– Dargonus –
Though unconvinced, Elena made her way to the Cinerus Maleficum. With no surprise, some drukhari fleets have been waiting to ambush them - and, to Elena's annoyance, their supposed leader shone by his absence. Demonstrating unusual sharpness and wits, some drukharis even managed to break through inside her vessel - through manipulating her own crew with the help of some sort of maggot-like creature, bore into their skulls, that led them to hallucinogenic dreams.
As soon as they rammed the last ship, grinding the fleet to stardust, Vidgis chimed into her comms, her voice sounding urgent :
" Lord Captain ! I have an urgent message from Dargonus ! Our Astropaths are receiving numerous transmissions….But no, these aren't ordinary messages - each and every one is a plea for help ! Dargonus is reporting a massive xenos raid, and every mental image transmitted is wreathed in flames ! The invasion began shortly after your departure to Cinerus Maleficum - your people are begging for immediate help ! "
Elena felt as if a stone weighed her stomach down. How did Jae so elegantly phrased it already ? Ah, yes. They were caught with "their pants down" on the other side of the sector. She cursed her own stupidity and switched her vox-cast line.
" Lady Orsellio. Helmsman. You heard that ? I want a status report and an estimated time of arrival. "
" Damn, the witch was right", replied Ravor, referring to Idira's warning. " It was a trap. Anyway, the ship is damaged but can endure warp-travel, Lord Captain. We'll need some repairs mostly for starside decks, but other than that we're good to go and ready to dance."
" I am ready to lead you out of this place, Elena." Cassia's soft voice sounded soothing and determined. " I guarantee you : we'll be in Dargonus shortly. It will require taking some risks, but I am House Orsellio's scion. You won't be disappointed. "
Elena's fingers tightened around the vox.
" Then it's settled", she decided, speaking coldly. " Vigdis, send words to prepare for warp translation. We won't be taking the easy road, so everyone should be prepared for the worst. Tell my retinue to get ready for landing in a hostile environment. "
" Acknowledged."
" Wait. Vigdis, what about my fleet and the reinforcements I ordered ? Were they able to hold off the assault ? "
" I am sorry to say that I do not know, lord Captain. I sent your message as soon as it was ordered. But…maybe it was already too late when it reached them."
Elena said nothing, calculating the temporality in her mind. She supposed the message could have been lost. Such things sadly happened during warp-travels. Or someone could have willingly tampered with it. There was no way to tell for certain, but…she'd been betrayed and stabbed in the back enough by now to lean towards the second option. The Rogue Trader hurried up to her armory rack, encasing herself in her traditional black armor, and checking her weapons thoroughly. Abelard soon enough joined her, his face strained. The old man had family on Dargonus, she recalled. Elena gently pressed her hand on his shoulder - the fact that she touched him seemed to startle the Seneschal.
" I'm sure Clementia is fine", she said.
Abelard cast her a stern look. " Of course she is. She is Werserian. I am not worried about her health. The only thing I worry about, concerning my grand-children, is that they uphold their duties bravely and dutifully." Though his words were emotionless, the diviner could guess at the hints of anxiety in the Seneschal's eyes. He noticed her awareness and softened a little. " But thank you, Lord Captain. Dargonus will be fine. It will not yield. Now, let me check that piece of armor. You should really think about changing the damn thing, it's all daunted. " Abelard complained as he frantically made sure that her chestplate was protecting her enough. Elena let him criticize every piece of her equipment. It seemed to make the old man happy.
Cassia was true to her words. She took every risk and cut down through the shortest warp route - but the Navigator managed to pull them through at every turn, until they reached Dargonus and cleared the orbital drukhari fleet stationed there. There were barely a few ships left when they arrived, and Ravor made short work of them.
Both the Dargonus's fleet and the remains of the drukhari's raiders had crashed into the atmosphere. The human fleet probably had fought back the assault as best as they could - maybe their sacrifices might have even made a difference in the end. Now all her military assets were lying as debris and stardust somewhere on the planet. It would take months before Kiava Gamma could replace what was lost. And it would cost her dearly - though maybe the Holy Fusion Reactor might help out on that. Fortunately, she must still own some empty vessels undergoing maintenance.
