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MercyâDanieWare
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MERCYDanieWare
Thecathedralâscorpsewasvast.
Standing in its hollow heart, its darkness vaulted huge above her, SisterSuperiorAugustarestedonescarlet-gauntletedhandonthebolteratherhip.She saidnothing, only scanned this iconof theEmperorâsmight, searchingformotion,forthreat,foranyremaininggleamofHisLight.
Buttherewasnothing.
ThiswasUltimaSegmentumâsdarkestcorner,andlittlereachedouthere.
Beside her, the missionary Lysimachus Tanichus was speaking in hushedtones.âFromthelastyearsoftheAgeofApostasy,sister.Orsotheysay.âHissibilancecoiledinthedark,likeechoesofmillennia.
Augusta gave a brief acknowledgement and walked carefully through thedebris. The air was hot here, clammy with the overgrown jungle-marshoutside; twistedcreepershadpenetrated thecathedralâscrumblingwallsandthey writhed across the stonework like the tendrils of Chaos itself. Sweatitchedatthefleur-de-lystattooonhercheek.
âSisters.âShespokesoftlyintothevoxatherthroat.âRollcall.â
Fivevoicescamebackthroughthedarkness.Augustaâsretinallensestrackedtheir locations: blips deployed in a standard sweep-reconnaissance pattern.Hersquadwereexperiencedâallexceptoneâandshehadcompletetrustintheirworthiness,andintheirlovefortheEmperor.Together,theyhadcarriedfistandfaithacrosseverysegmentumofthegalaxy.
Tanichus,fiddlingwithhisrosarius,spokeagain.âTheEmperorâs lighthadnottouchedthisworldinmillennia,sister,notuntilIcamehere,carryingHisname. The local townspeople told me of the cathedral. Itâs a part of theirmythologyââ
âI trust youâve brought them Truth,â Augusta said. Her authority wasunthreatenedbythemissionary,butsheneededtolistenâthebrieffromthecanonessonOpheliaVIIhadlistedthisworldasapotentialstagingpointforChaos, invading from the Eye of Terror, for witchkin or renegades, formarauding xenos of every kind. Augusta was a twenty-year veteran, herbobbedhairandsterngazebothsteel-grey,andherexperiencemadeherbothsharpandwary.
âMeservevivere,sister,âTanichussaid.âIlivetoserve.â
âSisterJatoya,âAugustasaidintothevox.âAnything?â
Hersecond-in-commandresponded,âNo,sister.Ifthereâsanythinghere,itâswellhidden.â
âCheckeverywhere.â
âYes,sister.â
âVerywell.âHer touch still on the bolter, eyeing the decaying statues andpillarsaboveher,AugustagesturedforTanichustokeepspeaking.
But he told her only what she already knew: his history with thetownspeople, and their rumours of the cathedral. The town held the placetaboo,buttheyâdtoldTanichustheirlocalmythâthattheruinhadaguardian,anarmouredstoneiconwithabloodiedfloweruponitschest.AndTanichushadcarriedwordofthisbacktotheEcclesiarchy,andtotheSisters.
AmemberoftheOrderoftheBloodyRose,Augustahadvolunteeredforthemissionimmediatelyâwiththecathedralâsage,itwaspossiblethattheiconcouldbeSaintMinaherself.âTheEmperorhascalledme,âsheâdsaidtothecanoness.âAndImustgo.âPerhapsformorepoliticalreasonsthanvisionaryones,thecanonesshadagreed.
Herbootscrunchingoverancient,fallenmasonry,Augustaclimbedthestepstowardsthehighaltar.Ruinornot,shepausedbeforethetopanddroppedtoonearmouredknee,herblackcloakbillowingandherhandtracingthefleur-de-lysonherarmour.
âQuantustremorestfuturus,quandoattingitlocumLucis.â
Howgreatthefearwillbe,whentheLighttouchesthisplace!
Shefeltthemissionaryshiverashe,too,knelt.Tanichuswasatalker,agoodmantocarrytheEmperorâsword,butshewasHisdaughter,andhertaskwasclear.
Shewouldfindthisicon.
