Kaida watched Reptile in the training quarters. He was sparing Brutaka, with training swords, but still deadly in the hands of Astartes, particularly now both Reptile and Brutaka were out of their armour. Each one of the Space marines had his own style of swordsmanship. Reptile was graceful and precise, and Brutaka was very direct and technical. Reptile's movements seemed to be perfect and beautifully formed while Brutaka's sword always traveled the shortest distance between blocks, parrys, attacks and counters. The training was being watched by several Astartes and humans, but the pressure of being watched was not phasing the combatants.

Kaida smiled to herself, at the absurdity of her thoughts, her old fire warrior trainer would laugh if she ever described close combat as graceful.

At the core of it though, she was just in awe of what she was witnessing, two gods of battle locked in combat. They had strength and stamina that only an astartes would possess, every strike they made with their swords reverberated around the room like a crack of thunder and they paused for nothing.

"They look good," came a voice from beside Kaida. Unusually, it was a woman's voice. Kaida looked round to see a woman dressed in similar Slaaneshi styled robes as herself. Similar and clearly above the station of a lowly slave, but Kaida had not seen her before.

"Yeah," said Kaida, "I love watching Reptile."

"I'm Xilthara," said the Woman, "I came here with the Silver Griffons."

"Good to meet you," said Kaida with a smile. Meeting Xilthara was different to talking with a space marine. She was on the same level, not only in terms of height, but also in terms of standing on the ship. For once Kaida felt like she was in the presence of a peer.

"You must be Reptile's tau," said Xilthara.

"Yeah," sighed Kaida with an awkward smile, "My name is Kaida."

"So do you fight?"

"What do you mean?" asked Kaida, "I went on the mission."

"I mean like this, up close, with a sword."

"I've never been very good at hand to hand fighting," said Kaida, "I was always taught to shoot them before they got close."

"Maybe we can do some training together some time?" suggested Xilthara, "We could both get better, you never know when you might need it."

"I don't think I would be any good."

"You never know," said Xilthara with a giggle, "with a bit of practice, we might be able to beat the space marines in a fight,"

"I don't think so," said Kaida, "Anyway, I don't have a weapon."

"You can find one, the dark eldar would have had something you can use." said Xilthara, "I found a really nice eldar sword earlier, it's a bit strange but it looks deadly sharp. I think one of the marines must have left it but it was just lying around in the mess hall so I guess it won't be missed."

"I guess a little training won't hurt," said Kaida with a smile. "It might be fun. What do you think of the Marines' sword skills?"

They continued to watch Reptile and Brutaka duel, "They are really good swordsmen," said Xilthara, "but I think Pantaleon would be able to match either of them."

"You mean the terminator champion?"

"Yes, he is a master swordsman, you don't get to be a leader of terminators for nothing," said Xilthara, "back when we were with the Silver Griffons, stories about his sword skills were legendary. I think he could beat Reptile."

Kaida didn't think so, Reptile was the best with a sword, she just knew it, "Look at how Reptile can move though, you can't move like that in the big terminator armour."

She turned back to watch the fighting, Reptile swung his sword hard and knocked Brutaka's blade into the ground, and with a simple kick to Brutaka's ankles he pushed his opponent off his feet with his hand.

"Another fine training session," commented Brutaka, on his back.

"You're calling an end to it already?" asked Reptile offering his hand to help him up.

"I'm tired," claimed Brutaka.

Reptile smiled as Brutaka took his hand to pull himself to his feet, "You lie."

"I do," admitted Brutaka sharing the smile.

Reptile turned to Kaida and Xilthara, "Kaida, you were talking about Pantaleon?"

"Xilthara said that he would be able to beat you in a fight."

"You think so?" asked Reptile with eyebrows raised as he approached Xilthara.

Xilthara unflinchingly said "Yes, they say he single handedly killed three Ork warbosses at the same time."

Reptile chuckled at the thought "You think I fight like an Ork?"

Xilthara began to shake and slowly move back away from the hulking space marine. "No, no, that's not what I mean…"

Reptile called over to a marine that was standing nearby. "Ermine, this woman believes Pantaleon would best me in swordsmanship. You have seen him fight, what do you think."

Ermine walked over to Reptile from where he was observing the fight, "I think it would be very close."

"I think you're right," agreed Reptile, "a sergeant of terminators is sure to be a fine swordsman." He went over to one of the benches, and carefully slid his training sword into a beautiful purple and gold sheath. He then turned back to Ermine and the two women and said, "But perhaps not, there is no passion and no feeling behind what he does, he lives his life by the drills he has been forced to perform for centuries."

"He doesn't like you much either," commented Brutaka from a nearby bench.

"No, he does not approve of my companion," explained Reptile, smiling down at Kaida "I think he should learn the ways of Slaanesh." He gave a quick glance back to Brutaka who gave a knowing grin back.

"I don't understand," said Ermine.

"How can one have the passion and feeling of a true master of the sword without knowing some passion and feeling from another source?" asked Reptile rhetorically.

"I still don't…"

"He has so far been unwilling to accept Slaanesh into his way of life, what I want is to offer this way of life to him in a way that he could not refuse. If even a tau can learn the passions of Slaanesh, then so can Pantaleon"

Ermine went silent.

"Brother Mikah," requested Reptile, another marine who was near nodded in acknowledgment, "I want you to do something for me."

Mikah began to smile in anticipation for what Reptile was going to tell him, "I want you to go down to the eldar and find a suitable gift to present to our dear brother, Pantaleon. When you find one, I want you to leave it in his quarters. Will you do this for me?"

"Of course," said Mikah, "I think I should bring Ermine with me; it will be a good education for him."

"Good idea. Now go and find the best for our new brother, we don't want Pantaleon to stay dry for ever."

"Of course not," said Mikah with a grin. He turned to leave and Ermine followed.

"I think you will find out who is the best fighter between us soon enough," said Reptile to the two women as he turned away to gather his things.

Xilthara leaned in close to kaida and whispered in her ear, "do you want to come with me? We can have a bit of fun ourselves?"