The black rose chapter 34
The Inquisitor´s tech-priest examined the edge of the blade with a pair of stalked, yellow eyes. Fingers without joins, covered in metal stroked the edge like an artist inspecting a painted canvas. The tech-priest turned the blade around and inspected the other side with the same care.
Once finished with the review of the weapon, the blade was placed on a pedestal before being presented with a new handle, just as freshly made as the blade itself. Gently grasping the segmented fingers around the handle, the tech-priest gently inserted the blade into the handle until the two interlocked. With a mechanical accuracy, the tech-priest picked up the wires and cables that grew from the handle and connected them with sockets on the base of the blade.
"Your new blade, Palatine of the Talons." The tech-priest walked away from his creation in a hunched manner.
Emma let her fingers rest on the handle. Then they slowly wrapped around it. It felt a little lighter than she was expecting. She looked at the blade and saw the twisted reflection of her golden hair in the white steel. Pressing the rune with her thump, the blade awoke with blue lighting running across it and the screams of a thousand birds.
She turned off the blade and saw the tech-priest staring at the blade with pride and aw. "Good work, Tayber." Emma said.
"My thanks." He presented her with the sheath of the weapon.
Emma took it and let her sword slip in.
She was walking through the halls of the fortress when she noticed her. Black hair hanging lose on her head. Brown eyes.
"Johana." Emma said.
"Emma." She glanced down at the blade at her hip. "A new sword."
"Yes." Emma put a hand on the handle. "It´s not the only thing that's new."
Johana gave her a puzzled look.
"I am the new Palatine of the Talons." Emma said.
Something flashed in Johana´s. Something dark. Whatever it was, it appeared and disappeared by the time Johana blinked. She bowed before Emma. "My Palatine."
"Please," Emma asked. "Don´t call me that."
"What should I call you then?"
"How about you still call me, Emma, Sister Superior?"
Whether out of joy or terror, Johana looked like she was about leap into the air. "Are you certain?"
"Yes."
Johana bowed again, this time down to her knee. "I thank the Emperor for this blessing." She looked up at her sister. "But I cannot accept it."
Emma felt a stab in her chest. "Why not?"
"Because of the oath taken on my initiation. As per the wishes of my father, I pledged to rise in the ranks of the Sisters of the Hawk or meet death while slaying the vilest traitors to Imperium. I am tainted and unclean. I can´t rise in the ranks anymore. Only one thing remains for me now."
"I am a lying whore." Emma said. "And an agent of the Emperor´s will saw it fit to let me rise to the Palatine."
"Does he know?"
Emma knew exactly what Johana was asking for. The answer was simple. Just a single word. Or just a simple movement with her head.
Johana sighed. "He doesn´t. Does he?"
"No." Emma admitted. "He doesn´t."
"My path will end, Emma. I tried and I failed to live up to the legacy of my father. I can only hope to redeem his honor with my death." Johana turned and was about to walk away from her sister when Emma took her by the arm. She presented her with the sword.
"As Palatine of the Talons, I command you to take this sword. You may not return it until your duty is over. Lose it, destroy it or die, and you will have failed the Talons of the Hawk." Emma squeezed her arm.
Johana´s lips twisted. Emma could see her eyes starting to water but nothing escaped them.
Accept it. Emma felt her lip trembling.
Johana took the sword and Emma let go of her hand. "By the order of my Palatine, I accept this command."
"Good." Emma said, feeling her voice hardening. "Tomorrow, at the execution, you will present me with your sword."
"I will, Palatine."
That night, Emma stared up at the black void in her room. The blanket was gathered up at her feet, she let the cold bite her skin. A gentle sigh passed her lips. One hand was pressed behind her head, the other was resting softly on her stomach. Two fingers tracing short circle on her belly. Beneath them, she felt a rock. A cold, black and hard thing pressing up against her chest. As she closed her eyes, she could feel it growing larger.
The air was filled with noise. Emma stood on a raised platform in the center of the courtyard, with a wooden stub serving as executioner's block. Johana was at her side, her own sword sheathed in her hands and Emma´s new blade on her hip. Behind her was Galatea and the Inquisitor. The crowd that filled the courtyard were both the Sisters of the Hawk and the Vlka Fenryka. The sisters were talking vividly between one another but in comparison to the wolves, they might has well have been whispering. The savage warriors released barks of laughter and talked in thick, bellowing voices.
Then silence slowly fell across the crowd like a ripple. It started in the far end and quickly traveled to the center before running to the far end. The sisters and the wolves parted as Sophia, accompanied with four of her sisters of the Wings marched forward. Even from were Emma was standing it was difficult to see anyone else but she knew what the Palatine of the Wings was bringing.
There he is. Emma saw him. The broken commander.
Jorno´s hands were tied behind his back. He was still wearing his uniform and coat. Stained with both blood and mud. Despite Sophia pushing him, Jorno kept his head held high and grinned on seeing Emma again.
Emma grasped her arm and tried to keep her face still but Jorno displayed his satisfaction all the same.
He climbed the platform and Sophia put him in front of the block.
Emma was about to reach for the sword when Galatea stepped forth.
"Jorno," Galatea said. "commander of the Iron Eagles, you have been found guilty of heresy against the Imperium of Man and the Emperor of Mankind. These are crimes without redemption. Your sentence is death by the sword." Galatea pointed toward Emma with her unbroken arm. "Do you have any last words?"
He blinked slowly, dried mud crusting on his eyelids. He looked over at Emma, then he glanced past her and looked at Johana. His entire face lit up with a sudden, arrogant delight as he calmly shacked his head.
Galatea gestured towards Sophia and the palatine pushed Jorno down to the block. Though there was no need for it, she held him in place. Galatea steeped aside to let Emma forth.
Emma drew her sword from Johana. She walked up to Jorno. Though she was eager to cut his head off, she stopped to utter the final words.
"I, Emma, Palatine of the Talons, am here to carry out your execution."
Jorno smirked, the contented edge marking the corners of his mouth. He said before closing his eyes and presenting his neck.
Emma raised her sword and let it fall.