âDidthetownspeopletellyouanythingfurther?âsheasked,comingbacktoherfeet.âYoulivedwiththemforseveralmonths.â
âOnlysuperstitions,âhetoldher.âIfthisisyourpatronsaint,sister,thenwemustfindherwithouttheirhelp.â
Augusta nodded. She gave her squad orders to structure their search, tomove inastandardskirmishpattern throughout thecathedralâscloistersand
side-rooms.SisterViola,theyoungest,sheorderedtostandguardatthefallendoors. Viola was new from the schola; she was high-hearted and eager toproveherselfandthatwasallverywellâŚbutAugustawantedherclose.
âYes, sister.â Viola, bolter in hand, returned to the doors and took herposition,watchingthehugeandmuggywritheoftheoutsidejungle.
Overthevox,theSisterSuperiorrecitedtheLitanyofMettle.Whateverwashere,theywouldfindit.
Inthecathedralâstranseptstoodacolossalthirty-footstatue,itsbrokenhandsraisedinthesignoftheaquila.Ithadbeencarvedinfullarmourand,likeallsuchthings,itfacedHolyTerraasifitstillsoughttheLight.
ButifthiswasSaintMina,thenshehadnoface,andherinsigniahadlongsincefallentodust.
Augustawasscanning,carefullylookingforageandidentity,whenthecrycamefromViolaatthedoorway.
âSisters!â The word was soft across the vox, but it carried the faintest ofquivers.âIseemovement!â
Augustafelt the touchofadrenalineandinhaled,enjoyingthe lift, thefirstflushoffaithâasherbriefinghadwarnedher,thiswasadangerousplace.
âBespecific,âshesaid,turningtocrunchbackouttothenave,thecathedralâsmainaisle.âWhatdoyousee?â
âLarge force incoming.Seventy, eightyyards.Moving slowly, but headingthis way.â Her voice was taut with fear. âItâs hard to see them through thejungle.â
TanichusfollowedatAugustaâsshoulder.Themissionaryhadunhookedhislasrifleandlookedslightlyqueasy;shehopedhecouldshootstraight.âSisters,tome.Kimura, to the doorway. Jatoya,watch the rear.âKimura carried thesquadâs heavy bolter, and its faster suppression would be critical. âViola,description.â
âIcanâtseewell,sister,buttheyâreallshoulders.Theyârehuge!â
âSpaceMarines?âJatoyaâstonewassurprised.âOuthere?â
ButKimurawasatthedoorwaynow,weaponattheready.Hervoicecameback over the vox, her tones shuddering with a rising, burning eagerness.âTheyârenotHereticAstartes,sisters.âThewordswerealight.
âTheyâreorks.â
Orks.
IftherewasonedamnedxenosthatAugustaloathed,itwastheork.Filthy,stinking things, slaveringanddisorderly; theywereasmuch theenemiesoftheThroneasanywitchorheretic.Shecouldfeelherfaithunfurlinginherheartlikeabannerâshehadachancetoreclaimthisholyplace,attheedgeofthesegmentumâŚ
ButAugustaâsruthlessdisciplinewaswhathadkeptheralivethroughtwentyyearsofwarfare.She could embrace the loveofherEmperor andkeepherthoughtsclear.
ShereachedKimuraatthedoorway,andusedherauspextolookoutside.
Immediately,shesawwhyViolahadmadethemistake.
Manyoftheincomingbeastswereenormous,biggerthantheSisters,armourand all.But thiswas not the disciplined advance of highly-trained soldiers,this was ramshackle, and noisy, and slow. The orks moved more likemarauders; they laughed amongst themselves, pushing and shoving andsnarling.Theirtoneswereharshandtheirvoicesguttural.
Theywerehardtoseethroughthesteam,throughthefestoonedandloopingcreepers.
Buttheywereheadingstraightforthecathedral.
âSister!â Kimura had reached the same conclusion â her voice was tense.Augustasawhertakeasightontheleadork,angerradiatingfromherstanceasifherarmourburnedwithit.
âHoldyourfire.â
Foramoment,shethoughtKimurawoulddisobey,butAugustaâscommandofhersquadwastoostrong.Instead,Kimurapaused,quivering,herfingeronthetrigger,trackingtheorksastheyapproached.
Behindthemnow,Violaâsbreathingwasswiftinhervox.ShewasafraidâandAugustaunderstood.
Butstill,theyoungestofthesquadhadtocontrolherself,andquickly.
