Chapter Text
Isiabel had not been particularly pleased to have an inquisition agent foisted aboard her ship. Faithful follower of the God-Emperor as she was, she was brand new to her role and had not had time to review the operations on her ship. They had already found a cultist amulet on the lower decks and who knows what else was floating around. The idea of having the inquisition inspect her ship when she hadn’t even had a chance to inspect it herself was not one she was fond of.
She would have to keep him occupied herself. This was not entirely something she was good at, having been most of the time generally expected as a psyker to keep herself demurely and unobtrusively in the background. Still, she would have to keep him off balance.
For a moment her mind wandered. Profession aside, he was an attractive looking man, and she’s spent so little time around men who didn’t automatically freak out at the idea of being in the presence of a telepath. She shook her head. That was obviously impossible thinking, with his profession, but it did give her an idea. Enough attention to disconcert him, perhaps, while remaining within sufficient lines that he couldn’t properly refuse while on board her ship.
Still, he’d been invaluable in defeating Aurora and preventing the destruction of the planet. She should probably give him the blade shard she’d taken from the control panel for the reactor, now that she’d had time to examine it herself. It definitely fit together with the one that she’d found in the middle of Kunrad’s offering circle. She shouldn’t have grabbed it from under his nose, but she had wanted to be sure and to prepare an explanation before handing it over. It would be to her benefit to have his assistance in tracking down Kunrad’s operations, so long as she could keep it from impacting the running of the ship as a whole.
He’d requested an appointment to speak with her. She didn’t want to put it off for too long because he might take the time to decide to go exploring the ship. She’d already made sure he was accommodated where he’d have to walk past the door to her quarters to get anywhere, and so far he’d largely stayed there. From what her staff told her, he’d ordered enough food for a half-dozen people delivered to his quarters and not really stirred since them.
She scheduled an appointment for him and prepared herself for a formal reception. The study had been cleaned since Theodora’s death but few other changes had been made. She lacked proper attire for a rogue trader, so she selected the best of her old clothes - a velvet and silk body glove patterned in deep red leaves, adorned with a tiara of golden flowers and a choker bearing an aquila mounted on metal vines, the best of her own personal jewelry that she’d been able to bring with her, and permitted a servant to do her makeup.
One final critical step. She had stowed both blade shards in a drawer in the desk, wrapped in a cloth and locked up with a key only she held. They whispered to her as she unlocked the drawer and checked on them, and she shoved them firmly away from her mind.
She could sense Heinrix’s presence before he arrived. Something about his nature as a pskyer - and from what she had seen, a very strong one at that - made him a bright spot to her telepathy. The interrogator arrived precisely on time, down to the minute, dressed in a uniform that was now perfectly immaculate and free from the splatters of blood she had last seen on it. Outside of the crackling blue light of the techpriest’s monastery, he looked tired. She reflected that she should have asked Governor Medinah when he’d left the capital; being trapped in the monastery meant it was quite likely he’d been going without food or sleep for several days.
For a moment she thought about sending him back to sleep. Then she pushed the sympathy away. He was still an inquisition spy, and hardly in any sort of critical condition. He could take care of himself; she had a ship and a dynasty to care for. She settled herself in at Theodora’s desk - no, her desk now, she reminded herself.
There was a chair set out for him, but he remained standing after a formal bow.
“Apologies if I was somewhat brusque at out first meeting. Unfortunately, my personal investigation has hit a dead end. I think I will have to call upon outside resources to continue the search…” He looked frustrated, the same look she’d seen when she’d revealed the electropriest’s secret hideout that had eluded him. Not a man who accepted defeat easily, it seemed. His reaction to her next move would be telling.
“I have not been completely honest with you.” She pulled the blade fragment out of the drawer, unwrapped it, and held it out for him. His voice caught in his throat as he touched it and he winced, presumably sensing the same activity she did.
“Yes. Yes, there can be no mistake. Such a powerful weapon of destruction…Why have you decided to part with it now?” His voice sounded sincere at least, more focused on unravelling the mystery than on that she had slipped the blade out from under his nose.
