'This way,’ said Sindermann, setting off into the confusing maze of corridors, the way familiar to him after all the times he had visited the comatose imagist. Cassar and Aruken followed him, keeping a watchful eye out for anyone who might challenge their presence. At last they reached a nondescript white door and SinderВmann said, 'This is it,’ Aruken said, 'Better let us go first, old man,’ Sindermann nodded and backed away from the door, pressing his hands over his ears as the two Titan crewmen unholstered their pistols. Aruken crouched low beside the door and nodded to CasВsar, who pressed the release panel.
The door slid aside and Aruken spun through it with his pistol extended.
Cassar was a second behind him, his pistol trackВing left and right for targets, and Sinderman awaited the deafening flurry of pistol shots.
When none came he dared to open his eyes and uncover his ears. He didn't know whether to be glad or deathly afraid that they were too late.
He turned and looked through the door, seeing the familiar clean and well maintained medicae cell he had visited many times. Euphrati lay like a mannequin on the bed, her skin like alabaster and her face pinched and sunken. A pair of drips fed her fluids and a small, bleeping machine drew spiking lines on a green display unit beside her.
Aside from her immobility she looked just as she had the last time he had laid eyes on her.
'Just as well we rushed,’ snapped Aruken. 'Looks like we were just in time.'
'I think you might be right,’ said Sindermann, as he saw the golden-eyed figure of Maggard come into view at the far end of the corridor with his sword unsheathed.
'You are known to us, Warmaster,' said Sarr'Kell, his voice leaping around the room like a capricious whisper. 'It is said that you are the one who can deliver us. Is that true?'
'Perhaps,’ replied Horus, apparently unperturbed by the strangeness of his unseen interlocutor. 'My brother Lorgar assures me that your masters can give me the power to achieve victory,’
Victory,' whispered Sarr'kell. 'An almost meaningВless word in the scale of the cosmos, but yes, we have much power to offer you. No army will stand before you, no power of mortal man will lay you low and no ambiВtion will he denied you if you swear yourself to us.'
'Just words,’ said Horus. 'Show me something tan-gible,’
'Power,' hissed Sarr'Kell, the sound rippling around Horus like a slithering snake. 'The warpbrings power. There is nothing beyond the reach of the gods of the warp!
'Gods?' replied Horus. 'You waste your time throwing such words around, they do not impress me. I already know that your "gods" need my help, so speak plainly or we are done here,’
'Your Emperor,' replied Sarr'Kell, and for a fleeting moment, Erebus detected a trace of unease in the creature's voice. Such entities were unused to the defiance of a mortal, even one as mighty as a pri-march. 'He meddles in matters he does not understand. On the world you call Terra, his grand designs cause a storm in the warp that tears it asunder from within. We care nothing for your realm, you know this. It is anathВema to us. We offer power that can help you take his place, Warmaster. Our aid will see you destroy your foes and take you to the very gates of the Emperor's palace. We can deliver the galaxy to you. All we care for is that his works cease and that you take his place.'
The unseen voice spoke in sibilant tones, slick and persuasive, but Erebus could see that Horus was unmoved. 'And what of this power? Do you
understand the magnitude of this task? The galaxy will be divided, brother will fight brother. The Emperor will have his Legions and the Imperial Army, the Custodian Guard, the Sisters of Silence. Can you be the equal of such a foe?'
'The gods of the warp are masters of the primal forces of all reality. As your Emperor creates, the warp decays and destroys. As he brings us to battle, we shall melt away, and as he gathers his strength, we shall strike from the shadows. The victory of the gods is as inevitable as the passing of time and the mortality of flesh. Do the gods not rule an entire universe hidden from your eyes, Warmaster? Have they not made the warp dark at their command?'
'Your gods did this? Why? You have blinded my Legions!'
'Necessity, Warmaster. The darkness blinds the Emperor too, blinds him to our plans and yours. The Emperor thinks himself the master of the warp and he would seek to know his enemies by it, but see how swiftly we can confound him? You will have passage through the warp as you need it, Warmaster, for as we bring darkness, so we can bring light.'