Her retinue and herself boarded with the first combat shuttle and landed over her palace. As the shuttle flew over the planet and the capital, Elena could only try to assess the damages. A whole aisle of the palace was burning. Even from this distance, she could see the pile of corpses and the furtive, dark movements of the drukharis. The fight was still on. In the horizon, the nearest Hive-City was wreathed in flames and covered in smoke - but there too, they caught sight of artillery, buildings imploding. Dargonus had not yet yielded. Everywhere around the planet, there were people - her people, her servants - holding the line. Some for honor, some for their lives, some losing it. Still, not all was lost.
Everyone fell silent inside the shuttle as they analyzed the situation. Only the soft voice of Sister Argenta broke the silence, as she recited a prayer faithfully. Abelard stayed at Elena's right side, looking sternier by the second. The shuttle landed abruptly and they braced for impact as the vehicle ricocheted on the ground and ended its course into a wall.
Cassia sighed with annoyance. " This is why we have Navigators."
Abelard groaned. " What kind of incompetent pilot just did that ?" he snarled. The disdain in his voice seemed to go straight to the warden's and junior officers' reptilian brains as a sense of sacred fear was instilled in them. For many officers, facing Werserian's wrath and contempt was worse than facing drukharis. An enforcer saluted and replied bravely :
" Reporting : we've been shot. Pilot is wounded."
" Is that a reason to do your job badly ? Wounds are no excuses ! Now, what are you doing ? Daydreaming ? Exit the shuttle and secure the area for the Rogue Trader !"
" Aye sir yes sir !" The wardens scurried off outside, their weapons at the ready, and formed a security perimeter.
Clementia joined her as soon as she exited her shuttle with a troop of reinforcements. Apparently she'd spot the shuttle from afar. The young woman was unfazed by the debris and the massacres around her - her gaze was steely, her pressed lips showing determination. Her clothes were stained with blood. The air was filled with the rancid smell of fire, cinders, and blood. The perfume of death and mass massacres. It reminded Elena of her days in the Imperial Guard.
" Praise the Throne, your Ladyship, you're here !" exclaimed the intendant. That she succeeded in keeping her cool composure even while facing such a disaster was impressive. Not many were able to demonstrate such a steely attitude. Elena had seen better-experienced people break down from these kinds of despairing odds before. " Your subjects need you now more than ever. Dargonus has been hit by a massive xenos attack. The fleet's resistance was broken in mere hours, then the invaders commenced a planetary raid. The planetary defences forces were able to hold the inner perimeters of several cities, two of the attacks were stifled on the approaches to settlements, but the fight continues - here as well, in the von Valancius palace.
" Lady Werserian", cut in Heinrix, his shoulders and voice tense " where is Achilleas Scalander ? I thought I'd see him here by your side."
" The secretary's exact whereabouts are unknown. But, under normal circumstances, he hardly ever set foot outside the palace grounds. I'm sure you realize what this could mean."
Heinrix nodded sternly in reply. He looked genuinely worried for the fate of his agent.
Elena switched the topic. " What's the situation here ?"
Clementia squared her shoulders. " The PDF are exterminating the enemies on the planet and main cities. But I have a feeling that the palace is the anchor point of the enemy's raid. Our vox enginseers are registering unknown signals coming from your residence to other areas on the planet - the scum must have set up a control center inside. We take out their command - and we'll weaken their peripheral forces."
" I need details ; what has transpired on the planet ?" urged Elena.
Clementia pressed her lips further. " Several hive cities managed to hold their perimeters, others sustained greater losses…and two cities were completely devastated. Our intelligence still knows nothing about the fate of millions of people. There is a high likelihood that we've lost them forever."
Elena had to make a conscious effort to process the information. In times like this, it was difficult to fathom such numbers and the meaning behind it. Thousands of lives, millions of lives. They disappeared out of existence the same way they had entered it : without any one truly caring about them. Such was the grim algorithm of battles. Elena had no time to care for that now.
" Begin a detailed assessment of the damage as soon as we're done here", ordered Elena calmy, straightening. " I'm going in."
Clementia bowed. " With awe and gratitude, I transfer the command of the ground operation over to you, Your Ladyship. The local troops are at your service. I beg of you - save Dargonus !"
