‘I’d heard rumours you had returned, but no one knew for sure. I’m… I’m so sorry about your leg though, sir, that is shocking poor luck.’

I glanced from my injury to Plient’s missing arm.

‘I think you had the worse of it.’

‘I suppose, sir,’ Plient said with a shrug. ‘But I joined up knowing the risks. I’m not going to start complaining now. That’s no way to serve the God-Emperor.’

‘Indeed not,’ I said. ‘But should you be on duty? Given your injuries?’

‘Oh, I’m not going to let my comrades down, sir,’ Plient replied. ‘We need every hand we have, no pun intended. It’s… it’s not good out there, sir.’

‘The orks?’

‘There are more of them and less of us. I heard whispers that high command think they’ve established a base near the… near where the storm is. We would have pulled back, but the governor says she will not abandon her home.’

‘Does she not fear the orks?’

‘I don’t know. I only hear what the servants say, and they seem to think she has powerful allies who will save us all. Do you think that is the case, sir? Maybe she can call upon the Adeptus Astartes?’

‘I doubt it.’ I sighed. ‘But I know less than you. At least you are privy to whispers. Without my seer-skulls I feel almost blind.’

‘Ah, then let me help you with that, sir,’ Plient said with a smile, shuffling over to the section of wing.

‘Do you need assistance?’ I said, glancing to the servitor. ‘I could perhaps hold some of the tools, or–’

I did not get a chance to finish. I don’t know exactly what Plient did. He seemed to merely brush the hard point with his fingers, and suddenly Mizar fell free, bouncing on the floor and rolling towards me.

‘Sorry, sir,’ Plient said. ‘I should have put a cushion down or something. Is it undamaged?’

‘It has seen far worse,’ I said, stooping to retrieve the seer-skull. Its eye flared bright and it slowly rose, scanning its surroundings before settling into place beside me.

‘I thank you, Plient,’ I said. ‘Despite everything, it is a relief to have Mizar freed.’

‘Happy to help, sir. I’m just sorry I was unavailable before. I was… not at my best, sir.’

‘None of us are, at present,’ I replied. ‘Shard and I certainly had some… challenging moments.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Plient, I hate to put you on the spot but… do you know what happened to her?’