“For that gleam in your eyes. How could I not, when broken old rubbish is the only thing that delights you so?” She smiled her most charming smile at him, the insincerity of her answer obvious. He’d likely guess the true answer, of course, which was that she wished to examine it before he took it away. And neither of them could possibly acknowledge that out loud. This encounter was a delicate balance of powers and both of them bore the shadow of duties and titles that overwhelmed their mere physical presence.
“For the avoidance of any awkwardness, I will choose to see it as you merely fulfilling your duty to the Holy Inquisition.” Was that an actual smile she saw? She couldn’t tell if her distraction was working too well or not well enough.
With an almost apologetic look, she held out the other blade shart, the one with the hilt that Kunrad had used. “The traitor Kunrad Voigtvir had this item on his person.”
Heinrix’s eyes lit up coldly, clearly recognizing - as she had - that the shards fit together into two parts of a single blade. “Hmm. I suppose it could have some connection to the object of my search. Thank you - I will examine it later.” Their eyes met silently, and the unspoken Do you feel it too? passed between them. One note, not of their ranks and positions, but of the shared ability that made their kind feared and hated.
"There is one more thing. The Lord Inquisitor gave me this item some time ago. He must have thought it likely that I would find myself aboard this vessel sooner than he." Heinrix reveals a small device wrapped in velvet. "I was instructed to deliver this device to Lady Theodora, however, given recent events, I believe I ought to present it to you. This is an Elucidator, a sacred machine capable of translating the languages of remote and lost worlds into Low Gothic. It can even process xenos languages to a certain degree-not without infelicities, but passably well." The man spoke an entire paragraph almost in one breath, as though it was a speech he had rehearsed and was afraid might be interrupted if he took too long.
Time to pull the rope a little. “A strange choice for your first love token.” Isiabel smiled that same sweet, charming smile, tucking a strand of hair back into her braid. This time maybe a little of it was genuine. Throne, it seemed like she had actually flustered him! He must be more tired than she thought.
"It's not-" The first sound came out as a splutter before Heinrix collected himself. "It is not a 'love token,' Lord Captain. It is a rare and valuable device that will be a useful tool in the hands of the Rogue Trader." He looked at her keenly, his gaze full of curiosity, although without raising his head fully or meeting her eyes, before clearing his throat.
"Apologies in advance if I unknowingly violate the protocol for conversing with someone of your elevated status. I think a slip in composure is to be expected when one is hosted personally in the Lord Captain's study."
“Conversing with you is no less disconcerting for me, Master van Calox.” Admittedly this was true. She was doing her best to project an almost arrogant confidence regardless of her own racing thoughts. This was her ship and it was her duty to protect it, even if the threat came in an admittedly pleasant and gifted package.
“After serving in the Holy Ordos all these years, I am used to people being wary of me.”
“A little more, and my pious trepidation will turn into something much less seemly.” She leaned forward, toying with the aquila on her choker, feigning a boldness she didn’t feel. She needed him to see her as strong and unafraid here. Frankly, she was pretty sure she hadn’t managed with that line. Throne, why couldn’t she just sound calm and confident like she wanted?
Heinrix frowned and made a very forceful attempt to look serious, folding his hands behind his back. "Lord Captain Isiabel von Valancius. With all due respect, stop addressing an acolyte of the Holy Inquisition as you would an admirer at a high- society function. You are far too frivolous a person to lead such an illustrious dynasty."
Isiabel leaned back slightly. “I beg your pardon, Interrogator. I shall try to behave myself.”
Heinrix eyed her curiously. He didn’t look like he believed her. “Much obliged”, he replied politely.
“Why don’t you sit down? I would be pleased to devote more time to your visit.” She gestured to the chair he had been studiously ignoring the entire time.
“There is no need!” Ok, she had definitely flustered him. That had been her goal. So why did she feel so terrible about it now? The vox bell on her desk chimed, and he pounced on the excuse. “Under different circumstances, I would welcome the chance to speak with you at greater length…but your subjects await.” He practically fled the room, leaving her last comment dying on her lips as she whispered to thin air that he should get more rest before turning back to her vox.