The Rogue Trader gestured for her retinue to move forward, and they entered the first exterior court of the palace. It didn't feel right to actually storm her own place. Abelard wore a grim expression over his face - from all of her companions, he must have been taking the hit the hardest.
As Elena was reflecting upon that, something was flung out of the window of the nearest building towards her. Steadily, Abelard gripped her arm and pulled her out of the way.
Elena understood why her psychic senses had not warned her of the threat when she looked down upon the projectile.
It was a baby. Its crooked legs had been twisted by the shock. Its face was half mushed by the impact - but Elena realized, with a terrible shiver of horror, that it was still breathing.
" It's still alive", she muttered.
She had expected many things, but being thrown newborns at was certainly new. She felt it shook her usual composure as a sense of panic rose within her. What was she supposed to do with a dying babe lying at her feet ? In a stupid, naive gesture, she tried to reanimate it - before realizing that trying to breathe some air into a gaping wound was not going to work.
" Heinrix, do something ! " she snapped, turning towards the Interrogator.
He was already focusing on the infant - he knew better by now than to argue with her, however naive and stupid her orders, she supposed. A sense of coldness blossomed around him and irradiated from the agonizing infant - and the flesh seemed to fuse together once more, bones unsnapping and sculpted back in a disturbing manner.
" That's the best I can do for now", he commented.
" Lord Captain", intervened Pasqal. " We shouldn't waste time on laypeople's lives. They are currently dying by the thousands. Retaking the command control from the xenos' hands is a more pressing matter than -"
The Magos was cut off by Sister Argenta, who had picked up the newborn healed by Heinrix. " - than saving innocents and children's lives ? Though I am itching to put a bullet between the horrid xenos's eyes, it is His light and command that we follow by protecting the innocents." Argenta tilted her head towards Heinrix in a grateful manner, blatantly turning her back on the Magos. " Thank you, Interrogator. "
Watching a Sister of Battle adjust her bolter while holding a crying babe, surrounded by flames and dust, certainly was an awe-inspiring sight. The newborn tightened its little fingers around the Sister's golden aquila. It was surely a sign. Even Pasqal decided it best not to argue with Argenta.
Heinrix got closer to Elena, tilting his head to whisper to her : " Elena. We cannot stop here. It is too exposed. And this is…not the worst thing we're going to see. " He hesitated, their fingers barely brushing against each other, as if by accident. Elena glanced back at him, his dark eyes showing nothing but tension and an imperceptible preoccupation. She realized that having him nearby made her feel stronger.
" Give me a minute. I'll take them down ", she said, breaking off the eye contact and reaching for her sniper rifle.
" There's another one !" suddenly warned Cassia.
And soon enough, another child was thrown through the window. Whatever was happening up there had some woman screaming horribly.
" Damnit !" Elena's grip on the sniper relaxed as she focused her telekinesis ability over the falling child, trying to soften his fall. It was harder than it looked like.
They all saw the bullet shot by Yrliet as the ranger magnificently aligned her rifle with the head of the drukhari that had just thrown the child away through the window.. As she took the very unlikely and difficult shot, Yrliet uttered a string of curses in her language, her anger seeping through the cold mask.
" Such vileness is wrong ", said the Aeldari, her voice quivering slightly before recovering its neutrality. Yrliet shook her head. They saw the lifeless body of the drukhari fall down to the ground. " No sense in remaining here. We have to press forward to the center of their command and take their head down."
Argenta looked over to the xenos with a surprised look, and hesitancy in her eyes - as something like appreciation flashed in her expression.
Elena finished trying to bring the other child down as softly as possible. She heard the cracking of bones and hoped she had not killed it during the process. She gestured for a passing-by warden to take care of the two children as they pressed forward, accelerating.
They had to fight through several waves of drukhari raiders, including one led by Tarazza (Argenta gleamed happily as she reduced the xenos to pulp), before entering the palace. Elena felt a pang of anger as she saw what was supposed to be the crown jewel of her protectorate being violated in such a way. The portraits of her ancestors had been put down and torn apart - such as her servants, whose remains were scattered around the place. Cries, pleas for help, and wrathful screams echoed in the corridors, as the rough music of carnage and powerlessness played on.
