– Present –
Janus
They found Vistenza Vyatt in a luxurious reception room, where her (very light) wounds were being tended to by her servants and her hair being restyled.
Elena had been asked if she wanted to see the governor alone or with her entourage. The simple question had soured her mood even more. Wherever she went, her entourage went. She did not go through the bother of putting up with her retinue's quirks to leave them behind on a whim.
She got irritated by the tiniest thing : the heat, a fly buzzing on the wall, the sound of footsteps echoing in the palace, the smell of the fruits overwhelming her. Something was off with her psychic divination abilities, like having a beast prowling through her mind at all times. In response, it overloaded her sensory impulses. Being too attuned to her surroundings may prove a blessing in order to survive ambushes and threats, but it was not pleasant, especially when it lasted. Still, her psychic gifts seemed to think that she was in permanent danger, thus putting her in a super-aware sort of state. It was exhausting, but she had to put up with it and keep a straight face.
The governor was busy studying a data-slate, her frows burrowing in an angry look, and snapping orders in her vox. Upon seeing her, she hurriedly put away her devices, smoothed her skirt, and stood up.
" Your Ladyship, accept my apologies for the reprehensible stunt that spoiled the reception ! Even in my worst nightmares, I could have never imagined - "
Elena gave her such a cold stare that Vistenza's voice died down on its own. Her maid of honor, standing by her side, bent in a graceful bow and made a reassuring gesture towards her mistress- one Vistenza quickly drew away.
" I don't want to hear your excuses, Lady Vyatt. One of your wardens helped us in the battle. A super shot. Who was it ?"
Hiding her anxiety, Vistenza replied, keeping her tone even and soothing :
" You must be referring to Yrliet, our chief ally in the struggle against the rebels. I have turned a blind eye to her horrific mutations given the undoubted advantages she brings. Yrliet comes from the local degenerate stock of this world and knows Janus like the back of her hand, so she has provided several leads as to where we can find bases and secret storehouses. Although I admit that at times I am tempted to send her away from the estate - her unnaturalness means that speaking with her always leaves me feeling uneasy. Such a gaunt, unfeminine figure, and so tall…"
Damn, Vistenza did really love to hear the sound of her own voice...and failed to notice the fact that the Rogue Trader in front of her was what most called a mutant as well. Elena couldn't repress a movement of frustration as her shoulders tensed. Now that she was a Rogue Trader, properly dressed and neatly groomed, somehow people forgot the creepy eyes and the elongated skeleton. Even her small mutations didn't seem so abhorrent when hidden under the golden luxuries of the von Valancius's pomp.
What Vistenza said caught Heinrix's attention, as he straightened up by her side, something flashing in his eyes. Without waiting for the Rogue Trader to continue, he interrupted the conversation on his own :
" Did I hear you correctly, Governor Vyatt", he asked", "you have a mysterious mutant on your estate at this very moment ? One of prodigious height, slight build, and with a supernatural talent for shooting ? Did the arrival of this helper never give you pause for thought ?"
Elena considered Heinrix. As always, it was hard to read in his expressions, but his unusual insistence was as much a signal to Vistenza as to the retinue. Now that he had reformulated Vistenza's choice of words, she thought again about her vision, and the tall figures in it. The figures she'd seen in her precognition pretty much matched Vistenza's description, marking this Yrliet as a key piece of the puzzle. Once again, it seemed to ring a bell to the Interrogator whereas she failed to infer the logical conclusion he had reached. It annoyed her that he was better than her at understanding her own precognitions.
Vistenza's eyes rolled over Heinrix's figure with calculation. It was hard to ignore the Inquisitorial's rosette on his chest. The governor replied, weighing her words carefully :
" Allow me to make myself clear : to refuse Yrliet's help in our circumstances would have been incredibly rash. Yes, mutants are creatures abhorrent to the Emperor and they should be exterminated, but sometimes Humanity makes exceptions for those who can serve the Imperium…"
" I am not concerned that your aide is a mutant. I am far more concerned that she may be nothing of the sort." Heinrix turned towards the Rogue Trader. " Elena ? I would like to meet this aide of Governor Vyatt's without delay. Out of professional interest."
All her retinue was paying attention to van Calox's sudden pique of interest in the situation. There were only a few reasons why an agent of the Inquisition would suddenly take the lead in a conversation, and they were never good news.
Elena acknowledged his insistence with a nod. " Of course. We shall see to it."
Heinrix somewhat relaxed, at least as much as it was physically possible for him anyway. He looked over at Vistenza like a cat would look at a mouse.
Vyatt added, hoping to prove helpful : " If you wish to speak to Yrliet, you will find her outside in the orangery, most likely by the garden. She prefers to keep her distance from others."
Suspicious indeed , Elena thought, but changed the topic. They would settle this Yrliet situation after that.
" Footfall's station is on the verge of starvation", she said. " Can Janus's provisions be sent there ?"
Vistenza's attention was back on her. " Yes and no, Your Ladyship. If the question is : can such an expansive and fertile world as this one feed a few thousand void rats ? - "
Elena didn't react to the slur, but she felt Abelard tensed awkwardly behind her. Argenta didn't seem to enjoy the governor's demeaning phrasings either, her arms crossed over her chestplate sternly.
