‘Poorly. I have limited means of capturing the conflict, just lost one of my most valuable assets. My boots are sodden, despite the fact I stayed in the transport hold the entire mission. And worst of all, I had intended my pict to venerate Flight Commander Lucille von Shard, the renowned fighter ace and hero. But I find myself flying with a drunken braggard who, from what I can tell, respects nothing and no one besides herself.’

‘Sounds like you’ve found the truth to me.’ She shrugged. ‘Mission accomplished. Is there anything else?’

‘Yes,’ I said, glaring at her. ‘Despite my warning, you gleefully abandoned a priceless artefact in the middle of that swamp. That seer-skull once belonged to Propagandist Taina Mizar. Do you know who that is?’

‘By the Throne!’ she whispered, flinching. ‘Taina Mizar? I had no idea. Such a loss.’

She sounded sincere, her eyes bright and earnest. But the scar across her lip made it look like she was sneering.

‘Truthfully?’ I asked.

‘Absolutely,’ she said, nodding. ‘My life would not be what it is without Mizar. She is the one who lifts my spirits when I falter, the one who presses my uniform every morning, the one who brings me my recaff when–’

She caught my expression and frowned.

‘Sorry, I’m thinking of Milania, my chambermaid. Who, incidentally, is fantastic. Don’t think she knows much of the propagandist arts, but my bedsheets are always soft and clean. Still, sorry you lost your toy. If only one of the Scions could have sacrificed their life to preserve it. How selfish of them.’

She smiled. It did nothing to dispel the mocking tone.

‘Do you find yourself amusing?’ I asked.

‘As much as anyone,’ she replied. ‘So, do you plan to obtain a replacement? Or are you going to branch out? Maybe a ribcage on tank tracks?’

‘A relic of that nature cannot be simply replaced.’

‘Funny that,’ she said, vaulting from the cockpit and dusting herself down. ‘Aircraft, soldiers, citizens are all eminently replaceable. But Emperor forbid someone loses a hollowed-out cranium with a bunch of wires protruding from where its brain should be. I mean, where on earth would we find another propagandist’s skull?’

She tapped her chin, as though lost in thought, still wearing that sneer.

‘Taina Mizar is a legend,’ I said, glaring at her. ‘She braved the most dangerous warzones to show humanity’s triumphs in a hostile galaxy. Through her efforts millions were inspired to enlist in service of the God-Emperor. It was said she had the potential to be the greatest propagandist of all time. Do not mock her.’

‘So, what happened?’

I frowned, not understanding.

‘What happened to her?’ Shard persisted. ‘You said she had great potential, why wasn’t it realised?’