Gaunt lowered the pistol and set it down on the side-table. 'You have not requested my seal of office. You believe me then?'
'I know of you. Pardon, ma'am; there are few females holding your rank and duty.'
Lilith moved forward into the room and gently kicked one of the troopers. He moaned and roused. 'Get yourself out of here. These two as well.'
The bloodied trooper clambered to his feet and dragged the others out.
'I apologise, commissar,' Lilith said. 'I had been told you were in a planning session. I would not have sent my men in if I had known you were sleeping here.'
'You'd have had my rooms searched had I been absent?'
She turned to him and laughed. It was attractive, confident – and hard. 'Of course! I'm an inquisitor, commissar. That's what I do.'
'What, precisely, is it you're doing here?'
'The boy.' She pulled out a chair and sat back, leaning against the back rest with relaxed ease. 'I need to know about the boy. Your boy, commissar.'
Gaunt stayed where he was and fixed his gaze on her. 'I don't like your tone, or your methods,' he growled. 'If I continue not to like them, I can assure you the fact you are a woman won't—'
'Are you really threatening me, commissar?'
Gaunt breathed deeply. 'I believe I am. You saw what I did to your lackeys. I won't stand for this unless you show me good reason.'
Lilith sighed and steepled her long, pale fingers. Then she pointed the compact laspistol right at Gaunt.
He started, amazed. She had not moved, but now she held a gun which had been lying right across the room from her.
'How good a reason do I need?' she asked, smiling. Gaunt stepped back.
'That little demonstration would seem good enough…'
Lilith smiled and dropped the gun into her lap. She clasped her hands together again and set her head back.
'Good. We'll begin. By the proclamation of the Most High Emperor, governed as I am by His will, in totality, till the end of all days, as a servant of the Inquisition, I require you to furnish with me with answers of complete truth and veracity to your best knowledge. The penalties for deception are manifold and without limit. Do you understand?'
'Get on with it.'
She smiled again. 'Hike you, commissar. ''The very devil'', they said. They were right.'
'Who's 'they'?'
Lilith didn't answer. She rose, holding the pistol loose in her left hand. She circled Gaunt. He was unnerved by her masculine height and her unblinking stare.
'Skipping further formalities, as you suggest, why don't you tell me about the boy?'
'What boy?'
'So coy. His name is Brin Milo, a Tanith native, part of your cadre but a civilian.'
'What do you want to know, inquisitor?'
'Oh, everything, Ibram; everything.'
Gaunt cleared his throat. 'Milo is… here by chance. The regimental piper, mascot… my aide.'
'Why?'
'He's smart, sharp, eager. The men like him. He can do the jobs I ask of him quickly and efficiently.'
Lilith held up a finger. 'Start from the beginning. Why is he here?'
'When Chaos fell on Tanith, and consumed it, I elected to withdraw all the able bodied men I could from the world. My own exit was barred and the boy intervened, clearing my way. In gratitude, I took him with me. He's too young for infantry, so I made him my aide.'
'Because of his skills?'
'Yes. And because there was nothing other to be done with him.'
Lilith came close to Gaunt and stared into his eyes. 'What are his skills?'
'Efficiency, ability, keenness to—'
'Really, commissar. You can admit it. Taking a liking to a clean-limbed young cabin mate and—'
The slap resounded in the close air of the cabin. Lilith didn't flinch. She turned away, laughing.
Very good. Very direct. So we can cut the crap, can we? I have notice that the boy is a witch. How do you respond?'
'He is not.' Gaunt swallowed. 'The poison of the warp turns my guts. You think I would have truck with it for a second?' He paused. 'Present company excepted, naturally.'
Lilith circled him. 'But he's useful. I've done my ground work, Gaunt. He predicts things, guesses them before
