Okay...this was supposed to be a much smaller omake, but an idea got in my head and it's now 21,000 words over about a month. It went in unexpected directions, to say the least.
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Unforeseen Complications and Developments
Never did one not assume the worse case situations, especially when the stakes were so high, but there was also a point where worrying about such things was more harm than good. For the Great Seer of the Aeldari, Eldrad Ulthran, he considered all possible ends; victories, defeats, and in-between. To that end, he ensured that whenever or wherever a mission required absolute certainty of success, his touch was never
not involved in it.
As such, he deemed it necessary to assist the Primarch Corvus Corax in his attempt to secure the shard of Khaine from the Venusian Vault. Eldrad did everything in his power, going so far as to send Corvus to Ullánta Mauryon, one of the few remaining Daughters of Vaul, to create a means to break into the vault.
Eldrad expected that Corvus Corax would do what was necessary to create the key, but instead, he became equally driven as Ullánta in ensuring its creation was beyond just "necessary." The results were extraordinary. Upon seeing the Skeleton Key for the first time, Eldrad saw only an
infinite set of possibilities within the relic.
Content in the knowledge and assurance of the key, Eldrad saw only a few paths that would end in a "failure" for the Primarch. Most of which resolved around the Sigillites not being preoccupied or the local defenses being active. In either case, the Primarch and Thief would handle such things soundly or messily. It mattered not to the Great Seer.
Secured in this assurance, Eldrad focused on other paths that needed his attention. Many a futures needed a gentle or forceful touch in the right direction, and he would ensure this with his hands. Thus did Eldrad Ulthran no longer worry about any worse-case situations with the vault, for all possible obstacles had been eliminated.
Months went by without incident, and Eldrad had all but "forgotten" about the mission. Until one day, a not-so-gentle reminder appeared in the form of another vision. When he saw the Primarch and Thief outside a rather ostentatious and grand vault, preparing to "unlock" it with the key, Eldrad was confused.
The vault he saw in his initial visions was radically different from the one he was seeing now. It had the trappings of a relic of the human's "Golden Age," but the design and material weren't close to what the warp described.
In his experience, Eldrad was bound to miss a few details. A different object, name, or something minor like that was missed in the initial precognition. Akin to a man painting a picture of a home's interior and forgetting to add a clock or knick-knack. A relatively forgettable and inconsequential thing.
Yet, in this vision, it was all different. Eldrad might as well have mistaken a Gloriana for a Craftworld! Even as he started to hear the familiar laughter of Cegorach, growing in volume, Eldrad desperately tried to focus on the sudden vision and confirm if this was just an alternative timeline or something far more esoteric interfering. It should've been impossible for this to reach him, though. He had long since learned to filter out the "noise" brought by his farsight. Yet as he looked deeper into the portent, Eldrad saw that it wasn't a vision of the future but rather the most recent past.
"How…?" Eldrad ignored the laughter and tried to glimpse further into the vision. In it, he did see what initially one could call a vault. Yet, upon further scrutinization, it appeared more like a large sphere of seemingly perfectly carved stone, with a sort of 'ripple-ridged' look, almost like a sea shell, albeit in a somewhat distorted depiction of one.
As he focused his mind, Eldrad felt his eyes ache as he gazed upon the vault. The stone and metal caused Eldrad's soul-sight to be temporarily blinded, for it radiant the
fury of Khaine and the essence of someone or
something else.
There he could see the Primarch and Thief attempting to unlock the vault, but just as the relic appeared and used its power, Corvus Corax had a look of disbelief and shock on his face. It was the look of a man who realized an entire mission had just gone up in smoke in an instant.
Eldrad could "hear" the alert sirens from the vault, signaling that their attempts to break in had failed. The Great Seer also saw the exfiltration of the Primarch, an equally daunting task but accomplished all the same. However, Eldrad instead returned to the more vital point of the vision and focused…
Due in part to the connection now shared with the Primarch, Eldrad could use Corvus Corax as a foci for positioning his sight in the vision, allowing him to review a moment in time in relatively perfect clarity. As he looked over the vault, Eldrad
demanded the warp tell him what it was in the context of why the Skeleton Key had failed.
He heard a voice echoing across a point in time and space within the vault.
Oh, fair and splendid, Venus! Though you give your heart to us, we only find dread in our own. Dare we see you once more of softened radiance with dewy locks. Your cheek yet warm with blushes and the smile of bountiful dawn.
Such beauty and grace that we might return you to this world, and we, your audience and admirers, shower you with the praise and worship you so richly deserve! May you someday emerge from your Shell once more, with fair weather and gifts of your followers awaiting.
Then Eldrad heard another, almost familiar voice speak.
𓆩Ꝑⱥⱦħēⱦīȼ ⱳīⱦȼħ. Ꞥꝋꞥē ꞩħⱥłł ȼꝋᵯē ӻꝋɍ ēīⱦħēɍ ꝋӻ ᵾꞩ. Ⱳē ⱥɍē ⱥłꝋꞥē, ꞩħⱥɍēđ ꝋꞥłɏ īꞥ ꝋᵾɍ ᵯīꞩēɍɏ ⱥꞥđ đīꞩđⱥīꞥ ӻꝋɍ ꞩīłēꞥȼē.𓆪
It didn't take much for Eldrad to realize what had happened. The laughter reached a point of deafening his thoughts before the Great Seer yelled, "SILENCE!"
The laughter subsided, if only for a moment. This allowed Eldrad a moment to gather his thoughts and recognize what had happened. The Vault of Venus was more than just some modified relic from the human's dark age. It was the
heart of Venus, or the Shell, whatever one wanted to call it.
None of that mattered; what did was that the Shell and the Shard of Khaine had somehow
combined with it. Were they…speaking? No, it sounded more like the Shard was commiserating with itself. What was going on here, then? Eldrad needed to talk with Corvus when he inevitably returned. That wasn't going to be a fun conversation at all. By all rights, Eldrad had failed to divine the possibility of a godseed, or the vault wasn't a vault.
Eldrad didn't want to call this a disaster, though. He wasn't the type to bemoan any failures, and instead, he tended to use them to his benefit if possible. Cegorach once joked about an old human saying, "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." Eldrad wasn't sure what a fruit drink had to do with making a bad situation into a good one, but he got the gist of the saying.
Standing inside his meditation chamber, he summoned one of his honor guards and met them outside, "Summon the seer council. I require their assistance and wisdom on a vital matter that has come to my attention. Also, prepare some chambers for the Primarch and whatever guests he brings with him."
Eldrad grimaced, "I don't need to use the sight to know that he will be particularly irate with one thing or another…" While Corvus Corax was not as expressive as his other kin, the man could have a quiet, smoldering temper if sufficiently annoyed. Humans were so quick to become temperamental, Primarch or otherwise.
Later in the Black Library…
Rare was it for Ullánta Mauryon to be happy, especially in such dark and uncertain times that her people faced, but for once, the Bonesinger felt the warm stir of joy in her heart. She could barely recall the last time she felt this way; even that memory was tainted by betrayal and disgust.
Ullánta had long since sworn off contact with anyone, content dejection forcing her to think that mayhaps fading into obscurity would help wipe away her sins. Perhaps then it was a surprise when after meeting Corvus Corax and setting off on this insane plan to make a divine relic, she found the most peculiar thing in her life; love.
Such a baffling thing, especially as it came from a human of all things. Yet Ullánta knew it was love. The Aeldari found such passion a precious and often dangerous emotion that must be carefully nurtured and examined. To embrace the love
of another was to accept and take in everything that person represented. Oh, that wasn't to say that Eldar didn't have casual relationships; flings and heat-of-the-moment relationships were, sadly, all too common these days.
Truth be told, Ullánta initially considered her relationship with Lupin to be built upon nothing more than physical desire, perhaps even a feeling of self-deprecation. Ullánta hadn't the best opinion of humanity, and at the same time, she didn't want to form a closer connection with her people. In some ways, acquiescing to his harmless advances felt like an acceptable punishment.
But that blasted thief saw through her attempts to deflect any attachments. Although, Ullánta realized that was a fault of his own. Lupin played the part of a womanizer, but he, too, had his own demons and failings. Maybe that was why their relationship blossomed in the two years they traveled together in search of the blasted Arakain. It nearly died, but the Primarch seemed to have "encouraged" Lupin to speak with her.
They made amends and love, all in the same period. It made her smile. If nothing, it was a joke played on the part of the Primarch, causing one of the most powerful men in the galaxy to wait while she and Lupin enjoyed each other's intimate touch.
After that, Ullánta knew it was love. This realization, naturally, caused a fresh wave of worries and concerns…but she decided that such things wouldn't hold her back. She wanted to go back to creating, singing, and just
living in the moment. That spark of love and joy motivated her to move forward again. She doubted Lupin would truly understand, but perhaps he didn't care as long as she was happy.
Hence why she had to stop herself from being too openly giddy. Just an hour ago, a messenger informed her that Lupin had returned to the Black Library and would be on his way to see her. This announcement came with a small bouquet of flowers and "souvenirs" from the human capital system.
Ullánta knew they were likely stolen, and she told Lupin multiple times to not steal…but there was that tiny part of her that enjoyed the attention he spent on getting little trinkets for her, and she would be lying if she didn't like getting such gifts. Ullánta wasn't smug like a Druhkari, but a small part of her enjoyed knowing that such wealthy and expensive items were now hanging in her workshop as little trophies.
The flowers were just Lupin's little way of showing appreciation, even though Ullánta was terrible with plants. The Daughters of Vaul could never access the domain of the Mother of Life, save for the ability to bring children into this world if they so desired.
All that aside, Ullánta made sure to contain her excitement. She didn't like to show off her affection or giddiness to Lupin, a strange defense mechanism but one he enjoyed. As Lupin described it, "he liked pushing her buttons." Ullánta had long since stopped trying to understand all the human idioms and saying. In any case, the attention was enjoyable, at least.
She did notice something of interest in the message, namely the lack of celebratory tone in its wording. It wasn't like she feared for the worst. Lupin had returned, no doubt Corvus had, and Ullánta hadn't been called for an emergency meeting involving the Skeleton Key. Indeed, no one would hold a celebration for the return of a Shard of the War-God, but even Ullánta found it strange that the Harlequins weren't pestering the craftworlders over the success.
A failure, then? Shocking to imagine, especially considering that Corvus and Lupin were more than capable of succeeding, even without the Skeleton Key. How odd to imagine, but she knew it wasn't an impossibility. The vault might have been under heavier guard, or perhaps it had been moved. A hundred different instances of failure could've occurred as well.
No matter. They would just have to try again. Ullánta had learned to do just that. One lesson she took from what had happened was that giving up or resigning yourself to failure would only bring you more misery. She didn't know what the future had in store for her. But Ullánta would at least try again and again.
Besides, she would keep herself busy. Plenty of new trinkets and tools for Polaris. If nothing else, the Daughter of Vaul could find purpose in aiding like-minded pacifists in their mission.
So focused on this task, Ullánta failed to notice that someone had entered her workshop and creeping up on her. As she quietly sang a song to the tool made of wraithbone and ceremite, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist, causing Ullánta to practically leap in surprise before grabbing a bone chisel to stab her assailant.
"Woah!" The familiar voice of Lupin cried out as he juked the chisel's pointed end, "Easy there, could've poked my eye out!" He sounded almost amused.
Ullánta blushed and pushed him away, "You couldn't announce your presence like a normal person?!"
"You hate knocking!" He chided, "And I can't send psy-signals to you! Besides, I wanted to surprise you." Lupin gave her a tantalizing look, "Come on, lovers do that all the time to each other…a little thrill goes a long way." His hands inched closer to Ullánta.
She slapped them away, "Honestly. Breaking and entering your lover's home is not what I'd consider romantic. A little warning would've been nice."
"I sent you a message that I was coming!" Lupin had her there. Not that Ullánta would give the satisfaction of being right.
"Which was vague regarding your arrival here." She cooly countered, "Which, by the way, is surprising. I'd have figured you and the Primarch would be busy for the foreseeable future…unless…?"
Lupin grimaced and nodded, "Unless things didn't go as planned." He crossed his arms, "We ran into an unforeseeable complication."
"Unfortunate." Ullánta was right then, "And here I was hoping you'd get to test out the relic."
The thief huffed, "We did…got the vault and everything. But it failed to open it." Lupin might as well have said that Vaul had come back from the dead and then promptly died once more from the look of shock on Ullánta's face.
"WHAT?!" She couldn't understand; the key failed?! "Just what kind of vault were you two trying to unlock?!" Did the humans have one of Vaul's own creations on standby? A Necrontyr device, perhaps?
