The Triumph Of Saint Katherine by Danie Ware

Author:Danie Ware
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Library
Published: 2022-03-08T11:19:55+00:00

The Tale of Arabella

Kneeling to Silvana’s right, Arabella cocked her head sideways and gave that wonderful, shining smile.

‘Welcome, Sister,’ she said, her voice light and easy. ‘I am Sister Arabella of the Sacred Rose. I am negotiator and liberator. It is my task to carry His light, to care for the people and to free humanity from the faithless. Where the devotion of worlds fades, I bring them hope.’ Her tone was bright, almost lilting. ‘I also have the task to train you in our empathy, and in how we work in both concord and coherence.’ She paused, and there was a twinkle of mischief to her green eyes. ‘But not tonight. Once we have concluded the Service of Tales, we must pray for the muster.’ A hint of amusement. ‘And, while my Sisters may not have confessed it, even we must rest.’

Shocked by her almost playful tone, Avra glanced at Dominica, at the faintly disproving rigidity in the older Sister’s shoulders.

‘Your question, Sister,’ she said, almost stern.

‘My question,’ Arabella said, ‘is very simple. I seek to understand your soul. Do you carry hope?’

‘I walked upon Sudesh,’ Avra answered. She was more confident this time, understanding, now, what was expected. ‘And the people had surrendered to despair. Disease was rampant amongst them, and they had lost that which they loved the most – wives and husbands, children and parents. My Sisters Hospitaller were there to succour their ailing flesh, but I carried His light to their hospices, to their valetudinariums, and to those that died on the streets. And thus, He blessed me to bring them hope.’

Lucia nodded. ‘A good tale,’ she said softly.

‘I thought so,’ Arabella responded with a sound that might even have been a chuckle. Then she composed herself, and recited more dutifully, ‘Join us. In His grace and wisdom, and be welcome. We guard your sides and your back, and we stand together in His name, bringing His faith to all.’

She leaned across the circle to grip Avra’s padded shoulder briefly in her hand, then said, ‘I’m sure you have studied your histories suitably diligently.’ She smiled. ‘But the Orders of the Bloody and the Sacred Rose were founded by Deacis VI, some two hundred Solar years after the death of Sebastian Thor. And in Deacis’ blessed wisdom, he appointed one to each Convent, the Bloody Rose to the Convent Sanctorum on Ophelia VII, and the Sacred Rose to the Covent Prioris on Holy Terra. My Sister Dominica will tell more of the heartworlds and Segmentum Solar, such is not my task. Instead, I will range widest of all, to bring you a story of both darkness and light.’

Her armour, like that of the others, was black, and scattered about it were the white, pearlescent petals of her Sacred Rose. They suited her, gave her a shine like Silvana’s. But where Sil­­­vana’s was age and dignity – gravitas, Avra thought – Arabella’s had a shimmer of youth and idealism that was a wondrous rarity. It pulled like a beacon, like the glow of the sarcophagus itself.

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