‘That’s right,’ he said, nodding. ‘There I was, my personal guard ready to deploy and wipe the looks from their disgustingly bland faces. But then diplomacy broke out! I ask you, who talks with xenos filth? Should have exterminated the lot of them, along with those traitorous milksops who wanted to placate them. Half the planets in the Imperium have gone soft, that’s the problem.’

I nodded, trying to gracefully withdraw, but he advanced as I retreated, mirroring each step. His voice was loud, and carried despite the cacophony of the room, and as Kikazar had synced with his speech, I was subject to his blithering twice. From over his shoulder, I could see Shard and some of the other officers filling their plates, whilst Governor Dolos seemed to be hurrying in my direction.

‘Worst of all are those pointy-eared ones.’

‘The aeldari?’ I asked.

He nodded, draining his glass. ‘I still cannot believe a group of them had the gall to attend our banquet!’ he continued as Dolos swept in, taking hold of his arm. ‘Claimed they were invited!’

‘That’s enough now, Pompo,’ she said, an edge creeping into her voice. He was too inebriated to detect it, but I was surprised by her demeanour. Pompo must have carried enough influence that even a planetary governor needed to employ tact.

‘I told you then,’ he said, turning to her. ‘Can’t give them the slightest opening. Pretty ones are the worst, because they can confuse a man. Well, a weak one anyway. Least the greenskins and the blueskins have the decency to look repugnant. Not like those disgusting she-xenos with their cold eyes and bright smiles.’

He trailed off then, his focus shifting somewhere unknown to me, his face softening even more at the memory.

Dolos took her opening.

‘Lord Pompo, we have just received some amasec imported from Ultramar. Some say it is the Lord Regent’s preferred beverage.’

This got his attention, and he was happily led away by one of the servants.

‘God-Emperor bless him,’ she sighed. ‘He’s an old friend and a loyal one at that, but he does get confused.’

‘He seems to think the aeldari attended a previous banquet?’

‘I know,’ she said. ‘Poor fellow. Perhaps he is thinking of an old campaign.’

‘Was he a soldier?’

‘Not exactly,’ she replied. ‘His family oversee a vineyard to the east. A small army is employed to ensure the workers’ productivity and oppose potential threats. I believe they engaged in the occasional skirmish to protect his interests, sometimes even off-planet.’

‘Including against the t’au?’

‘That must be from his younger days,’ she said. ‘Come. There are other people you must meet.’