Gabriel blinked, and Evaria was suddenly standing in front of him, dressed with her hair tied back. Her verdant eyes were intense with a flurry of emotions too quick for him to track, but he could feel them.

  "My lady?" The words barely escaped Gabriel's lips before his Primarch addressed him with an order that gave him pause.

  "Order the Omnis Arcanum to hold their fire now!"

  Gabriel's mind whirled. "My lady, we're not in combat. I don't see how-"

  "I gave an order, Chapter Master."

  Gabriel stood a little straighter and crossed an arm over his chest in salute, a spark of respect lighting in his eyes despite his confusion. "Yes, my lady." Gabriel used his vox-caster. "Captain Instigar, our Lady has ordered we hold fire."

  A gruff voice responded. "Hold fire? Against what?"

  "I know not, but someone or something is about to arrive."

  The silence Gabriel received was laden with confusion, but the report eventually came back. "All armaments have been ordered to hold fire until ordered otherwise."

  Gabriel glanced at Evaria, who straightened her imperial formal wear. "Good, brother. I'll contact you with any further orders."

  Evaria's hands moved as a blur, flattening out any creases, as if she were about to meet the God Emperor himself. Omnac rose and joined them.

  "My lady, may I?"

  Evaria glanced at him and nodded. She knelt, and Omnac straightened her hair, then had her stand. He straightened her formal wear to perfection, and then he slowly circled her, murmuring prayers to the Omnissiah as he slowly swung his incense censure. After one circle around Evaria, alarms erupted across the Judicial Pyre.

  "Xenos vessel has entered the system! All hands to battle stations!"

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  Gabriel's brow came together and he looked up at Evaria. "What's going on, my lady? Why wouldn't we fire on them?"

  "They're here to verify me, Lord Angelos. They won't fire unless fired up on, or if I fail their test."

  Fahlia threw open the doors. "You will stay in this room."

  "It's an Eldari Craft-World ship, correct?"

  Fahlia's eyes flashed as she reached for her power stake.

  Gabriel moved between them, his daemonhammer Godslayer ready. "Pull a weapon needlessly on my lady again and I will crush you where you stand."

  Fahlia paused, staring down the Chapter Master.

  "The Omnis Arcanum will not fire upon the Eldari unless they shoot our ship first, or if my lady should order it. It would be best if you followed her lead."

  "Listen to the Astartes mon-keigh."

  Fahlia whipped around to find a squad of Eldari holding them at gunpoint.

  The male at the head of the squad spoke again. "Send out the order to not fight, else we'll have to take control of your bridge by force."

  Fahlia's already thin lips disappeared as she withheld her desired response. "I am Inquisitor Fahlia Kurchen. It is my duty to purge any Xenos scum I come in contact with."

  "Then live to fight another day, Inquisitor." The male said casually as he moved to walk past her. Fahlia didn't move, and the Eldari looked down at her. Gabriel stepped closer, though he did not block the Eldari 's path. The male looked at Gabriel, then glanced at the daemonhammer. His gaze lingered.

  "Gabriel Angelos."

  Gabriel tightened his grip.

  "I see you've finished your time with the Death Watch."

  Fahlia looked up at Gabriel, her eyes narrowing.

  The male returned his gaze to Evaria, and he strode around Fahlia with purpose.

  "Lady Evaria Manoash. Do you know who I am?"

  Evaria shook her head slightly. "My powers are not as attuned as before. I cannot sense familiar hearts."

  "Shame..." The male didn't look at Fahlia as he continued. "Order your men to stand down, Inquisitor. Else we will fire on your sad excuse for a vessel and bring Lady Evaria with us."

  Fahlia looked to Evaria, a part of her hoping she'd put these Xenos scum in their place, but all she saw was a woman hoping for resolution. Fahlia finally raised her Vox-caster to her lips.

  "This is Inquisitor Kurchen. All hands, stand down. Do not fire upon any Eldari that have boarded, and do not fire on their vessel."

  The male reached up and began to remove his helmet.