Vistenza continued: " Of course it can - we lose more provisions to gnawings pets every cycle than those on Footfall could eat in their entire lives. But can we send said provisions to Footfall ? Not a chance. Any cargo shuttle that leaves the surface will be a target for attack - the rebels will not hesitate to bring it down, sending flaming debris over the capital. Our silos could become targets for sabotage - food could be poisoned or mined. The logistics of transporting supplies to Footfall will only be possible once the uprising has been completely crushed."
The situation was pretty clear already, but Elena asked anyway : " What's happening on the planet ?"
" Several months ago, uprisings broke out on Janus. I was not even notified at first : griping worms are for wardens to worry about. Alas, I only learned of what was happening after the miscreants began targeting noble families." The governor shook her head. " And then it became apparent that what the Administratum's account had referred to as 'unrest', were in fact organized attacks on infrastructure and society leaders !"
Elena could not believe her ears. It was the second planetary governor she met and the second one that just didn't see a rebellion coming. Why would Abelard think that this noble was competent ? It seemed to her that all she could offer were excuses and blindness.
" They have already brought 13 agri-complexes to a halt and have now moved to assassinations attempts. My wardens are doggedly tracking down the rebels, but their leaders are slipping through our grasp yet again." Vistenza smiled timidly. " Considering what has occurred, your visit is a true blessing. You see, Janus does not have its own fleet. We could organize a planet-wide search, if we had ships at our disposal…ships like yours, Your Ladyship ! Perhaps you will find a way to support your subjects in their hour of need ? I'm sure even approximate coordinates would be sufficient to have the ground forces and ship's crew work together to hunt down the enemy !"
Even her flattery annoyed Elena. She let the silence fall in for a few more seconds than necessary, radiating coldness and haughtiness. The tension rose in the room as the maid of honor, still bowing, slowly lifted her eyes to glance at her, something curious in her eyes. Why did it feel like the servant was…assessing her ?
" Rest assured that I will track down these elusive fugitives and handle the situation myself. As for you, Vistenza, you will not be permitted to fail again. I am removing you from your post as governor of this planet and I am placing you under arrest. When I have finished with the rebels, I will decide what to do with you."
The temperature dropped down in the room. Vistenza let out a ragged grasp as though she had been punched in the stomach. Abelard was looking quizzically at her. " Your Ladyship ! But…but I have served your dynasty faithfully and honestly. I have worked tirelessly to tame this unruly planet…" She stopped herself from going any further and nodded. " A-as you wish."
" Seneschal. Please see to my orders."
Wordlessly, Abelard bowed and went outside to speak to the wardens. He returned with enforcers from her ship. Vistenza sat on her chair, looking bemused and confused, as Elena's servants swept away her possession in the room and her enforcers started watching over her.
The Rogue Trader left the room, turned into a comfortable cell. The people from the governor's palace were now whispering, agitated. Everyone looked at her with either fear, concealed defiance and, yes, sometimes - amongst the lesser of the servants - traces of hope. Her retinue said nothing as they exited the palace into the sun. The news of the governor's arrest was traveling fast. Elena stopped to envision the place. Demoting Vistenza had made her mood slightly better. But the ceaseless tugging inside and sense of threat did not go away.
The sun was high up in the clear blue skies. It was rash on her eyes and skin. The wind blowed through the exotic plants covering the gardens. If she was in a better mood, she would appreciate the peacefulness of the decorum.
Abelard shook his head.
" Why ?" he asked simply.
There was a time when he would have confronted her much more openly. Incomprehension laid bare in his voice, but there were no underlying tones of defiance anymore. Abelard grew accustomed to her strange decision-making.
" I don't trust her", replied Elena sharply. " My precognition keeps warning me about her and about this place. Something's very wrong here."
Downstairs resonated the giggles of two servants washing linen into the fountain.
The Seneschal glanced at Idira, in the back, who was enjoying the warmth of the sun. The diviner shook her head slightly. Idira didn't have any voices warning her right now.
Argenta cleared her throat. " There is certainly something off here. Those rebels…they were very young. I have sometimes seen such young soldiers in my training. Upon their first fight, most of them are afraid. These ones…didn't seem afraid. They barely looked there at all. It looked like they were drugged, maybe. At least that's what I thought ", she said. From all of her retinue, having the Sister agreed with her hunch was unusual.
" I can agree. Either the governor is deliberately hiding things from you, and she's blind and incompetent. Whichever way is true, it would not do you good to rely on her ", added Heinrix. From him, paranoia was pretty much expected, so his intervention was less surprising. It did carry its weight around, though, as Abelard nodded slowly.
" I…see. We never had any issues with Lady Vyatt in the years she have served the dynasty…but it had been a long time, years, since we visited Janus." He paused, and added, turning towards the Interrogator : "You seemed quite interested in this "Yrliet." Why ?"
Heinrix remained stoic. " Let's find this person and you shall see", he simply commented.
Jae shook her head, her waves of brown hair cascading in the light. " Well, I bet this Yrliet won't show up if we go looking around with such a noticeable escort. Just the thought of an experienced trader here, shereen, but maybe we should split up the group ? There are enough leads to investigate here for all of us."