They passed by her office and private chamber. It had been rummaged through, everything of value broken or stolen. Her walls were filled with the blood of her wardens, whose dismembered bodies had been crucified in mocking aquilas-like figures. They found Achilleas there, barely hanging on to his life. The secretary had been extensively tortured and nailed to the wall - still, he hadn't been dismembered yet, luckily for him. Finding his agent back seemed to comfort Heinrix who tried his best at fixing Achilleas up.
Elena reflected that she should have a glimpse of compassion for the secretary's cruel state, yet even then she could not find in herself nothing but distaste and distrust towards the poor man. What was he doing at her desk ? Wasn't there a better place to hide than this ? She said nothing. Achilleas had surely been tasked with surveying her personal affairs…with any luck, he maybe even did it for real.
As she scoured across the room, she heard Argenta cry out over her balcony.
" Elena ! "
The Sister rarely called her by her name. Elena ran to the balcony, followed closely by the rest of her companions, expecting an assault.
But there was none. Instead, Argenta, her face strained and silent, was pointing down. Elena looked and felt her heart tightened in her chest. In the events of the day, she had forgotten about her dog.
The drukharis hadn't. Her balcony gave way to a decorated, isolated patio, with a clapping fountain. Multiple statues representing the von Valancius dynasty quietly watched down on the private garden. They were now mostly destroyed. Elena had one sculpture made in her image standing there as well. It had been decapitated. What was supposed to be her head had rolled in the fountain, whose waters ran red with the blood of the people crucified over it. It was her personal servants - she presumed it was her personnel maids, though their mutilated bodies weren't quite recognizable. The neck and shoulder of the statue had been adorned with the skin of her flayed dog. The rest of the animal had been strangely deconstructed, its tendons and bones broken into something grotesque to form a cloak of muscles and sinews over her statue.
" My dog", said Elena flatly. " They even tortured my dog."
" I.…apologize, Your Ladyship. I couldn't do anything to stop them. I beg for your forgiveness", murmured Achilleas.
Achilleas's compassion gritted on her nerves the wrong way. She clenched her jaw, refraining from snapping at him. .
The loss of Dog was even worse to her than anything else. Of course, the desecration of her palace, the sheer absurd loss of millions of civilian lives in horrendous circumstances, the ceaseless and senseless torture of her people…her failure at protecting them…all that took its toll on Elena's heart, but she could push through it.
The death of the pet she had been gifted by her retinue was somehow more symbolic to her. As a psyker and a voidborn, she never had much personal possessions. Raised up on on lower decks as a welder, then moved from system to system on a Black Ship, then tested and trained in Scholastia Psykana, groomed to be Lady Maria's obedient little pet, sent out to the Imperial Guard to serve the Imperium…none of these lives had left much space for affection and joy. It was unreasonable, but she felt a sadness she had not expected tightened her heart from the inside.
Very calmly, the diviner pinpointed the feeling of sadness in her mind and captured it away, letting it die. She pictured the flame of a candle slowly extinguishing itself. She could not be sad. She could not allow herself that. Her mind had to stay clear.
She casted a last glance at the remnants of Dog, and turned away, showing no emotions. Some of her companions looked at her with compassion and concern - Argenta, who'd been fond of the dog even more than her, had a hint of sadness as well ; Abelard was preoccupied by her lack of emotional response to the gruesome scene, while he couldn't hide the tremor of rage and the paleness of his face. Yrliet's expression was contorted, showing hints of compassion, but also wariness after their last exchange. Heinrix seemed like he was going to say something, but refrained himself at the last second, looking at the other people present.
The others didn't seem much bothered. Pasqal was patiently praying to her cogitator and administering it the last sacrament. Cassia had retreated back in the room, looking weary. The Lady Navigator was rubbing her temples tiredly.
" Well, time to move on", Elena said calmly. " Those drukharis aren't going to kill themselves. " They nodded along, both reassured that she kept her anger under control, and worried by her total lack of expression.
Elena steeled her will as she entered her reception main room. Just like every other part of her palace, it has been defiled by the xenos - her people tortured and mutilated, her belongings destroyed and tossed on the floor like useless broken toys. She blanched - but she couldn't let the anger devour her, the hatred seep too deep inside her bones.
