Political Struggle 53

53. Political Struggle

Terra

William hurried through the Hall of Records, clutching a stack of parchment nearly taller than his head in both arms. Noisy arguing came from behind the private office of the Minister of the Interior.

The middle-aged redhead stopped. His blue-green eyes, like a starry sky, turned pleadingly toward the guard stationed outside the door.

The guard's mechanical eye swept over him.

"Hereditary secretary to the Minister, William. Request for audience submitted."

The shouting inside ceased. "Request approved. Welcome, hereditary secretary to the Minister, William." The guard bowed, and the doors opened automatically.

"Get in here!"

The breathless Minister of the Interior sat in his ornate chair, with documents scattered all over the floor from his desk. William discreetly glanced around; the young servants who normally attended the noble had long since hidden themselves in terror.

"My lord, may you be well."

Holding the stack of documents, William respectfully knelt and lowered his head. Without the Minister's command, he did not rush to rise.

A cold laugh sounded above him, followed by that mercurial voice.

"You're here to watch the show too? Oh, dear, I see a bit of grime on your sleeve. Grease—was it the Mechanicus, or those line-fillers?"

William shook his right hand. Someone had indeed grabbed it earlier, but he was certain no stain had been left behind.

"The Astra Militarum, my lord," William said deferentially. "They wish to know whether this matter is true so they can determine the scale of the mobilization."

The first to learn that The Deceased had returned were the Assassinorum and the Inquisition. Since the Ministry of the Interior maintained close ties with both, the Minister had learned the news as well.

"Mobilizing troops?!"

The man's shrill voice rose in furious laughter. "Are they planning to hold a