VIII. CONSORT

===APOCRYPHIS PROXIMA CAPITAL HIVE, PALACE OF THE PLANETARY GOVERNOR===

With my baby girl in my arms, I stand before the panoramic window of the royal dorm-chamber at the top of the city's main spire. The last of the stars glitter in the sky whose easternmost slice is lit by our sun, the bright Rasalhague.

This is an old morning ritual of mine. In my former life, I had no idea at all that such beauty exists. It was only with the lord-governor – with Jozif – that I got my first taste of it. The splendour outside still takes my breath away. And this isn't even the building's highest point.

Hearing footfalls behind me, I turn around. It's Jozif. Still handsome and imposing, but also haggard, tired – nowadays he's forced to spend sleepless nights running the suppression of insurrections whose madness have engulfed Apocryphis' hive cities.

Jozif is the first governor in thousands of years to not step back from his duty when his hearthworld is in danger. I am proud of him. I love him. And I'm honoured to be his lady-consort.

He approaches us to kiss our daughter and me.

'Look there, Adele,' he points. 'As if the world itself resists his coming.'

Again I fix my gaze behind the armaglass. What from such a height looks like breathtakingly beautiful clouds at the horizon curve are in fact colossal storm fronts the size of a continent.

'And he shall not stop at this,' Jozif goes on. 'Like we've read in scant reports from other planets, it's in his power to disrupt circadian cycles, destroy our satellite and bring it down on our heads. He needs us – after all, our world is strategically vital, and it's much more profitable to capture it intact. But if... Horus... doesn't gain our submission, he'll stop at nothing.' He calls the Warmaster by name for the first time, and it makes us both cringe. In recent months, we have all become superstitious.

The Governor sighs heavily.

'And he's got followers here.'

'Chravius,' I say reflexively.

'Chravius,' he nods. 'My precious, reckless nephew. Dreaming of taking my throne at the top of the world for himself. And how I wish it was only just him, dear Adele... Many barons and their subjects have sided with him. Along with my first wife,Denali…' he adds with reluctance. 'Which means a full-scale war is imminent.'

Jozif shakes his head. Though my dear husband is general-in-chief of the First Apocryphadi Hort, he'd never seen battle, and the only scar on his body is one from childhood games.

'So what should we do, my love?' I whisper, shocked. 'What will happen to our little ones? To us?'

'Do not worry, my sweet.' In these affectionate words I hear the old Jozif, and for a few seconds I am overwhelmed by the memory of those blissful days.

Instinctively clinging to the lord-governor, I touch his cheek overgrown with fresh stubble.

'You know what conditions I was raised in, Jozif. I wished for our kids to have only happiness from the very start...'

'We are not alone, Adele,' he says, quietly but firmly. 'We just have to trust in the Emperor. There are many still loyal to Him, you know.'

'And who used to talk about old deities before?' I retort with a slight smile.

Jozif smiles too, and the eyes on his noble face glint warmly.

'Apparently, the old gods are on the traitor's side. Now only the Emperor will protect us, Adele. Trust in Him.'

'All right, Jozif. In Him – and in you. Especially you.'

It's time for him to return to his men. He is a ruler of an entire world, imperious and steadfast. With me, though, he's merely a loving husband and father. And for us there is no joy greater than that.

'Thank you for everything, Adele,' he says in farewell. 'I've been truly happy with you.'

He leaves, and silence reigns once again, interrupted only by my child's quiet breathing, and outside there are eldritch flashes of lightning, a crimson dawn, and stars quivering as if horrified by the Arch-Traitor's arrival.