"What the hell were you thinking?"

  Fahlia shrank back slightly from the Grand Inquisitor who stood before her. He was a heavily scarred older gentleman, his replaced limbs and demeanor speaking to his experience and authority.

  "Lord Richten..." Fahlia coughed, the flesh of her neck purpled still from being manhandled by Simeon, then a grey Knight. "I don't understand what happened with the manacles. I tested them on the ship quartermaster, and he did not get shocked."

  Alkin Richten glanced at her, his rage still apparent, but slightly abated. "This reflects on the entire order, Kurchen. Once Regent Guilliman hears of this... If she really is what she claims to be..." He scowled and resumed pacing, his metallic foot clanging against the stone floor. "We have two options here, Kurchen. We somehow manage to prove that she is not, in fact, a Primarch, or at least not a Loyalist, or I execute you myself."

  Fahlia swallowed. "She... She must be a Primarch, Grand Inquisitor. It is the only explanation for... Any of what she's done thus far."

  Alkin shook his head. "Yet she was taken down by shock manacles."

  "She has stated she's not as strong as any of her brothers. She's also been slowly getting stronger since her manifestation. It's possible her body is still getting used to being alive once more."

  A growl rumbled in Alkin's throat. "Then she fell, like those others but worse. Since she was expunged even from our records."

  "Lieutenant Simeon Orlochan called her the Incorruptible."

  With a sigh, Alkin leaned against the desk before him. "And Lord Lion is called the Lion, yet he is not the beast."

  "The Blood Ravens clearly have information not expunged. Chapter Master Gabriel Angelos said that within the Inquisition Vaults is a document that would vindicate Evaria Manoash, but it would take a Grand Inquisitor and Imperial Regent Guilliman himself to access it. But he also seems to know what is in those documents."

  "And conveniently he is not here to divulge this information." Alkin pinched the bridge of his nose. "If he sent out the word of the return of Evaria, we'll be facing down the entire chapter of the Blood Ravens. Do you have any idea how bad that is? We don't know anything about their numbers, and we’ve suspected they’ve been falsifying death reports in order to bolster their numbers without rousing suspicion for breaching the Codex Astartes. They've been scavenging, collecting and stealing a lot of technology that even the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars wouldn't admit to having lost. Not to mention there are other chapters of unknown founding. We could be dealing with more than just the Blood Ravens..."

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Fahlia paled slightly.

  "And now we've got to contend with Prioress Allessandra, whom Saint Celestine chose herself, and the Ecclesiarchy since you brought Evaria here."

  Fahlia spoke quickly. "I had no real choice. The Lords of Terra sent assassins, and then fleets after us. We were losing ground." The look on his face made her almost take a step back, realizing she'd spoken out of turn to her senior.

  "I'm well aware of the situation. The problem is you tried to bring her to a black site, rather than straight to Terra. Except that Regent Guilliman isn't even on Terra at the moment..."

  Fahlia was about to ask where the Emperor's vicar was, but stopped herself, knowing it would be one of the best kept secrets of the Imperium. "Then... The Omnis Arcanum may be headed in the wrong direction?"

  "Potentially." Alkin pulled up a map on the computer. "Except, as you've already stated, the Blood Ravens know more than they should, and have the highest number of Librarians of any chapter. It's possible that they could locate the Imperial Regent."

  They were both quiet for a good, long while.

  "Could we at least confirm she really is a Primarch by comparing her genes to those of the Blood Ravens?"

  Alkin's eyes snapped up to the Inquisitor before him. "That could cause much offense."

  "Unless she were the one to request it." Fahlia took a small step forward. "She's been quite compliant so far, as if she is desperate to prove herself. Why not suggest it as part of the steps to help her to that end?"

  Alkin slowly nodded, and glanced at the screen beside him. "That could work... To at least have something verified about her would give us a foundation to build on." He took in a breath. "I'll handle it."

  "My Lord, she's got more experience with me-"

  "Disrespecting, harming her, and killing her pet," Alkin cut her off. "Not to mention I outrank you. Sending a mere Inquisitor at this point would be an insult."

  Fahlia swallowed and nodded. "Of course, my Lord. I apologize."

  "Don't apologize. Do better." He turned and left the room, Fahlia trapped in a cage of her own making.