I can speak of that public deceit now in this private record； but at the time； communicating that secret was a death…crime for even the
highest lord of the Imperium。 I was not about to break that confidence。 I am an inquisitor and I understand how fundamental it is to
maintain public order。
IN ADDITION TO fatigue and the pain of my wounds； what darkened my mood was the news about Gideon Ravenor。 Now； of course； we
all understand what a priceless and brilliant contribution he was to make to Imperial learning； and how that would never have
happened if he had not been confined to a life of mental rumination。
But back then； in that stinking hospice ward off the Street of Prescients； all I saw was a young man； burned and crippled and
physically paralysed； a brilliant inquisitor ruined before he could fulfill his potential。
Ravenor； in the eyes of some； had been lucky。 He had not been amongst the one hundred and ninety…eight Inquisition personnel killed
outright by the crashing fighter that fell into the Great Triumph beyond the Spatian Gate。
He； like fifty others； had been caught on the edge of the explosion and lived。
My pupil was barely recognisable。 A blood…wet bundle of charred flesh。 One hundred per cent burns。 Blind； deaf； mute； his face so
melted that an incision had been made in the fused meat where his mouth should have been so he could breathe。
The loss touched me acutely。 The waste even more。 Gideon Ravenor had been the greatest； most promising pupil I had ever taught。 I
stood by his plastic…sheeted cot； listening to the suck and drool of his ventilator and fluid drains and remembered what Commodus
Voke had said in the arbites sector house on Blammerside Street。
'I will make amends。 I will not rest until every one of these wretches is destroyed and order restored。 And then I will not rest until I
find who and what was behind it。'
Right then； there； for Ravenor's sake； I made that promise to myself too。
At that time； I had little idea what that would mean or where it would take me。
I RETURNED TO the Ocean House at last on what would have been the ninth and final day of the Holy Novena。 There was no one to
greet me； and the place seemed empty and forlorn。
I stalked into my study； poured a too…large measure of vintage amasec and flopped down into an armchair。 It felt like an eternity since
I had sat here with Titus Endor； worrying over speculations that seemed now so insignificant and remote。
A door opened。 From the instant chill in the air； I knew at once it was Bequin。
'We didn't know you'd returned； Gregor。'
'Well； I have； Alizebeth。'
'So I see。 Are you alright？'
I shrugged。 'Where is everybody？'
'When the…' she paused； considering her words。 'When the tragedy occurred； there was a great public commotion。 Jarat and Kircher
took the staff into the secure bunkers for safety； and I locked myself away with the Distaff in the west wing； waiting； hoping for your
call。'
'Channels were out。'
'Yes。 For eight days。'
'But everyone is safe？'
'Yes。'
I leaned out of my chair and looked at her。 Her face was pale and drawn from too many nights of fear。
'Where's Aemos？'
'Outside； with Betancore； Kircher and Nayl。 Von Baigg's around too。 Is… is it true what we've heard about Gideon？'
'Alizebeth… it's…'
She crouched down and put her arms around me。 It is difficult for a psyker to be hugged by an untouchable； no matter how long and
close their personal history。 But her intentions were good； and I tolerated the contact for as long as seemed polite。 When I gently
pushed her back； I said； 'Send them in。 In fact； send everyone in here。'
'They won't all fit； Gregor。'
'The sea terrace； then。 One last time。'
SITTING OR STANDING around in the lime glow of the sea terrace； the numerous members of my faithful band looked at me expectantly。
The place was packed。 Jarat had fussed around； bringing out drinks and sweetmeats until I had pressed a glass of amasec into her
gnarled hands and forced her down into a chair。
'I'm closing the Ocean House；' I said。
There was a murmur。
'I'm retaining the lease； but I have little wish to live here any more。 In fact； I have little wish to be on Thracian any more。 Not after
this… Holy Novena。 There seems no point maintaining a staff here。'
'But； sir； the library？' Psullus said from the back。
I held up a finger。
'I will take up a contract arrangement with one of the hive accommodation bureaux to keep the house in working order with servitors。
Who knows； sometime I might have need of a place here again。'
I refilled my glass before turning back。
'But I wish to move my centre of operations。 It's compromised； if nothing else。'