Swiftly,theSisterSuperiorgaveordersfordeployment.KimuraandCaiaatthedoor,ViolaandMeliaat the front leftarchway, Jatoya,withher flamer,watchingtherear.Augustaherself,Tanichusstillwithher,tookpositionatthefront arch to the right, its window long since put out by the creeper andshatteredtoforgottendust.
Outside,theorksadvanced,oblivious.Afighthadbrokenoutamongsttheirnumber,cheeredandjeeredbythosesurrounding.
Beneathherhelmet,Augustacurledherlipâshehadnofearofthesebeasts,whatever their numbers. Over the vox, she recited the Battle Hymnal andheardhersistersjoinher,avidlysoft.
âThatThouwouldstbringthemonlydeath,
ThatThoushouldstsparenone,
ThatThoushouldstpardonnone
WebeseechThee,destroythem.â
She felt Viola stiffen, felt her courage coalesce. She felt Kimura steady,readytounleashHiswrathontheincomingcreaturesandtheirblasphemousintentionsâŚ
âWait,âshesaid,again.
Theorksmovedcloser.
Withinheavybolterrange.
Withinbolterrange.
Anymomentnow,theywouldseethecrouchingSisters,theirblood-scarletarmourandtheirblack-and-whitecloaksâŚ
âSisters,staydown.Kimura,onmycommand,fullcoveringsuppression.FortheEmperorâŚFire!â
Theorkshadnoideawhathadhitthem.
Raiders and warriors alike, everything vanished in a hail of gore andshreddingflesh.TheheavybolterhowledinKimuraâshands,andthejunglewasrippedtopieces,leavesshininglikeshrapnel,treesandvinescutcleaninhalf.
Oneancienttrunktoppledoverwithagroan,butwasstoppedbyatangleofcreeper.Ithungthere,creaking,likesomehugeexecutionerâsaxe.
Kimuraâsvoicecameoverthevox,loudernow,âAmorteperpetua,Domine,libranos!âTheHymnofBattleragedintunewiththefuriousbarkingoftheweapon. The Sistersâ voices joined her, rising to crystal-pure harmonics asKimuravisitedbloodydestructionupontheorks.
Augustawas grinning now, tight and violent beneath her helm. She knewthis with every word in her ear, every flash in her blood â this was her
worship,herpurposeandherlife.TheEmperorHimselfwaswithher,Hisfireinherheart,Histouchinthecreakandweightofherarmour,inthebolterinher hand. Shewas here to unleashHiswrath against the despoilers of thisforgottenandholyplace.
Anditfeltgood.
Atherotherhip,herheavychainswordclankedasifbeggingforrelease,butnotyetâŚnotyet.
SheheardKimuraâssingingringwithvehemenceasthesistercuttheorkstopieces.
âFromtheblasphemyoftheFallen,ourEmperor,deliverus!â
Butorks,despitemanyflaws,hadnoconceptofintimidation.TheyhadnointerestintheEmperorâswrath,notactics,andnosense.Anotherforcemighthavegonetoground,givencoveringfire,butnotthesebeasts.
Roaringwithoutrage,wavingwhatclumsyweapons theyhad, theysimplycharged.
Overthesinging,Augustashouted,âKimura,fallbackandreload!Therestofyou,fire!â
She raised her own bolter, aiming for the largest ork she could see.Greenskins had a very simple rule of leadership â the bigger the beast, themorecontrolitwielded.Andifshecouldtakeouttheleaders,therestwouldbeeasiertokill.
Thebattlehymnstill soundedandsheaddedhervoiceonceagain, feelingthemusic thrillalonghernerves likewildfire.Asecondwaveoforksragedforwards,leeringandeager.
Thereseemedtobenoendtothem.
The beasts were closing fast now, and she could see them clearly: theirjutting teeth and green skin, their rustedweapons, their armour all scrappypiecesofceramiteandsteel,scroungedfromwhoknewwhatbattlefields.
One had a set of white pauldrons bearing the distinctive fleur-de-lys.Snarling,sheblewitaway.
Buttheirlossesdidnâttouchthem;theypickeduptheweaponsoftheirdyingandtheirtrampled,andtheyjustkeptcoming.
Bolters barked and howled in red-gauntleted hands. Tanichus took singleshotswithhislasrifle,pickinghistargetscarefully.Thejunglebecameamess
of blood and smoke and noise, but still the orks came on, slobbering andshouting,rippingthroughcreepersandfallentrees.Tooneside, therewasalashing and a gurgle and half a dozen greenskins vanished, shrieking andstruggling,belowthesurfaceofthemarsh.Jeersandcallscamefromtherest,buttheydidnâtslowdown.
