the panoramic window, looking out. She looked out at the industrial chimney and the surrounding steppes. The expression on her face said nothing, and the silence in the office seemed subdued.

Samoh knew that Manhra, the karak of the sector, had once been shot dead in this office. And then a rebel had been tortured, who had given away some information, the details of which only the SCK knew. And rumor has it that this information turned out to be a very unfortunate acquisition. The fact that Ananhr was sitting so calmly could speak either of her idle stupidity or of some far-reaching and many times calibrated plans.

— Why is it so difficult to reach you, Mrs. Ananhr? — The metropolitan asked, stepping evenly to her table. Pieces of clay flew from his sides and fell to the parquet with a clatter.

— Call me by my title, Metropolitan Priest. — So why have you come to us?" she said without looking at him.

Samoh sat down in a chair as his novices lined up in a semicircle behind him:

— Why are you so quick, Colonel… Your fellow officers are usually very courteous to representatives of the Church.

— Yes, and they burn afterward, too, courteously. — Ananhr turned and looked straight into his eyes.

— They burn courteously. There's no disputing that… But the judgment of the Holy Inquisition is first of all just. I will not waste your precious time, Colonel… I am here on such business to bless you and your unit for future service… It was not a long journey, and all for the sake of our common cause. A cause worthy of the sacred Black Stone…

— Then bless, Your Eminence. Or do you need help from the CCC leadership?

— Yes. I need your help.

A silence settled. Ananhr looked at him without showing any emotion. It was evident that she had long been able to control her actions and it would not be possible to make her mad. After all, her brother is a member of the Central Committee of the Empire. And she had the proper upbringing. Education and character. Yes, there was a reason why she was sent here, to one of the most important parts of the Empire now.

— Leave us. — said the inquisitor to his novices. They left quickly, and Samoh was left alone in his office with Ananhr and her guards. — I trust you, Colonel. You see, I have released my own.

— That's fine. — If you're implying that I should let my own go too, it won't happen. Their job is to guard me round the clock. Wherever I am… So what do you want?

With each new step Samoh realized that his task was becoming more and more difficult. She is quite straightforward, but at the same time, you can't reproach her for anything. Everything is strict, clear and according to the rules. Those are the Inquisition's favorite words. And when these words are in the hands of the enemy, there is nothing to punish.

— You're in danger, Colonel. And these are not empty words… I have something to tell you about some former details of this sector… For example, details of the Bulgarian Soma uprising at this mine, which may have been one of the reasons for the formation of the autonomy….

Ananhr was silent. Her expression on her face and eyes still did not change. At some point he realized that she was very beautiful, and it was even a wonder how he could not have noticed it before. Plague women were usually characterized by rounded facial features and a rather coarse nose — her face was more very neat and her nose was thin and straight, adding a sort of sexiness to her nature. Samoh continued:

— Almost a year ago, my patron Nevroh gave the command to organize this rebellion. We had two men infiltrated as leaders of their soma. They were real provocateurs, who did everything in their power to encourage their soma to openly oppose the Empire. And they were to act wherever we gave the command. And we gave it in the Diza sector… The choice was not accidental, because it was here that the Maquis eliminated Karak and put you in his place… The rebellion was supposed to sweep away your units, kill you personally, and the Imperial army units that arrived would have suppressed the rebellion and returned control over the sector to the civilian administration of Bluh… The plan was thwarted because of your current protégé, whom you call Prefect… And rest assured, we will soon remove him with our own forces, and there will be a new rebellion at the mine, worse than the old one, which will certainly sweep away the SCK in the entire district… Of course, including you…

— What a touching story, Your Eminence. — So why are you telling it to me, if it's going so well?

— I told you… I need your help… Ergo, you need mine.

— Considering the literal shit you're in right now, Your Eminence…" Ananhr replied, her eyes pointing to the hem of the Metropolitan's robe. — It seemed out of place to offer your help. Not to mention how you would bless someone like that.

It's all about playing on the edge. And a masterful one at that. On the one hand she was accusing him of inappropriate behavior, but on the other hand she was obviously concerned about the holy sacraments of the Church, which no one, not even the patriarch, was allowed to violate. Otherwise it would nullify both their sanctity and the sanctity of those who administer them. It was not for her to say so, but she was right, and therefore there was nothing to answer.

— Well, that's the way it is with transportation here. — replied the inquisitor. — And security…

— And you were warned, Your Eminence. That for your own good, you should delay your visit… but you didn't. You came here by all means, and confessed to me that His Holiness the Holy