Elena agreed. Most of the time, it wasn't all her retinue accompanying her around. She was a bit superstitious and she disliked having more than six of them escorting her. She found that, beyond that number, they lost some flexibility and dynamism. Plus, there were always tasks to be overseen.
Elena dispatched Jae and Idira, sending them both to investigate the servants of the place and the local traders about the situation on Janus. She trusted their outward, extravagant and empathetic communication to breach through the natural distrust of low-born people towards a Rogue Trader's entourage.
Time to look for this Yrliet person.
They found the governor's aide by an imperial tent set up to watch over the garden. The whistling of the wind in the exotic leaves, lined with green and blue, made for a very agreeable ambient background.
The mysterious sharpshooter was posted near the tent, her gaze seemingly lost in the view of the planet. She was, indeed, very tall and gaunt - much more so than Elena or Cassia. From the viewpoint, Elena could guess at the shape of the jungle. The lush vegetal life seemed ever more pregnant and impressive from here. Downstairs, the servants were hushing around, barely lifting their heads for fear of punishment.
The mysterious aide barely resembled a typical human at all. She had an elongated body, slender limbs, and pointed features. Those features were easy to describe, and Elena had seen many voidborns bearing similar ones, but in this aide, it was…different. It was as if the voidborns were barely pale and failed iterations of this shape, like it had completely transcended human anatomy. It was unnatural and alien. The aide looked elastic, in a way that was not possible for human bodies. Like it had too many tendons and articulations. It was disturbing.
The creature- Elena could barely think of any other way to call it, since its inhumanity was blatant to her - turned its head towards her and her retinue. She spoke with a melodic voice, with the barest hint of a drawl :
" Yrliet Lanaevyss greats you, elantach."
It was the most beautiful voice she's ever heard. Elena stared for a second. A glimpse of vibrant red hair had slipped over the beige shawl of the sharpshooter, and in a flash, she was reminded of one of her visions. She was certain that it was her. She clearly remembered the figure now, how they were drawn to each other, fatefully intertwined in threads. Her heart did indeed speed up for a bit. For some reason, meeting this creature felt like meeting with an old friend…but it also felt like nostalgia, bitterness formed over things one could not forgive. Unconsciously, Elena's hand rested on her chest, as the old pain from Voigtvir's wound resonated in her body, drawing her to Yrliet inexplicably.
Heinrix, for once not observing her and failing to notice her turmoil, had stepped forward the creature, frowning, and began tossing out words in a strange language - with a veiled hint of musicality to it, but his voice kept its gothic harshness and the overall rendering was off-putting. He stared at the creature's eyes, who did not respond, and then turned to her. Swiftly and without anyone paying attention to her, Elena released her hand from her chest, ignoring the throbbing pain in her chest. She felt the cold drips of sweat forming on her forehead - but with this heat and sun, everyone was a bit sweaty.
" I have regrettable news, Rogue Trader. This creature before us is not a mutant as the locals assumed, but a representative of the Aeldari - one of the myriad enemies of Humanity found in the Koronus Expanse. Not only should you not trust this creature, you should not even speak to it longer than necessary."
So, that would explain his interest in Yrliet's description earlier and in the vision she had provided him. The Ordo Xenos would know how to recognize aliens. Elena searched her memory for what she had learnt about Aeldarin in her training - very few things. A despicable race, known for its treachery and cruelty.
Suffer not the xenos to live.
Cassia gasped audibly, her features growing stern. Pasqal's mechadendrites roamed in an offensive posture, his hand hovering over his plama pistol. They both waited on her word to attack the unholy creature - an enemy of Humanity. The tension certainly rose.
Heinrix's eyes assessed Elena's expression. He knew her well enough by now to read into her like an open book. What he saw didn't please him. His gaze grew more insistent, like the one he had when he tried to convince her to exterminate Rykad Minoris.
Suffer not the xenos to live, she repeated to herself in her mind. The commandment had always been clear to her. She had recited the prayer so many times in her life - thousands of time, probably. When she was in the Imperial Guard, everyone talked about killing xenos - it was a soldier's wet dream but also their worst nightmare. Everyone had heard rumors about one fight where humanity was faced with Aeldari or Drukhari. It was odd that these rumors spread through, considering there were usually no survivors of such terrible encounters. Aeldari were swift, small in numbers but treacherous, using unknown and devastating technology. They were supposed to be killed on sight.
Yet the will to end Yrliet's life right here and now faltered in her heart. She knew it was what she was supposed to do, yet the curiosity overwhelmed her - and her psychic instincts kept telling her that Yrliet was important. That she should keep her with her.
The red-haired Aeldari cut in, responding to Heinrix : " There is no need to mutilate my language, mon-keigh - I speak yours well enough to converse with elantach without a translator. And since you have discerned my path, I will be direct in my speech. In truth, the blood in my veins and the matter of my soul are foreign to yours - I am of that kind that your fellows call xenos. I came here to your kind to bring peace to the Lilaethan and aid the ruler against her enemies. Will you speak with me as an equal, or will we step under the shadow of Kaela Mensha Khaine ?"
