[Rogue Trader 01] Rogue Star by Andy Hoare

Author:Andy Hoare
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: General, Science Fiction, Adventure, War & Military. warhammer 40000, Military, Fiction, warhammer 40k
ISBN: 9781844163755
Publisher: Black Library
Published: 2006-09-11T23:00:00+00:00

"Do tell me." Luneberg asked Lucian as they stepped out into the royal gardens, "about the Arcadius dynasty."

Lucian looked around him while gathering his thoughts. The royal gardens were not as he would have expected. Instead of the meticulously maintained flora appropriate to the setting, the gardens were overgrown and untended. Twisting, alien weeds pushed their way through cracks in marble paving, and creepers sporting wickedly sharp thorns writhed across the path, around fine statuary, choking the remaining life from ornamental trees. The sun had long since set, but small lumens bobbed along the path a few steps ahead of Luneberg, ensuring that his way was always lit. The overall impression was one of neglect and decay, far from the impression a man such as Luneberg would ordinarily seek to give a visitor.

"Where to start." Lucian said, buying himself time. "We are but one dynasty amongst many granted a Charter of Trade to exploit and to expand the frontiers of the Emperor's domains. We have done so for many centuries, not without success."

"Oh come now," replied Luneberg, not turning his head as he walked slowly along the dark, overgrown path. "Such false modesty is unbecoming. Tell me of the world in which you live."

As had Trevelyan-Constance before him, Luneberg appeared now to be seeking information regarding the wider Imperium, of the vast galaxy beyond the borders of his own small fiefdom.

"The world in which I live?" said Lucian, following Luneberg's lead in not taking his attention from the path ahead. "My world is one of contrasts. A rogue trader moves in many circles, from the very highest, to the very lowest." At present, he felt himself moving in one of the latter, but refrained from imbuing his words with such a notion, so as not to cause Luneberg undue insult.

Luneberg nodded, clearly of the opinion that his own company qualified as one of those highest circles. "Do go on Lucian. Have you, for example, much in the way of contact with the Imperial Court?"

Lucian saw little harm in replying honestly, for Luneberg was clearly a man obsessed with status. "I have, though infrequently, for my calling takes me far from Terra. Nonetheless, I like to maintain contact with the Senatorum, and visit in person whenever possible."

Luneberg appeared to consider this, nodding to himself slowly. He halted, his hand raised to his chin as he looked out, into the dark, overgrown expanse of the royal gardens. "Tell me of Terra, would you Lucian?"

Lucian now detected the slightest hint of mania in Luneberg's words. He determined to tread even more cautiously than he had intended, for there was evidently something more to Luneberg's line of questioning than was apparent.

He stopped beside Luneberg, looking out into the same darkness, yet not seeing what held the Imperial Commander's attention. "To set foot upon sacred Terra is to tread the very same ground as was once walked by the Emperor." Lucian made the sign of the aquila. A sidelong glance told him that Luneberg did not.

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