‘And the Cicatrix Maledictum?’

‘The work of our enemies,’ Tekoa said fiercely. ‘But Lord Guilliman will throw them back and heal the skies!’

Chetta managed not to laugh. Oh, to be that hopeful, and that naive. ‘So you understand that sometimes the warp can be dangerous?’

‘I suppose that would make sense,’ Tekoa replied, nodding. ‘You would of course know far more about such things than I.’

Chetta decided that she definitely liked him. ‘I am not boasting when I say that I do, Tekoa. Now, you’re aware of the loss of Gallimo Prime?’

Tekoa nodded again, a somewhat haunted look coming over his face. ‘Yes, high lady. We’ve been instructed not to talk of it, but what can you do in the face of such a tragic misfortune? Besides, the cessation of shipping traffic alone would cause too many questions for anyone here to remain ignorant of it for long.’

‘Tekoa, I’m going to be honest with you,’ Chetta said, lowering her voice further. ‘I asked Prefect Gurrit for access to the passenger logs for the last few transports from the Gallimo System, because I fear that someone involved in that world’s fate may have come here.’ She watched his eyes grow wide in horror at the sheer concept. ‘He refused me.’

Tekoa Yunn wasn’t stupid. His eyes narrowed again and his mouth tightened. ‘If Prefect Gurrit refused you–’

‘Tekoa, someone needs to do something about this, and right now I am the only person whom I know is willing to,’ Chetta snapped at him. ‘It may come to nothing, but I need to try!’

‘But, high lady, I could access the logs, but when my involvement is discovered–’

Chetta rounded on him and pinned him up against the wall with the butt of her cane. She couldn’t have held him there had he struggled, but the shock – and possibly the presence of her guards – did the job for her.

‘Junior Sub-Prefect Tekoa Yunn,’ Chetta hissed into his face. ‘If you’re trying to tell me that you’d place your continued career in the Administratum higher than the fate of this entire world, then first of all I’m confident in saying that Lord Guilliman would be ashamed of you, and secondly I fear you have woefully overestimated your ability to survive the planet disappearing from under your feet!’

Tekoa took a couple of breaths, then nodded cautiously. ‘As you say, high lady. As you say. The Emperor forgive me, you speak wisely. I will assist you.’

Chetta smiled and patted his hand, and leaned somewhat gratefully on her cane once more. ‘Thank you, Tekoa. Thank you.’ She waited for another moment, then added, ‘And of course, should your superiors here disagree with the necessity of your actions, I’d be happy to find you employ in House Brobantis.’