He rubbed the back of his head, "Well…evidently we found the shell of a goddess?"
"You found…" She tried to process such an absurd statement, "The key failed because it was trying to unlock a shell of a goddess? Do you mean the Shard of the War-God?"
Her lover shook his head, "No, evidently, the shard is only
part of the problem there." Lupin had a lopsided grin, "Things got pretty messy! We almost got caught."
"Lovely." She sighed and tried to fathom what happened, "My precious skeleton key's chance to shine, outdone by
another relic. Did Cegorach know of this?"
"Evidently, neither he nor Eldrad knew." Lupin shrugged and gave her a coy look, "Nothing ever easy. Corvus seems
livid, although only to himself. I don't think he was expecting such a setback and so soon."
Ullánta could imagine the Primarch was furious. Somehow she imagined the Great Seer was quite unhappy as well. "Oh dear, the next few meetings will be tense."
"Certainly not going to be fun at first, but I believe Corvus is looking to go back to the vault with a better understanding of what awaits him there." His hands reached for her now, "But…I think we can worry about that later."
The Bonesinger sighed and tried not to focus on how warm his hands were, "Lupin, I still have work to do. Most of which was commissioned by Polaris."
"Hey, that's good!" He was smiling now, "We can go over what you are coming up with over dinner, and I can provide some insight for you. Win-win!" That
did sound nice, but Ullánta knew that dinner would inevitably lead to a few other things, and she'd get no work done.
But just as she was about to say now, Lupin pulled his right hand into his jacket and pulled out something, "By the way, I got you something I know you'll like." The object in question was a round cylinder made of wraithbone. At first, she was confused, as it looked like something that Ullánta could've made herself…until she noticed its markings.
It was made Pre-Fall. Perhaps even predating it by a million years. Ullánta also noticed that it held a small sign of nobility, although she couldn't recognize the sigil, "That's…!" Ullánta's eyes widened, "Where did you find this?!"
"A small container that was
outside the vault. Fools were probably getting it ready to be moved inside, but their mistake and a costly one." He looked it over, "Granted, I don't know what this is."
She did, though. "It's a musical pearl."
He looked almost disappointed, "Really? That's sad. A glorified music box. I thought it would be more valuable than that."
Ullánta resisted the urge to glare at Lupin, "Just because it's not made of gems and gold-plated adamantium doesn't make it any less valuable. Besides, it's not just capable of playing music! These pearls can capture memories and stories from generation to generation, passing them down to kin."
"So…it's like a family scrapbook or photo album?"
Humans and their poor comparisons, "In the same way a cave painting is like a fully holographic pict recording. These pearls might even hold secrets that were supposedly lost to the Fall. Why it was going to be placed in a human vault is confusing."
Lupin wasn't so convinced, but he nodded, "So you like it then?"
"It's beneficial from a historical context…so yes, I
love it." The smile on her face told Lupin that Ullánta's compliment was genuine. But just to clear up any confusion, Ullánta leaned down and kissed him.
Her lover was amused at the reaction, "Good to know. If I see another one of these memory pearls, I'll be sure to grab them. Anyway, since we are both in good moods and I just got back, how about we get some dinner, and we can go from there?"
"Hmm…" Ullánta thought, "I still have work, but as long as it's
just dinner, I think I can take a break."
"Just dinner," Lupin had a coy look, "Right."
"I'm serious, just dinner." Ullánta didn't want to be playing catch up tomorrow. Gods know that whenever the two of them got
intimate, they both lost track of time. The blasted thief knew how to charm her. If Ullánta wasn't careful, she might have to marry him just to preserve what little decency and decorum such a relationship brought.
Sometime later in the Black Library…
Corvus Corax wasn't the type of man to get frustrated or upset easily. In some cases, he had tasted defeat more than once, which resulted in unnecessary deaths and destruction upon his Legion or an entire world. As a leader, it was his duty to never show such emotions in front of subordinates, as it was harmful to morale and unproductive.
This was different. On top of the crisis unfolding in Sol, this failure left the Primarch in a sour and foul mood. All that work and effort, the resources spent, creating a new piece of divinity to the galaxy in the form of the Skeleton Key, and the heist
still failed. The gods did indeed laugh at the plans of men and Primarch alike.
When he finally arrived at the Black Library, Eldrad and his seers were flummoxed at what had happened. That even the Great Seer received the truth hours after the failure was a bothersome realization for Corvus. Not even the divinations of Eldrad Ulthran could've foreseen the vault being a piece of divinity.
A piece of
Venus, no less. If the Deorums heard about this, they'd be in a frenzy. Instead, Corvus and Lupin agreed to keep this matter compartmentalized until a solution, if one existed, could be made to secure the vault
and the shard inside.
Oh yes, the Shard of Khaine…influencing the vault. Another secret was revealed to Corvus by the Warp and confirmed by Eldrad. Just one more complication. A divine relic, possibly even a godseed, being slowly "corrupted" by a War-God. Not only did Corvus want to get the blasted vault, but he also
had to. Otherwise, there could be a ticking time bomb on Venus.
Eldrad and his seers were likewise in agreement. The Shard of Khaine must not be able to "corrupt" this relic. There was no telling what could be unleashed by such a union or if the vault had any influence on Venus. Besides, if Father found out, he might very well assume this was an Eldar plot if he discovered the shard. It could trigger a war.
The Eldar were just as interested in knowing what had or could happen with the Shard and the vault. Ravenloft would want to secure the damn thing as well. Additionally, neither wanted Chaos or some outside force attempting to capture either, although Corvus suspected the Sigillites were on that list. Too many actors and groups that would love to get their hands on such a thing. Eldrad advised that he and his seers, along with the Harlequins and Cegorach, would spend time coming up with some solutions to aid in this and asked Corvus to stay in the Black Library for a few days.
He accepted. If nothing else for the distraction and to hear what the Eldar had to offer. So yes, there was a lot on his mind. With the failure of the heist, the politics and intrigue in Sol, and the number of situations his Legion and Ravenloft faced, Corvus Corax was sufficiently annoyed.
Had the galaxy decided to punish him for stepping foot into the realm of the gods? Corvus didn't necessarily believe it was the gods acting against him, but rather reality itself was involved, looking to correct an "oversight" born of the Skeleton Keys's creation. Perhaps an Error had occurred, and no one had noticed it? Certainly would explain the unforeseeable consequences that eluded even Eldrad's sight.
Such thoughts were still a welcome distraction after Sol. At the very least, he had another crisis to focus on, one that wasn't about rebellion from his brothers. The irony of Corvus being in that meeting wasn't exactly lost on him or Eldrad. The Great Seer knew that something had happened in Sol, but when Corvus provided the final pieces of that puzzle, Eldrad was visibly concerned. It seemed that the prospect of an Imperial civil war didn't necessarily mean a boon for the Eldar. Corvus wasn't sure what to think about that.
No matter how much Corvus saw behind the veil of ambiguity and mystery of the Aeldari, the more questions he had regarding their motivations or aims. Roboute and Magnus likewise had only a limited inclination of what they had planned, although neither suspected it was malicious towards humanity. No doubt the Eldar still saw themselves as the stewards of the galaxy and were at least taking it upon themselves to make sure it wasn't burning for their own sakes.
Even so, Corvus wondered what went through their alien minds. They were too unpredictable, even after all this time. Humans could be as well, but an Eldar could plot and plan for events thousands of years in advance, knowing they would live to see them come to fruition. He needed to be careful, lest he gets outplayed by one of their machinations a millennia later.
As Corvus idly thought about the future and alien desires, he arrived at the suite prepared for him inside the Black Library. As he stepped inside and saw a beautiful room decor, the Primarch remembered the Eldar
apologizing for putting in such "meager" dwellings on such short notice. A comment made in jest, no doubt, but even when the Eldar were being magnanimous or friendly, they had to insert some foppish statement like Fulgrim or Russ would do.
Corvus chalked that up to a shared trait among their collective species and tried not to focus on it. Instead, he focused on something that got his attention. Heading into the bedroom, the Primarch saw what appeared to be a
knife lodged deep into the headframe of his bed with a note attached to it.
Where one might have been concerned or annoyed, perhaps even livid at the breach in security…Corvus felt
relief. The strangest of sensations, but a welcome one after all this time, for if nothing else, assassination threats were a great distraction from his current woes.
"Thank the gods," He muttered on approach to the knife, "Something straightforward."
Grabbing the knife and message, Corvus idly wondered what the intention was here and who sent it? So tired and distracted, the most apparent perpetrator eluded him until he started reading the message.
The chief clown couldn't stop me from hearing about you being here this time. I even found out where you are staying. Do wait for me. For it's been so long since our last dance among the void. And I've dreamt of a different one for us to partake in. Oh, how it burns in my heart. I just need the right time and opportunity to slip inside your room unnoticed.
And then your ass is mine <3
-S
"What the…?" This was certainly not a message alerting him of imminent doom or perhaps a chance for a secret rendezvous. Who the hell sent this? "Wait…a dance in the void?" It took only another second to realize the author of this message.
"Sachmis…" He crumbled the message in his hands and gritted his teeth, "And here I thought I was finally done with her." Corvus knew she was part of the Harlequins now, but for these last few visits, he had only heard a few rumors passed along by Cegorach's servants, hinting at the former Archon's obsession with him.
And now she was trying to get in his head with these bizarre threats. Granted, Corvus didn't understand the last part, and somehow the tone felt off. In his haste, he also failed to see the outline of a black lipstick kiss punctuating the missive and the smell of perfume on the paper.
What would've been a rather grievous oversight on his part, but then again, Corvus was distracted by far more significant issues, and Sachmis and her threat were ultimately negligible.
"Lovely." Corvus dropped the paper and pulled the knife out of the frame. It wasn't no craftworlder weapon. He could also see that Sachmis drove the blade
deep into the bed, and the Primarch remembered that her lithe frame didn't do her physical strength justice.
Corvus had to give Sachmis credit: she was one hell of a woman. Dangerous in combat and strategy, brazen yet calm, and frighteningly charismatic. She bragged about being a queen, and if she had been born human yet kept these traits, Sachmis could've easily been a dangerous foe
and ally to the Imperium if found.
Instead, he handed her over to the Eldar. Corvus needed to remember that this alliance went both ways, and the Primarchs involved gave the Eldar quite a bit of aid. The return value was unprecedented, but the Aeldari, Druhkari, and Harlequins benefited in unseen ways. He needed to remember that while the Eldar had earned his trust, they were one wrong decision from Terra from being on the opposite end of a battlefield.
Although, after everything that happened and what he had learned, Corvus wasn't sure he'd want to fight a war against the Eldar. Not just out of military pragmatism but also for not wanting to send men or Astartes off to die against an enemy whose sole ambitions were to destroy the enemies of all life. Corvus despised many alien species, but he would not follow any calls to war against the Eldar after everything he had done and seen.
Nevertheless, he still had other things to worry about than a possible war against the Eldar, which seemed more and more like a distant concern compared to everything else. Best to focus on other things now, such as what awaited him tomorrow or if Sachmis would indeed try to break into his room and do…something.
"Hmm, perfidious
and annoying." That was the best way, to sum up, his experiences with the Aeldari so far. As he settled in for the night, Corvus kept an eye and ear out for Sachmis. Otherwise, he was once again left with his thoughts. At the very least, his anger subsided just enough. Her message had been a helpful distraction, if nothing else.
The next day, sometime later…
Thankfully, Corvus never did get a visit from Sachmis. Unfortunately, that left him time to think about all that had happened. Perhaps one of the few times Corvus could have gotten hours of uninterrupted sleep; instead, he felt as exhausted that "morning" as he did the night before.
However, the Eldar were quick to rise and work, it seemed. He received a message a few hours after the simulated effects of morning began in the Black Library. One of the powers of the Library was that it could make you
feel as if dawn or dusk started even with the lack of light or darkness. Powerful technology and one that the Imperium would love to get their hands on someday.
Corvus didn't need much prompting after receiving a missive requesting his presence. If nothing else, he wanted to leave the Black Library as soon as possible. While his hosts were generous and gracious (as much as Eldar could), Corvus wished to be back from his legion and out of this alien realm.
Another escort to Eldrad's mediation chambers, although Corvus could probably find his way there at this point. Most of the Aeldari that passed through here didn't seem surprised to see humans that much anyway. Even so, he didn't like being "escorted" by armed aliens.
Upon arriving, Corvus was confused to see what looked like a large Eldar entourage leaving the chambers. While they had masks of indifference, the Primarch could still sense their frustration and annoyance. He could see that they had the robes and armor of farseers and "warlocks," hinting that they were all diviners. What had happened to call forth all of them to Eldrad's chamber?
