'But what are we going to do?' said Friedisch in a panicked whisper. 'The domina is still doing hourly sweeps for dissent.' He shuddered. 'She dissolved the last adept who showed signs of defiance in add. Oh, by the blood of the machine, we're going to get caught!' He gave the inactive cyborg a terrified look. 'She's got ears everywhere!'

'No one can hear us!' said Cawl exasperatedly. 'Friedisch Adum Silip Qvo, I sometimes think you believe me an idiot. I have made sure no one will be aware of what I am saying to you. No one do you understand?'

Friedisch slumped and nodded.

'Serving Horus will kill us, or worse,' Cawl went on. 'Did you see his witch? Did you see him?'

'I was not privileged enough to be so close as you,' said Friedisch. 'It was no privilege. Count yourself lucky,' said Cawl. 'Horus Lupercal is no longer human, of any son. Nor are his servants. I have seen them up close dear friend.'

'He promised knowledge,' said Friedisch. 'Forbidden knowledge. Are you not tempted?'

'Of course I am tempted. But sometimes forbidden knowledge is forbidden for good reason. We have to get out of this place.'

'I don't know. Domina Aspertia says…'

'Never mind what Aspertia says!' snapped Cawl. 'She's wrong. You can't serve creatures like Horus and profess the neutrality of knowledge. High principles are no defence against the kind of corruption Horus' service brings.' He gritted his teeth. 'Knowledge can never be neutral. She has fallen prey to the limitations of human thought.'

'What do you mean?' said Friedisch.

'She is convinced she is right, as everyone with an opinion is convinced they are right.' Cawl stared hard at his wide-eyed friend. 'The truth is, no one ever is. The assumption of truth blinds one to the shading of actuality. It's all subjective. We can only do the best we can, and she has made the wrong choice.'

'The Warmaster is probably going to win, you realise that,' said Friedisch. He was already defeated, already giving in. 'He's going to take Terra. It might be better to be on the winning side.'

Cawl punched his friend hard in the chest.

'What did you do that for?' Friedisch said, shocked.

'I'm knocking some sense into you, fool, it is probable that Horus will win,' admitted Cawl. 'But some things are too precious to be left to the whims of probability! If we all give in, he will win for certain. Every one of us that defies him lessens his chances,' Friedisch's eye narrowed. 'Hang on, if I decide not to come with you…' His gaze fell on Cawl's serpenta.

Cawl gave Friedisch an angry, meaningful look.