Ivan let out a low whistle. The flickering gas-lights reflected in his metal cheeks. I wondered if anyone might have recognised him because of those. I doubted it. The city was too big and the people too many and anyway, what were we going to do about it?
‘The idiot boy is right,’ Ivan said. ‘We’re got money, grub, ammo and most of the time no one is shooting at us. It could be worse.’
‘Thanks,’ Anton said, ‘I think.’
I glanced around the bar. It was a small place with half a dozen seats, just some shelves propped up against the hive wall, a few planks set on top of some empty barrels and some old stools set in front of it. We had a clear view of the street. The barman was a huge, burly man with doughy skin and an interesting wart the size of my fist on the side of his neck. Such stigmata were not uncommon in the underhive.
‘We could set up a gang down here,’ said Anton, the alcohol warming him to the topic. ‘We could rule these streets.’
‘We’ve got Macharius with us and an inquisitor, you think they are going to be happy with us running some street corner extortion racket?’
Ivan said, ‘It won’t be long before Sejanus and the rest of the army get here. All we need to do is wait for that. You heard the inquisitor.’
I was not as sanguine about that as he was. I suspected Sejanus would find Irongrad a lot harder nut to crack this time. I was not exactly sure why yet, but I felt it was going to be so.
‘So what’s going on with your girl, Anna?’ Anton asked. He had been dying to know but had not asked in her hearing. I don’t think he was exactly afraid of her. Just understandably cautious.
‘She’s not my girl. She’s an Imperial Assassin. She’s protecting Macharius.’
‘An Imperial what?’
‘An Assassin, some sort of agent, specially trained and equipped.’
‘She tell you that?’
‘Macharius did. I asked him.’
‘You what?’
‘I asked him. I was going to ask him about making you a Space Marine but you all came back in and interrupted.’ This was not something I really wanted to talk about. Ivan at least had sense enough to know that.
‘She’s no worse than the inquisitor,’ Ivan added. ‘He’s doing some scary stuff. Never cared much for psykers.’
‘You going to tell him that?’ I asked.
Ivan shrugged. ‘He already knows. Or at least he does if he bothered to read my mind.’
‘Damn! Anton’s the only one who’s safe then.’
‘Why is that?’ Anton asked, obliging as ever.
‘Because you don’t have a mind to read.’
‘Ha bloody ha.’
‘We could just not go back,’ I said. I was floating an idea that I knew had passed through all our minds.
‘And do what?’ Ivan asked. He looked at me sidelong. It’s surprising how judgemental his immobile metal features can look in the right light.
‘What Anton says, start up our own gang or join one of the locals.’
‘Keep dreaming,’ Anton said. ‘Three men are not a gang and you think any of the locals will take strangers? Nah – I think I am going to stick with Macharius. I am curious as to what he will do next.’
‘We took an oath,’ said Ivan. ‘When we joined the regiment.’
‘I guess I’ll stick with you then,’ I said. ‘Someone needs to keep you out of trouble.’
‘Let us know when you find him then,’ said Anton. He took another drink.
Drake did not look pleased when we returned. He looked tired and coldly angry.
He sat opposite Macharius and was in the midst of arguing about something when we walked in. They both looked up and fell silent.
Drake suddenly stiffened and stood up. He swayed. His brow went tight and his face went suddenly pale. He forced his eyes shut. Red teardrops dripped from them and ran down his cheeks before speckling the concrete floor beneath him. He ground his teeth and muttered and clutched at his forehead. I wondered if he was having a stroke. Anna walked over to stand beside him. She looked as if she was ready to catch him if he fell over.
Suddenly he slumped down onto the floor and glared around fiercely. His eyes were bloodshot. He raised his hand and touched his cheek and then inspected his bloodstained fingertips.
‘What is it?’ Macharius said.
‘I have had a vision,’ said Drake. ‘The Emperor has granted me a gift of the Sight.’
‘Tell me,’ Macharius said.
Drake’s eyes narrowed. A small frown crinkled his lofty brow. He looked as if he wanted to be sick.
‘Tell me,’ Macharius repeated.
‘They have started burning the prisoners. From among our men. The ones they captured.’ The words hung in the air like a bad smell. It was obvious that this was only part of it. Drake studied the ceiling for a few moments. I followed his gaze. There was some mould there but the pattern was not interesting enough to justify his concentration.
‘They are burning them in cages,’ he said. The words came out at a steady measured pace like a regiment of troops marching on parade. ‘They are performing a ritual. They are spending lives to work great sorcery.’
‘That does not sound good,’ said Anton. Drake glared at him and then shook his head. Obviously he understood the sort of idiot he was dealing with. He continued talking as if he had not been interrupted.
‘They are summoning something,’ he said. ‘A being of great power and cosmic evil.’
‘The Angel of Fire,’ Anton said.
‘That is one name for it,’ Drake said. ‘It is the entity they have worshipped all these years.’
‘Why now?’ Macharius asked.
‘There is a war on,’ said Drake. ‘They seek to use the power of this daemonic entity to strengthen themselves and smite our righteous armies. If they succeed before General Sejanus lays siege to the city then they will have the power to destroy him.’
I looked at Drake. He seemed deadly serious. I was wondering what could possibly have the power to destroy the sort of force that General Sejanus would bring to Irongrad. I had a suspicion I would not like the answer if I was given it. I glanced at Macharius. He was obviously taking the inquisitor’s words very seriously.
‘What will happen if this being manifests?’ Macharius asked.
‘It will be dreadful. It will bring with it things from the hellish space it inhabits, from the warp.’ He seemed to be forcing the words out, as if he did not really want to speak them. I doubt he would have if Macharius had not been there. The force of the Lord High Commander’s will was great enough to daunt even an inquisitor. ‘It will have vast psychic powers at its command and legions of daemons. If it gains a foothold here nothing short of Exterminatus will remove it. General Sejanus’s force will not be able to stand against it.’
‘We need to stop the summoning then,’ said Macharius. He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. I suppose it was. I could foresee a few problems. The half a dozen or so people we had here had been barely enough to get him out of the hospice. How would we be able to stop the manifestation of some daemon-god? Such trifles did not seem to bother Macharius. I suppose the difference is what made him what he was and me a common soldier.