âThereâs too many of them!â The youngest sisterâs cry broke the hymnâspurityandAugustafelthersquadwaver.
Sheraisedhervoicetoapaean,aclarioncalllikeaholytrumpet,allowingthemnopause.
âDomine,libranos!â
Shriekingwithfury,Violaresumedfiring.
Buttheorksdidnâtcare.Theytorethemselvesfreefromthejungleâstangleandthrewthemselvesatthesteps.
Theleadorkwentbackwardsinasprayofcrimsonmist.
Theotherswerealreadyboilingpastit.Tanichuskeptfiring,streaksoflightpastAugustaâsshoulder.Augustaswitchedtofullsuppressionandheardtheboltersoftheothers,allgrowlinginrighteousfury.
Yet theorksstillcame.Theywere likea rottinggreen tide, largecreaturesandsmall,nostructure,nofear.Theybayedandsnarledlikeanimals.
TheSisterscouldnâtstopthemall.
Fury rose in Augusta and was annealed to a magnesium-white flare ofrighteouswrath.Youshallnotenterhere!
Viola,afraid, screamed thewordsof thehymnal, thesameverse,overandoverâŚ
Theadvancestopped.
Shreddedleavesflutteredslowlytotherottingjunglefloor.
The orks had paused. Changingmagazinewith an action so reflexive shebarelynoticed,Augustascanned themthroughher retinal lenses,wonderingwhatinDominicaâsnametheyweredoing.
Hadtheyjustbeenovercomebytheholinessofthecathedralitself?
Somehow,shedoubtedit.
Shewatchedasthecreaturesatthefrontmoved,takingcoverbehindtoppledstatues.Shegavetheordertokeepfiringandheardtheboltersstartagain.
ThebeastsknewtheSisterswerehereâandtheyâdresponded.
Smartorks?Theideawashorrifying.
Yet something down there â the warboss or whatever it was â hadintelligence.
Itmade her wonder if their presencewas pure coincidence⌠and an oddchillwentdownherback.
The lead orks had taken cover now, and the jungle was ominously quiet.Behindthem,throughtherisingsteam,shecouldseebiggerfigures,movingforwards.Severalhadstubbysidearms,luridlydecorated;theweaponsgaveasteady bark of fire. Rounds chewed chunks out of the stone andmade theSisterskeeptheirheadsdown.
Andoneofthemâ
âGetbackfromthewindows!Takecover!â
Hersquadwerealreadyonthemove,throwingthemselvesback.Theydidnâtwait for the ork with the rocket launcher to loose his leering-skull-paintedmissileâŚstraightintothecathedralnave.
Augustahitthefloor,takingTanichusdownwithher.
Theworlderuptedinfire.
Sheheard thewhistlingof shrapnel, felt thewhooshofheat that searedherarmourandshrivelledhercloaktotatters.Theorkswouldusethecoverofthemissiletogainentrancetothebuilding,andshewasbackonherfeet,evenastheflamewasdying.
âSisters!Rollcall!â
Tanichuswasscramblingup,charredbutunhurtâAugustahadcoveredasmuchofhisunarmouredbodyaswaspossible.Hewascoughing, fumblingforhislasrifleamongstthesettlingdust.
Fivevoicescamebacktoher,makingherthanktheEmperorHimselfforthecourageandexperienceofhersquad.
Theorkswereon themnow,piling through thedoors,scramblingover thewindowledgesâifallelsefailed,Augustawouldbringthebuildingdowninafinalhailofrounds,andkilleverythingwithin.
ForthegloryoftheEmperor!
Buttheywerenotdoneyet.TheywouldfightwiththeEmperorHimselfat
theirbacks,andtheywouldfighttotheirlastbreath.
âKimuraâ!â
She started togiveorders to fall back, forKimuraâs heavybolter to coverthem, but her voice was lost under the detonation of a grenade, impactingrightatKimuraâsfeet.
Thesisterdisappearedinablastofsmokeandfragments.
Viola screamed. Chunks of roof tumbled to the floor. Tanichus scrabbledawayonhisbackside,hisriflelost.
Now,theorkswerealloverthenave.Augustacouldseethesmaller,darkergretchins,scuttlinginamongtheirboots,pickingthingsupandshakingthemandbitingthem,thenscurryinggleefullyaway.
