'We don't know/
'Who's we? Where did this information come from?'
He sighed. 'Lord seer?' he called.
One of the inner screens drew aside and a slim, very tall figure in a long, hooded robe stepped through from the privacy of the inner rooms. The robe was made of a gleaming blue material that flashed like shot-silk but seemed heavier and more fluid. There was a strange, unpleasantly sweet scent, like burnt sugar. I knew that hood would never be drawn back in my presence. I was not fit to see the face beneath.
This is Eisenhorn/ the figure said. It wasn't a question. The words flowed melodically with a strange cadence that no human could ever approximate.
Who am I addressing?' I said.
The book is in his coat/ the figure said to Ravenor, ignoring me. 'An insult that he carries it so casually/
'Gregor?'
I took the Malus Codicium from my pocket. The figure made a warding gesture with its gloved right hand.
'It's an insult that your friend will have to tolerate, I'm afraid/ I said. 'This isn't leaving my person/
'It has contaminated him. It smoulders in his blood. It has yoked him to daemons/
And more besides, no doubt/ I countered. 'But take one look into my mind and tell me I'm not dedicated to the salvation of all of us/
I dropped my psi-shield provocatively, but though I could sense the eldar's temptation to look, he did not touch my mind.
'Ravenor vouches for you/ the hooded figure said after a moment. 'I will content myself with that. But do not come any closer/
'So what do I call you?'
You won't have any need to/ the eldar replied bluntly.
'Please/ Gideon cut in. He was clearly very uncomfortable. 'Gregor, you may refer to my guest as "lord seer". My lord, perhaps you could tell Gregor about Ghtil?'
'In the First Days, a race came from the maelstrom and raised settlements in this space. Seven worlds they made, and the greatest of these was Ghtil. Then they were overturned and left no trace behind/
'From the maelstrom? From the warp? You mean a daemon race?'
The lord seer said nothing.
'Are you saying daemons once colonised seven worlds in our reality?'
'They fled a war. Their king was dead and they carried his body for burial. On his tomb they raised the first city, and then made six worlds around it to honour his rest forever/
'Ghiil is the tomb of a daemon king?'
There was no response.
'What? Are you just going to answer every other question? Is Ghiil the tomb-world? Is that what Glaw is after? The tomb of a daemon?'
'I have not seen the answer/ said the eldar.
'Then take a wild guess!'