She had cursed Terra many times, and it had always felt justified, but here was the best of it, right there, standing beside her in silent watchfulness. Across a million worlds of the Imperium were the other countless souls like him, unimaginative, competent, following orders given by those higher up, authorities who might have been gifted or corrupt or insane or brutal, but in all cases were to be obeyed. They were always present, those souls, always in the line of fire. More so than inquisitors. More so than assassins. She was about to say something about that, because it suddenly felt
...more