Slingingthebolter,shedrewthechainswordandstartedthemechanism.
Itsnarledintolifelikepureimpatience,eagerfortheblasphemersâblood.
Calledbytheraspoftheweapon,theSisterswereupontheorkswithfistsandfeetandfury,punchingone,kickingittothefloor,thenrippingtheaxeoutofits grip and using it on the one behind. Their armour, already red, slickedbrighterwithcoloursofdeath.
But somewhere under the combat-high, Augusta was beginning tounderstand something: this was not just a random raid, it was too big, tooclever,toostrong.Theseorkshadcomehereknowingly.
Andtheyâdcomeexpectingresistance.
Ahandgrabbedhercloakandpulledherbackwards.
Shespunthechainsword,slashedthroughtheneckofoneorkandintothechest of another. Bothwent over, one still howling, and her thoughtswereforgottenâshehadotherpriorities.Stampingattheimpertinentgretchins,sheslashedatathirdork,andafourth.Shewaswrathincarnate,therageoftheEmperor,carvingfleshandboneandarmour,andsprayinggorelikeredwine.
Tanichushadvanished,somewhereinthemess.
SisterJatoyashoutedoverthevoxâtheorkshadgotroundbehindthem.
Cleverindeed.
TheflamerroaredasJatoyaretreated,searingtheenemyandsendingthemscreaming, burning, stumbling. The wet and seething creepers started tosmoke.
Andthen,Augustasawsomethingelse.
Warboss.
Throne,thebeastwasbig!Sevenandahalffeetofpure,greenmuscle.Ithadmetalinitsears,onelowertooththatjuttedoveritsface,andanalmostfullsetofarmourthatofferedmorethanonewell-knownsymbolâBloodAngels,ImperialFists,theeight-pointedemblemofChaos.Itwasachampion,andthebiggestdamnedorksheâdeverseen.
Andifthat thingwasoutherescavenging, thenshewasstraightoutoftheschola.
Ithadasharp,slyglimmerinitsredeyesâanditsgazestoppedonAugusta.
Shesnarledatit,âMoriblasphemusfui.â
Die,blasphemer.
Aroundthem,themeleeslowedtoafluiddanceofbloodandblades.Fromthecornerofhereye,AugustasawViolapunchherscarletgauntletcleanintoanorkâsface,sawtheorkrockbackwards,thenshakeitselfandgrin.
Butherattentionwasstillontheleader.
Justasitswasonher.
Theyweretheeyeofthestorm.Theorkcarriedtwinaxes,eachaslongasitsmuscledforearm,andtherewasasecondgrenadeatitsbelt.
Itsaid,âSis-tah.â
Butthesnarlofthechainswordwasitsonlyreply.
Notonlybig,butfast.
Augusta was used to orks being slow, bearing down an enemy by bruteforce,ratherthanbyspeedorskill.
Notthisthing.
Inhermind,sherecitedtheLitanyofBloodâareflex,achantofpurefocus.Itwaspartofhercombattraining,somethingsheâdlearnedattheschola,anditmadehersharp,thetoolofthemightthatflowedthroughher.
But her first side-slash was blocked, then the second, the rasp of thechainswordrisingtoascreamastheaxescaughtinitsteeth.
Theorkdidnât falter. Itwascontrolledandpowerful.Shewentbackwards,parryingoneblowafteranother,herbootsscatteringdustandmessandfallen
orkbodies.Anditcameafterher,itsbreathasfoulasitscoatedyellowteeth.Itwasstilltalking;threatsandmockery,butshehadnointerestinbandyingwordswithit.Itwasdefileranddespoiler,anditwoulddie.
Anotherblow, andanother.She tried topress forwards, but it gavehernogapinwhichtostrike.Aroundher, therestof thesquadfoughtwithknivesandfists,hammeringtheorkstoabloodygreenpulp.
Shesawonesisterfalter,andfalltoherknees.
âSis-tah.â Grinning, the monster dropped both axes. It grabbed thechainsword,bladesandall,inonemassivehand,andtoreitoutofhergrasp.
Itthrewitaside.
She saw Jatoyaâs flamer in the corner of her vision, saw Caia andMeliatogether pick an ork up bodily and hurl it into a gathering of its fellows,sendingallofthemscatteringtothefloor.