Too much anger would tear apart her soul, allowing the gate to the warp to open up. She could never allow that to happen. She had to tame down the fury, transform it from a fiery inferno to a muzzled beast, working for her, fueling her from the inside. She had to stay in control of it, no matter what. She'd been trained for this. Anger management issues was a mandatory step for any respectable psykers. Such was her pride.
As she entered, she was welcomed by the sight of the one drukhari she had met over Grantis. Marazai. The treacherous xenos was casually relaxing on her throne. He gestured to her with his hand, inviting her to admire the brutalized hall. " At last ! I was beginning to think that your lumbering bucket had perished on the way back ! Such a resolution would have satisfied neither you nor me, would it ?"
Elena glared such daggers at the drukhari that it was a wonder he didn't drop dead on the spot. Unfortunately, drukharis were immune to angry glares. Her expression of controlled distaste only seemed to brighten up the drukhari.
Contrarily to her, her Seneschal lost his composure, his face turning crimson with hatred : " What…how did…you will cease defiling a relic of the Imperium with your presence, xenos scum !" he spat.
" What, this abomination ?" The drukhari tapped a finger on the armrest. " With pleasure. But first, I will finish my conversation with your master, mon-keigh."
Elena had a contorted, snarling smile. " You sure are a clingy one, aren't you ? And a coward at that. Shall you dance for me today, xenos, or are you going to flee away like you always do ?" Her tone remained cold and steady. Controlled. That was the thing. When you could pop people's head off with a thought, you learnt how to exert control over your inner rage real fast…else someone take care of that for you in a most definitive manner.
The wretched creature seemed to sniff at her refrained anger : " Oh, I can feel your anger…your rage…and your pain from witnessing the state of your halls. I trusted that you would appreciate our efforts here. I could have long vanished in the tangles of the Webway without awaiting your arrival, mon-keigh…but I could not refuse myself the small pleasure of savoring your torment at the sight of what I have done to your home."
" And my dog. You killed my dog", interrupted Elena flatly.
The drukhari raised an eyebrow. " What ? Oh, yes. Surely. Believe me, mon-keigh, I kill a lot of things all the time. " He had a dismissive gesture that angered Elena even more, as she felt the need to leap over the drukhari and ignite him to death. She closed her eyes for a second, forcing herself to be patient, her hands tightening in knots.
" Why did you attack my palace ?" She forced herself to utter the question through clenched teeths, as the urge to cede into immediate violence grew stronger in her heart. But the drukhari, for some reason, seemed prone to conversation - who knows, he might even say something useful. Maybe he found the humiliation she was in satiating in some way.
" The sole thing that your kind is good for, mon-keigh, is the ability to suffer. I have long been surfeited with physical pain - your kin provides it in abundance from their cages in Commoragh. The pain of the soul, on the other hand…is a rare delight. After all, I had to recompense you for all the trouble you have caused me. However, didn't I cast Tazzara to you ? The one that had raided your worlds for so long ? You have garnered her head, and I - a peaceful existence where she is not constantly on my way."
" I will end you " she hissed.
That gained her a thin smile. " Don't be greedy. Now that our meeting has taken place, my business here is done. I have spent enough time in realspace, and it is time to bid you goodbye."
Elena's face distorted as Marazai took another grand exit from the fight, leaping away on some kind of flying vehicle before exiting the palace. The damned xenos really had just been waiting for her to come by before taking off as if nothing of interest had happened. She was etching so bad to rip his stupid head off and still, the wretched creature eluded her.
The room broke down in chaos as the lieutenants of the drukhari ambushed them all at once.
Which could have been a fair fight, if they weren't up against a pissed-up pyro-pysker whose dog had just been killed.
Clementia Werserian strolled into the reception hall as they took down the last xenos, her enforcers cleaning up the palace as she led them on. The intendant was bloodied and wounded, but still held her head up high.
" Your Ladyship !" she saluted, her voice vibrant with pride. " You have succeeded. The control command is down and the palace is ours once more. All the raiders are either dead or fleeing - and I assure you, we are doing everything to catch every one of them. Everywhere around he planet, we're receiveing vox-messages than the xenos have lost their structures and communications. Now that they have lost their reinforcements and leaders, it won't be long util we purge Dargonus from their vile presence completely. All thanks to you, Your Ladyship." Clementia bowed respectfully, wincing slightly at her wounds. " You are our saviour."
