>“So disappointing, I thought. An incorruptible race. No psychic powers. No dark desires or secret horrors… Hmm… On that count, at least, I was wrong. You merely keep them well hidden…
>“But you… alone among thousands. I could taste you! Such bitterness! Such shame!
>“You’re strong, there’s no doubt about it. You’re skilled at your craft. You cut a bloody swathe to me like a knife through the warp, but not because you could…
>“Because I made you want to…
>“And now you seriously think you can cast off my gift and kill me? Little tau, you have a lot to
learn.”
>Kais retched on air, feeling his muscles going limp. “G-get… Get out of my head…”
>“You and the Space Marine. My two choices. I called you to my side and you came, like faithful
cubs. I’ve played you like puppets, little tau. And now I’m out of time, and the Space Marine is late, and you will have to do.
>“You wouldn’t begrudge me a little blood before you die, would you? I must drink of the host
— a corrupted host — before assuming its flesh. That’s how it works, little thing. It would be such a pity to damage you any more than necessary…”
>The body drifted forwards, coruscating energies ebbing from its wide eyes and leering mouth, a blaze of skin and fire. In its hand the dagger was a slash of light. Kais couldn’t even breath, frozen solid by the very fury and rage that had sustained him. Betrayed by his own blood. Deceived by his own mind.
>“Kais,” a voice said. “Kais, look up.”
>He obeyed and there, hanging suspended far above him in the air, spread-eagled and glowing with purity and peace, radiant and glorious and unified and balanced and perfect, was Aun’el T’au Ko’vash.
>“Kais,” he called out, voice full of exhaustion and effort. “Even when broken, a sword may still cut.”