Theywouldwinthis!
Italmostmadeherlaugh,thesoundlikepure,righteousjoy.Withonlyhergauntlets,shethrewherselfatthemonster.
Butitwastoofastâitgrabbedher,itschainsword-carvedhandaroundhergorget,anditliftedhercleanoffthefloor.
Furiousnow,shekickedit.
Again.
Again.
She split the beastâs lip, but its grin onlywidened, its teeth now streakedwithitsownblood.Furious,shetookitswrist inhergaspandtriedtotwistandcrushitsarm,forceittodropher.
Itshookherlikeanerrantunderling.
âSister!â Across the vox, she heard Jatoyaâs cry. Her second in commandcouldnâtuseherflamerbutJatoyabarkedaclearorderattherestofthesquad.
âTakeitdown!â
Thewarbossdidnâtcare.Itshookheragain,herarmourclattering.
âSis-tah,âitsaid.âKnowyou.Cametofind.â
What?
âWait!âThewordwasagurgleoverthevox.
Thebeastwaslaughingather.âWetakeall.Killsis-tahs.Takeweapons.â
Understandinggrewupherspinelikeice.Shestaredat theorkasitshookherforthethirdtime.
Takeweapons.
IthadknownthattheSisterswerehere!
Thefightingaroundthemwasbeginningtolessen.Theorkswerefaltering,andtheSistershackedatthemwithoutmercy,drivingthemback.Manyofthesmaller beasts were dropping their weapons and running away. Jatoya hadslungherflamerandfoughtwithherfistsalone;Augustasawherpunchanorkinthebackoftheneck,sawitstumbletoitsknees.
Onered-armouredfigureâshecouldnâttellwhoâwaswalkingthroughthemess,bolterinhand,puttingsingleshotsintostrugglingheaps.Anotherwasclearingthebodiesfromthealtarsteps,andshecouldseethebrokenformofKimura,smokestillrisingfromthejointsinherarmour.
Thenshesawonesisterclicktheneckofherhelmandremoveit,revealingafreckledfaceandbobbedredhair,alltousledandsweating.
Viola.
Herexpressionwaslikeacid-carvedsteel.
âPutherdown.â
Violaraisedherbolter,andtookclearaimattheorkâshead.
Thewarbosspaused.Augustasawitlookroundatitsdefeatedforce;sawitsredeyesnarrow, its lipcurl.Thenit lethergo,andshefell,crashingtoherkneesonthecathedralfloor.
Violacamecloser,thebolteraimedandsteady.
Theorkbareditsteethather.
Impressedwiththenewmettleoftheyoungestsister,Augustastoodup.Shesteppedinclosetothewarbossandsaid,âYouknewwewerehere.âTalkingtothethingmadeherfleshcrawl,butshehadtoknow.âHow?Whotoldyou?â
âSis-tah.âThewarbosslookedfromAugustatoViolaandback.Itcockeditsheadtoonesideandsaid,âSofool-ish.Sotiny.â
Augustaglaredatit.âHowdidyouknow?â
âBloodAxes.âItthumpedthecrossed-axesymbolonitschest.âWekill.Takeweapons.â
Shehelditsredgaze.AugustahadheardoftheBloodAxes,theytradedwithhumanssometimesâitmightexplainwhythismonsterwassodamnedclever.Butnothowithadknownâ
Tanichus.
TherealisationcameliketheLightoftheEmperorHimselfâarayofpureTruth.TanichushadbeenherebeforeâhadlivedhereformonthsâandonlyTanichushadknownthattheSisterswerecoming.
And,asAugustaremembered,heâdusedhislocalknowledgetosetthetimeoftheirreconnaissance.
Heâdtoldthemwhentobehere.
âGetthemissionary.âShesnappedthecommandoverthevox,sawCaianodandturnaway.
âWhatdidheofferyou?âshesaidtothewarboss.
Itsneeredather,itsredeyescold.
Reachedforthegrenadeatitsbelt.
Shesawthemotion,wenttokickitswristâbutViolawasfaster.
Herfacelikestone,theyoungestsistershotitcleanthroughthehead.
Gorespattered.Thehugebeastteeteredforasecond,almostasifstartledâthenitcrashedtothefloorlikeatreefalling.Thewholebuildingseemedtoshake.
Apoolofcrimsonspreadoutacrosstheflagstones.
