The black rose chapter 13
"You called for me." Derik used a still tone, a tone he used to hide any semblance of his intentions or emotions.
"I did." From behind his desk, Alfred stared at the Inquisitor with his murky, grey eyes. His hands where folded together, the fingers dragging his leathery skin on the backs of his hands towards the knuckles. "You sent an order to the Sisters and the Imperial guard forces. That they are to join forces in rescuing the Maid of Astryoa."
"Yes."
"Why?" The growl in his voice visibly strained him.
"Because I want the Sisters alive and in shape to fight by the end of this war." Derik let the tone of his voice harden somewhat. "You must have heard about the ambush performed by the heretics."
"I was the first to hear." Alfred´s palm sank to his desk.
"Then you know why I had to issue these orders. I cannot risk the Sisters falling before the Despoiler launches his crusade." Derik folded his arms.
"A crusade you´re not even sure is going to happened." Alfred´s eyes narrowed. "How often do you think the forces of chaos tries to gather enough forces to assault the Imperium?"
It was simple question for Derik to answer but he chose to withhold his hand and wait for what Alfred wanted to say.
"Every year, every month, every day. They are always trying."
Derik couldn´t help but be intrigued by what Alfred said. He possessed knowledge of the Eye of Terror most citizen did not know about. "And how do you know this?"
"Because I have fought at the Cadian gate. I have seen the forces of the dark gods. I know they are not a foe to be taken lightly but they are not a foe that can unite. The moment an assault is launched, they start infighting. Heretical space marines, cultists. They start killing both their enemies and each other to prove themselves in the eyes of their gods. And that is why the Despoiler will fail now like he as every other time he has tried."
"If you have fought on the Cadian gate, you know why the Sisters need to be there. You know what happens to those weak of will when they are exposed to the corruption of chaos."
"I have seen it with my own eyes." Alfred looked away for a moment. "I can see it more vividly then I see most things now."
Derik smiled. "With aided forces of the Imperial guard, this conflict will be ended and the Sisters will follow me to the Cadian gate."
"You speak as if they are already ours." Alfred snapped. "During the ambush, they fought of the heretics. Killed every last one of them, proving their worth and devotion to the Emperor." His brows sank and his upper lip raised. "And you would have them fight alongside the Imperial guard. Men who piss their pants when death approaches, rather than sacrifice themselves for the will of the Emperor. Tell me, Inquisitor of the order hereticus," The Governor's lip started twitching. "Why would they ever want to serve a man who forces them to fight alongside those who are not pure in faith?"
"We can only die once, Governor." Derik put his hands on Alfred´s desk and gazed down into the foggy greys of the Governor's eyes. "The Sisters can either die being slaughtered by heretics while they sleep. Undignified, unworthy deaths of the Adeptus Sororitas. Or they can die fighting alongside the Emperor´s chosen angels of death, killing the servants of the dark gods. I can grant them the later. I can grant the chance of seeing the Astartes with their own eyes. To spill both their own blood and that of our enemies while fighting alongside them. That is why they will fight under my command."
The grey eyes narrowed and the corners of Alfred´s mouth sank. "Soo, you think that will make them follow you."
Derik did not like the expression on Alfred´s face. He knew that whatever answer he gave after that remark, Alfred had a sure way refuting it.
"Yes." Derik said.
"You believe a promise and your word will make them follow you." Even with Alfred´s foggy gaze, Derik could feel the Governor trying to pin him down with his eyes.
"I am an Inquisitor." Derik answered Alfred´s gaze. "If my word, whether it be a threat or promise, could not be taken seriously, I would never be where I am today."
"More words." Alfred said. "Words will not make them follow you."
Derik´s eyes narrowed as well. "Words may be weak and deceptive but they´re still stronger than inaction."
The last word made Alfred´s face flare red. He rose so quickly out of his chair that he almost leaped out of it. "I am a vessel of Emperor!" He shouted so loudly that Derik thought he was going to faint after the first few words. "I am beacon of his light and wisdom! I have lead the Sisters to great victories and made them perform great miracles! That is why they follow my guidance and that is why they will never join you!" Alfred stared at Derik, panting and pulsing red as a string of saliva hung from his lower lip. "The Sisters of the Hawk belong to me and no one else!"
You´re stubborn. You´re narrowminded. You´re deluded. You´re- Derik stopped himself at the final word. It was word he did not want to use lightly. You might even be mad. Once, you may have been a strong and worthy leader of the Sisters. You may have lead them to great victories and aided them to the point of them performing miracles. But now, you´re a frail, broken man. And you are wrong. They do not follow you. Derik gave him a sharp look. They follow the Emperor.
"If that is true," Derik said with a still tone that subdued most of his anger yet kept it visible just underneath the surface. "why did the Sisters obey my orders?"
"Because they are naive." The tone of Alfred´s voice was like black tar, thick and slow.
Derik snorted. "You insult the Sisters."
The words shattered Alfred´s hardened face. In a flash, his brows sank and his mouth was left hanging.
Derik simply turned and left the room, leaving the Governor in silence.
Dammit. Derik cursed to himself once he was out of the room. Dammit, dammit, dammit. He put his gloved hand to his face and rubbed the skin on the nose bridge between his fingers. A grunt went over his lips as he walked through the halls.
I could have handled that better. Derik thought. But the Sisters must survive.