She opened her eyes, and was met by the gloom of the main chamber. She blinked and hung her uniform jacket from the iron hook on the wall without needing to look. A pair of round eyes lit at the other end of the room as Kelik woke. A clicking caw disturbed the quiet. She smiled and went forwards, picking up the falconer’s gauntlet from a low table.

‘Hush,’ she said. ‘It’s still day, not time for you to hunt yet.’ The gyre-hawk gave another unimpressed call as Su-Kassen released the catch on the cage. Kelik eyed her for a moment and then hopped onto her arm, ignored the gauntlet and climbed up to her shoulder. His claws dug into the ballistic weave and she winced. He blinked once, slowly, giving the distinct air of contempt. Su-Kassen laughed and moved to light the water pipe. It began to bubble as she moved around the room.

A low table of ancient cedar sat at the centre of the room between two worn floor cushions. A Saturnian power sabre hung on the wall above a brass-framed box that held one of the twin shot-pistols she had taken from a drift pirate captain in her first ship action – long ago now.

She should sleep. She only had two hours before she was back on station, but she knew she would not be able to, and besides, she found more rest in these few moments of mundane reality than in the dreams that would come to her if she slept.

She was drawing a cup of spice tea when Kelik flinched on her shoulder, head suddenly raised, eyes open and fixed on the door. The knock came a second later. She froze for a second.

Who would come to find her here? If it was an alert or crisis there were procedures, signals, but the vox set into the chamber wall remained silent. She lifted the shot-pistol out of its box, loading and cocking it with practised smoothness. There were guards throughout the bastion, security screens, and warriors of Dorn’s Huscarl retinue. But something had sent ice prickling her skin, and she had nearly died enough times not to ignore that warning.

‘Identify yourself,’ she ordered, levelling the pistol at the closed door.

‘One who would have your counsel,’ came the reply. Su-Kassen felt the breath hiss from her lungs with surprise. Then she shook herself and released the door lock.

‘My apologies for disturbing your rest, admiral,’ said Jaghatai Khan.

‘My lord…’ she began, bowing her head.

‘Please,’ he said, smiling and bowing his own head. ‘The impoliteness of an unexpected visitor negates all need for formality.’

‘What has happened?’ she asked, mind still whirling.