âGoodshot,âAugustatoldtheyoungestsister.
Violagrinned.
Behind them, Caia had returned with Tanichus, the missionary almostgibberingwithfear.
âFound him trying to flee,â Caia said. âScuttling out of the crypt like aninsect.â
âSister!â Themissionary was white-faced; he looked like he was about tovomit.Her armour still dripping, shewalkedover to him, closing her handabouthisneckjustliketheorkâshadbeenaboutherown.
Helookedather,hiseyeswide,hismouthopen.âSisterSuperior,IswearbyHisLightââ
âYoudare?Youdareswearby theEmperorâsname?âHerhandclosed;shefelthisbreathcatchinhisthroat.âIshouldcrushyouwhereyoustand.â
âSister,please!â
Atherfeet,thewarbosslaydead.TheorkswerefinishedandtheSistershadclosedranksatAugustaâsshouldersâtheentirecathedralseemedgatheredatherback,lookingatthemissionary.
âYouâve been here before,â Augusta said. âLived with the townspeople.Youârethelink,Tanichus.Youâretheonlythingthatcouldhavemanipulatedthepieces.Tellme,didyouspeaktotheorks?Dealwiththem?Didyoulieabouttheicon?Somethingtobringusouthere,justsotheorkscouldkillusforourweapons.âSheshookhimlikearat.
âSister,Iswear!â
Disgusted,shelethimgo,watchedasCaiaâsgauntletedhandsclosedonhisshouldersandforcedhimtohisknees.
âSisterKimuradied,âAugustasaid.Shefreedthesealonherhelmandtookitoff,enjoyingtherelativecoolofthemarsh-thickair.
Meetingherflat,steelgaze,Tanichuswasstartingtopanic.âPlease!â
Shedroppedtooneknee,grippedhisjawinonebloodygauntletandforcedhimtolookather.
âRepent,heretic,youmayyetsaveyoursoul.â
Tanichuswasshakingnow,hisfacepale.Sweatshonefromhisskin.
Sheâd seen this a hundred times in the suddenly caught-out-and-penitent âtheguilt,thefear.Andtheywereexactlytheadmissionshewaslookingfor.
âTellmethetruth,âshesnarledathim.âWhatdealdidyoudo?â
Hewas snivellingnow, terrified.Words spilledout of him. âWhen I camehere,âhe said, âthe townspeople toldmeabout theorks.The tribehadbeendestroying the villages, committing such horrors⌠and theywere going towipe out the town.The people told the orks about the cathedral. Said theycouldhaveanything theycould find if they just left the townalone.Then Icame,andtheybeggedmeformyhelp.Theyknewthattheorkswouldcomeback. Knew what would happen to them.â He seemed almost in tears.âTheyârejustpeople,sister,justfamilies.Theyhavelivesandfearsandhopes.Children growing up.â His face was etched in pain. âI just wanted to helpthem.âHeheldbackasob.
AugustasawthepityonViolaâsfreckledface,sawthestancesoftheothersshiftâtheyknewfullwellwhattheorkswouldhavedonetothetownspeople.
He said, âI went to find the orks. I told them that I would bring themweapons,armour,iftheyjustleftthepeoplealone.Andââ
âAndsoyoubroughtthemus.âAugustaâstonewasscathing.
âYoubeatthem,didnâtyou?âHewaspleadingwithher.âYouwon!â
She contemplated the sobbing man, water tracing clean lines through thefilthonhisskin,andsheunderstoodhispain,thechoiceheâdmade.
Butitdidnâtchangethefacts.
âLysimachusTanichus,youarea traitor.Youhavemanipulated theAdeptaSororitastoyourownends.YouhavebetrayedtheEcclesiarchy,andthenameof theEmperor.âTanichusopenedhismouth,but shedidnâtwant tohear it.âAndyourstorymissesonecriticalpointâwhatwouldhavehappenedifweâdlost?â
âYouâreSisterSuperiorAugustaSantorusâyoudonâtlose!â
âTellthattoKimura.â
Tanichus glanced at the fallen sister, then slumped forwards, defeated.Hewassniffling.âIonlywantedtohelpthepeople.â
âYou betrayed us to the enemy.â She backhanded him, her metal gauntletcuttinghischeek.Hisheadsnappedsideways,thenhelookedbackupather,uncomprehendingandhorrified.âYoubroughtushereona lie.Youcost thelifeofSisterKimura.Youtriedtofleethebattle.Yourguiltismanifest,andyourlifeisforfeit.â
Hestaredather,hismouthopen.
