Katherine slowly swam toward the light undulating above her, like a diver striving for the surface of a dark sea. Her eyes flickered open, blinking against the intrusive, bright light. Slowly the numbness of her body wore off and she began to feel the pain of her bruises and lacerations suffered during the siege of the Imperial Governor's Palace. With the aches and pains, memories came flooding back. "Oh…Simone…"
"Wrong inquisitor," A familiar voice answered.
The Canoness' eyes adjusted to the light, finding herself staring at the ceiling of a hospital room painted pale yellow. She turned her head to see the Inquisitor Anya Blavatski sitting primly in a folding metal chair by her bed. She was wearing her scarlet carapace armor with white trim, the symbol of the Ordo Hereticus emblazoned on the chest in gold. "Inquisitor…how long have I been out?"
"Four days," She answered coolly. "I was already on the way when you were facing Gaius. It seems my store of proscribed weapons was somehow packed up with the Commandery when they left Pentateuch." She held up the eldritch dagger that Simone had used to stab the Messiah of Slaanesh. "Including this one."
"I'm sure it was a mistake. I take full responsibility for it," Katherine replied.
"Of course you do. We'll come up with an appropriate penance," Blavatski said dryly.
Katherine took a deep breath. She had to be sure. "And Gaius?"
"Destroyed," Blavatski answered. "Harodiah assures me that he is not only defeated…not only dead…but truly destroyed." At Katherine's wince when she mentioned the psychic Repentia that had been harbored for so long in her order. "I suppose that is another thing we will have to discuss an appropriate punishment for."
"I submit myself to your judgment, Inquisitor," Katherine said evenly. "And…Inquisitor Godschilde?"
"Martyred. Harodiah tells me she sacrificed herself to destroy him permanently." Blavatski looked over her shoulder, "What was it you said?"
Harodiah stepped into view, dressed similarly to the Inquisitor, "Inquisitor Godschilde used her powers to cut off Gaius' connection to the Warp. Slaanesh could not recall his soul as the body died. By sacrificing herself, she ensured he was destroyed permanently."
"For what she endured…for what she has done…" Katherine closed her eyes in reverence. "…Inquisitor Godschilde should be considered for Sainthood. Gaius was seeking to bring Slaanesh into the world through his own progeny. She stopped him…" She opened her eyes and looked into those of the Inquisitor. "She likely saved us all."
Anya met Katherine's intense gaze for a few moments before slowly nodding, "It will be done. I will speak with the Hierophants myself."
Katherine's eyes swept up and down the armor Harodiah was clad in, "Have you taken Harodiah into the Ordo Hereticus, then?"
"I have made inquiries to my superiors about taking the girl under my wing," Anya replied. "Her psychic skills are formidable. She needs guidance…guidance from the Order. She will become an Acolyte under me until we decide she is ready to take the vows of the Inquisition herself."
"Of course," Katherine nodded. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the news about which she feared to ask. "And the Commandery of Pentateuch? How many of my sisters were martyred?"
"Sixty-four are wounded to varying degrees. They are in this very infirmary with you, Katherine," Blavatsky reported quietly. "One hundred forty-two were martyred."
The number hit her like a knife in the heart. Six in ten of her personal commandery dead…most of the rest wounded. The entire Commandery of Byzantium dead. Half of the Preceptory was now gone. Her heart sank like a lead weight in her chest. Seeing the pain in her eyes, Anya leaned forward and laid a hand on her shoulder. "You know all too well the price we pay to defend the Imperium from the encroachment of Chaos. The Black Templars and Ultramarines have shared your suffering, as have the men of the Cadian Guard units. Byzantium itself has suffered. It is scarred, but it is alive…and uncompromised. You have all earned the Emperor's favor. You have all earned glory."
