Which of them is the one?' he bellowed, pointing across the book at Miriya's squad. Which of these wenches is the fool who lost me my prize?'

Galatea held out a hand to stop him, her face tight with annoyance. 'Lord LaHayn, you forget yourself. This is a place of worship. Shoulder your weapon!'

You dare defy me?' The high priest's colour darkened, the mitre on his head bobbing.

'Aye.’ Galatea shot back. 'This place is the sacred house of Saint Katherine and the God-Emperor. I should not need to remind you of that!'

There was a moment when LaHayn's wiry muscles bunched around the sword, as if he were preparing to strike but in the next the anger dropped from him and he stiffly forced the blade into the hands of a subordinate dean at his side. Yes, yes.’ he said, after

a long silence. 'Forgive me, Canoness. I allowed my baser instincts to overrule the better angels of my nature.' He gave a low bow that was echoed by all of his retinue. When he came up, he was looking into Galatea's eyes with a piercing, steely gaze. 'My question, however, still stands. You will answer it.'

Vaun's escape is not so simple a matter that it can be laid at the feet of these women.’ said the Canoness, each word carefully balanced and without weight. 'An investigation must take place.’

'The enforcers have begun an analysis.’ noted the dean.

Galatea ignored him, concentrating on LaHayn. This cannot be left to the enforcers or the Imperial Navy. Torris Vaun was the responsibility of the Adepta Sororitas, and we will find him.’

The priest-lord's gaze drifted to Miriya and her troops. 'Unsatisfactory. While I applaud your determination to amend the oversights of your Battle Sisters, necessity demands consequences.’ He took a step forward. 'In all things. Did not Celestine's arrival teach us that?' LaHayn smoothly shifted into a mode of speech better suited to a church mass with the common folk. This is a universe of laws. Actions beget reactions. For all things, there are costs and penalties.’ His lined, hard face loomed over Galatea. There must be reciprocity.’

'Lord deacon, I would ask that you speak plainly.’ The Canoness did not flinch from his gaze.

LaHayn showed a thin smile. The few survivors of the witch's escape, the man Vorgo and the others, they are to be taken to the excruciators to become

object lessons. It occurs to me that perhaps a contrite Battle Sister should join them, as an example of your order's devotion.’

'One of my kinswomen has already perished in the unfolding of this sorry matter.’ snapped Galatea. "You would ask me to give you another?'

The dead one... Sister Lethe, yes? She is the most blameless of all, falling in honourable conflict to the heretic. Her sacrifice is not enough.’

Miriya began to rise to her feet. 'I shall-'