'The Emperor remains ignorant of all that has transpired?'
'Completely,' sighed Sarr'Kell, 'and so, Warmaster, you see the power we can give you. All that remains is for your word, and the pact will be made!
Horus said nothing, as if weighing up the choices before him, and Erebus could sense the growing impatience of the warp creature.
At last the Warmaster spoke again. 'Soon I shall unleash my Legions against the worlds of the Isst-• van system. There I shall set my Legions upon the path of the new Crusade. There are matters that must be dealt with at Isstvan, and I will deal with them in my own way.'
Horus looked over at Erebus and said, When I am done with Isstvan, I will pledge my forces with those of your masters, but not until then. My Legions will go through the fire of Isstvan alone, for only then will they be tempered into my shining blade aimed at the Emperor's heart.'
The sibilant, roiling chill of Sarr'Kell's voice hissed as if he took mighty breaths.
'My masters accept,' he said at last. 'You have chosen well, Warmaster!
The chill wind that had carried the words of the warp entity blew again, stronger this time, its ageВless malevolence like the murder of innocence.
Its icy touch slid through Erebus and he drew a cold breath before the sensation faded and the unnatural darkness began to recede, the light of the fire once more illuminating the lodge temple.
The creature was gone and the void of its presence was an ache felt deep in the soul.
'Was it worth it, Warmaster?' asked Erebus, releasВing the pent up breath he had been holding.
Yes,' said Horus, glancing down at Ing Mae Sing's body. 'It was worth it.'
The Warmaster turned to Regulus and said, Adept, I wish the Fabricator General to be made
aware of this. I cannot contact him directly, so you will take a fast ship and make for Mars. If what this creature says is true, you will make good time. Kel-bor-Hal is to purge his order and make ready for its part in my new Crusade. Tell him that I shall conВtact him when the time comes and that I expect the Mechanicum to be united.'
'Of course, Warmaster. Your will be done,’
'Waste no time, adept. Go.'
Regulus turned to leave and Erebus said, 'We have waited a long time for this day, Lorgar will be exulВtant,’
'Lorgar has his own battles to fight, Erebus,’ replied Horns sharply. 'Should he fail at Calth, all this will be for nothing if Guilliman's Legion is allowed to intervene. Save your celebrations for when I sit upon the throne of Terra,’
Sindermann felt his heart lurch in his chest at the sight of Petronella's bodyguard coming towards them. The man's every step was like death approachВing and Sindermann cursed himself for having taken so long to get here. His tardiness had killed the saint and would probably see them all dead as well.
Jonah Aruken's eyes widened as he saw the masВsive form of the saint's killer approaching. He turned quickly and said, Titus, grab her. Now!'
What?' asked Cassar. 'She's hooked up to all these machines, we can't just-'
'Don't argue with me,’ hissed Aruken. 'Just do it, we've got company, bad company,’
Aruken turned back to Sindermann and hissed, Well, iterator? Is this that single moment you were talking about, where we find out who we really are? If it is, then I'm already regretting helping you,’
Sindermann couldn't reply. He saw Maggard notice them outside Euphrati's room and felt a cold, creeping horror as a slow smile spread across the man's features. ,’ am going to kill you, the smile said, slowly. 'Don't hurt her,’ he whispered, the words soundВing pathetic in his ears. 'Please…'
He wanted to run, to get far away from the evil smile that promised a silent, agonising death, but his legs were lead weights, rooted to the spot by some immense power that prevented him from moving so much as a muscle.
Jonah Aruken slid from the medicae cell, with Titus Cassar behind him, the recumbent form of Euphrati in his arms. Dripping tubes dangled from her arms and Sindermann found his gaze unacВcountably drawn to the droplets as they swelled at the ends of the plastic tubes before breaking free and plummeting to the deck to splash in crowns of saline.
Aruken held his pistol out before him, aimed at Maggard's head.
'Don't come any closer,’ he warned.
Maggard did not even slow down and that same deathly smile shone at Jonah Aruken.