'How was your day?' I asked, trying to change the subject.
'I spent four hours lecturing the sophomore class on the principles of thoracic palpation. I've never seen such a crowd of ill-prepared dolts. When I got one fellow up for a practical, he took hold of the volunteer subject's thigh. How do you think my day was?'
She sat down with us at the table. 'I looked in on our guest. I'm concerned about his condition. He hasn't taken any food or drink, and he's only marginally responsive. I think you may have damaged him with your mental probings.'
'Either that,' I said, 'or he's having an adverse reaction to the drugs.'
'Possibly. If he's the same in the morning, I'll run some bloodwork on him. Whatever, he's not well and he's not comfortable. There's severe lividity in his hands and feet. You tied those bonds so damn tight.'
'As tight as they needed to be, Crezia. He's a Vessorine janissary paid to murder me, don't forget.'
'Shut up and pour me a drink.'
The moment Aemos came in, past ten o'clock, I could tell something was wrong. He was carrying a small pile of data-slates and accepted a drink from Eleena without question, which was unusual for him.
His hand was trembling as he raised the glass to sip. Even Crezia could see this was not like him.
'Well, old friend?' I asked.
'I spent hours resourcing those names, Gregor. Still nothing on this Khanjar, though I assembled a list of planets that still use the word.' He slid a slate across to me.
'Maria Tarray… a little more success there. A Maria Tari was arrested by the arbites on Hallowcan five years ago for participating in cult activity. She was pending trial when she escaped custody. She turned up twice more: on Felthon, where she was a known associate of the cult leader, Berrikin Paswold; and on Sanseeta, where she was wanted in connection with the murder of Hierarch Sansum and five Ministorum clerics. The Inquisition also has a warrant out for her restraint as a suspected rogue psyker.'
'So, an active participant in cult activity, then?' I looked at the extracts Aemos had put on a slate. They didn't tell me much more. If I contacted the Inquisition, they'd have a more complete file. Despite the risks, I felt inclined to get in touch with Rorken.
'If it's the same woman/ he replied.
There was no picture, but the physical description matched my mind's retrieved image.
What's her background?'
There's nothing on that… except that when questioned during her detention on Hallowcan, she claimed to be thirty-seven and stated her birth wo rid was Gudrun/