‘You can trust us all, Sister,’ said Brother Garios, the leader of the Bladeguard squad. ‘We are sworn to the command of our captain and if you trust him, you trust us.’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Aures, not sounding convinced.

Aeschelus motioned to Garios and the other Bladeguard. ‘We must depart soon. I do not think I am in immediate peril, brother.’

‘As you command, my brother-captain,’ said Garios. He raised his blade, first in salute to the Sister and then to Aeschelus. The other Bladeguard did likewise as they each turned away and headed out through the airlock.

‘This is not proof, not as would convince a tribunal, but it shows intent,’ said Aures. Aeschelus held out his hand and she dropped the crystal into his armoured palm. It looked tiny against the blue of his gauntlet, a ­fragile thing to carry such weight of importance. ‘These are recordings from the council chambers. Review them and see what you think.’

‘We’re about to embark on a joint military campaign with the forces of Orestes,’ said Praxa­medes. ‘If you have concerns, we must hear them. You say we cannot trust the Imperial commander. What is he going to do?’

‘I do not know, but I have been excluded from deliberations of the council since your arrival in orbit was detected. The court monitoring scribes have been dismissed as well. There exist no records of what has been discussed.’

‘Suspicious, but not damning,’ Praxa­medes replied.

‘I will look at this,’ said Aeschelus. ‘Thank you for bringing it to me. I assume there is some risk should your suspicions prove correct. You may have sanctuary on my vessel if you require it.’

‘An offer I may accept at another time, but for now my place is with the court of Orestes, for better or worse. Perhaps the Imperial commander will take me into his confidences again and I can dissuade him from any folly.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Aeschelus, closing his fist around the crystal. He lifted it to his plastron and bowed his head. ‘By the Emperor’s Grace, Sister. I bid you fair fortunes.’

She returned his thanks with a nod of her own before hurrying back along the gallery.

Aeschelus did not wait to see her through the other doorway, but turned back to his ship, Praxa­medes at his side.

‘A serious business,’ said the lieutenant. ‘What do you make of it?’

‘Trouble, either way,’ said Aeschelus as they strode up the docking gantry and onto the strike cruiser. It felt good to have the deck beneath his feet again. ‘Set course for upper orbit. I want a report from Nem­etus regarding the situation on the surface. And prepare the anterium. We will review this data there.’