Emperor's Mercy by Warhammer

Author:Warhammer [Warhammer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The atrium ceiling captured a shaft of sunlight in a single slanting pillar of gold. Motes of light, soft and dancing, coalesced across the surface of the impluvium pond below it.

The indoor atrium garden of the Golias Estate was by no means large, but what it lacked in grandiose scale it far exceeded with Neo-Medinian design. The atrium was three times taller than it was wide, the soaring heights allowing for a cradling canopy of imported trees, mostly tall finger palms and fern-tailed fronds. Trellises of carnivorous flower vines and potted succulents in poisonous colours jostled for attention in a vivid display of off-world flora. To complete the interior, a stone bench and upright harp were arranged at an angle from the central pond, a pocket of ambience beneath the subtropical surroundings.

“This is impressive, Master Golias,” Celemine whistled. A mechanical nectar bee crafted from golden clockwork buzzed onto her shoulder and misted the air with an artificial fragrance before darting away.

“Oh this? This is nothing. It’s all worthless once the Archenemy take this city,” Golias shrugged. He plucked several permellos from an overhanging bower swollen with fruit and handed one to Madeline.

“This is why you need to offload your item in such a hurry?” Madeline asked.

“Offload is an inaccurate term. I have plenty of prospective buyers for this item. Particularly from the Imperium, if the rumours are to be believed,” said Golias as he shed his robes and slipped into the pond.

“Rumours?” said Celemine, her face suddenly serious.

“Indeed. Rumours abound. Have you ever heard of the Old Kings of Medina?”

“In passing.”

“You know the children’s tales. Artefacts from the War of Reclamation, something like the Emperor’s own balls or what have you. Either way, I have something valuable in my hands.”

“You have the Old Kings in your possession?” Madeline exclaimed, loudly enough to lose any pretence of bargaining power.

Golias snorted as he floated on his back. “Perhaps not. But what I have is a relic that reveals much about the nature of the Old Kings, most likely sourced from the same origins.”

Celemine dared to press. “Master Golias. The Imperium could have much to benefit from that. Especially during such a time of war. Is it right for you to keep it?”

“Who are you, the Inquisition?” he cackled crisply. “It’s exactly because they want it so badly that a private collector from the Alypsia Subsector offered me half a continent worth of holdings for it.”

Golias waded to the edge of the pond and licked the water of his lips with a predatory smirk. “If you have what the Imperium wants, that is power.”

“That’s treason,” Celemine said flatly.

“Who is this bitch and why is she in my house?” snapped Golias, pointing at Celemine. His demeanour changed with a volatile reaction, on no small amount of alcohol and residual narcotics.

“Please, Master Golias,” Madeline stepped in. “She means no offence by it.”

Golias glared dangerously at Celemine, his pupils dilated and his breath snorting his nostrils in ragged jags.

“We can surpass your highest offer. What

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