"Your sister Calliphone is a good person, Perturabo." Lorgar drained the remaining tea from his cup. The warm liquid seemed to soften the shift in topic somewhat. His voice remained steady, but he steered their conversation into more personal territory.
"Cherish her. Among these stars, there aren't many people you can call family."
Perturabo's face, which had grown somewhat animated during their tactical discussion, hardened again almost instantly.
He set down his teacup, its metal base striking the table with a crisp click.
He looked away, fixing his gaze on some invisible point on the wall, and his voice returned to its usual defensive chill:
"I don't like discussing family. Useless emotional bonds only interfere with judgment, introduce unnecessary variables, and reduce decision-making efficiency."
He paused, a distinct trace of disgust entering his tone, especially when he mentioned that name.
"I particularly despise the sort of 'family' Damex represents—a facade full of scheming and demands. He only uses me to accomplish what he defines as tedious 'achievements.'"
Yet after swiftly distancing himself from the notion of family, he abruptly changed tack.
His sharp eyes returned to Lorgar, holding a rare, almost searching curiosity.
He leaned forward slightly, as though examining a complex tactical puzzle he had just discovered:
"Still, I am a little curious, Lorgar," he asked, trying to sound casual, though his intent expression betrayed how seriously he meant it.
"The world you landed on... Colchis, was it? What was it like? When you were growing up... did anyone look after you? Someone like Calliphone... or anyone else?"
"Cough...!"
Lorgar had just swallowed the last of his tea when the question caught him off guard, disrupting his breathing and nearly making him choke.
He raised a hand to cover his mouth and coughed lightly, immediately bringing that small lapse