'Garviel.’ said Luc Sedirae, 'the last thing the Luna Wolves need is an honest and respected captain, a member of the Mournival no less, campaigning to expose the lodge. It would damage the entire Legion.’

'Really?'

'Of course.’ said Sedirae. The agitations of a man like you would force the Warmaster to act.’

'And he doesn't want to do that.’ Torgaddon said.

'He... knows?' Loken asked.

You seemed shocked.’ said Aximand. Wouldn't you be more shocked to learn the Warmaster didn't know

about the quiet order within his Legion? He knows. He's always known, and he turns a blind eye, provided we remain closed and confidential in our activities.’

1 don't understand...' Loken said.

That's why you're here.’ said Moy. 'You speak out against us because you don't understand. If you wish to oppose what we do, then at least do so from an informed position.’

'I've heard enough.’ said Loken, turning away. 'I'll leave now. Don't worry, I'll say nothing. I'll make no waves, but I'm disappointed in you all. Someone can return my blade to me tomorrow.’

'Please.’ Aximand began.

'No, Horus! You meet in secret, and secrecy is the enemy of truth. So we are taught! Truth is everything we have! You hide yourselves, you conceal your identities... for what? Because you are ashamed? Hell's teeth, you should be! The Emperor himself, beloved by all, has ruled on this. He does not sanction this kind of activity!'

'Because he doesn't understand!' Torgaddon exclaimed.

Loken turned back and strode across the chamber until he was nose to nose with Torgaddon. 'I can hardly believe I heard you say that.’ he snarled.

'It's true.’ said Torgaddon, not backing down. The Emperor isn't a god, but he might as well be. He's so far removed from the rest of mankind. Unique. Singular. Who does he call brother? No one! Even the blessed pri-marchs are only sons to him. The Emperor is wise beyond all measure, and we love him and would follow him until the crack of doom, but he doesn't understand brotherhood, and that is all we meet for.’

There was silence for a moment. Loken turned away from Torgaddon, unwilling to look upon his face. The others stood in a ring around them.

'We are warriors.’ said Targost. That is all we know and all we do. Duty and war, war and duty. Thus it has

been since we were created. The only bond we have that is not prescribed by duty is that of brotherhood.’

That is the purpose of the lodge.’ said Sedirae. To be a place where we are free to meet and converse and confide, outside the strictures of rank and martial order. There is only one qualification a man needs to be a part of our quiet order. He must be a warrior.’

'In this company.’ said Targost, 'a man of any rank can meet and speak openly of his troubles, his doubts, his ideas, his dreams, without fear of scorn, or monition from a commanding officer. This is a sanctuary for our spirit as men.’

'Look around.’ Aximand invited, stepping forwards, gesturing with his hands. 'Look at these faces, Garviel. Company captains, sergeants, file warriors. Where else could such a mix of men meet as equals? We leave our ranks at the door when we come in. Here, a senior commander can talk with a junior initiate, man to man. Here, knowledge and experience is passed on, ideas are circulated, commonalities discovered. Serghar holds the office of lodge master only so that a function of order may be maintained.’

Targost nodded. 'Horus is right. Garviel, do you know how old the quiet order is?'

'Decades...'

'No, older. Perhaps thousands of years older. There have been lodges in the Legions since their inception, and allied orders in the army and all other branches of the martial divisions. The lodge can be traced back into antiquity, before even the Unification Wars. It's not a cult, nor a religious obscenity. Just a fraternity of warriors. Some Legions do not practise the habit. Some do. Ours always has done. It lends us strength.’

'How?' asked Loken.

'By connecting warriors otherwise divorced by rank or station. It makes bonds between men who would

otherwise not even know one another's name. We thrive, like all Legions, from our firm hierarchy of formal authority, the loyalty that flows down from a commander through to his lowest soldier. Loyal to a squad, to a section, to a company. The lodge reinforces complementary links across that structure, from squad to squad, company to company. It could be said to be our secret weapon. It is the true strength of the Luna Wolves, strapping us together, side to side, where we are already bound up top to toe.’

'You have a dozen spears to carry into war.’ said Tor-gaddon quietly. 'You gather them, shaft to shaft, as a bundle, so they are easier to bear. How much easier is that bundle to carry if it is tied together around the shafts?'

'If that was a metaphor.’ Loken said, 'it was lousy.’

'Let me speak.’ said another man. It was Kalus Ekad-don. He stepped forwards to face Loken.

There's been bad blood between us, Loken.’ he said blundy.

There has.’

'A little matter of rivalry on the field. I admit it. After the High City fight, I hated your guts. So, in the field, though we served the same master and followed the same standard, there'd always be friction between us. Competition. Am I right?'

'I suppose...'

'I've never spoken to you.’ Ekaddon said. 'Never, informally. We don't meet or mix. But I tell you this much: I've heard you tonight, in this place, amongst friends. I've heard you stand up for your beliefs and your point of view, and I've learned respect for you. You speak your mind. You have principles. Tomorrow, Loken, no matter what you decide tonight, I'll see you in a new light. You'll not get any grief from me any more, because I know you now. I've seen you as the

man you are.’ He laughed, raw and loud. Terra, it's a crude example, Loken, for I'm a crude fellow, but it shows what the lodge can do.’

He held out his hand. After a moment, Loken took it.

There's a thing at least.’ said Ekaddon. 'Now get on, if you're going. We've talking and drinking to do.’

'Or will you stay?' asked Torgaddon.

'For now, perhaps.’ said Loken.

THE MEETING LASTED for two hours. Torgaddon had brought wine, and Sedirae produced some meat and bread from the flagship's commissary. There were no crude rituals or daemonic practices to observe. The men - the brothers - sat around and talked in small groups, then listened as Aximand recounted the details of a xenos war that he had participated in, which he hoped might give them insight into the fight ahead. Afterwards, Torgaddon told some jokes, most of them bad.

As Torgaddon rambled on with a particularly involved and vulgar tale, Aximand came over to Loken.

Where do you suppose.’ he began quietly, 'the notion of the Mournival came from?'

'From this?' Loken asked.

Aximand nodded. 'The Mournival has no legitimate standing or powers. It's simply an informal organ, but the Warmaster would not be without it. It was created originally as a visible extension of the invisible lodge, though that link has long since gone. They're both informal bodies interlaced into the very formal structures of our lives. For the benefit of all, I believe.’

'I imagined so many horrors about the lodge.’ said Loken.

'I know. All part of that straight up and down thing you do so well, Garvi. It's why we love you. And the lodge would like to embrace you.’

"Will there be formal vows? All the theatrical rigmarole of the Mournival?'

Aximand laughed. 'No! If you're in, you're in. There are only very simple rules. You don't talk about what passes between us here to any not of the lodge. This is down time. Free time. The men, especially the junior ranks, need to be confident they can speak freely without any comeback. You should hear what some of them say.’