He had to wait until the other Eldar left before wordlessly, his escorts brought him inside the chambers before exiting. Soon, it was only the Lord of Ravens and the Great Seer. Like yesterday, Eldrad was still just as irritated as before, but Corvus could see he looked pensive about something. A bad sign, if nothing else.
"You should feel honored," He started before gesturing towards a host of empty seats inside the chamber, "Rarely do I call upon an impromptu
coven meeting in the span of a night, but your recent discover has caused a bit of a stir."
"A coven?" Why did that word sound familiar, "And based on your insinuation of this event, it was an emergency that warranted this gathering. So what has come about from such a meeting of seers and warlocks?"
Eldrad scoffed before gesturing for the Primarch to take a seat. Looking over, Corvus saw what looked to be a small throne of wraithbone. A tight fit, but it would easily support his weight. Once seated, the Great Seer summoned the warp and showed Corvus various images. Each of these looked to be him at the turning point of the vault on Venus. So more
visions than just simple conjured illusions.
"Last evening, I mentioned that seeing into the vast intricacies of the future has a chance of failure. No prediction is perfect, but I can safely say that I can reduce the chance of failure to the point of it being a non-issue."
Corvus felt awkward in the seat, "Good for you." He tried to sit straight, "But as we both know, you didn't see the ultimate outcome. Where does that leave us going forward?"
"I was getting to that," Eldrad remarked, and soon the illusions changed. Corvus saw what looked cloudy, murky, almost impossible to determine what exactly was happening, save for he saw himself and a few figures whose forms were shrouded by what looked to be static. Corvus did notice, however, that he was back at the vault.
A future attempt, then? It was most assuredly not in the past.
"When events become indeterminable for me, I can call upon the aid of other seers to help me decipher. By creating a
thread for them to follow, they can see my visions as I see them, and thus, the coven can begin to channel their collective premonition to piece things together or attempt to uncover the best possible outcome."
Sounded reasonable enough, "Let me take a wild guess here…you don't do this often because there are a host of problems that comes with this."
"Perceptive as always." Eldrad grimaced as he explained further, "A hundred minds trying to determine a single picture will produce a hundred
thousand different results. More often than not, I am using different perspectives and experiences from my kin to try and find a different answer, one that I cannot find or see."
"But a hundred thousand guesses can't all be right." Corvus could imagine asking a hundred of his sons to try something similar. It would be a mess. Even if they could all agree on something, it didn't mean they'd get the correct answer. Universal consensus didn't confirm it was the optimal or accurate perspective on the matter.
Eldar farseers and warlocks had to prevent all that while trying to process and determine time and space distortions and alternate timelines. If they could pull that off, Corvus had to credit that the Aeldari were capable of working together as a civilization, which probably explained their eons-old control over the galaxy.
"In some ways, it's like a teacher awaiting the answers from their students. I, as the teacher, am expected to confirm or rebuke them if they are wrong or right. The problem, however, is that I have only a
vague idea of the answer, and my students have to give me a general…
feeling, as it were, for me to reach the right conclusion." Eldrad looked over at the visions and shook his head, "Intuition becomes more important than skill or vision in some cases. We must hear and think and
feel what the warp is telling us. We focus on a particular piece of the puzzle, scrutinize it, and then when we feel and
know it is correct, it is added to the pile, waiting to be put in place to give us a picture of the
correct sequence of events."
While that sounded reasonable, Corvus suspected that Eldrad hated the idea of gaining an accurate reading that way. Probably because that sounded like something humans would do more than any Eldar. "Well…did you get the right sequence?"
"To an extent." A somewhat cryptic answer, "Most of my seasoned farseers and warlocks are engaged across a hundred different fronts. That wasn't to say those I brought into this coven were incapable, perish such thoughts, but a coven formed in the middle of the night is generally a very lacking affair. However, I believe that enough answers were gained that can allow us to chart a path toward success on the next attempt. It will, however, require more time and resources, gaining the aid of specific individuals and acquiring certain items of interest."
"Putting aside all that…you were able to determine all of this within a single night? And how would you rate the answers obtained?"
"Rate?" Eldrad sounded almost confused, "You cannot apply a number or some insipid metric to the coven's success. However, if you so desire such a quantification, out of the 100 members brought in, five achieved what could be generously described as a 50/50 chance of correctly predicting the chain of events necessary for success."
Corvus felt like punching a wall, "A 50/50?! So you are telling me that you and your coven could only determine a course of events with a 50% chance of succeeding
or failing? The flip of a coin."
"If the coin flip was decidedly
not in your favor, yes." Eldrad didn't seem too concerned, "You will be happy to hear, though, that
one of my seers achieved what I suppose we can call a 70% success on forming the path."
Now
that sounded much better, "So there was at least one of you that could keep up and provide clarity of success? Well, praise the Laughing God for giving us such mercy." Corvus mockingly towards the ceiling, knowing that Cegorach was listening to this conversation.
Cegorach didn't need to do anything for the next, "Yes…about that. Since this Farseer, in particular, was so successful in determining the path of success in the matter, I believe it would behoove you to have him in your company."
Why was Eldrad grimicing? "You don't sound too sure of that? If this is an issue, you do not need to deprive yourself of a Farseer for my benefit."
"I insist." His stance was strange, almost like he was bracing himself.
Corvus narrowed his eyes, "He achieved a 70% success in foretelling the next set of events? That implies he's quite capable."
Eldrad stiffly nodded, "Oh yes, Farseer Alcar is quite the capable seer. He will be a great…boon to you." Corvus started hearing laughter somewhere in the back of his mind. Something was amiss here.
"...Is there something I should know?"
At first, the Great Seer paused and pondered how to respond. After a moment, he slowly nodded, "Two things, really. Both involve the Farseer and an additional…asset for this. And this is before we go over exactly what the coven saw in the visions."
Crossing his arms, Corvus was now frowning, "That bad?"
"I don't usually mince words," Eldrad responded tightly, "We are both men that respect each other's time and efforts to play around when crucial matters need attending to or something vital is at stake." He sighed, "But…as a professional courtesy, I believe it's best to ensure that you are mentally prepared for this."
"Mentally prepared…?" Corvus blinked at what was happening here, "What the hells is going on here, Eldrad?"
The Great Seer impatiently tapped his foot, "Farseer Alcar is very…assured of his capabilities as a Farseer. Some might call it arrogance of the highest degree. It is not without being warranted, but for many, it's quite off-putting, especially for first-time interactions."
That was what he was concerned about? "With respect, I've been around Roboute long enough to tune out such things and see the positives in such individuals. I can assure you that I can handle this man."
Corvus wasn't prepared for the tiny bit of
laughter from Eldrad. It was only a second and no more than a simple "heh." But it reminded Corvus of a few men who made such about the flag officer assigned to the World Eaters. What was her name again? Loritta? More than a few made the mistake of assuming they could handle her, and rumors abound that she had
violently ended the careers of those individuals after they underestimated her.
So why did it feel like he was about to be on the receiving end of a similar event?
An unspoken command from Eldrad, and a few moments later, the door to the chambers opened again, allowing an unfamiliar Aeldari to enter the room. Corvus got a good look at the newcomer, who he suspected to be Farseer Alcar, and he wasn't impressed by what he saw.
Farseer Alcar was a lanky, wiry creature, even among his fellow Eldar. His posture was atrocious, the man slouching forward and looking like he was one missed cup of recaff from falling over dead. Yet Corvus knew this wasn't the look of exhaustion but more akin to one Mortarion's bout of complete apathy. How did Horus describe it once? Oh yes, "He looks dead inside."
There were, however, a few noticeable traits that positively stood out. Alcar had lengthy sunkissed hair tied in a knot, a rather stunning and bright color for Eldar. He was a striking individual with his dark brown skin and red eyes. Corvus imagined more than a few maidens would've swooned over seeing him.
Unfortunately, Corvus saw a familiar look of arrogant disdain and dismissal on the Farseer's face, the type that Fulgrim or Roboute used whenever dealing with petty issues or people who wasted their time. At the very least, the Lord of Ultramar wasn't as bad now, but this Alcar clearly would've seen himself as superior to most.
Well, that shouldn't have surprised Corvus. The Eldar were an arrogant people, after all. Let it not be said that the Primarch wasn't capable of working alongside such individuals. Besides, he long since learned there was no harm in extending a hand in friendship to someone.
"Lord Corax, this is Farseer Varda Alcar." Eldrad introduced his fellow seer, "He has recently returned from one of our frontlines against the Great Enemy and is…ready to assist you in this grand endeavor." There was that hesitation again.
Keeping up appearances, Corvus nodded and held his hand out to the Eldar, "Greetings, Farseer Alcar."
Rather than respond or clasp his hand, Alcar instead pulled out what looked to be a few pieces of paper and handed them to Corvus. Eldrad sighed and muttered something in what the Primarch thought was Aeldari but in some strange dialect.
Corvus blinked and looked at the papers, "I take it you wish me to read this?"
The Farseer sighed, "If you'd prefer to, you may do so at your leisure." He had the voice of an impatient scholar. "Those are all the answers to your questions related to personal or inane subject matters. I've already divined them, so we can skip the so-called pleasantries."
It took Corvus a second to process that, "You…divined our interactions and wrote down the responses?" That was…well,
bizarre. Even Magnus never used his powers to circumvent people's interactions by just looking into the future for answers. At least as far as Corvus knew.
Glancing at the papers, Corvus saw what looked to be a set of questions and answers, written almost like a series of testimonies and interviews. It seemed pretty detailed, at least. He heard snickering from somewhere in the room and tried not to imagine Cegorach laughing over the Primarch getting caught flatfooted.
"Well…I suppose that makes this interaction easier." Corvus admitted, "What do you think of Farseer Ulthran's proposal?"
Alcar scoffed, "A waste of my talents and time." Not the tone for any unprepared man should have considering the mission that awaited them, "However, I can see the strategic and scholastic value it holds to both our groups. To that end, I am prepared to render my considerable talents in this endeavor, Corvus Corax."
Eldrad breathed a small sigh of relief, and Corvus wondered if he was expecting Alcar to outright reject this mission. While that was all well and good, the Primarch felt like this was moving too fast.
"I am pleased to hear that. But humor me, why accept it?"
Alcar gestured towards the papers, "My reasoning is there."
Corvus wasn't going to let him off that easily, "I want to
hear your reasoning, Alcar."
The looks of disinterest and annoyance made Corvus think of Fulgrim, "Very well, if you are so insistent on the matter. My reasons are threefold. First, I have grown bored from leading our forces on the Kepsis Campaign. The taste of victory becomes bland in one's mouth after a period. My replacement will undoubtedly gain unearned glories built on the foundation of
my accomplishments, but I care not for that.
Second, my peers have become dismissive of my successes and claim that I have become too
insulated from the realities we face. I care not for the whims or criticisms of seers who can only see what is in front of them, not ever looking
beyond the veil. But I will prove them wrong again, expanding my already considerable talents and skills via this mission.
And this led to my third reasoning; the concept of these divine relics and the futures associated with them intrigues me. As I mentioned before, I also see the value in acquiring the shard and shell from Venus, especially as the Great Seer personally asked for my aid, as warranted as I am one of the most powerful seers in the galaxy."
There was a bit to unpack there, but not nearly as much as Corvus thought. Alcar's arrogance was startling, but it was built upon a strange foundation and reinforced by what he assumed to be significant strategic victories and personal accomplishments. Alcar had military experience, which was good, and he was personally invested in this mission. Furthermore, Eldrad had already explained that he was quite capable as a seer.
Still, something was bugging him about this. "You consider yourself one of the most powerful seers in the galaxy. That is a boastful claim."
"What Alcar means is-" Eldrad started before Alcar interrupted him.
"Yes, I am the third most powerful, with Eldrad being the second and the Changer of Ways being the first." Corvus heard choking laughter in his mind as he briefly processed that statement. Eldrad, meanwhile, quietly groaned.
The Primarch paused at hearing such a bold statement, "You put yourself in the same ranking as a literal god? Then what about…Magnus the Red?"
Alcar crossed his arms and smirked, "Seventh." The laughter was still restrained. Yet Corvus could only imagine how Magnus would've responded if he had heard that. It was becoming increasingly clear to the Primarch that he vastly underestimated Alcar's ego. He had assumed that it was just the size of a planet…instead, it was about as big as a supermassive black hole.
"That is enough," Eldrad finally spoke up and glared at Alcar, "You will refrain from 'ranking' anyone based on your metrics, Farseer." A similar tone one used on wayward or arrogant officers. "You've accepted the position and are aware of what is expected. I want you to remember that this is a vital matter with no place for egocentric prospects and designs."