Now all her retinue's eyes were on Elena. The Aeldari's speech was strange, foreign - even her choice of words felt unnatural. Elena could see the poetry of it - but it also seemed nonsensical, live over complicating simple ideas.
" To be honest", she said, " the only part I understood was that you have no desire to fight. That is one thing we have in common."
Heinrix clicked his tongue in disapproval, though maintaining his composure. "Reckless", he commented. His attention shifted back to the xenos. From here, Elena could feel him tugging to the Immaterium, waiting on his prey to make a move to lash out.
That comment must have bothered her Seneschal, since Abelard felt the need to intervene : " Must I remind you, Master van Calox, that the Warrant endows Rogue Traders with the sacred right to have dealings with xenos when necessary ? That exceptional memory of yours seems to have let you down."
Elena was almost surprised at hearing such irony from Abelard, and even more so at him defending her talking to an Aeldari. She would not have believed such a loyal servant of the Imperium to bear with this. But Abelard really did dislike Heinrix - and he may be of a more complicated moral compass than she initially thought. After all, years spent with Theodora must have made him more…supple. That made her wonder, did Theodora had dealings with xenos ? Abelard didn't seem to take the situation too badly…
The Interrogator didn't reply, his mouth now a thin stern line on his face.
That was going to be a problem.. The xeno inclined her head very slowly and said :
" I have banished the shadow of doubt from your thoughts regarding my nature. Now will you answer my question - why have you sought me out ?"
That gave Elena the opportunity to ask a few questions to Yrliet about the general state of Janus. Yrliet confirmed her role as protector of the governor - though why she had decided to help her wasn't clear. Janus - Lilaethan, in the Aeldari's tongue - was being twisted by something dangerous, which provoked mutations in the biosphere. Yrliet's responses were always strange, and, ultimately, unhelpful. It was like being answered with more enigmas. However, the xeno seemed to know a great deal about the planet - more than she was letting on, Elena was sure of it.
And there was this instinct, this feeling that she belonged with her. Elena convinced Yrliet to join her and assist in the investigation.
That had not gone well with Heinrix. Yrliet had threatened to dispose of him should he get in the way of bringing peace to the world - which he had answered by promising to terminate "her pet xeno" should she show any sign of noncompliance.
To make it even better, Elena had decided to keep both of them in her retinue and had sent Cassia back to the palace, to the Navigator's dismay. However, she deemed it more prudent, considering they would have to enter the jungle at some point and she wasn't sure that Cassia was up for it.
So she was now stuck with an irritated, in-the-mood-for-executing-xenos Heinrix and a mysterious, totally-not-hiding-secrets Aeldari. Considering the fact that the only way to vaguely appease the Interrogator was to let him keep Yrliet in his line of sight, Elena had to keep her by her right side, with Argenta standing by. Abelard and Pasqal closed the formation. If the Seneschal had her back on this, the Magos looked as unhappy about the situation as Heinrix. In Pasqal's eyes, relying on xenos was the dumbest thing that could ever happen and the heresy of it irked him.
Which, overall, made everybody unhappy and miserable, except for Argenta that managed to keep her cool and composure even in a situation where half of her allies wished to end a companion.
They pursued their investigation in the zone. People were willing to talk - it turned out weird things had been happening for quite some time on the planet. First, there were the strange evolutionary mutations in the biosphere, noticed by a local Magos who had studied it with growing apprehension. Those oddities started reflecting into the population - people going crazed for no visible reason, or experimenting with acute paranoia or sleep deprivation. Local servants and peasants talked about young people from their tribes being snatched and offered as tributes to the governor, though for what, no one knew. Elena believed them. It resonated with her vision. She wanted to investigate the palace's caves, but Abelard reminded her that they needed to deal with the rebels first. Surely the ones making such allegations would be able to provide a more precise location to look up for them. Reluctantly, Elena agreed.
At this point, Yrliet had decided that they had gathered enough clues and evidence to reveal what she knew from the start : she knew where the rebels were located and thought that a great calamity was upon the world. She asked Elena to take her along, without ever truly telling her what was going on. Something frightened the xeno terribly, but Yrliet would not open up about it.
They followed the xeno's suggestion to a base in the jungle, far away from the capital.
The air was hot and humid. A stupid fly was buzzing nearby her ears- Elena slapped it down her cheek. The insect was gorged with blood and abnormally big. It left a trace of red stain on her hand.
The sun was laying low on the line of the horizon now. Yrliet's coordinates had enabled them to discover the rebel's hideout. They had landed on top of a cliff, where they were welcomed by aggressive rebels who attacked them. Now, they had to climb down, in the direction of a valley where lay old ruins of unknown origin - xeno, probably, considering Yrliet's presence here.
But everything was made harder in a jungle world. They tripped over vines, got attacked by local wildlife, and, if not for Yrliet's vigilance and knowledge of the planet, would have lost themselves in the process. It was impossible to see through the heavy vegetation. The slope was dangerous and they often slipped. As they had lost a viewpoint for some time, Abelard recommended climbing up a protuberance in the jungle - a small cliff towering over the forest. It would also make for a good position to rekindle their strength, have something to eat, and think through their strategy.
