowners series of 'steampunk' West-erns, the Judge Dredd novels Eclipse and Whiteout, Rogue Trooper: Blood Relative and The b.u.t.terfly Effect. His non-fiction features Dark Eye: The Films of David Fincher and books on genre television and animation; Swallow's other credits include writing for Star Trek Voyager, Doctor Who, scripts for videogames and audio dramas.