But shewasnâtdone. âHowever, Iwill say thisâ thisworld,Lautis, in theDrusus Marches of the Calixis Sector, is now under the observation andprotectionoftheOrderoftheBloodyRose.Weclaimthiscathedral,andallwithin it, inHisname.Andwewillprotect thepeopleâon theassumptionthattheyacknowledgetheEmperorofAllMankind.â
Tanichus had fallen forwards. He was shaking, his hands over his face.âPlease!Iknewyouâdbeatthem!Iknew!â
âIwilldeliveryourprotection,Tanichus.ButyouâŚâShedraggedhisheadupagain.âInpythonissamnonpatierisvivereâIshallnotsufferyourlife.â
âSister SuperiorâŚâ Violaâs voice came to her ears, not over the vox. âHe
shouldcomebackwithus,facejudgementââ
âEnough!âAugusta snapped the order andViola recoiled. âI know exactlywhattodowiththisoffal.â
âSister,âJatoyasaid,morecautiously.âItisnotourplaceââ
âHehasmockedus!âAugustabarked,furious.âKimuraisdead!â
Tanichusthrewhimselfatherfeet.âPlease!â
ViolaandJatoyaexchangedaglance.
Augustareacheddownwithonehand,anddraggedthesobbingmanbacktohisfeet.âYoudonottakethenameofthesaintinvain.YoudonotmanipulatetheOrdertoyourownends.Andbelieveme,iftheorkshadwon,bothyouandyourtownwouldstillhavebeendestroyed.Thatwarbosswouldhavecutyoutopiecesandeatenyou.â
Tanichuswasshakingnow.Shetoretherosariusoutofhisgrasp,gaveittotheclosestofhersisters.
Thenshepulledherfleur-de-lyspunch-daggerfromthefrontofherarmour,andslitTanichusâthroat.
AugustafeltViolaflinch,thoughshesaidnothing.Tanichusgapedandfell,bubblesonhis lips,hands tohis throat,hisbloodminglingwith thatof thedeadork.
Hislastword,ashehitthefloor,wasMercy.
ABOUTTHEAUTHORDanieWareistheauthorofthecriticallyacclaimedEckoseries,aswellasnumerousshortstories.ShelivesinCarshalton,southLondon,withhersonandtwocatsandhaslong-heldinterestsinrole-playing,re-
enactment,vinylarttoysandpersonalfitness.Thesedays,shejugglesraisinghersonandwritingbookswithworkingforForbiddenPlanet(London)Ltd.,wheresherunstheireventscalendarandsocialmedia
profile.MercyisherfirstshortstoryforBlackLibrary.
AdeptaSororitasSisterMiriyaandhercomradeshuntrenegadepsykers,battletheancientmightofthenecronsandinvestigateaworldnewlydiscoveredbytheImperiuminthreetalesoftheSistersofBattleby
JamesSwallow.
ABLACKLIBRARYPUBLICATION
FirstpublishedinGreatBritainin2018.ThiseBookeditionpublishedin2018byBlackLibrary,Games
WorkshopLtd,WillowRoad,Nottingham,NG72WS,UK.
ProducedbyGamesWorkshopinNottingham.CoverillustrationbyAnnaSteinbauer.
MercyŠCopyrightGamesWorkshopLimited2018.Mercy,GW,GamesWorkshop,BlackLibrary,TheHorusHeresy,TheHorusHeresyEye
logo,SpaceMarine,40K,Warhammer,Warhammer40,000,theâAquilaâDouble-headedEaglelogo,andallassociatedlogos,illustrations,
images,names,creatures,races,vehicles,locations,weapons,characters,andthedistinctivelikenessesthereof,areeitherŽorTM,and/orŠGamesWorkshopLimited,variablyregisteredaroundtheworld.
AllRightsReserved.
ACIPrecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
ISBN:978-1-78572-882-2
Thisisaworkoffiction.Allthecharactersandeventsportrayedinthisbookarefictional,andanyresemblancetorealpeopleorincidentsis
purelycoincidental.
SeeBlackLibraryontheinternetatblacklibrary.com
FindoutmoreaboutGamesWorkshopâsworldofWarhammerandtheWarhammer40,000universeat
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