Elena was climbing up the cliff clumsily. She felt tired and heavy.
On the last portion of the path, she felt her feet stumble upon the rolling rocks. She lost balance for a second, and was catched up by Heinrix's hand. He gripped her arm steadily. Elena looked up at his face - still stern and strained. He had not said a word to her or anyone ever since they entered the jungle with Yrliet. All his attention was seemingly focused on the xeno. He pulled her back up, not saying a word - but his grip was gentler than his stern attitude could hint at. Elena found she could not quite shake away the sense of warmth on her skin, where he had gripped her arm. Ridiculous.
Back on her route, Elena managed to climb up without further incidents. Abelard and Yrliet were the first ones to reach the cliff - followed closely by Argenta, and then everyone else. Pasqal closed the formation. The Magos was suffering even more so than her. The weight of his machinery was slowing him down. He endured without any complaint.
From there, the shape of the ruins was more visible - and its xeno origin even more blatant. The ruins formed a sort of circular platform, with pillars made of white material, reflecting the sun. It had a sense of elegance, but it also evoked bones - like the corpse of a giant, dying animal.
Elena tried to question Yrliet about it :
" Yrliet, what are those ruins down there ? What do they mean ?"
But the Aeldari closed up, her hand resting on one of the red gems adorning her chest. " I told you my kin found Lilaethan first, elantach. This place is important to us. " Though her alien face showed no sign of any feelings, she pressed on : " We should move out."
Impatience, then. The Aeldari were not devoid of human feelings after all.
The group took a few minutes to get some rest, have something to eat and drink, and discern a path to follow for the next hour. The one they chose would take them behind the hideout, where Yrliet believed the watchmen patrol was less competent and consistent. Despite Yrliet's earlier attempts at brokering peace with the rebels, they had kept being aggressive towards them, and had never relented. It somehow confirmed what Argenta had been pointing out earlier - something was off in the rebels' behavior, as if they did not think their gestures through. Surely a fight would be waiting for them down there. All the more reason to prepare.
They went on with their ambush, navigating down the jungle, following Yrliet's agile and confident path. They took off the first rebels easily - in between Argenta's bolter and both Elena and Yrliet's snipers, they didn't even need to reach the frontline to take them down. Their arrival caused a ruckus and soon, the whole camp was on them. Elena and Yrliet stayed behind, aiming at the most threatening soldiers from afar. Heinrix, Abelard and Pasqal held the frontline together. And Argenta moved in between, cleaning up the sides.
Not all their enemies were humans. Two of them were Aeldari, just like Yrliet. Recognizable by their strange, tight and luminous armors, the tall figures were swift and quick ; Heinrix and Abelard had a hard time trying to graze them with their swords. Only Heinrix's telekinesis ability managed to hurt them and incapacitate them. Everytime they struck with blades, the alien warriors danced around their blows, dodging them easily. Pasqal resorted to using his plasma pistol, which managed to push them back. Even Yrliet had trouble aiming at them - they scintillated, for lack of a better word, in a way that made it look like there were five or six versions of them occupying the space. Relying on her psychic feats, Elena managed to take them down, letting the Immaterium echo in her mind to pinpoint the perfect timing and the true location of her targets. Having two psykers on the team really was useful to tackle down Aeldari.
Having her kinship shoot at her, despite her warnings and attempt at ceasing fire, plunged Yrliet in deep fury. She grimaced, loosing her mask of unruffled features.. She began swearing in her own language - and Heinrix's device, the Elucidator, started activating and translating what she said :
" I swear on Khaine's riven heart, Muaran, you will pay for your treachery ! You will drink the cup of suffering to the very bottom ! You will walk the path of torment and - "
Such anger was unexpected from Yrliet. They were relatively isolated, considering they fought side by side in the backline and the rest of the retinue had gone to the frontline. Elena said, with determination :
" Calm down. It's already over." The two Aeldari that had tried to stop them were lying very dead now.
Yrliet breathed in and closed her strange, green eyes for a second, the wind playing in her red hair. " Please excuse me, elantach - I allowed the turmoil in my soul to win out over my reason. A slip like that could cost me more than you can even imagine - my very soul. I should be more careful…even in the face of treachery."
Elena considered her pensively. It was difficult to ignore the melodic accents in Yrliet's voice.
" Tell me what is truly going on", Elena said. She gestured for her retinue to gather round and hear the xenos out.
Yrliet bowed her head. " I see no other path. You deserve the truth. We call ourselves the Children of Asuryan. Aeldira is another name of ours. We are the echoes of the great empire that once ruled the galaxy and created new world. The planet that you call Janus is one such Maiden World, the Lilaethan. A haven that our ancestors made for their kin. For many milleniae, only the shadows of our predecessors lived among the ruins…until you humans came here."
Fantastic. The first world of her dynasty she stumbled into…and it was infected with xenos believing it was theirs. Xavier Calcazar was never going to suffer her to live. Abelard swore under his breath in reaction.