At that； Jubal Kircher looked into his cit…juice uncomfortably。
'I wish to relocate the household to the estate on Gudran。 Its environment suits me better than this… hive…hell。 Jarat； you and Kircher
will supervise the packing and organisation for the move。 I would like you to undertake the duties of head of household at the Gudrun
estate； if you are willing。 I realise you have never been off Thracian。'
She sat forward； her eyebrows raised； considering this sudden change to her life。 'I… I would be honoured to do so； sir；' she said。
'I'm pleased。 The country air will do you good。 The estate is managed by a caretaker staff； so I'll need a good housekeeper； and a good
chief of house security。 Jubal… I'd like you to consider that job。'
'Thank you； sir；' said Kircher。
'Psullus… we're going to transplant the library permanently to Gudrun。 That task is yours； as is the ongoing duty of being my librarian。
Can I entrust you with it？'
'Oh； yes… there will be problems； of course； the handling and care of certain shielded texts and—'
'But I can leave it with you？'
Psullus waved his frail hands at me in a gesture of excitement that made everyone laugh。
'I know this wholesale move will take months to manage and carry out。 Alain… I'd like you to supervise and oversee the whole thing。'
Von Baigg looked suddenly awkward。 'Of … of course； inquisitor。'
'This is a weighty task； interrogator。 Are you up to it？'
'Yes； sir。'
'Good。 I will return to the Gudrun estate no later than ten months from now。 I trust it will be the home I expect。'
It was a promise I would fail miserably to keep。
'What of the Distaff； sir？' asked Surskova。
'I want to divide that；' I said。 'I want six of the best Distaff members sent to Gudrun to bide there at my wishes。 The future of the
Distaff itself I see as separate from my living arrangements。 I have a lease on a spire…top residence on Messina。 That will be the new
official home of the Distaff。 Surskova； you will supervise the move and establishment of the untouchable school there。'
She nodded； shocked。 Bequin seemed taken aback。
I looked round at the hundred…plus servants； warriors and aides crammed into the room。
'That's it。 Until I see you all again； may the God…Emperor protect you。'
I WAS LEFT alone edea and Nayl。
'Not for us the chores of moving house；' I said。
'I had a hunch not；' smirked Medea。
'For us； two missions。'
'For us？' asked Bequin。
'Yes； Alizebeth。 Unless you think you and I are too old for such diversions？'
'No； I… I—'
'I've been too long at the back of things。 Too long relying on my capable staff。 I yearn for field work。'
'The last field work we were in nearly got you killed；' scolded Bequin darkly。
'Proving that I'm losing my edge； I think。'
'For shame！' muttered Nayl with a smile。
'So we're going to have an adventure； all of us。 Just the few of us。 Remember what those were like； Aemos？'
'Frankly； I'm still not over them； Gregor； but yes。'
'Alizebeth？'
Bequin crossed her arms ill…humouredly。 'Oh； I'd just love to come and watch you get killed…'
'We're all agreed； then？' I said。 I can't help being deadpan。 Gorgone Locke made sure of that。 But my delivery was good enough to get
Nayl and Medea raucous with laughter and Aemos chuckling。
Alizebeth Bequin grinned despite herself。
'Two missions； as I said。 After this briefing； I'll allow you to recruit a few personnel from the staff。 Nayl … a fighter or two you can
count on。 Aemos … an astropath we can use without worry。 Alizebeth … one or two from the Distaff。 A maximum of ten in the party； all
told。 No more； you understand？ Argue it out between yourselves。 Don't bring me into it。 We leave in two days； and I don't want to
even hear about any arguments second hand。'
'So what are the missions？' asked Medea； lounging back in her padded chair and slipping her long legs over the arm。 She took a long
swig of her weedwine and added； 'You said two； right？'
'Two。'
I pushed a stud on a data wand in my hand and a hololithic screen fogged into life over the table。 The words of the message I'd
received before the start of the tumult on Thracian were displayed in shimmering letters： 'Scalpel cuts quickly； eager tongues revealed。
At Cadia； by terce。 Hound wishes Thorn。 Thorn should be sharp。'
'Shit！' cried Nayl。
'Is that authentic？' Medea asked； looking at me。
'It is。'
'God…Emperor； he's in trouble； he needs us…' Bequin murmured。
'Very probably。 Medea； you have to arrange transit for us to Cadia。 That's the first port of call。'
'What's the second？' asked Aemos。
'The second？'
'The second mission？'
I looked at them all。 '