Eleena was seated at the refectory table, one third down a bottle of fine Hesperean claret. Without asking, she fetched me a glass and poured me some.
I sat down with her. The kitchen doors were open, affording us a cool evening breeze and a fine view out over the courtyard to the Itervalle. The mountain was ochre in the setting sun, and even as we watched it gently shifted colour, becoming russet, then almost scarlet, then ultramarine.
'Have you eaten?' Eleena asked.
'No. Have you?'
Tm not very hungry,' she replied, and drank a mouthful of wine.
'I'm sorry, Eleena/1 said.
'Sorry, sir? Why?'
'Sorry that you should be in the middle of all this. It's an unpleasant business and costing us all dear.'
She smiled. 'You got me out of Spaeton alive, sir. For that I'm thankful.'
'I only wish I could have got everyone out alive.'
She shrugged. I could tell she was haunted by the killing she had seen. Sastre's brave sacrifice in particular had scarred her. Eleena Koi was only about twenty-five, just a girl, and a new recruit to the Distaff. She'd not seen any active service in the field yet. She'd been posted to Spaeton as resident untouchable – something the Distaff regarded as an easy job – to get her acclimatised to the work. Some acclimatisation.
'If you'd like to leave, I think that would be all right. I could arrange some adequate papers, some money. You could get off-world, to safety.'
Eleena looked almost offended. 'I am a contracted untouchable in the pay of the Distaff, sir. Perhaps, Emperor bless me, the last one alive. I knew service to an inquisitor would be dangerous when I started. I'm under no illusions/
'Even so-'
'No, sir. I'm strong enough for this. It may be extreme, but it's what I was hired to do. Besides…'
'Besides what?'
'Well, for one thing, we know that the enemy has at least one powerful psyker in his pay. That means you'll need an untouchable/
'True/
'And… I think I'd feel safer sticking with you, sir. If I went off on my own, I'd be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life/
'Thank you, Eleena. You could stop calling me "sir" now, though. If what we've been through these last few days can't be counted as a bonding process, I don't know what can/
'Right/ she smiled. It was a change to see a smile on her face. She was tall and overly thin, in my opinion, always seeming edgy and nervous. The smile suited her.
Neither of us said anything for a few moments.
'So, what should I call you?' she asked eventually.
We chatted idly for a while longer, until the Itervalle had become black and the sky Imperial blue. The stars were out.