Yrliet continued : " We are heirs, and we are entirely within our rights to call the Maiden World our own. However, our arrival is a tragedy, not a homecoming. " Sorrow seeped into Yrliet's voice. " We belong…belonged to craftworld Crudarach, which fell on the border of this star region."
Something in the word "Crudarach" crept Elena out. She resisted the sense of panic rising over her- but once more, the wound in her chest tugged at her and she felt the air emptying from her lungs. In a flash, she envisioned Theodora's face - and it was gone, like a phantom still playing with the strings of a puppet. She shivered.
Argenta's eyes were on her. Ever since her accident on Rykad, the Sister, who had carried her through the battle and saved her life, had been eyeing her wound with fear. No one truly understood its nature.
" Destroying an Aeldari craftworld is a serious achievement," Abelard commented. " I'd like to shake the hand of the one that did it."
Pasqal's visor flashed with interest, as the Magos carefully asked : " Which border exactly ?"
Elena took advantage of their banter to lay her back against the wall, hiding her discomfort behind an haughty posture, and crossing her arms.
" Are you okay ?" murmured Argenta, following her.
Elena did not have any point in lying. " The wound is tugging at me. I feel this Aeldari is important to my story, but I don't know why", she replied in a whisper.
" If you say so", answered Argenta uneasily. Everything that reminded the Sister of her psyker nature disturbed her.
" After the calamity, the Lilaethan offered my kin a sanctuary - a place of respite in the ruins of our ancestors, living alongside your kind, who reap the fruit of our labour with such vulgarity. Muaran, one of the surviving Farseers of Crudarach, had found the path here, to the destroyed cradle of our kind. They were outraged when they saw how the mon-keighs had ravaged our flourishing garden !"
" How are the Aeldari connected to the uprising ?" asked Elena.
Yrliet started explaining how the Aeldari posted here had manipulated the humans to turn into each other, sowing dissent and betrayal in their ranks, using their emotions against them. Her dispassionate voice saying this showed no traces of empathy towards the humans - she seemed inclined to agree with disposing of them with malice and treachery, confirming the rumors about her kin. Yrliet's role in this had been to handle Vistenza.
The Aeldari put their trust into Farseers - people amongst them that could see the future. Elena understood through her own prism ; they had diviners, powerful ones, and their society was formed around it. In Elena's eyes, this was hard to imagine. People actually listening to divinations ? Even searching for them ? Adoring their psykers ? Her ears nearly bled from having to hear such oddities. And Muaran's vision was to eradicate the humans from the planet.
" Elantach", continued Yrliet, " your arrival has trown my path into disarray - and lifted the veil of truth that had been hidden from me. While I was shadowing the humans' ruler, I failed to see the signs - signs that there was another threat looming over the Lilaethan beside the mon-keigh's deeds. The threat should be familiar to you. We call it Sai'lantresh. She Who Thirst. Goddess of Chaos. "
Even more fantastic. It only got better and better. Sai'lantress or whatever - it looked like Slaneesh, whose minions had attacked Elena on the ship. The Rogue Trader cursed.
Yrliet went on explaining on the presence of Chaos had tainted the world, using humans's emotions to manifest…and probably that of the Aeldari's too, though Yrliet had a hard time admitting it. However, it was clear in Yrliet's priority that getting rid of the Chaos curse was more important to her eyes than exterminating the humans.
" I believe Vistenza Vyatt is a thrall to She Who Thirsts", she said.
" I believe it too", confirmed Elena. " What about this…Muaran ? Is he prey to the chaos taint as well ?"
Yrliet nearly hissed at that, scrutinizing her with an expression that was incredibly hard to interpret. " It would best to meet him", she finally said, not answering her question.
Heinrix sighed, his hand over the hilt of his sword, blood staining his face and hands. " It could be a trap, Elena", he said, in a voice that sounded slightly hopeless - knowing perfectly that she was going to ignore his advice and go anyway.
" Let's go", she said, doing exactly just that.
They followed Yrliet through another set of vines, exiting the hideout. It became clear that they followed a river's trail, one cascading through the rocks and trees of the slope they had descended. The clear, blue water splashed around like a torrent, light reflecting off it in playful ways. It was breathtakingly beautiful. With their set of armors and weaponries, blood drying on their clothings and skins, they looked like trespassers into a set of calm and beauty preserved. The rocks turned to sand under their feet as the river grew into the shores of a lake.
Elena could have appreciated the view, but her attention was distracted by the giant platform of ruins they had walked into. The circular platform was crowned by a sort of arch-like construction - white structures shining under the sun, with red gems pretty much like the ones Yrliet wore adorning it. Elena wondered what they were.
In a second, a sort of blue-like portal opened up under the arch. The Rogue Trader could only look in disarray as the surface of the gate vibrated, somewhat similar to that of the clear water - and its surface was pierced by tall figures exiting it. Aeldaris. A lot of them. One figure walked forward - Muaran, certainly. Slender and lithe, his features so foreign she had trouble comprehending them, he looked at her with pure disdain.
Never before had anyone look at her with such disdain, not even those mocking her voidborn features. She had always been an outsider, something to be looked down upon - but this Aeldari's indifference didn't even care about her abilities or marginal features, tossing her along with rest. She intuitively understood that, to their eyes, humans were somewhat comparable to animals - and even that may prove too cruel to animals.
