"Ahem... hmm... well, you're welcome..."
A string of indistinct syllables emerged from Lion El'Jonson's throat, utterly unlike his usual crisp decisiveness.
A rare, unnatural stiffness crept into his expression. The imposing air with which he had come to demand answers hit an invisible padded wall in the face of Anna's all-too-"plainspoken" remark, which even sounded a little like something a family member would say, and instantly lost most of its force.
He had imagined countless ways this conversation might begin: stern questioning, calm verification, even a veiled warning.
But he had never expected to hear something so completely off track from this woman of the Men of Iron, something he could barely find an answer to.
"I think, uh... well..." Lion El'Jonson tried to pick the subject back up and regain the initiative, but that exchange had clearly disrupted his train of thought. His gaze shifted between Lorgar's calm smile and Anna's innocent expression.
"Uh, about... the 'Superstar'..."
"So that's what brought you here, brother." Lorgar picked up the thread at just the right moment, his tone betraying neither surprise nor wariness, only an understanding that seemed to say he had expected as much.
Then he set down his cup, rose of his own accord, and walked around the little table. With perfect ease, he reached out and draped an arm around Lion El'Jonson's tense shoulders, guiding him with a gentle but irresistible pressure toward the empty chair that had clearly been prepared in advance.
"Sit. Let's talk sitting down." Lorgar's voice was placid, as though he were merely welcoming a brother on an ordinary visit.
"The thing is, that 'Superstar'... how should I put it? It was an accident, too. Our Legion happened upon it during an excavation of ruins in a frontier star region. The situation was rather