Chapter 4. Unquiet

  Steam hissed as Galba tipped water over the hot rocks.

  Lucian took the towel from his shoulders and wiped his face. "There is a

  chance we still might not be able to get through the Valkyrie's cloak."

  "The Aenides is the reason we are out here Lucian…. and she is exactly

  where I want her to be. The Valkyrie is just an opportunity too good

  to pass up exploring."

  "Are all the members of the Senate aware of what you're doing out here.”

  “Not all of them, Just a small circle of like minded individuals."

  Lucian frowned. "Has there ever been a Senator that could even

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  lie straight in bed"

  Galba put a towel over his face and lay back. "Maybe the dead ones can."

  *

  From an overhead gantry, Galba and Lucian watched the boarding

  vessel being prepared and loaded. "There is an eight man boarding team,

  plus yourself and Ithaniel."

  Lucian noticed his brother tapping his fingers on the guard rail.

  "Something on your mind?"

  Galba stopped tapping. "I want you to keep an eye on Ithaniel."

  "You want me to babysit him?"

  "No, nothing like that."

  "What then?"

  They watched Ithaniel on the deck below organising his gear.

  "I don't trust him. I have a vague feeling he's only telling me what he

  wants me to hear."

  "Am I missing something?”

  Galba stepped back from the railing. "I’ve always been suspicious of

  the easy path - when things just seem to line up fortuitously. Nothing has

  ever been handed to us on a silver platter brother.”

  “True enough.” Lucian said.

  "You should go down and meet the boarding team."

  "Where are they from? I don't recognise their cloaks."

  "They're not legionnaires,” Galba said.

  "Mercenaries." Lucian said sourly.

  "I paid for a specialist crew and ship.”

  Lucian sighed. "Sometimes I think my garden is the only place in the entire

  Imperium that makes sense.”

  Galba smiled. ”How have you managed to live for so long. I’m on a fixed

  time line Lucian. I don’t have the luxury of being able to pick and choose.

  The squad leader is some-one of note though - Ahmeena."

  "Ahmeena.” Lucian said. “The one and only.”

  *