Still, he acknowledged their presence : " Mon-keigh," he said, his face invisible under his white pointed helmet. " You should not be here."
Heinrix gritted his teeth, and glanced briefly at their enemies, assessing their numbers and strength. Pasqal was doing pretty much the same thing.
Yrliet bravely stepped forward, facing her leader. " Muaran !" she called, her voice like a rising storm. " I am calling you into account ! You told us that the threats over Lilaethan were the mon-keighs, their greed and avarice. But all the while another threat was looming over the world, one you should have seen and hide from us. She Who Thirsts, Sai'lantreesh, is threatening this world. Did you or did you not see this threat ? Did you lie to us ? "
As she said that, the human figure accompanying the xenos got agitated, but, with an imperious gesture, Muaran commanded him to calm down. As if turned into a puppet, the human rebel straightened, all traces of agitation gone. Elena thought she felt something resonate in the Immaterium ; she passed in witch-sight for a second, enough to see the glowing aura of psychic power around the Aeldari. She was certain, in that second, that this brought his attention on her. It was far more vibrant, far more clearer than anything she'd seen in a human psyker.
Argenta gasped in horror. The other Aeldari figure inclined his head softly towards his leader. The tension rose.
" Yrliet the Outcast", replied Muaran, retaining his calm. " You have left your path. You brought unknown mon-keighs to us. And now you speak to me with seemingly anger. Your long wanderings far from Crudarach have tainted your mind and heart."
A harsh thing to say ; Elena glanced at Yrliet, whose intensity was so sharp it felt like you could cut your hand off her gaze. Elena decided it best to let Yrliet handle her leader on her own.
" My wanderings are the Path I have chosen for myself. I have come to learn and see things that no other Aledari, hidden in a craftworld, could witness. Now, did you lie to me ? Did you hide from us the fact that Sai'lantreesh was looming over this world ?"
Elena had a brief smile. This Yrliet one was certainly not easily intimidated and did not let a question elude her.
" This elantach " she turned to her " was the first one to discover the traces of Sai'lantreesh. They call her a Chaos god. Without her, I would still be deceived by your words about destiny and the true future."
That..was a surprise. Elena did not expect Yrliet to defend her in front of her leader and kin. That took some courage.
Muaran replied with contempt : " Mon-keigh revealing paths…it's ludicrous. Mon-keigh brings pain and strife - in our time, and for all time. How can you trust a mon-keigh after what wa taught you ? After hearing the sorrowful song of the dying world ?" Muaran turned his helmeted head towards Elena. " It was not chance that brought Crudarach down. Mon-keigh destroyed our ancient home."
That bore the sign "bad omen" all over the place. Elena repressed another shiver as the coldness of the Immaterium pierced through her soul, tempting her.
Pasqal "hummed" with annoyance behind her back.
It was time to think hard about what she was going to say, for a part of her fate was forged today. Elena looked at the disdainful, imposing figures, occupying the ivory platform with grace, the blue water of the lake surrounding their conversation with peaceful sounds.
She looked at Yrliet, her determined expression, her courageous stride.
She looked at her retinue. Heinrix was boiling under his stoic attitude, his jaw clenched painfully ; Abelard was sighing with annoyance ; Argenta had gripped her bolter, tensed ; Pasqal was still eyeing the ruins with interest. The imperialis sign over Argenta's chestplate caught the sun for a second and shone bright, like a memento addressed to her.
Suffer not the xenos to live.
And yet…they were all still alive. For all his disdain, Muaran had not attacked them. They were conversing, talking about a more imminent and dangerous threat - that of Chaos tainting the world. And Aeldari didn't seem to like Chaos much more than humans did.
But what of it ? Their common hatred for Chaos could not hide the dissent in between them. They had manipulated the humans to fight against each other. They were not friends. Could they be allies ? No one sane of mind would say that.
Elena felt the inspiration rising in her chest. She had to follow through her precognition, to unfold the threads she perceived. And Yrliet was one of them, whatever she meant. She straightened and made a step forward. The Aeldaris tensed.
" I am sorry to hear about your home. But I wasn't there and know nothing of this calamity."
Muaran gazed at her intently. " If these words had come from an Aeldari, I would have believed them. But you are merely a mon-keigh - a plaything of your own passions. Any emotions that takes hold of your soul can drive out all trace of reason and honour."
Yrliet stepped in once more, reacting swiftly : " You are playing with words and avoiding the question ! The Lilaethan is under threat from our eternal foes - and yet you're more concerned about the presence of the elantach than the corruption is flowing through the veins of this world ! Did you never consider that your war might simply be hastening Sai'lantreesh"s triumph ? "
Muaran leant down over Yrliet, his tone menacing : " You left Crudarach in our darket hour to gratify your ego. You came to us on the Lilaethan - and I accepted you. It was a mistake to let you into our circle - you have turned our efforts to survive into dust with your own hands !"
" I am a Child of Asuryan, Muaran, not a plaything in the cold hands of fate, which you claim speaks through your mouth ! My choice of Path isi no worse than yours or any other Aeldari's - and my Path calls me to fight our true enemies, not eradicate the mon-keighs ! If it comes to it, I will stand with them, for this elantach can see you what you are blind to, Farseer ! " Yrliet's eyes shone alight with fury.