"Of course, Lord Ulthran. I will keep my thoughts and…
opinions on certain individuals and their suspected capabilities to myself." At the very least, Alcar knew better than to push his luck with the Great Seer.
Eldrad nodded, "Do exactly that." He turned to Corvus, "If you have any other questions."
"No," Corvus shook his head, "I think the Farseer has given me more than enough." Not like the Primarch couldn't just review the notes in his hands.
Looking back at Alcar, Eldrad frowned again, "We talk about this, Alcar. Common courtesy
isn't giving away prepared notes of engagement."
"I
am giving the Primarch a courtesy." He looked back at Corvus, "Tell me, did you really wish to engage in small talk when we are both busy men with vast problems to resolve?"
Alcar had a point. Why spend time chit-chatting with a man when planning and work could be done? Plenty of his brothers would agree with such sentimentality. Did Corvus
really gain anything from asking Alcar pedantic questions?
Well, Corvus
could learn something if he framed the right questions. That was beside the point, and he was pretty sure that Alcar wasn't the man to try that out on. It became increasingly clear now that Corvus was dealing with an alien beyond even normal levels of Eldar arrogance and pride…and he needed to work with him.
"If there is nothing else?" Alcar asked after a moment. Eldrad dismissed him, but not before Alcar gave a slight bow towards Corvus, making the Primarch if this was a bit of mockery on the seer's part. Once Alcar left, a strange silence fell over the room.
Eldrad broke it, "I apologize for his remarks and attitude." He sounded
embarrassed, almost like a parent apologizing for a child, "Alcar has a…"
"An ego? Yes, that is putting it mildly. I think even Fulgrim would tell him to tone things down." Strange as that experience was, Corvus felt almost
amused at it. "It's not exactly unwarranted, based on what you told me. But does he truly consider himself above even my Father or Magnus as a diviner?"
"I try not to ask him such questions, for it encourages his narcissism." Eldrad tried not to look too frustrated, "Alcar is like so many other young seers; boundless potential hindered by problematic or peculiar characteristics."
Corvus realized something else, "You are taking significant steps to vouch for him. I can't imagine Magnus would approve of hearing such remarks about his capabilities."
"Let me be clear; I would offer the same defense for
all my seers, regardless of their capabilities or personalities. While Alcar is a special case, he is still allotted the same respect and beholden to expectations shared among all that tread our path."
That sounded nice, but Corvus knew that wasn't always the case. Notable exceptions were always made, especially for beneficial or problematic individuals. However, Corvus wasn't about to argue how the Eldar ran things.
"Beyond what happened in the coven or commanding this Kepsis Campaign, what else did Alcar do to gain such a bloated ego?"
Eldrad briefly considered not answering that. However, he decided otherwise, "Alcar correctly predicted one of Cegorach's tricks backfiring on a Twilight Trope master. A considerable feat is that perhaps five people within the Black Library can do that, including me."
"He called out the act of a trickster god?" Considering Cegorach powers and influence, that
was quite impressive and explained the ego. "Not to belittle his accomplishment, but are you sure Cegorach didn't plan that?"
"I can say for sure," Eldrad lightly shrugged, "We both know that trying to understand what Cegorach does is next to impossible, most of the time. None of it matters now, except that Alcar found himself elevated to new heights of scrutiny, which in turn caused him to embrace the victory as a sign of sublime talents."
This got Corvus's attention. A fascinating look into the Eldar leadership, "Why would his peers scrutinize him?"
"Unlike other races, we don't harbor feelings of jealousy or resentment towards peers that excel at their paths; if anything, we extol such accomplishments. Yet as leaders of our people, we must all take the necessary steps to ensure the best possible outcomes. Alcar is still relatively new to the path, and as you can imagine, we have to ensure that newcomers are properly prepared for what awaits them. But for Farseers, it is vital to know that we can accurately see all futures ahead of us."
Corvus understood now, "And Alcar's peers thought it was nothing more than a fluke?"
"We don't believe in such things. Everything tends to happen for a reason…but I admit that after what happened with my visions of the vault, perhaps I should reevaluate that stance. In any case, Alcar accomplished a feat that only a handful of seers in the galaxy, Aeldari or otherwise, could've accomplished. Many wanted to attribute his success to one of Cegorach's ploys, but the Laughing God never confirmed or denied, even to me, that this was a fluke, genuine skill, or part of a much larger prank by him."
He shook his head, "Regardless, Alcar has proven himself, and he at least earned his place as Farseer. He will do his duty diligently, even if his personality is caustic to others. If nothing else, I can vouch for his capabilities."
Fascinating! Corvus figured there was a hierarchy or methodology to the Aeldari seers, but he never expected it to be akin to communal scrutiny and skepticism. The Farseers and Warlocks actively questioned the validity of their own premonitions.
Save for the man standing in front of the Primarch. Eldrad Ulthran was immune to such things. A testament to his power and skill. But, more importantly, the trust his people gave him. Once again, the Great Seer earned the "great" title for several reasons.
Eldrad also gained a tiny bit of respect from Corvus by ensuring Alcar was given the same protection as everyone else, arrogance or otherwise. Corvus and his brother would've done the same thing for their sons, vouching for them even if it meant taking a hit in reputation or pride.
"Very well," Corvus grunted, "I see no reason to deny his aid. Yet I will tell you this now, if he causes issues among my legion, I will
personally handle things. And if his ego prevents him from following my or my son's orders, he will be sent back to the Black Library."
"Yes, yes." Eldrad waved it off, "You have a prerogative on commanding or disciplining anyone I send to you." He gave Corvus an odd look, "In fact, if Alcar comes back
humbled, I might even be grateful to provide additional aid, with reason, of course."
Another hint to Corvus of how important Alcar was to Eldrad. A seer that had been able to see past even just one of Cegorach's tricks was a useful psyker, but that arrogance would cloud Alcar's judgment in the long run.
"I'll keep that in mind." Corvus wasn't sure what he could do to someone with an ego that large and somewhat delusional, but he didn't see the harm in trying to help someone, especially as a personal favor from one of the most powerful seers in the galaxy.
"That's all I ask for you," Eldrad cleared his throat, "Especially with the
next topic I must brooch now. This also concerns an individual seen as potentially vital within the covens vision."
Corvus was worried when he heard not laughter, but an intake of breath, as if in anticipation of something about to unfold. "I take it there are complications?"
"That's…" He looked unsure for a moment, "It depends on how you'd quantify those complications and for who." Such vagueness, but something Corvus had come to expect with the Eldar.
"Are you expecting me to have issues with this individual?" He couldn't stop the slight inflection of impatience and curiosity in his tone. "I understand if they'd have trouble working with someone from the Imperium."
For the second time since the start of this meeting, Corvus saw a rather strange look on the face of the Great Seer; that of awkwardness and resignation. Like a man trying gently to prepare his compatriot for an approaching maelstrom. The Primarch half-expected Eldrad to say, "you might want to take a seat for this," with how grave it could've been.
Eldrad opted to go forward, "Let's just bring her in, and we can get this over with."
"Her?"
Eldrad ignored the question, instead sending out another psychic message to one of his guards before turning back to Corvus, "I want to make this clear; this isn't a joke on my or Cegorach's part, and I can promise you that I looked for different paths for you to take…but the fates were adamant on this."
Just what in the name of the gods was happening here? The answer came before Corvus could ask another question to Eldrad. The doors to the mediation chamber opened, and a trio of Harlequins entered. Two were of the Light Trope, while the other was a Dark member.
Corvus barely had the chance to recognize the dark member when he heard a familiar voice,
her voice.
"Well now," Sachmis remarked from behind her mask, "I guess I didn't have to go too far to find my
pet raven." Corvus could hear the teasing, smug tone of the former Archon. Eldrad sighed at the exchange.
In the end, Corvus could only narrow his eyes at Sachmis before speaking aloud.
"Oh, you've got to be joking." The roaring of laughter echoed in his mind. Such was the punchline the Primarch found himself in now.
The first time Corvus saw Sachmis in person was during the last battle of the Void War, in which he and his sons attacked her flagship, the
Night Phoenix. A dreadful and costly battle, but one that the Raven Guard won in the end. There, the two met in person. After a year of taunting one another via vox, now dueling each other on the bridge of her ship.
Victory was swift. Sachmis was cunning and fast, but Corvus was a Primarch and perhaps one of the most dangerous in a fight that allowed him mobility. Even with all the advantages afforded to her, she couldn't keep up with the Lord of Ravens. That he could defeat Sachmis without killing her was an act not out of mercy but a desire to learn more about her blasted species and how they reaved and raided across the stars. After that, a swift execution.
Unfortunately, getting information out of Sachmis was, to put it bluntly, impossible. Perhaps if Kurze had been around, he'd have gotten what Corvus wanted but left only a husk of a creature in the interrogation room. But Corvus refused to call upon Kurzes aid, especially as he
needed certain information from the pirate.
Such as how she was able to
resist the intrusion of the Lord of Gears into her systems. The Lord of Gears might not have been the best suited for such a task, but he was still a god, and such mundane technologies shouldn't have been able to stop him…yet Sachmis and her ship pulled it off. Corvus needed to know how.
He never got the answers. A month after Sachmis's defeat, Harlequins from the Black Library arrived and bargained for her release into their custody. He'd have denied the request in any other instance, but his intuition told him to accept the deal.
Oddly enough, when he told Sachmis she was being released, she was angry and disappointed in him. Perhaps even
upset. For most of her captivity, the Druhkari asked specifically to talk with Corvus, but he never allowed such a meeting. His interrogators remarked that she had developed an "obsession" with him, which Corvus attributed to vengeance.
Corvus would only later learn that it wasn't vengeance but
carnival desires that drove her to meet with him. He almost enjoyed knowing that spiting her requests likely infuriated Sachmis…but in hindsight, Corvus might have only encouraged these strange
feelings the woman had towards him.
Nevertheless, Corvus had thought that such things were behind him and that his act of mercy was an act of pragmatic altruism. Yet now he wondered if he had made a mistake.
"Absolutely not." Corvus remarked to a frowning Eldrad, "Pirates and slavers, former or otherwise, are where I draw a line."
That statement elicited chuckling from Sachmis, "Says a man that has killed how many innocents in his day?" The former Archon asked while lazily sitting in the same Primarch-sized chair that Corvus had just been using. Although Sachmis was
lying across it like a couch, her feet up one of the armrests. Acting like one of those Grynix felines that lazily claimed some piece of furniture as their own.
"She has a very sordid history, I agree." Eldrad commented, but Corvus could tell that such a thing didn't sway him.
So the Primarch tried a different approach, "What would Magnus say if he heard this?"
"I will handle that." Again, the Great Seer didn't want to let Corvus use that as an excuse, "And I can assure you that this isn't me releasing Sachmis from her punishment."
The Archon turned Harlequin chuckled derisively from her seat, "And here I thought I'd have some fun with my raven…" Although she wore that blasted mask, Corvus suspected she was making a face toward him.
Corvus wasn't deterred, "The amount of blood on her hands-"
Eldrad interrupted him, "We are
not having that argument, not here." Perhaps he was right about that, especially in this instance. All three of them had blood on their hands. Fine then.
"I fail to see why she is needed for this…"
"Much as I'd love the opportunity, I must ask that question as well," Sachmis sounded mildly amused, "Don't tell me you craftworlders are all tired of having me around already?"
Eldrad ignored her, "The path to victory in this endeavor requires her assistance. I wouldn't suggest this course of action otherwise. Necessity demands that you accept…but
if this is a step too far, I will understand." Damn him, he was putting this all on Corvus.
"What exactly are you two plotting anyway?" Sachmis asked, "It must be something good for the Great Seer and Primarch to be cavorting in secret like this. Skullduggery of the highest order, one might even say." She switched to a sitting position and leaned forward, almost as if to hear some gossip, "Are you planning an assassination? Perhaps a coup? If so, I certainly want to participate in such exciting merriment, especially at someone else expense."
Corvus ignored her, "Let's say for the sake of argument I accept this…where, in this path to success, requires Sachmis of all people?"
"Hmm…" Eldrad looked unsure of how to explain this. Nevertheless, it only took him seconds to decide, "You need her to unlock the shell of Venus, for it requires two souls bonded by war, void, and passion."
That got her attention, "Ohoho!" The excitement in her voice was palpable, "So the fates decree that the Raven and I are to be together? How scandalous." Corvus didn't want to imagine the smug look behind her mask.
Trying to do just that, Corvus could only close his eyes and ignore the twitch in his right eye, "Is that…really what the coven saw?"
Eldrad nodded, "Unfortunately for you, yes." He looked frustrated, "You are, however, missing quite a bit of context. If nothing else, I'd want to first ask you…do you accept having her as an ally?"
