‘This is insanity,’ she breathed. ‘That maniac is going to doom us both! Taranthis will see to it!’

‘You asked how much worse the day could get,’ Ngiri remarked from behind her right shoulder. ‘Now you know.’

‘I do not appreciate your insolence, Lady Vass!’ Chetta snarled, swinging around to glare at her. ‘Innocent people are dying!’

Ngiri leaned down and spoke quietly, her lips barely moving so that only Chetta could hear her. Her eyes were cold and dark as splinters of flint.

‘Do you have any idea how many innocent people I’ve killed, or have ordered killed?’ the inquisitor asked softly.

Chetta felt her lip curl. ‘I wouldn’t care to guess.’

‘Nor would I,’ Ngiri said, just as quietly as before. ‘I lost count many years ago. But it has always been to ensure that my duties are adequately performed. To ensure the safety and security of the Imperium. And I would order all those deaths again, without question.’ Her eyes flicked past Chetta to the pict-feeds. ‘You wanted to make sure your children didn’t get dragged down in whatever doom your soothsayers claim awaits Dukarr. Now your people are paying the price of your decision to humiliate a vain, powerful man in front of his peers.’ She looked back at Chetta. ‘I hope it’s worth it.’

Anger swelled in Chetta’s chest. ‘No. No, it is not worth it, and I will not stand for it! Sen Uru is vain, yes, but he is not beyond reason! There has to be another explanation for him to do this now!’ She banged her cane on the floor angrily, ignoring the jolt of pain that it sent up her arm, and turned to make her way over to the other side of the control chamber. She’d refused to let Morandia and Jalamar see the details of Dukarr’s offensive, and so had ordered DeShelle to show them the evidence they’d gathered on the actions of Radimir Niklau. Both Jo’Sin Navigators were looking grim-faced when Chetta reached them.

‘I need to make contact with Sen Uru,’ she stated flatly. ‘My house cannot contribute to the search for Niklau while we are under direct attack, and such events will only confuse the efforts of Judge Arctos and his proctors. I need you to stand with me and present a unified front to him. You as well, Lady Vass,’ she added to Ngiri.

‘Agreed,’ Morandia said immediately. Chetta wasn’t that surprised; Morandia might threaten a trade war with the house of her birth while her temper ran high, but news of Dukarr’s open offensive had clearly shocked her. She had once viewed House Brobantis’ assets as her own… and indeed, if Chetta’s suspicions about the woman’s ambitions were accurate, hoped to do so again.

‘Yes,’ Jalamar said, a moment later. ‘This must take top priority.’

‘It seems the wisest course of action,’ Ngiri agreed. ‘How do you propose to make contact?’