'Once, I could not believe in such things as saints. I had trained myself to accept only logic and science, and to cast aside religion as superstiВtion. Magic and miracles were impossible, simply the invention of ignorant people struggling to understand their world. It took the sacrifice of the saint to show me how arrogant I was. I saw how the Emperor protects, but she has shown me that there is so much more than that, for, if the Emperor protects His faithful, who protects the Emperor?' Sindermann let the question hang. 'We must,' said Titus Cassar, pushing his way towards the front of the crowd and turning to address them. Sindermann had placed Cassar in the crowd with specific instructions on when to speak – a basic ploy of the iterators to reinforce their message.
We must protect the Emperor, for there is no one else,’ said Cassar. The moderati looked back at Sin-dermann. 'But we must stay alive in order to do so. Is that not right, iterator?'
'Yes,’ said Sindermann. 'The faith that this conВgregation has displayed has caused such fear in the higher echelons of the fleet that they are tryВing to destroy us. The Emperor has an enemy here; of that I am sure. We must survive and we must stand against that enemy when it finally reveals itself,’
Worried and angry murmurings spread through the crowd as the deadly nature of the threat sank in. 'Faithful friends,’ said Sindermann, 'the dangers we face are great, but the saint is with us and she needs shelter. Shelter we can best achieve alone, but watch for the signs and be safe. Spread the word of her safety,’
Cassar moved through the congregation, instructВing them to return to their posts. Reassured by Sindermann's words, they gradually began to disВperse. As he watched them go, Sindermann wondered how many of them would live through the coming days.
The Gallery of Swords ran the length of the Andro-nius like the ship's gilded spine. Its roof was transparent and the space beneath was lit by the fire of distant stars. Hundreds of statues lined the gallery, heroes of the Emperor's Children with gem-stone eyes and stern expressions of judgement. The
worth of a hero was said to be measured by how long he could meet their gaze while walking the length of the Gallery of Swords beneath their unforВgiving eyes.
Tarvitz held his head high as he entered the gallery, though he knew he was no hero, simply a warrior who did his best. Chapter Masters and commanders from long ago glared at him, their names and noble countenances known and revered by every warrior of the Emperor's Children. Entire wings of the Andronius were given over to the fallen battle-brothers of the Legion, but it was here that every warrior hoped to be remembered.
Tarvitz had no expectation of his visage ending up here, but he would strive to end his days in a manner that might be considered worthy of such an honour. Even if such a lofty goal was impossible, it was something to aspire to.
Eidolon stood before the graven image of Lord Commander Teliosa, the hero of the Madrivane Campaign, and even before Tarvitz drew near he turned to face him.
'Captain Tarvitz,’ said Eidolon. 'I have rarely seen you here,’
'It is not my natural habitat, commander,’ replied Tarvitz. 'I leave the heroes of our Legion to their rest,’
Then what brings you here now?' 'I would speak with you if you would permit me,’ 'Surely your time is better spent attending to your warriors, Tarvitz. That is where your talents lie,’
You honour me by saying so, commander, but there is something I need to ask you.'
'About?'
The death of the Warsinger.'
'Ah,’ Eidolon looked up at the statue towering over them, the hollow eyes regarding them with a cold, unflinching gaze. 'She was quite an adversary; absolutely corrupt, but that corruption gave her strength.'
'I need to know how you killed her.'
'Captain? You speak as if to an equal,’
'I saw what you did, commander,’ Tarvitz pressed. That scream, it was some… I don't know… some power I've never heard of before,’
Eidolon held up a hand. 'I can understand why you have questions, and I can answer them, but perhaps it would be better for me to show you. FolВlow me,’
Tarvitz followed the lord commander as they walked further down the Gallery of Swords, turnВing into a side passage with sheets of parchment pinned along the length of its walls. Accounts of glorious actions from the Legion's past were meticulously recorded on them and novices of the Legion were required to memorise the many different battles before their elevation to full Astartes.
The Emperor's Children did more than just remember their triumphs; they proclaimed them, because the perfection of the Legion's way of war deserved celebrating.
'Do you know why I fought the Warsinger?' asked Eidolon.
my?'
Yes, captain, why,’
'Because that is how the Emperor's Children fight,’
'Explain,’
'Our heroes lead from the front. The rest of the Legion is inspired to follow their example. They can do this because the Legion fights with such artistry that they are not rendered vulnerable by fighting at the fore,’
Eidolon smiled. 'Very good, captain. I should have you instruct the novices. And you yourself, would you lead from the front?'
Sudden hope flared in Tarvitz's breast. 'Of course! Given the chance, I would. I had not thought you considered me worthy of such a role,’
'You are not, Tarvitz. You are a file officer and nothing more,’ said Eidolon, crashing his faint hope that he had been about to be offered a way of proving his mettle as a leader and a hero.
'I say this not as an insult,’ Eidolon continued, apparently oblivious to the insult it clearly was. 'Men like you fulfil an important role in our Legion, but I am one of Fulgrim's chosen. The pri-march chose me and elevated me to the position I now hold. He looked upon me and saw in me the qualities needed to lead the Emperor's Children. He looked upon you, and did not. Because of this, I understand the responsibilities that come with
being Fulgrim's chosen in a way that you cannot, Captain Tarvitz,’
Eidolon led him to a grand staircase that curved downwards into a large hall tiled with white marble. Tarvitz recognised it as one of the entrances to the ship's apothecarion, where the injured from Isstvan Extremis had been brought only a few hours before.
'I think you underestimate me, lord commander,’ said Tarvitz, 'but understand that for the sake of my men I must know-'
'For the sake of our men we all make sacrifices,’ snapped Eidolon. 'For the chosen, those sacrifices are great. Foremost among these is that fact that everything is secondary to victory,’
'Commander, I don't understand,’
'You will,’ said Eidolon, leading him through a gilded archway and into the central apothecarion.
'The book?' asked Torgaddon.
The book,’ repeated Loken. 'It's the key. Erebus is on the ship, I know it,’
The ashen darkness of Archive Chamber Three was one of the few places left on the Vengeful Spirit where Loken felt at home, remembering many a lively debate with Kyril Sindermann in simpler times. Loken had not seen the iterator for weeks and he fervently hoped that the old man was safe, that he had not fallen foul of Maloghurst or his faceless soldiers.
'Abaddon and the others must be keeping him safe,’ said Torgaddon.
Loken sighed. 'How did it come to this? I would have given my life for Abaddon, Aximand, too, and I know they would have done the same for me,’
'We can't give up on this, Garviel. There will be a way out of this. We can bring the Moumival back together, or at least make sure the Warmaster sees what Erebus is doing,’
Whatever that is,’