"Are you just giving me the illusion of choice here?"
To his surprise, Eldrad shrugged, "If fate demands it, you might be in her presence again, regardless of what you desire. I'd suggest taking the opportunity on your own terms, but that is just sage advice. So feel free to ignore it at your own peril." It must have been fascinating to imagine what goes through the Great Seer's mind, how he perceives events and people, and his decisions based on seeing all alternative paths.
It was
pissing Corvus off to no one end at this moment. "Fine…" He grunted, "Let me not be told that I didn't heed the advisement of the wise Eldrad Ulthran."
"Most people don't," Sachmis quipped, "But I haven't, and it's looking like I ended up in a perfect position because of it." Corvus was about to finally say something to Sachmis until he noticed the look in Eldrad's eyes. It was a familiar expression that promised immediate
doom to the individual on the receiving end.
The Great Seer turned to her, "Sachmis, the Laughing God has seen fit to grant you a relief from your punishment to aid Corvus Corax and Farseer Varda Alcar in a specific endeavor. In the usual functions, I would ask if you accept…but seeing you
have no say in this matter, I shall issue this an order instead."
Rather than be annoyed or concerned, Sachmis laughed, "Vardar Alcar is on this mission as well? You must be desperate, Great Seer. Especially as so many Harlequins mock Alcar."
Corvus couldn't help but speak up, "Mock him?" His peers hated him, while the Harlequins ridiculed him? The Primarch was almost starting to feel
pity towards the Farseer.
"The fool thinks himself above some of the powerful seers in the galaxy; that is already laughable. But more than that, he's not even a true born Eldar." Sachmis looked at Eldrad, "I am curious, though. Did you find that
Dregar, or was he purchased?"
A Dreger? Not a true born?
Purchased? Something told Corvus that this was information he shouldn't be privy to. One of those "ugly" decisions made by the Craftworld leadership. Sachmis was pushing her luck now. But Corvus was about to see that it had run out already.
Rather than react with scorn or annoyance, Eldrad merely stared at Sachmis for a moment before speaking, "Take off your mask."
What should've been a relatively effortless order caused the mirth to leave Sachmis's voice, "You know I can't do that."
"Under orders from the Laughing God, I'm well aware." Eldrad acknowledged, "However when inside this chamber, you obey my commands." Corvus then heard the briefest indicator of
authority befitting one with the title of "Great Seer" with his following words, "Now,
take off your mask."
Sachmis didn't give Eldrad the honor of hearing a "Yes, Lord Ulthran" or anything like it as she unfastened her Harlequin mask. Corvus had last seen her face after Sachmis had spent weeks in confinement and after a lengthy battle, and even then, she had an outrageously bewitching beauty. In this instance, the Primarch could see that even after becoming one of the Laughing Gods' servants, she retained that pedicured look.
There were her kin's standard features: the pale skin, sharp facial marks, the
black sclera of the eyes, and slightly elongated "fangs" of the teeth and the black lipstick. The picture of a menacing beauty. Yet other parts of Sachmis stood out; her long silver hair, blue irises, and pronounced cheekbones had undoubtedly made her a
notably attractive member of the Druhkari.
Corvus idly wondered, though, if an entire species was "beautiful," would beauty become a mundane aspect of society? A question later for Fulgrim next they meet.
Beyond all that, however, saw a look of apprehension and
fear in Sachmis's eyes. Strangely enough, Eldrad was quite close to the Druhkari. Neither of them cared that Corvus was watching whatever this was. Then again, maybe that was the point?
It was almost surreal what happened next. Sachmis refused to look Eldrad in the eyes, while the Great Seer merely glared at her as he spoke, "Your potential towards our cause is undoubtedly one of great interest to me. The Laughing God and even the other troupes vouched for you…and I weigh those considerations whenever I hear about your transgression, Sachmis. Because there is a place for you, here in the Library."
As he spoke, Eldrad lifted his right hand and placed it almost tenderly against the side of Sachmis's face, and Corvus watched as she
flinched at his touch. And then Corvus felt the warp stir. It was only as if he briefly felt a breeze across his face or hands, but he knew that Eldrad had done something.
The Primarch didn't have to wait long because he watched in shock as Sachmis started shaking before that turned into a bout of violent convulsion, sending her tumbling to the ground and gasping for air. A brief moment of concern entered Corvus's mind, thinking that Eldrad had killed or maimed her before his eyes.
Instead, he glared at the writhing Druhkari. "But don't you
ever mock one of my Farseers or ridicule my patronage in front of a guest and think you can get away with it. I would say to never do it again, but I know you'll never learn. You'll always have this arrogance, this revolting pride…a pathetic attempt to forget your failings as a
núromul. If there was any justice in this galaxy, I'd allow our esteemed guest to decide on your fate. However, we need your skills, and I will not be the one that passes judgment on you. Thank either the gods or the Muses, I care not."
Whatever was happening to Sachmis seemed to end after Eldrad finished saying what he had to say. The glare from Sachmis would've probably killed a lesser man, but Corvus also saw the look of humiliation in her eyes.
"I was planning on explaining this situation, but I will let the Primarch do that for you
later. For now, I want you out of my sight, Sachmis."
Sachmis was still gasping for air, but whether through sheer will or stamina, she quickly rose to her feet. "Bastard…" She muttered loud enough for him to hear. Corvus was almost impressed with her stubborn defiance, but Sachmis was testing the mercy of Eldrad.
Thankfully, Eldrad merely scoffed and spoke, "Go." The dismissal was probably worst than anything to Sachmis. Corvus noticed that she refused to look at Corvus and swiftly put her Harlequin mask back on before swiftly vacating the mediation chamber and sparing only a single glance to the Primarch.
That was one of the stranger events that Corvus had been part of here. Utterly mundane, yet unexpected, yet somehow entirely within the Eldar's wheelhouse.
"I apologize for that display," Eldrad remarked as he walked back over to Corvus, "But as you can imagine, a firm hand is needed from time to time." For some reason, it felt strange to hear that from the Great Seer, let alone see it in action. Stranger still was
how Eldrad had dished out the punishment to Sachmis. Corvus couldn't tell if this was some sort of telepathy or telekine ability.
Eldrad was a seer first and foremost, but why would that disqualify him from using other disciplines available to most psykers? Corvus needed to remember the Eldar weren't
just a race that had an affinity to divination.
"I must confess that it was surprising," Corvus finally spoke, "And I'm inclined to believe that wasn't normal for you."
Eldrad scoffed once more, "Not at all. Aeldari do not flagrantly punish one another in such ways, but the Druhkari are different now. They don't understand or care for the group's stability, let alone accept their place in it."
That made Corvus want to laugh, but he refrained from doing so, "You must know the folly in that, especially with Sachmis. That woman, heeding to
authority? Ridiculous." Sachmis was a dangerous and wild creature. She clearly had not taken to the Harlequin life, and now she was a problem.
His comment seemed to amuse Eldrad, "Your frame of reference for Sachmis as a person is based solely on what you've seen or heard. There is more to her, especially when you consider her history."
"Is this related to that title you gave her,
núromul?" The word felt strange on his tongue, even after knowing how to speak Aeldari. It was always unsettling, no matter how familiar Corvus became with their speech. "What does it mean?"
Eldrad hummed for a moment before speaking, "An old rank from the Empire, given to servants of substantial capability and prominence inside a Great House." Corvus was taken aback as that implied that Sachmis had been nothing more than someone's underling at one point in life.
"It's surprising, isn't it?" Eldrad interrupted, "But you'd be just as shocked to know that many Druhkari started as dregs or outcasts in the old Empire. In a different light, the Ashen City stands for what could've been a great renewal for those souls that the Empire abused and mistreated."
Corvus remembered a term he heard from Father to describe what some worlds in the Imperium had become after being "liberated" from their oppressors and free to pursue their hedonistic desires. The Imperium always had to bring those worlds back in line, if just for decency's sake.
"An island of misfit toys then."
"Pardon?" Eldrad certainly didn't know that reference.
"Nothing." Corvus waved off the question, "So Sachmis was a servant of a great house? Humble beginnings, I suppose."
This caused the Great Seer to laugh, "Hardly. A núromul wasn't
just a servant; they were the
head servant of the entire house."
"Like a Seneschal for rogue traders?"
Eldrad shook his head, "You are still looking at this from your Imperium's point of view. Sachmis took care of all manner of problems. She raised the scions of her house, offered wisdom to the lords and ladies, fought and killed, and
loved when her lord needed such a need accomplished. A
núromul could destroy lesser houses if given the order, although such an honor was given to the scions or house champions more often than not. Ancient laws prevent such things, of course, but Sachmis was a dangerous foe even before she became Druhkari."
The decadence and power of the Aeldari Empire astonished Corvus. Raising one of their own to such a level, to be a tool, weapon, and
plaything for their power struggles and house machinations. No wonder Sachmis was so dangerous. She had likely been in the throes of battle and skullduggery since her birth.
"But why scorn you when you called her by such a title?"
The look of resignation made Eldrad look far older and tired, "Sachmis was abused and humiliated by her patrons far too often. Núromuls have psy-locks and command phrases embedded in their minds. What I did to her was one such trick to bring her into obedience. Although I had to 'brute-force' the activation of the psy-command."
"So she
was a slave?" That was the only reason he could imagine such memetic triggers would be placed on someone. "It's all just a fancy title."
"It's far more complicated than you can imagine, and it is a topic you'd be better off speaking to her about." Eldrad gave Corvus a pointed look, "Heed my warning, Primarch. These are not pleasant memories for her, but they are also what motivates her. You want to know what causes someone like her to appear in this galaxy? Being a
núromul for one of the greatest houses of the old Empire will do that."
"Fine." Corvus figured this topic was also not something that Eldrad didn't care to cover, "Then you can at least explain why I need her on this?"
The Great Seer nodded, "The path to success as planned by the coven shows that the Shell of Venus requires a specific energy source to help unlock it. The Skeleton Key is necessary for this, but it will need lovers' passion, of a free soul, to ensure success is obtainable."
This nonsense again, "Sachmis and her delusional love. It's not real. She just craves power."
"Yes," Eldrad agreed with that much, "Her arrogance and pride are nothing compared to that particular craving. It's unfortunately contributed to her failings as a Harlequin." He looked almost ashamed as he spoke again, "I must confess…seeing this path made me realize that I could stand to benefit in more ways than one. I hope that by letting her aid in your struggles, Sachmis might
improve as an individual under your guidance."
Corvus didn't know whether to feel honored or concerned over that honesty, "You put much stock in my ability to help someone like
her. If I were Horus or Fulgrim, I could help her control these desires…but we both know the Druhkari are power-hungry. Sachmis, though? I don't want to imagine her being close to a godseed or the key, less she gets certain ideas in her."
"This is not ideal, especially as our alliance is still untested, but the visions I saw indicated that there is a chance to help Sachmis. We both know that she can be a viable ally, but if I can't find a means to help her, then I will not be able to protect her from an even worse punishment…especially if the Laughing God decides to get involved."
Cegorach directing any sort of punishment…somehow even Corvus felt sympathy for Sachmis in that instance, "Individuals can change for the better, this I know to be true, but based on what I know of the Druhkari…they are thoroughly controlled by the desires."
"Then your best hope is to make that desire towards something more productive and positive, such as her infatuation with you. Not the power you hold, but
you as Corvus Corax. The fates are fickle when it comes to the heart of an individual, yes?"
That was putting it lightly. Eldrad wasn't instigating to make Sachmis, his former enemy, into
loving the Primarch; he was telling Corvus to
do it. The fates were playing a joke on him. Corvus was sure of it.
It would be nine hours before Corvus returned to his guest room. Nine long hours of Eldrad explaining
every detail associated with the "Path of Success," the name given to the prophecy related to obtaining the
entire vault and all the divine-related items in question. Exhausting didn't begin to describe how he felt in the end.
Exhausting
and frustrated. The frustration came after the meeting concluded, which unfortunately meant that Corvus's focus inevitably returned to Sol and everything that happened there. How was he supposed to turn his attention towards the Venus endeavor when his thoughts on possible rebellion and civil war were plaguing him?
Eldrad was no help either. He was still trying to determine what that particular fate held but remarked that divining such futures was difficult to ascertain. A "hazy" set of readings, he said. What a joke. Then again, Corvus had long since stopped believing that men like Eldrad or Father were all-knowing or capable. Powerful and extraordinary, but ultimately flawed, just as the gods were.
Corvus wasn't sure if this was a good or bad thing. It all meant that even the most powerful creatures in the galaxy were not incapable of making mistakes. It was disappointing to realize just how little power everyone had in that same breath.