Elena pinched her nose, feeling the day taking its toll on her - but still, there was much to do. The ashes of her enemies and their charred corpses littered her hallway. The smell was atrocious. She had set herself on flame during the fight and despite her unnatural resistance to fire, she felt her flesh itch in pain at every movement and her too-hot blood made her feel feverish. Most of her companions were gravely wounded, and she didn't feel quite good herself. She had trouble focusing her attention on the intendant, but she forced herself through the pain. Her people needed her. She straightened, her oval face framed by her long, bloodied blonde hair, her black armor still smoking from the fire and splattered with blood. That was certainly a sight to behold. Still, her voice remained icy and accurate :
" Clementia. As soon as the planetary governor is out of his bunker, send him to me. I want to set up proper ceremonies for the mass funerals and tour the Hive-cities, including the ones we had lost. Abelard" she turned towards her Seneschal " I shall want a precise account of the damages done on the fleet for tonight. All that is salvageable should be salvaged. Jae" she tilted her heads towards her new Mistress of Whispers " organize a meeting with the surviving noble houses tomorrow and make me a list of their damaged properties and assets. I want a schedule for reconstruction. You can work with Janrus on that. Pasqal, I want Abel and you to give me a report on the state of our venerable machines. All the others are dismissed and hereby ordered to present themselves at the medbay. "
Clementia bowed respectfully while her officers scrambled around, getting on to their assigned duties.
The next days were spent in a flurry of meetings, ceremonies, and funerals. The Rogue Trader insisted on holding mass ceremonies alongside her planetary governor, making a point of visiting every major Hive-cities on Dargonus to assess the losses and damages by herself.
Two of the main cities of the capital world had been razed. Some of the spires of the hives remained standing, but all else had been scorched by fire, the humans living there slaughtered like cattle. Elena found it hard to fathom the reality of the massacre. She had seen lots of mass graves during her years serving as a Primaris in the Imperial Guard, and found that, with time, the reality of thousands, millions peoples dying became more and more distant. Until all there was left was an acceptable number in the cruel algorithm of war. There was a time when such trifle matters could not bother her. However, she couldn't help but feel rage at the idea that the drukharis had fooled her. That the people whom lives she was responsible for ever since becoming a Rogue Trader had hoped for her timely arrival in vain.
She didn't let her feelings show and dutifully provided a speech at each and every ceremony, by her governor's side. The time she spent with the governor had succeeded in easing their once tense relationship. She knew many thought of her participation at the mass funerals as a quirk - usually, Rogue Trader would let their governor handle such matters. Still, many turned towards her, during this time of mourning and crises finding some strength in her unshakable resolve and merciful attitude.
Her Seneschal never let her down during this harrowing process, standing with her for hours as the Emperor's blessing was extended towards the souls of those that had died. Elena found strength in the faithful presence of her Seneschal. Things were easier with Abelard around. He made sure that every ceremony was executed smoothly and saw her security through in a stern and uncomprising manner.
Other members of her retinue also chose to accompany her during these ceremonial events. Sister Argenta never failed her - she often was called forward during the ceremonies to hold a prayer. The two women were often found conversing and murmuring to each other during their visits to the Hive-Cities of Dargonus, speaking about faith, fate, and praying together. The fact that the Rogue Trader decided to personally oversee the last blessing for the dead was important in the eyes of the Sister, and it strengthened their bond.
Finally, Heinrix remained with Elena during the travels. He mentioned that as a representative of the Ordo Xenos, he had to assess the damages by himself in order to gain information. His silent presence and reliable attitude proved discreet, but efficient in steadying the Rogue Trader. Elena never found quite the right time to speak more privately with Heinrix, the duties of the day always calling to her. She was never alone. Yet he was always around, easing things along with either his sense of finesse or cold sense of intimidation when need be.
Elena vaguely realized, through the buzy haze of short nights and problems that she had to deal with everyday, that all her companions were doing their best at unburderning her of whatever problems they felt they could tackle on. They proved themselves incredibly precious and useful as the amount of things to do and oversee during this period skyrocketed far beyond what was humanly possible for her to achieve on her own.
