Blood Pact

FIFTEEN The Hunters

‘Is this all of it?’ asked Edur. He gave a nod of his head that indicated the barrack’s clerical pool in general, and the files and volumes gathered on the central desk in particular.

‘Yes, commissar,’ said Kolea.

Several Commissariat officials had already begun working through the regimental files, especially the day-book and the company logs. Two agents of the ordos had also begun what looked to Viktor Hark like a forensic examination of the Tanith First’s central records.

‘Are you going to tell us anything?’ asked Hark.

‘No,’ said one of the ordo agents.

Edur looked at the officer of the Inquisition with some distaste. The Inquisition was already taking over, and that wasn’t the only reason Edur had an unpleasant taste in his mouth. He tilted his head to suggest that Hark and the Tanith’s acting commander, Kolea, might like to step aside with him.

It had all been, by necessity, hasty, but Edur had been briefed by Mercure before riding the Valkyries out to Aarlem with the Inquisition. Mercure had been emphatic: while Mercure took the matter to Command-level authority in the hope that Command might apply some pressure to the ordos, Edur was to do all he could to make sure the Inquisition didn’t trample everything flat on the ground.

‘I want us to hold on to some control in this, Edur,’ Mercure had said, ‘for as long as we can, or until we know there’s nothing worth holding on to.’

‘Both the Inquisition and the Commissariat are keen to discover the whereabouts of Colonel-Commissar Gaunt,’ Edur told Hark and Kolea.

‘Wasn’t he at Section when this happened?’ asked Hark.

‘Yes,’ said Edur.

‘Isn’t he still there?’ asked Kolea.

‘We don’t know,’ said Edur.

‘What does that mean?’ asked Hark.

‘It means that part of the building has burned out, another part is still ablaze, and there are a fair number of corpses still to be recovered and identified.’

‘Gak!’ Kolea whispered.

‘The thing is, if Gaunt’s alive, we can’t find him,’ said Edur.

‘And that’s why you’ve locked us down, and come in to take us apart bit by bit?’ asked Hark.

‘That’s the key reason.’

‘Because?’ asked Hark. ‘I’m sorry, Edur, but you’ve missed something out. Some key component.’

‘A second individual is missing,’ said Edur. ‘A high-value prisoner. The prisoner may even have been the target of the raid. Gaunt was last seen in the vicinity of the prisoner’s cell, and he was aware of the prisoner’s significance.’

‘And if they’re both missing, they could have got out together,’ said Kolea.

‘Gaunt may have got this prisoner to safety and gone to ground?’ asked Hark.

‘That’s one possibility,’ said Edur.

‘And the other?’ asked Hark.

‘Gaunt may have been working with the raiders to extract the prisoner. I hasten to add this is not my theory. However, the Inquisition is understood to be entertaining it.’

‘I don’t believe this,’ said Hark, shaking his head. ‘This is all about fething Gereon again.’

‘In so many ways,’ agreed Edur.

‘They’re never going to let it go,’ said Hark.

‘Is there any evidence to back up this slur?’ Kolea asked.

‘There are some unfortunate details,’ said Edur. ‘Your Major Rawne and the others were on the premises.’

‘On charges, in lock-up,’ said Hark.

‘Noted. However, they are also now missing or dead. If one was of a suspicious inclination, one might see evidence of a plan. People on the inside, ready to move.’

‘Shall I tell you what I think?’ asked Hark.

‘I think you should all tell me what the hell you think you’re doing, discussing these sensitive details,’ said Rime.

They hadn’t seen the inquisitor approach. He was flanked by two of his henchmen.

‘I could have you all executed,’ said Rime. ‘This is confidential information pertinent to an ongoing situation.’

‘I felt, inquisitor,’ said Edur, ‘that the senior Tanith officers might be very much more helpful to us if they were granted a better overview.’ Edur decided not to mention what else he felt, as it concerned the inquisitor rather more directly.

‘I don’t think it’s your place to make that decision,’ said Rime.

‘Then I will consider myself chastised, sir,’ said Edur.

‘Gaunt has no part in this,’ Hark told Rime.

‘Why?’ asked one of the henchmen.

‘Because I know him,’ said Hark.

‘Oh, that’s all right then,’ said Rime.

‘Our commanding officer is not a traitor,’ said Kolea. ‘There is no conspiracy. If he’s involved, it will be an improvised involvement. He is utterly loyal.’

‘We’ll know that when we find him,’ said Rime.

‘We want to help you do that,’ said Kolea, ‘in any way we can. We want to clear his name, and the reputation of this regiment. You can inspect us for any information.’

‘We are,’ said Rime with a smile.

‘You can intercept all on- and off-base communications to see if he attempts to contact us.’

‘We are,’ said Rime.

Kolea stopped. He breathed hard and asked, ‘With respect, sir, what else can we tell you? What else can we do to help?’

‘You can remain here, and answer any questions we pose,’ said Rime. ‘Other than that, you shouldn’t be involved in any way.’

‘The Tanith have an excellent reputation for scouting and tracking,’ said Edur.

‘That’s simply fabulous for them,’ said Rime. He turned away.

‘Can I have a word, sir?’ Edur asked. ‘Alone?’

Rime turned, thought about it, and then stepped towards the corridor. His henchmen followed.

‘I meant properly alone,’ said Edur.

Rime sent a curt signal to his agents, and they stepped back.

Edur followed Rime into the empty hallway and closed the door behind him.

‘Speak,’ said Rime with a shrug of impatience.

‘I think you should use the Tanith, sir,’ said Edur. ‘They are first-class trackers and scouts. If Gaunt and the prisoner are on the run in the Oligarchy, they will find him. They are motivated. It’s a rescue, a matter of honour. And if it turns out that Gaunt’s involvement is anything less than proper, it will also present them with an opportunity to restore their reputation.’

‘Edur, I’m not going to entertain that for a moment,’ said Rime. ‘The ordo has first-class agents of its own at its disposal. I don’t need a bunch of thick-necked grunts running around–’

‘I suggest you read the regiment profile,’ said Edur. ‘I suggest you properly appreciate the skill and achievements of these thick-necked grunts. Forget Gaunt. If the prisoner’s alive to be found, the Tanith will find him.’

Rime shook his head and stepped past Edur to return to his men.

‘Then consider this, sir,’ said Edur. ‘Bring the Tanith in on this hunt, and I won’t have to mention to anybody what I saw today.’

‘What are you talking about?’ asked Rime.

‘That thing… in the hallway… it burned your face off. It cremated your skull. You shouldn’t be here, you shouldn’t be alive. You shouldn’t be talking to me.’

‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Rime.

‘No, I don’t,’ said Edur, ‘but I’ve got a nasty feeling it’s got something to do with the fact that you and your lackeys all look alike.’

‘If that’s the case, it was evidently one of them you saw burn,’ said Rime.

‘I know what I saw,’ said Edur, ‘and it speaks of darkness and warpcraft, and heresy. It speaks of things the Inquisition doesn’t want exposed during a situation this sensitive.’

Rime glared at him for a second. Then he turned and strode back into the company office.

‘You, soldier,’ he said, pointing at Kolea.

‘Major Kolea,’ Kolea replied.

‘Whoever you are,’ said Rime. ‘I want you to assemble, quickly and efficiently, your finest huntsmen.’