One more cosmic joke, but played on who exactly? Corvus didn't want to think he was the target, but he sure as hells wasn't in on the joke either. Such idle thoughts distracted him long enough to walk into another one…
Upon approaching his room, Corvus saw a familiar figure waiting near the door. The Primarch grimaced as he spoke, "Why am I not surprised to see you?"
Sachmis didn't need to have her mask off for Corvus to know that she was smirking underneath it, "Considering we are working together, this shouldn't surprise you." The Druhkari sauntered forward, "I'm sure you've found the amusement in all of this. From enemies to allies. Oh, what strange tidings bring such individuals together?"
Corvus glared, "Ask your Laughing God. I'm sure he has a reason that was a few quips wrapped around it." He wasn't in the mood for jokes or humor, especially not from Sachmis, "Is there a point to you being here? If I require you, then wait for my summons."
He saw her body briefly tense but then relaxed in the blink of an eye, "Don't be so dismissive Corvus."
"Do not speak my name as if we are friends." Corvus interrupted, "We are, at best, allies of convenience. That Eldrad had to vouch and defend this arrangement is nothing short of me doing a favor for him." Not exactly a lie, but Corvus was still obfuscating the truth.
Deciding to not continue this discussion, tired as he was, Corvus sought to enter his room before Sachmis spoke again, "Are you afraid that by talking to me, you'll come to regret it because you might
actually enjoy my presence?"
The Primarch didn't look her way but closed his eyes and sighed, "Not everything is about you, Sachmis." Deciding that perhaps a small token of faux empathy might be better suited here, Corvus turned to address, "I have much on my mind, and right now, the thought of us mutually interrogating one another in some vain attempt of pretending either of us cares about getting to know each other is, undoubtedly, a waste of both our time."
"I don't consider it a waste of time." Corvus paused for a moment; that almost sounded genuine. "Nor should you. We both desire something from the other. That's what it all comes back to, a desire. To be better, stronger, to be
on top. Nothing is ever good enough. Not until we have the galaxy at our fingertips and remade into what we want most. That's just how we are both people; a shared similarity. I dare say we are equals in that regard."
Something about the insinuation struck a nerve, "We are not equaled at all.
At all." He repeated before glaring at Sachmis, "I never enslaved people, raided and reaved gods know how many star systems, and killed for enjoyment."
"Yes, yes," She waved that off, "You are the Liberator. Although you bring worlds into your Imperium, which enslaves more people in an
hour than I did a decade." Corvus was about right to do something regrettable, "But that is beside the point…you do these things because you crave power. Oh, not because you desire to live out some lavish lifestyle, but simply because power means freedom and liberation from your oppressors."
Corvus knew where this was coming from, "And you know this from personal experience, eh núromul?"
Her body tensed again, and Corvus could hear her grinding teeth, "Do
not call me that."
For a moment, Corvus felt the bite of amusement until he crushed the feeling. He would not take pleasure in calling Sachmis by a title that clearly upset her. Even so, Corvus wasn't going to take this lying down, "Power is not absolute, nor does it matter if your oppressors live forever in your head even after gaining it. Evidently, you aren't free from it. That's the difference between us…I moved on. I used those experiences to help others. Not to manipulate or use for my own selfish purposes."
Sachmis didn't seem impressed, "That arrogance of yours is better suited towards other aspects you hold, like fighting and commanding. That's what attracts me to you…not this emotional crutch you manufactured for yourself. It's pitiful otherwise."
The audacity of this woman, "You are-" Corvus composed himself, "You are
unbelievable." He paused and then shook his head, "What am I saying? You deluded yourself into thinking you are my equal."
"Equal only in desires," Sachmis corrected, "You bested me in combat, and you are certainly one excellent stealth fighter. That is why I consider you and your Astartes above the other Mon'Keigh. An impressive feat and perhaps a sign that one day you might lead the dregs you call humans towards a sliver of greatness the old empire once held. Certainly, I'd like to ensure I have a nice place in such a galactic order."
The more this conversation went on, the more Corvus legitimately thought Sachmis was just screwing with him, "You are out of your mind."
"I love that I am getting under your skin so much with this," She inched closer, "It means that I am not entirely wrong in one assessment or another."
"Or you are completely delusional and just caught me at a bad time." Corvus needed to end this conversation, "Are we done here?"
"Not yet," Sachmis answered before she gestured to her door, "I still want to talk. So how about I just invite myself in…?" It was somewhat amusing hearing anticipation in her voice.
Corvus, however, still didn't budge, "Absolutely not."
"I can always just break into it later." The teasing tone was back, "And I suppose you can attempt to kick me out, but if either of us causes a big enough scene…well, I'm sure it will make for a fun rumor to hear about the Primarch trying to kill a half-naked woman."
"...Half-naked?" He had to admit, that did sound pretty bad. The Harlequins would have plenty of ammo, let alone whatever the Laughing God could come up with. Eldrad would be forced to address such concerns to his own people if that rumor started spreading like pox-flu. "Are you trying to blackmail me?"
"Or entice you with the opportunity. Take your pick."
This had to be a bluff on her part. Corvus knew that Sachmis knew that she was on thin ice. If nothing else, causing a minor diplomatic incident would've likely ended her chance to be with Corvus on this mission.
So he called the bluff, "I'll take my chances." Turning around to enter his room, he briefly heard the sound of a small gasp from Sachmis. He was right; it
was a bluff.
"Wait!" Sachmis tried to hide the pleading in her voice, "Are you just going to brush off this opportunity? Especially since we are going to be working together?"
Sighing one more time, Corvus turned to her, "I am not interested in games or ploys or whatever you have in mind. I am
tired, Sachmis. Beyond that, I am frustrated. If you have any sort of honest empathy towards another person, you'd know that now isn't the most opportune time to try and
blackmail someone into holding a conversation. Surely you aren't that invested in having one?"
"I am," Sachmis sounded adamant, "I told you, I don't consider this waste of our time…" There was a moment of Corvus thinking he heard actual
distress in her voice. But the Primarch knew better than to trust only that.
Corvus still wasn't entirely convinced, "If this is some trick of yours…"
Rather than simply answer, Sachmis's hands reached back and worked on removing her Harlequin mask. Once that was off, Corvus was staring at two eyes whose seriousness and authenticity reminded him of his brothers whenever they got into a particular mindset.
"I am not making a joke or trying to trick you here." She was serious, but considering the start of the conversation, Corvus wouldn't let her off the hook just yet.
He crossed his arms, "Strange, considering how you were acting just a moment ago. So now I am supposed to take your words at face value?"
Sachmis was self-aware to look slightly embarrassed, "Because I was just having a go at you."
"Just having a 'go' at me." Corvus chuckled at hearing that, "I can't say I've met many people willing to do that and then switch towards wanting a genuine heart-to-heart. I'd say that person is either
still lying or unable to properly emote what they want to say."
The former Archon glared at him, "Are you looking for an apology for how I acted?"
Gods, this whole thing was obnoxious, "I'm looking for reasoning. I don't care if you are sorry or not. Whatever you want, however, I'd appreciate it if you'd stop wasting my time." He didn't care if this was a trick or not, but Corvus wasn't going to be subject to any more of her chicanery.
A brief moment of silence passed, and Sachmis frowned and looked away, redness on her cheeks and mumbling something. Perhaps he'd have called it "cute" if he recognized such a thing in Sachmis. Instead, it just made him annoyed.
"Well?"
Finally, Sachmis answered, "Can we please go inside your room and talk?" Her voice was soft but tinged with frustration and annoyance, akin to someone who just had to admit they were wrong or did something stupid but refused to give the other party satisfaction.
He knew there was no trickery here. None of Sachmis's arrogance, either. In the back of his mind, Corvus won his
second victory against Sachmis. For that, he would be a magnanimous winner.
"Fine."
Perhaps in his haste, Corvus should've recalled the social etiquettes of inviting a woman into one's chambers. The Primarch had only ever invited his sons or brothers into any living space that Corvus called his own, but those were general gatherings of like-minded individuals. Rarely were they ever anything more than for practical purposes.
Far be it from him to not misinterpret the implication of bringing an alien woman into his room, especially a former enemy turned "ally" via his connections to the Eldar. He tried not to think about the absurdity of it.
Besides, this was just a small meeting. Corvus would allow Sachmis to bother him for precisely one hour before kicking her out. Naturally, some ground rules had to be established. However, the Primarch never got the chance as Sachmis took the initiative.
She already claimed the couch for herself, "We don't need to bother with pleasantries or anything like that. If you want to ask me a question, go ahead, and I will answer. The same rules apply to you, got it?"
Not exactly what he had in mind, but it was still acceptable terms, "Hmm, alright."
Lying across the couch like a lazy Grynix, Sachmis had a small smile, "We can do this one at a time if you'd like."
"Fine." Again, acceptable. "Since you seemed so invested in this conversation, I'll allow you the honor of asking the first question." He sat on a chair across from her, "The floor is yours."
Sachmis didn't seem to get that last part, but she nodded, "I suppose we should get the business out of the way; what exactly are you and I set off to do?"
Fair enough, "We are going to steal a vault on Venus. It has a shard of Khaine inside it. The Laughing God and Eldrad want it. In exchange, I get a few favors." Corvus didn't need to mention the Godseed. Not right now, anyway.
"Venus…a world inside the Imperium's capital system, yes? We are stealing from your nation."
Corvus held a hand to stop her, "We are stealing from a
noble house, who more than likely stole the shard from your people. So far as I am concerned, this is just returning something stolen." He then remembered the rules of this exchange: "That's your second question, by the way."
"Tch," Sachmis frowned, "Changing the rules like that. Well, then, ask your questions."
What to ask precisely? Corvus decided to fish for some information, "How did you prevent the intrusion from the Lord of Gears during the Void War?"
Sachmis blinked and then got annoyed, "You ask me such a stupid question?! Of all the things?! Not anything involving me?!"
"Yup." Corvus was unmoved, "Now answer the question." He wanted to know how she had stopped a god from accessing her ship's systems for years.
She narrowed his eyes at him, "So I'm not allowed to play games, but you are? In that case…the Night Pheonix uses the
Ulieth Orioss, which causes a warp cloak to appear."
"How does it work?"
"Is that your second question?"
"My first question has multiple components."
Sachmis growled from her position, "Don't be an utter bastard." She calmed herself, and then Corvus saw an evil glint in her eye, "Alright, I'll give you another hint…if you answer me a question that has been plaguing my mind for years now."
Corvus shouldn't give her much leeway, but she was right about how he shouldn't be acting like a complete bastard. It was petulant and unbecoming of him. "Very well, ask your question." It had to be related to the Void War. Just as he was interested in what happened, so too was Sachmis, no doubt.
"Do you have a lover?" He should have known. This was bad because she wasn't even teasing him by asking. Her tone and look were exceptionally grave, akin to an Eldar asking for the location of a soulstone.
How Corvus found the grit and discipline to not stare at such a queer question was beyond him, but he steeled himself and answered, "No. I do not have a lover."
"Interesting…" Sachmis gave no indication if that satisfied her or not, "Well…the
Ulieth Orioss is a relic from the Age of Heroes that was placed into the Pheonix's hull. One of the few pieces from the time during the time when Eldanesh and Ulthanesh still walked across the stars."
He was taken aback. Not only had Sachmis not tried to play around, but she also gave an honest and insightful answer! Eldrad had to have known that this…Ulieth Orioss was inside the ship. Something more was afoot here; a little voice in his head told him so.
"...Such a relic would be priceless."
"It is," Sachmis sat and leaned forward, "Do you want to know why…?"
He nodded, "I do."
"Answer me this question then…" She gave him a strange, predatory look, "What would I have to do…to gain your trust?" Of all the questions to ask. If Corvus gave her a line, she'd use it to ensure she gained his trust.
Fine then, he might as well shoot for the stars, "What do you need to do? I want a promise that you will
never reave or enslave anyone again. Even if allowed to escape and start over in the galaxy." Corvus decided to dangle that possibility in front of her to get a response.
To his surprise, Sachmis shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I can't promise that," She did look apologetic, "You see the galaxy through your eyes and morality, but not through mine. I don't
see humans or other species on the same level as you or I. Perhaps in time, you'll understand why this is important to Druhkari…but until then, I will not make such a promise. I can, however, try and curb my desires while under your command."
More honesty from her, and Corvus wasn't sure how to feel about that answer. Sachmis admitted that she would always be an enemy to humanity, but she was willing to try to control herself if it meant gaining his trust. If anything, this was the "right" answer, as it clearly came from the heart.
So why did he feel disappointed?