When the last funeral was held, she returned to her palace. The shuttle of the Rogue Trader landed at dusk. During the days she had been away, the palace had been partially rebuilt - Clementia was busy overseeing the repairs, alongside Janrus. All traces of the raid were gone, to some extent. Some statues or artworks were unfortunately lost forever, and there was an influx of new servants to replace the ones that had been killed or too maimed to work anymore.
Elena dismissed her entourage as they reached the main hall.
" It is time for me to retire for the night," she said, as a couple of maids started taking off her cloak and throwing flower petals at her feet. Elena's composed and formal face gave way to a hint of hesitation, as she glanced at Abelard, Argenta and Heinrix. She let a timid smile crack through her mask : " I want you three to know that your presence with me during these ceremonies was greatly appreciated. Now, you should rest as well. "
" Lord Captain, it is a great honor to serve you ", replied Abelard with a hint of warmth in his voice as he bowed.
Argenta smiled at Elena, saying softly : " It is during trials and hard times that His Light must be carried the most. I am glad we were there for those poor people. "
Heinrix bowed as well. "But of course, Lord Captain. "
Elena pointedly casted him a thoughtful look while Abelard and Argenta were distracted, quickly forming a symbol with her fingers - the Imperial Guard's silent code for the word "Follow me." She knew that the ex-Primaris psyker would recognize the coding easily. She searched for confirmation in his dark eyes - and he nodded imperceptibly in response.
Elena abandoned her companions to head for her chambers, where she casually dismissed her servants. The room had been thoroughly cleaned up, the cogitators replaced, and everything looked pretty much like it used to before. She stopped for a second over her balcony, looking down at her private garden. The decapitated statues had been hurriedly taken away while waiting for the artists to finish up new sculptures - no doubt that, in this exact instant, those said artistes were having the worst day of their life, being shouted at incoherently by intendants and administrators day and night. The fountain clapped peacefully under the moonlight. It was hard to even imagine that, barely a few days ago, the place was filled with corpses and blood. For an unknown reason, there was a beautiful cage over her balcony ; inside of it, a blazingly beautiful bird was singing in a soothing manner, its plumes rustling with blues and golden yellows.
Someone had kindly cleansed and put back Dog's collar and leash on a shelf of her private library. There was a note with it. Elena carefully unfolded it - with no surprise, she recognized Cassia's elegant handwriting. " Dear Elena, Pardon me for the boldness of my tone, but I feel this peculiar note asks for some more intimacy. I am very sorry for your pet. I knew it was important to you. In his stead, if you would have it, I have taken care of gifting you one of my most beautiful birds. I have bred it especially for you, so that you can see how much patience and kindness you have suceeded in inspiring in me."
Cassia and her little thoughtful gifts. Elena put back the note, smiling to herself.
She took off the pieces of her armor pensively, putting them back on her armory rack, and undid her braid. She waited for a time - until she guessed at Heinrix's presence in witch-sight. She opened her door to him quietly. He didn't seem surprised by her perfect timing. She didn't bother asking him if he'd been discreet.
He locked eye contact with her immediately, his body tensing. She felt her own body replied in the same manner. Her corset seemed suddenly tighter around her chest, and she felt an almost pleasant pain rising up in her body.
" Let it be clear that I know you have your secrets, but I still yearn for you and I want you to stay tonight. Now answer me : do you want me as well ? May I remind you that it is a Rogue Trader asking you and that a straightforward answer would be greatly appreciated ", said Elena directly, in a commanding tone. There was a time for long discourses, and there was a time for action.
Heinrix inhaled achingly and briefly closed his eyes, his hands tightening at her straightforwardness from refraining himself. " How long have I been aching to hear you say this ", he replied, making a visible effort to control himself. When he opened his eyes again, there was a flame within she had never seen before. " But there is something I have to tell you before you make any decision regarding me. I cannot let you open yourself to me without…without revealing to you something that I should not. Please hear me out and think carefully before you do anything. "
He was obviously struggling to find his words, and abruptly looked away from her face. Elena took a step back and felt him relax as she gave him time to form the right phrasings in his mind.
