'And what?' A hooded figure pushed open the bead curtain cordoning off the room from the rest of the saloon. 'Whistle down a starship to come get you?'

Rink gaped like a fish and Ignis got to his feet, a grin springing to life on his lips. 'By all that's holy, is it you?'

Torris Vaun returned the smile. 'Oh yes, it's me. In the flesh.’ He patted both of the men on their shoulders. 'Bet you never thought you'd see this face again, eh?'

'Well, uh, no, to be honest.’ admitted Rink. 'After them nuns took you in the nets on Groombridge, we reckoned that was it. All over.’

'Some of us did.’ Ignis added, with a pointed look.

They were a bit rough with me, but nothing I wasn't ready for.’ Vaun helped himself to a cup of recaf and sweetened it generously with the brandy bottle on the table. 'Got a smoke?' he asked, offhandedly. 'I'm gasping.’

Rink nodded and fished out a packet of tabac sticks. Vaun made a face at the label - it was a cheap local brand that smelled like burning sewage - but he took one just the same. Your hand is shaking, Rink.’ noted the criminal. You're not happy to see me?'

Tm...uh...'

'He's nervous.’ explained Ignis. 'Honestly, Vaun, I'm in there with him on that. Coming here... Well, there's been talk it was a mistake.’

'Mistake?' Vaun repeated. He tapped the end of the cigarillo with the flat of his finger and it puffed alight. 'Who has been saying that?'

The two other men exchanged glances. 'Some people. They didn't come.'

'Like?'

'Gibbin and Rox. Jefter, too.' Rink sniffed.

Vaun made a dismissive gesture. 'Ah, the warp take them. Those bottom-feeders never had the eye for a big score, anyway' He smiled. 'But you boys came, didn't you? That warms my heart.' The tip of the tabac stick glowed orange.

'The others are scattered about. Lying low.’ noted Ignis. 'But we all came.'

'Even though you didn't want to,' Vaun voiced the unspoken part of the sentence. 'Because you're asking yourself, what in Hades made Torris Vaun think he could get free from the Adepta Sororitas?'

'Yeah,' said Rink, 'and the message. Didn't even know the twerp who brought it, some moneyed little fig with his hands all high.’

'You still came, though. That's good. Even though LaHayn's dogs and every city watch on Neva will be sniffing for us, you still came.’ He exhaled sweet smoke. You won't regret it.’

Ignis blinked. 'We're not staying here... Vaun, tell me we're not gonna stay on this churchy prayer-pit one second longer.’ His voice went up at the end of the sentence.

'Watch it.’ said Vaun, amused. This is my home-world you're disparaging. But yes, we're staying. There's a big prize here, Ig. Bigger than you can imagine. With the help of my, ah, moneyed friends, we're going to have it, and more besides.’

'More?' asked Rink. 'What like?'