and he arrived, piloting his own shuttle, a few hours later.
I could tell he was tense from the moment he stepped aboard. He was polite, and seemed pleased to see Medea, Aemos and Maxilla. But with me he was reserved.
I told him it was good to see him, and that I was relieved he had escaped Glaw's purge.
'Glaw, eh?' he said. He had heard all about the fall of the Distaff and our other holdings. 'I had wondered who it was.' 'We need to talk,' I said. 'Yes/ he said. 'But not here/
Maxilla lent us his stateroom and I turned on the privacy field.
There's nothing you couldn't say in front of the others, Godwyn/ I said.
'No? Glaw's killed everyone except us few. Because-'
'Because?'
You should have destroyed that monster years ago, Eisenhorn. That, or handed him over to the ordos. What the hell were you thinking?'
'Same as I'm thinking now. I did what was best/
'Nayl? Inshabel? Bure? Suskova? The whole damn Distaff? That was best?' His tone was venomous.
'Yes, Fischig. And I never heard you contradict my decisions/
'Like you'd have listened!'
To you? Yes. Not once did I hear you say we should turn Glaw over to the ordos/
'Because you always make it sound so logical! Like you know best!'
I shrugged. This is beneath you, Godwyn. It sounds like sour grapes. Things didn't turn out the way I would have wished and you're making out it's all my fault. I took tough decisions that I thought were right. If you'd ever – ever – objected, I'd have considered your opinion/
'Too easy, too damn easy. I was only ever your lackey, your minion. If I'd said we vapourise Glaw, you'd have said yes and then hidden him anyway/
'Do you really think I'm that underhand? You, of all my counsel, I respect the most!'
'Yeah?' He tossed his gloves onto a couch and helped himself to a schooner of Maxilla's clawblood. 'Who told Bure to build Glaw a body without telling any of us? Who suddenly knows how to conjure daemons like an expert? You cover your secrets with such an almighty righteous air we all thank the stars and the Emperor Himself you chose us to help you in your work. But you're a liar! A conspirator! And maybe worse!'
'And you're too much a puritan idealist for your own good. And mine/ I hissed. 'I dearly wanted your help, Godwyn. You are one of the few men I really trust and one of the few humans in space with the stalwart spirit to keep me on the level. I needed you now, in my fight to destroy Glaw. I can't believe you're turning against me like this/
He stared down at the contents of his glass. 'I always did warn you I would if you crossed the line/