"Very well, I suppose I can't ask someone to change their nature with one promise." Corvus would have to aim lower then, "Then at least promise me you'll try and not cause trouble for your fellow Aeldari or those under my command." Remembering Eldrad's request, the Primarch figured she'd be more receptacle to this.
"Fine. I can at least promise that much." Sachmis still didn't look too happy, "It's not always my fault, you know? These craftworlders and harlequins…even my so-called "kin" look down on me. They
fear my capabilities and resort to ridicule and keeping me on boring assignments."
"The only ridicule I've seen came from you and towards Farseer Alcar." Corvus might not have known the whole story there, but he wasn't going to allow anyone under his command by the target of
childish discrimination and ridicule. That would apply to Sachmis as well in due time.
Turning back onto the couch, Sachmis scoffed again, "You'll come to see him for what he is soon enough. Arrogant bastard."
A phrase from Lockcraft came to mind, "Don't go throwing stones in glasshouses, Sachmis."
She gave him a confused look, "What?"
"A saying I heard from a human under my employment. It means people with faults should not criticize others for having the same faults. You have a similar sort of arrogance to you, Sachmis."
That caused her to become a bit angry, "I am not arrogant! I've earned my accolades and infamy; you know that from experience! Alcar is a
false man. His power and blood aren't even his own!" The Dregar remark was something to investigate further.
"I don't care," Corvus retorted with a bit more heat in his voice, "And you should be a bit more emphatic to him. You are both targets of communal resentment, which I will now have to handle simultaneously on top of what I expect to be quite a bit of bickering." As if Corvus wasn't dealing with enough of that within his extended family.
Sachmis huffed, "Eldrad sends one of his minions to keep an eye on the both of us, as usual."
"Which brings us back to the previous point…you were going to tell me why the Ulieth Orioss is so priceless to Eldrad."
"Hmph," She crossed her legs, looking slightly less angry now, "As I mentioned, it's a relic from Eldanesh and Ulthanesh. More importantly, it was one of the first treasures given to a son from their family, Kalthuanesh. I don't know what
exactly the Ulieth Orioss is in terms of physical appearance, but it's part of the Phoenix and gives it extraordinary defensive capabilities against warp aberrations."
She paused and smiled smugly at Corvus, "But I'm the only one in the vast galaxy that knows how to access it. Not even the Great Seer or Laughing God know-how."
Extraordinary. And worrisome. Especially as Corvus realized what was happening here, "...That son of a bitch…" He swore loudly enough to get a look of surprise from Sachmis, "Eldrad might have set me up regarding this without even telling me."
"Did he now?" Sachmis was curious, "And for what reason?"
Corvus said too much to just stop the topic, "He wanted you to get into my good graces in hopes of helping you become better accumulated into working alongside your fellow Aeldari. I think that is still the case…but he may always be working towards getting you to reveal the secrets of obtaining the Ulieth Orioss."
Sachmis was also taken aback by this reevaluation, "That…
bastard. If he thinks he can play either of us like that!" She stopped for a moment and then realized something, "Wait…either of us would've come to see this plan eventually. It's too simple in appearance."
"I agree," This was certainly not the most well-constructed plan from a man like Eldrad…or was it? "Either he knew that we'd eventually discuss this, in which case this was all planned out by him…or he didn't care either way."
The two of them paused once more to consider that possibility. Eldrad was starting to look as equally dangerous a puppet master as he was a seer. Corvus needed to double his efforts to ensure Eldrad didn't manipulate him with simple requests or suggestions.
As he contemplated this, Corvus heard an increasingly familiar sound from a previously unheard source…Sachmis started to laugh. It began as a few chuckles before turning into booming laughter. Yet the strangest thing was that it was devoid of arrogance or dismissiveness. It was genuine mirth.
Sachmis was just laughing because she
actually found the whole situation funny.
Corvus didn't necessarily share the sentiment, "I'm glad one of us is amused." Sachmis didn't respond, as she kept giggling. He noticed that the tension between the two of them started to go away. Perhaps in some ways, it had on the grounds of recognizing they had both been played by Eldrad.
Finally, Sachmis calmed enough to speak, "It is amusing, though. Here we were, both trying to play mind games with one another and realizing Eldrad Ulthran strung us along."
He needed to defend himself, "I wasn't
strung along; I merely got lost for a moment in trying to follow his clues." That felt like a weak excuse.
His companion smiled back at him, "Of course, Lord Corax. The Raven is never fooled." For once, the teasing didn't sound mean-spirited or dismissive. She was laughing…
with him. Gods damn this change of fortunes.
Perhaps it was best to concede this loss, "Fine, I underestimated the Great Seer's penchant for manipulation."
"Oh, don't be so frustrated." She sighed in resignation, "You get used to here in the Black Library, especially if you are the day's victim." Another strange reminder of the bizarre Eldar culture that had taken root in this realm.
Corvus scoffed but slowly nodded, "Yes, well…I'm still learning that."
"I'll help you," Sachmis smirked again, "At the very least, I don't want my man being made a joke by Harlequins. It reflects poorly on me."
"Sachmis…" He again warned her, "Are we going to need to talk about you making such insinuations?" Corvus perhaps needed to address her infatuation with him. Although, maybe not right now…
"Just saying." She said before getting up, "Now, I think we can move on to the next phase of our conversation. I'm rather parched right now, so how about we enjoy some wine?"
He blinked at hearing that, "What? Who said anything about having wine?!"
"I just did," Sachmis was, for some reason, walking towards his bedroom, "Besides, I took steps to ensure we weren't going be disturbed by any room service and hid a box of wine under your bed, in case you were wondering why it was there."
"What?!" He stood up in shock, "I didn't find a crate of wine! When did you even do that?!" He scanned his room for poisons and bombs. The box must have been made with wraithbone or something.
She looked over her shoulder, amused, "You didn't find the wine? If that had been a bomb, I could've blown you up. Tsk-tsk, someone needs better situational awareness!" She disappeared into the bedroom, leaving a fuming and flustered Primarch.
"Gods damn it…" He swore under his breath. No one could ever know about this. "And now I need to make Sachmis promise not to mention this to anyone either."
From what Corvus had seen, the Aeldari were aloof and ostentatious people, to the point of what Fulgrim would've called "bumptious" behavior. No doubt then that such individuals acted with such impeccable grace and discipline that they would never abase themselves to the level of a primitive. In that sense, Corvus expected the same from Sachmis. Perhaps only a little wilder than what was considered normal or "polite" among pleasant company.
He should've known better. Especially after Sachmis removed a few articles of clothing before even drinking, claiming she wanted to get comfortable. Thankfully for Corvus and his sensibility, this amounted to nothing more than removing leggings, gauntlets, and what he assumed to be a breastplate (making Corvus wonder just what type of body armor the Harlequins used), leaving Sachmis in a bodysuit with appendages and a fair amount of skin exposed.
Obviously, this was another attempt to "seduce" him, although Corvus suspected she was trying to relax. He didn't know or care if wearing such articles of armor or clothing was uncomfortable or not, so the Primarch was giving her the benefit of the doubt in this case.
"You know," She started with a smile, "If you'd like to take off your boots or
anything else, you are free to do so."
He raised a solitary eyebrow at her, "I'm comfortable as I am, thank you." Be it not for him to get too comfortable around a Druhkari, especially one as dangerous as Sachmis. Then again, Corvus was starting to feel like the odd one in this situation.
It was…odd how today had turned out. Corvus expected some attempt by Sachmis to make his life miserable or, at the very least, engage in
shenanigans, but aside from the innuendos and lewd gestures, Sachmis was a good guest. Corvus was pleasantly surprised.
Then she started drinking…
When Sachmis mentioned bringing a box of wine, he was expecting a bottle or two. Instead, he saw
eight bottles of blood-red spirits. That wasn't what surprised him, though. It was when watching Sachmis open up one of the bottles and proceeded to drink right from the bottle. He expected some aristocratic etiquette, but Sachmis acted more like a Space Wolf.
For the first time since their meeting, Corvus felt genuine
awe at seeing such a lithe woman polishing off an entire bottle of wine within twenty seconds.
"Hmm, delicious," She sighed contently while licking her lips, "
Fal-Kati burns just right and warms your entire body up." Corvus watched as she laid back on the couch, looking even more relaxed.
"You certainly didn't waste any time enjoying all of it." The decadence of the Druhkari. Corvus had seen only a few Eldar enjoy anything alcoholic, and even then, it seemed more
ceremonial during dinners than for pure pleasure. Apparently, the Druhkari had no qualms when it came to such things.
"Go on," She smiled widely at him, "Have a drink." Leaning forward, Corvus subtly averted his eyes when he noticed just how
much skin Sachmis was showing. Too many openings. In any case, Corvus knew better.
Looking down at the bottle, Corvus would politely turn down the offer, "How do I know you haven't poisoned this?"
"Oh, they are all poison!" She held up the empty bottle, "
Fal-Kati is made with fermented gruja fruits! Toxic to most, including Druhkari, but it gives it an exquisite taste! Can kill most with a few gulps! A popular drink back in Commorragh."
Corvus stared at her, "Your people…drink poisoned wine for fun?" He needed to stop being so surprised when learning about the Aeldari. Still, what type of twisted civilization intentionally poisoned their liquor? Did they do that for
everything they consumed? The Druhkari were supposedly all poison and toxin experts, implying that many would build up immunities by ingesting such things.
Evidently, Sachmis had built up such immunities as well…shown by her chugging an entire bottle of this poisoned Fal-Kati. Then again, perhaps she was just playing a trick on him?
Sachmis looked amused, "The thrill of possibly dying makes it all the more memorable." She gestured towards the entire bottle in front of Corvus, "Now drink! It's considered an insult if you turn down an offered glass!" He wanted to question the validity of that logic. Instead, he quickly weighed the pros and cons of this.
He seriously doubted that Sachmis was trying to poison him, at least to death. Furthermore, no Primarch had ever fallen to such tactics, as Father ensured that only the most extreme and dangerous toxins could ever hope to lay one of his sons low. Finally, Corvus wasn't about to look "weak" in front of Sachmis.
Reaching forward, Corvus grabbed the bottle of Fal-Katim, "If I feel like the life is leaving my body, I can promise I will still kill you before I'm dead." Sachmis laughed and nodded at the threat, watching him with rapt attention as he pulled off the cork.
A quick sniff made the Primarch grimace. It smelled strange, fruity even, akin to a lemon and cantaloupe, but red as blood. Drinking the entire bottle would be an easy feat, akin to a cup of water for Corvus, yet he wondered if this was the type of alcohol that would even affect a Primarch.
'Bottoms up,' Corvus thought to himself as he started chugging the Fal-Kati, downing the entire bottle in less than ten seconds and the delighted cheers of Sachmis. It
burned the whole way down before settling in his stomach. It was like he ate an entire plate of hot peppers until, strangely enough…the feeling was replaced by a cool, refreshing sensation.
"You didn't die!" Sachmis cheered again, "Even after a full bottle. That's a good sign that you'll survive the next bottle." She grabbed another pair, one for herself and for Corvus.
He gave an incredulous look to her, "What makes you think I'm going to drink
more of this concoction?!" There was making a point, and there was tempting fate. Besides, Corvus had never taken to the drink like Leman or Fulgrim had.
"Because we're having fun, and besides, if you want to get more information out of me, getting me drunk is certainly a good way to go about it." She gave him a coy look, "Or we can just skip ahead to
other activities?"
Ignoring that last part, Corvus hated that Sachmis knew he would be trying to get more info out of her. Worse, her intention to ease the process made him think Sachmis would feed him just wrong information. On the other hand, he wanted to learn more from her.
"Besides," Sachmis interjected, "You were complaining about being exhausted and frustrated about everything…so why not do something spontaneous and outlandish for a change? All work and no play is dangerous for the mind."
Corvus had a few choice words about that comment, although Sachmis did have a point. He complained about this and that, yet those problems remained distant during these strange moments of levity. Was this professional of him? Drinking and carousing with a former enemy?
Perhaps not, but then again, Corvus was in several conspiracies, allied to an alien nation, and sitting across from him was a drunk exotic woman that, if he were a weaker man, could've easily convinced to perform
other activities in this room…so maybe he was beyond certain moral obstacles.
So why not just throw caution to the wind, if just for tonight?
"Fine…I'll have
one more bottle…"
Sachmis already uncorked her bottle and held it up, "Cheers!"
He didn't stop at the second bottle, nor did Sachmis. They each down an additional two after, meaning that of the eight bottles, they consumed four. Corvus would later come to regret this course of action in the morning.
