He arrived, just as he had threatened. There was a reason--well, 19 reasons, specifically--he was willing to kill her.

She arrived, just as she had promised. There was a dozen reasons--well, one reason, honestly--she wasn't going to kill him.

"You really came," she said, amused. "I almost thought this was a diversion."

"I came," he agreed, angry. "I almost wish it was."

He unslung his weapon from among the rolled furs on his back: great, blood-stained, the chipped edge still mortally dangerous. He flexed his hands, rolled his shoulders, and hefted the mighty axe.

She mirrored him, unsheathing her own: delicate, gleaming, the razor-fine estoc reflecting what little sunlight could be seen through the smoke-filled skies. She didn't even adjust her gloves, merely stood like a shining sentinel and raised her blade in salute.

"For crimes against the Empire and her people, for the murder of our holy emissaries under banner of peace, I stand in judgment against you, Edulf." She whipped her sword across the ashes, scoring the earth. "This day is your penance."

He huffed, drawing back his weapon, and roared defiance.

"Crimes!? You came to us! You came under banner of peace! We killed your missionaries because we caught them licking the blood of our children from their knives! Our only crime was letting some escape!"

She shrugged, dismissively. Her armor rattled with the motion, and dazzled with a hundred points of faint sunlight.

"Our God demands tribute. It is the Law," she recited. "Your children were... a tribute of opportunity. But you will be taken alive to be made an example of, for sake of others who would blaspheme. The Law demands it."

She smirked, and behind the helmet, beneath the aura of smug righteousness, he saw her. He recognized her voice.

"You... you were among them." His breathing grew heavy, his eyes bloodshot, as rage boiled within.

"Edulf, you disgusting villain: I led them." Her voice grew cold, her gaze icy, and the Heatless Fire of God blazed from the Empereal Crest on her breast.

"For the blood! For the dead!" he screamed, feeling the murder frenzy twisting in his guts. He charged, berzerker.

She smiled as he howled, knowing exactly whose blood he meant. Sometimes, being a hero of the Empire was fun.