Though my mentor has advised me against doing this, I find
myself drawn to the task of chronicling my journey. It is an odd chain of
events that brought me here to this place, this group of people, this new
life...a story I may yet tell if I feel the need. Suffice to say that in all my
years as an Arbite whether in the field or as an Espionist, I never expected
that I would be called to this service within the ranks of the Holy Ordos.
Holy...much of what I have seen is hardly that. The world of
the Inquisition is built on fear, deception, force, and coercion and all of it
by design and in most cases by necessity. The work we do is not for the faint
of heart or the weak of will. It is grueling and tests the very sanity we
believe we have in this life. Though the God-Emperor watches over all of us who
bask in His light, I believe that he often turns a blind eye to the methods we
at his Left Hand use to thwart the Ruinous Powers.
Until two months ago, I was an Arbite...an imperial
Espionist on Necromunda tasked with keeping tabs on the underworld connections
of the lower nobility and traders stationed there. Hardly danger-free, but
certainly more regular and predictable than my life now as an agent of the
Throne. Many days, I still wonder why Inquisitor Cromwell brought me into his
retinue. I know that his other underworld contact had been slain, but that
seems far too simple for the likes of the old man. He has motive and design
behind every move he makes...he is grooming me for something, I feel. Teaching
me his ways and allowing me to adapt them. Koren Rel, his effective
second-in-command, questions him at every turn and laughs at my efforts, but
Cromwell listens and asks questions as to my motives and my reasoning. It is a
practice he tries with Koren, but Rel usually ignores the attempts. I see that
as a measure of arrogance...our lord has seen much that we have not and has
skills that I know I do not have and should try to learn. Koren is...different.
His research is impeccable, but his assumptions about the evidence he finds
makes me wonder some days.
No matter...my role is to learn and serve, much has it
always has been. This transit time to Scintilla is long from Necromunda. Why I
am being moved is unclear as well as why Cromwell came out this far from the
Calixis Sector is still unknown to me. What is known is that I have been called
to serve and I will not be found wanting. There was a wise Terran woman named Aunt Renie from the 21st Century. I doubt she was my aunt, but one of her journals was passed down to me when I left for the Scholam. Her journal says "Be ready for the call when it comes. You will hear it and be forced to choose. If you are not ready, the choice is made for you." I have lived my life ready to heed a call and thought I was called to be an Arbite. I now think there may be more...
Drahc Ireel
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