Corvus also experienced his instance of being "tipsy," a relatively manageable condition he found. He felt sluggish, almost like he was wearing too many articles around his body. How long had it been since they started this? His internal clock felt off by a few seconds, and due to the eldrich nature of the Black Library, it was challenging to figure that out. His perception of things was undoubtedly skewed. Although, he was more focused on the
other situation he faced. Namely, the
drunk Druhkari woman hanging off his arm and whose face was buried into his chest.
The Laughing God was living up to his title somewhere in the Black Library. Terrifying all those around him. Corvus cared not for that, primarily due to the woman at his side. Sachmis had latched onto him while he was distracted, and now he was paying for his lack of awareness.
"Hmm…" Sachmis muttered, "You smell like…fresh rainfall." She sighed contently, "Play some stimulated rainfall, and I could probably fall asleep anywhere with you…"
"That smell is called petrichor. It's not rain that has the scent, though. It's the moistening of the ground that causes that smell." He didn't know why he needed to explain, "Sachmis, can you please go back to your couch?"
She laughed, "But it's
so far away, I'm comfortable on this one, and you smell enticing." Her eyes were closed, the picturesque state of relaxation. Corvus, meanwhile, tried not to focus on how warm she felt or the strange smell of sea breeze and waves emitted from Sachmis. This peculiar state made him unable to concentrate.
"Just let me stay like this," She remarked softly, "Makes me feel like I'm with Artari again…"
Corvus almost missed that, "Whose Artari?" Judging from the wistful tone, most likely a former lover of Sachmis.
To his surprise, she sounded regretful and sad, "Lord Artari Jainorio of the Great House Jainorio, the self-titled "Storm Admiral" and keeper of Port Kalthuanesh." Fascinating. He knew that such things could've existed in the Aeldari empire, but Corvus hadn't known any specifics or details.
"I see." No doubt an important person to Sachmis, "You must care deeply for this Artari."
There was a brief moment of silence before Sachmis spoke again, "No…no, I don't care or love Artari. Nor anyone from that wretched house." Her voice ached with anger and heartbreak. The Primarch was confused. If her being next to him made Sachmis wistful, why were the memories so awful?
"I don't understand," Corvus wondered what this was about until he remembered something vital about Sachmis, "Unless…was this person the one who you served as a núromul?"
Rather than lashing out at him, Sachmis only nodded. "Lord Artari was…my
liege lord, the one I served without question or with complete loyalty." Ah, Corvus was starting to guess why her time spent as this núromul was so awful. Eldrad's words began to echo in his mind; she had fought, killed, and loved for this House Jainorio…even after being humiliated and abused by them.
Corvus decided not to antagonize a drunk Sachmis, "I'm sorry if I'm asking uncomfortable questions."
Sachmis seemed to
nuzzle into him, "I'm drunk enough to let the memories bother me." The exhaustion in her voice reminded Corvus of his own from this morning. "Some days are harder than others."
"Yes…some days
are harder." Lockcraft once spoke about how the only easy day was yesterday, and Corvus had to agree. Things had become complicated, uncertain, and dangerous all in one. Trying to not let those thoughts weigh him down was difficult.
"But the worst moments are when I
pine for them." Sachmis sounded so ashamed at admitting that, "Even after removing all their 'security measures' from my mind…it never stops. Their control is imprinted in my very soul." Somehow, Corvus knew that wasn't her being metaphorical or hyperbolic.
Imprinting control upon a person's soul…Corvus couldn't imagine such practices being done on a general level, even if possible. A núromul was different; as Eldrad explained, Sachmis wasn't a "slave" by conventional means. So what had been done to her, though?
"When it's all you've ever known, it's difficult to not think of the bright spots when in such darkness…even if they come from a tainted memory."
She laughed, "You have no idea. I was
raised by the Jainorio's. My father gave me up to them after he saw my potential because he was an excellent núromul and wanted to serve one of the sublime houses of the empire. Not that I can blame him, nor do I. How else does one escape the mundanity of immortality? For our people, life was a cycle of birth, the fulfillment of desire, and a comfortable death…who wants to simply fade into obscurity?"
Corvus disagreed with that, "But at what cost?"
Sachmis answered, "Heh,
everything."
You must think I was some overtrained servant or killer, made to fulfill an extravagant role or function. Far from it, for as a núromul, I was made part of the family. As a little girl, I was a playmate with the children of the Jainorio's, watching and learning what they enjoyed so I could better understand their needs. More often than not, I was the target of their games. Cruelty and ridicule were simply a price that needed to be paid.
As I grew older, the games started to change. I learned the art of killing and subterfuge…among other skills related to pleasures of the flesh. I became useful, an asset and plaything for the scions of the house. I couldn't begin to tell you what it was like. Day in and day out, just killing and sleeping around while acting like some overworked maid. But I was obedient, especially as I thought myself valuable…even loved among the house. Artari wasn't the only one. His father, mother, sisters, and brothers all "cherished" me in their own ways.
Sometimes…it got too much, but I would always bounce back and tell myself I was part of the family, which meant sacrifices. Especially as enemies were all around us. They coveted the power and influence they held because of Port Kalthuanesh. Gods…if you could have seen it in all its splendor, Corvus. Built eons ago, it was a world in itself, allowing craftworlds, moons, and millions of ships to dock in its berths. Blessed by the Gods of Storms and Smiths in ages past…
Yet it wasn't their wealth and splendor that gave them power, for House Jainorio's power came from their ability to command vast fleets and traverse the sea of stars. They are why I became so…competent at such things, even as their plaything, for they would not allow any potential failings on my part to ruin their prestige.
Even after all these centuries, what eats away at my soul is that their lessons were practical and imparted a truth of the galaxy; those with power are free to do as they wish. It wasn't their fleets, armies, a hundred thousand other núromuls, or even the port that protected them. It was power. That is what kept them safe from the lords and magistrates of the empire.
Tragically, the need to keep that power brought them, along with the rest of the Empire, to ruin. I only survived because I had the sense to take Night Phoenix for myself even as Mathlann, curse its name, devoured all of Port Kalthuanesh. Of course, that was the intention…the house had become Ulwarth, First Traitors. They must have sacrificed hundreds of trillions of Aeldari in one fell swoop, and I wasn't going to be part of it.
I must have killed so many other núromuls and house guards…but that was my first taste of true freedom, and I savored it. Not all Druhkari are born as such. Some instead simply embraced life because it allowed us to survive that first century of insanity. It's those sensations that keep me grounded but also what motivates me.
Unfortunately, I imagine House Jainorio will want to have an ending of things with me. Hence, I want more power and riches to be the most dangerous woman in the void. That is the only way to survive and grow, to liberate yourself from past and present horrors.
And I think you understand that Corvus, more than you'd like to admit.
Sachmis smiled after finishing her story, while Corvus was left to process and ponder all that was said. Another frightening look into the mindset of the Aeldari at their height and the obscene levels of control over their servants and slaves. This House Jainorio convinced Sachmis that she was a member of their family, but the reality was far worse. They made her their greatest soldier, servant, assassin, and favored whore.
Corvus knew the Imperium did horrendous things to their agents, but he didn't think Malcador was the type of man to degrade and humiliate them into obedience. Beating loyalty into someone was dubious at best, along with breaking their wills; psy-controlling was another questionable practice…but this was too much for one person. All while calling them "family."
For once, he felt genuine pity towards Sachmis.
And then she started to laugh. "Or maybe…maybe I'm. Just. Lying…" Sachmis pronounced each word while getting on her knees, letting her get some more height to look at Corvus, "I can be quite convincing when drunk. Yet there is
some truth in this tale." The look she gave Corvus was odd. Like Sachmis was trying to impart some piece of wisdom rather than just amusing herself with her supposed fable.
He knew, somehow, that this wasn't an admission of lying on her part but rather an attempt to gauge his response. Sachmis, ever the schemer, was looking for something. It took him only a moment to remember what she had been harping on this entire time.
"Whatever you said in this story, it all comes back to your lust for power." Corvus finally answered, and he saw the gleam in her dark eyes explode in delight and appreciation. That was the correct answer, it seemed.
"Yes!" Sachmis exclaimed quietly, "Power is liberation. Power is freedom. Power is all that matters. Without it, you are harmless and unable to control your fate. You are then just a slave, even if they don't call you such." Corvus idly noticed how close she was to him.
"But you understand that,
liberator." She
purred his title, "You want people to be free of corruption and tyrants. To stop being used as slaves by their so-called 'betters.'"
Corvus found a flaw in that argument, "Says the woman that enslaves others." He glared at Sachmis, "You are a liar and a hypocrite."
"Oh, Corvus, when will you understand that the Aeldari lie and scheme all the time?" She sighed and closed her eyes, practically rubbing herself against him, "I am a creature of habit and desire, albeit one that you can understand. If you hate me for it, I can accept that…but I am honest with what I want. Can you say the same?"
He didn't know whether to sneer or laugh at Sachmis, "If this is all you'll ever be, Sachmis, you'll never get what you want or be free. You'll die with
nothing."
"I know," Her hands reached his neck, "But I'll burn bright when my end comes." Corvus felt awkward as she hoisted her torso further up, "However, maybe I can find my freedom through something else? Or perhaps…someone like you?"
If Corvus had a rebuttal or response, it died on his lips…mainly as they were suddenly occupied by Sachmis's own. As a grandmaster of asymmetric warfare, Corvus remembered the first rule of it was to never give the initiative away. The second was never getting caught by surprise. He failed both at that moment.
The kiss lasted longer than he expected. Such an odd series of sensations. There was a taste of wine and
plums of all things, the smell of her unfamiliar perfume (likely alien), and the heat from her body made Corvus pause and hesitate on a response.
He quickly pulled away, almost startled, "What the hells?" Corvus didn't know if he should be shocked, offended, or just confused, "I…No, this isn't right." What was right in this instance?
"Don't." Sachmis made Corvus focus on him, "Whatever you or I think is right or wrong doesn't matter. I'm drunk, you intoxicated. Think of us just taking a bit of pleasure from one another."
By all rights, Corvus should've just pushed her off. He could've easily knocked out Sachmis or even just killed her. But this hesitation was infuriating, more so than this ridiculous situation he found himself in now. There was laughter in his head again, returning after hours of absence.
"We are not…" Corvus had a dozen salient points to call upon…yet he couldn't find the strength or wisdom to do so, "You
are poison, Sachmis."
"Maybe you are the antidote?" She spoke quietly before kissing him again, albeit suddenly and quickly, "Maybe
you are poison to me? Your power attracts me…maybe I'm addicted to you?"
He unconsciously licked his lips, "You are trying to manipulate you."
"Love and lust are inherent manipulations people do to each other and themselves." She started pawing at his chest with her hands, "Physical attractions, desires between mutual souls, and the emotional designs born of fantasy and affection."
As Sachmis leaned forward, her lips landed on the nape of Corvus's neck, and he felt a
nibble from her "fangs," like an animal marking a mate. He hated how strange that felt, as it elicited a slight physical reaction of pleasure.
"If you want me to stop…then tell me," Sachmis uttered in-between bites and kisses on his neck, "Otherwise, do whatever you want." She laughed, almost like knowing she had emerged victorious in this battle.
This was a mistake…
Corvus weighed the options. He considered the moral implications, his duty and pride, and whatever misgivings the Primarch felt on the matter. Even so, Corvus felt his hands move and
grab Sachmis's body…and embraced her.
He would come to regret this…
Sachmis giggled, now invigorated by the gesture, and Corvus hated how much he enjoyed the feeling of her touch once they got a bit more comfortable. His senses, that which allowed him to detect assassins cloaked by warp or science, were inflamed by such close contact.
She was the enemy…
It started to get easier to annoy the voice of reason in his head (although the laughter was growing louder) and simply focus on his growing enjoyment. Sachmis was becoming increasingly animated and vocal about how she felt. Corvus tried not to think of how it reminded him of wind chimes and echoes in a forest.
Was this the right thing to do…
He cracked a small smile when he heard the gasp and laughter upon picking up Sachmis. If they were going to take this to its "logical" conclusion, they might as well use the bedroom for it. Sachmis cheered on Corvus, making lewd innuendos about him "liberating" the rest of her clothing. So stupid, him enjoying such vulgarity.
There would be a reckoning one day…
A few words of wisdom from Horus came to mind; Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and some part of Corvus wondered if this was the sort of conclusion drawn from such wisdom?
What did this say about him…
Corvus had to admit it…this certainly made for a good distraction. The rest of the night, he wouldn't think of rebellion or gods or whatever fates that awaited him. Instead, Corvus undertook his own personal journey of discovery and understanding with Sachmis. He could only hope that this was the first step in putting Sachmis on a path that didn't lead to more pain and suffering.
In the end, that was all he could do when faced with such developments and complications; hope for the best.
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@Daemon Hunter Done.