Elena glanced at Yrliet. She had laid her hand on her weapon, ready to stand true to her words. That was a surprise as well.
Elena sighed, and raised her palms : " Let's cool our tempers and try to speak calmly about this."
" Speak then, if you have something to say", said Muaran.
" If this world is in danger, there is no sense in fighting each other - let us deal with our common enemy together", she said.
" The name of that danger is mon-keigh, and I will see to it that the Lilaethan is purged of those defiling her face. Then again…there is one way to prove to me that the mon-keigh do truly care about the well-being of their captured world. Eliminate the ruler of the mon-keigh sojourning on the Lilaethan, and relinquish the governing of this world to me and my kin. The Lilaethan herself will stand as surety for our agreement. As will your compatriots who live on it. And the profit that you will gain by tilling the Maiden World." Muaran tilted his head to the side. " Our human helpers" he gestured to the rebels acting like puppets " will replace the leaders of the mon-keigh. We will be the ones who govern Lilaethan from the shadows."
" Unacceptable heresy", whispered Pasqal, shaking his head. At his side, Abelard closed his eyes, barely controlling himself.
" And where's my guarantee that the planet and its inhabitants will be safe ?" asked Elena.
Muaran looked at her, and, after a few seconds, said : " I know you are part of what some mon-keighs refer to as psychically evolved, even if the terms evolved is somewhat…lacking. Even comparing you to the Path of the Seer seems crude, but yet I believe you would be one amongst your…kin. I invite you to look at what the future holds for the different paths you may take. If you are competent enough for that."
That challenge put Elena's breath away. Yrliet looked back at her, curiosity in her eyes. " Are you able to see the future, elantach ?" she asked with caution.
The fact that Muaran had guessed at her abilities so easily was unexpected. Elena drew back a silver lock of hair, watching his tall figure. She nodded to Yrliet, whose expression was hard to decipher.
She focused on the Aeldari's words and closed her eyes, focusing on her precognition abilities. She could still feel the looming aura of the Aeldari - the Farseer's psychic presence was contained, restrained, almost hidden, but yet its clarity was unlike anyone she's seen. Even the most experienced psykers from her training could not dream to match that. It was like comparing a doodle made by a child to an artwork.
It was confusing.
A new flash. There were multiples paths, a kaleidoscope of possibilities. This could end in a fight. This could end in an alliance, whose terms was to be discussed. This could lead to the extermination of Janus by the rest of the Imperium. It could also lead to the destruction of the planet by Slaneesh. All possibilities shifted in her mind, which was too small to contain and comprehend them. It burnt her - burnt at her soul, to see with so much clarity. She broke free of it before it could hurt her, change her.
She opened her eyes back, her large dark eyes considering Muaran with caution. She was certain now that, should she strike a deal with him, he would be true to his words and not hurt the humans…at least not by his hands.
She licked her lips nervously, contemplating her options. She had a headache from the spinning visions crystallizing in her brains. Her decision was made ; one that would put her in grave danger. One that was impossible to make or even think about. One that was even worse than Rykad, because this time she took her decision not like a newly named Rogue Trader unprepared for it, but like someone who had already deviated once and was doing it again on purpose.
" We shall do things another way", she said. " I shall grant my protection to this form of alliance between xenos and representatives of Humanity. Together we shall destroy Vistenza and her associate, and then humans and Aeldari will flourish on Janus under my patronage."
As she said that, she felt her heart beat faster in her chest. There was no coming back from that.
" Umm…do the inhabitants have a say in this ? " only said Abelard, eyeing the Aeldari with caution.
" This is a gross violation of every sacred covenant of the Imperium. I do not know, Elena, what dictates this…this willfulness…but I promise you : Janus will face the most serious consequences", said Heinrix, his voice strained.
Elena said nothing. If the Inquisition knew about that - and it already knew - then it could lead a purge over the planet. It all depended on Heinrix - and he would never lie to his mentor. That would be a confrontation for tomorrow.
Ignoring the Interrogator's remark, Muaran stared at Elena for several seconds. At least, he said :" An alliance ? That is how you interpret what I said ? Then again, if you prefer this word, let us call it an alliance."
The rebel human, mind-controlled by the Aeldari, saluted stiffly. " Yes…an alliance…such a wise choice…"
Elena stared at the poor man. This, too, would have to be settled.
But first thing first.
" Then let's take care of the governor and her clique. "
Muaran didn't reply, but he turned away from her, his tall figure shimmering in the sun. Apparently, the encounter was over.
Yrliet's shoulders relaxed, and the tall Aeldari turned back to her. Something in her eyes softened up when she looked at Elena.
" Yrliet", said Elena, " are you staying with us?"
" Well, elantach…Elena, yes ? Since your path lies behind the limitations of the Lilaethan, I will come with you - to search for others of my kin scattered among the stars. Perhaps they will greet me more warmly than this brood."
Heinrix shook his head in disgust.
" Perfect. Then we have unfinished business to take care of."