" Elena, I cannot stress enough how important it is to remain discreet in the upcoming weeks. There will come a time when you may feel I have withheld important information from you. I swear I would tell you everything if I could, but it is out of my reach. Just know that I wouldn't - " Heinrix paused, frowning to himself. He looked perplexed. Elena kind of wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him until he finished his discourse. " - I would never want any real harm to come to you", he finally finished, more awkwardly than his stern and grim composure would have hinted at. He looked more vulnerable with these traces of doubts and awkwardness. More real as well.
He looked back at her, staring her in the eyes. " You may be a Rogue Trader, but you are not mine. There will always be things that I cannot disclose to you. Think it through, Elena. I don't want you to ever feel I have taken advantage of your trust. I have done many questionable things in my past…yet proving myself unhonorable towards you crosses a line for me. What would it be for you ? Would you accept me for who and what I am, knowing all it may imply ? "
Elena released the exhale she hadn't realized she was holding until now. " Heinrix, you're a moralizing fool with a stubborn mind and unbreaking will. Nothing would make me want to change who you are."
He smiled and his gaze grew warmer.
" Tell me, Elena, am I not even more of a fool for wanting you so ? " he replied, extending his arm towards her and inviting her to come closer.
Elena crossed the distance separating them decisively. " No more than me, to yearn so badly for you."
She brushed a lock of Heinrix's hair past his ear tenderly, mirroring the gesture he once had towards her in a moment of vulnerability. The Interrogator looked her straight in the eye.
They stood face to face, barely touching each other, until Elena finally took Heinrix's hands and put them over her hips. He tightened his grip for a second, then slowly slid them over to her corset and started undoing its laces.
Elena looked at his slow and patient work. She would have wished for this moment to be a dance, and to savor the slow evolution of their intimacy, but she needed him too badly. She pulled at the corset unceremoniously until finally it gave in and fell. Heinrix took the rest of her outfit off. They kissed a first time, Elena voluntarily pressing her naked body against his uniform. She took a step back to take in his figure, his shoulders, his legs, his incandescent gaze and determined expression.
The space between them disappeared once again. Now it was Elena's turn to undress Heinrix. He closed his eyes and let her unstrap his pauldrons, belt and vest. Grabbing her by the back of her neck, he pulled her face to his once more, kissing her as if they were a young couple celebrating their wedding night. Elena led him to her bed.
They intertwined amongst the sheets, feverish and out-of-breath. There was a certain sense of wonder at discovering details about the person you had been attracted to so badly for a long time. A scar, an implant, a mole, the angles of one's cheekbones from up close, the lining of their eyes, the shape of one's body. Elena kissed Heinrix once more, as if it was the last thing she was going to do in the Expanse. As if a kiss could settle all her problems at once. Heinrix was looking at her with an expression that was a mix of awe and desperation, as if he couldn't quite believe what was actually happening and in fear that it may shatter between his hands at each second.
After all was said and done, they laid on the bed silently for a few minutes. Now that the adrenaline was giving way to endorphins, Elena herself felt troubled at the idea of having put Heinrix into her bed. To be honest, he did look more stunned than she was. He contemplated the ceiling for a while, before admitting between thin lips :
" I feel I must be dreaming."
She chucked at that and, in a charming and very unusual way, he smiled at hearing her laugh. It was a very rare expression on him, as if a light had been switched on from within. Elena didn't even know that his face could look like that. She rolled on her side to contemplate those eyes that had unnerved and gritted on her nerves so much.
" Heinrix. I'll go through hell for you", she said slowly. In her diviner's mouth, it was, unfortunately, a promise. But for once, Heinrix didn't seem to pick up on her subtleties, too distracted maybe by her unusual sweetness.
He took her face between his hands. " I have come to the conclusion, after regularly doubting your mind's sanity, that you are indeed insane," he said, with a streak of affection.
Her lips tugged into a smile. " That's what it takes to bear with you everyday."
He snorted. " Then I'm glad you are." He kissed her. " Elena, I must go. Your servants will surely worry if you do not give them any life sign."
She sighed, and rolled back on her back, closing her eyes for a second, her eyelids fluttering slightly. " Next patrol is due in twenty minutes and my servants are doing just fine enjoying their time off, I assure you."
" Diviner abilities are so convenient", he commented ironically. " Twenty minutes, you said ? I am sure I can make that work."
" See to it that you do."
They did.