Yes, probably. I haven't the faintest idea. The point is, I'm the designated commander of the Luna Wolves speartip, come to rescue your sorry backsides. I do this by warrant of the Warmaster himself. He's up there, in one of those stars, and right now he thinks you're a cretin. And he'll tell Fulgrim so, next time he meets him.’

'Do not speak my primarch's name so irreverently, you bastard. Horus will-'

There you go again.’ Torgaddon sighed, pushing Eidolon away from him with a two handed shove to the lord's breastplate. 'He's the Warmaster.’ Another shove. The Warmaster. Your Warmaster. Show some cursed respect.’

Eidolon hesitated. 'I, of course, recognise the majesty of the Warmaster.’

'Do you? Do you, Eidolon? Well, that's good, because I'm it. I'm his chosen instrument here. You'll address me as if I were the Warmaster. You'll show me some respect

too! Warmaster Horus believes you've made some shit-awful mistakes in your prosecution of this theatre. How many brothers did you drop here? A company? How many left? Serghar? Head count?'

Thirty-nine live ones, Tarik,' the vox answered. There may be more. Lots of body piles to dig through.’

Thirty-nine. You were so hungry for glory you wasted more than half a company. If I was... Primarch Fulgrim, I'd have your head on a pole. The Warmaster may yet decide to do just that. So, Lord Eidolon, are we clear?'

ЛУе...' Eidolon replied slowly,'... are clear, captain.'

'Perhaps you'd like to go and undertake a review of your forces?' Torgaddon suggested. The enemy will be back soon, I'm sure, and in greater numbers.'

Eidolon gazed venomously at Torgaddon for a few seconds and then replaced his helm. 'I will not forget this insult, captain.’ he said.

Then it was worth the trip.’ Torgaddon replied, clamping on his own helmet.

Eidolon crunched away, calling to his scattered troops. Torgaddon turned and found Tarvitz looking at him.

'What's on your mind, Tarvitz?' he asked.

I've been wanting to say that for a long time, Tarvitz wished to say. Out loud, he said, "What do you need me to do?'

'Gather up your squad and stand ready. When the shit comes down next, I'd like to know you're with me.’

Tarvitz made the sign of the aquila across his chest. 'You can count on it. How did you know where to drop?'

Torgaddon pointed at the calm sky. 'We came in where the storm had gone out.’ he said.

TARVITZ HOISTED Lucius to his feet. Lucius was still picking at his ruined armour.

That Torgaddon is an odious rogue.’ he said. Lucius had overheard the entire confrontation.

'I rather like him.’

The way he spoke to our lord? He's a dog.’

'I like dogs.’ Tarvitz said.

'I believe I will kill him for his insolence.’

'Don't.’ Tarvitz said. That would be wrong, and I'd have to hurt you if you did.’

Lucius laughed, as if Tarvitz had said something funny.

'I mean it.’ Tarvitz said.

Lucius laughed even more.

IT TOOK A little under an hour to assemble their forces in the clearing. Torgaddon established contact with the fleet via the astrotelepath he had brought with him. The shield-storms raged with dreadful fury over the surrounding stalk forests, but the sky directly above the clearing remained calm.

As he marshalled the remains of his force, Tarvitz observed Torgaddon and his fellow captains conducting a further angry debate with Eidolon and Anteus. There were apparently some differences of opinion as to what their course of action should be.

After a while, Torgaddon walked away from the argument. Tarvitz guessed he was recusing himself from the quarrel before he said something else to infuriate Eidolon.

Torgaddon walked the line of the picket, stopping to talk to some of his men, and finally arrived at Tarvitz's position.

"You seem like a decent sort, Tarvitz.’ he remarked. 'How do you stand that lord of yours?'

'It is my duty to stand him.’ Tarvitz replied. 'It is my duty to serve. He is my lord commander. His combat record is glorious.’

'I doubt he'll be adding this endeavour to his triumph roll,' Torgaddon said. Tell me, did you agree with his decision to drop here?'

'I neither agreed nor disagreed.’ Tarvitz replied. 'I obeyed. He is my lord commander.’

'I know that.’ Torgaddon sighed. 'All right, just between you and me, Tarvitz. Brother to brother. Did you like the decision?'

1 really-'

'Oh, come on. I just saved your life. Answer me candidly and we'll call it quits.’

Tarvitz hesitated. 'I thought it a little reckless.’ he admitted. 'I thought it was prompted by ambitious notions that had little to do with the safety of our company or the salvation of the missing forces.’

Thank you for speaking honestly.’

'May I speak honestly a little more?' Tarvitz asked.

'Of course.’

'I admire you, sir.’ Tarvitz said. 'For both your courage and your plain speaking. But please, remember that we are the Emperor's Children, and we are very proud. We do not like to be shown up, or belittled, nor do we like others... even other Astartes of the most noble Legions... diminishing us.’

'When you say "we" you mean Eidolon?'

'No, I mean we.’

Very diplomatic.’ said Torgaddon. 'In the early days of the crusade, the Emperor's Children fought alongside us for a time, before you had grown enough in numbers to operate autonomously.’

'I know, sir. I was there, but I was just a file trooper back then.’

Then you'll know the esteem with which the Luna Wolves regarded your Legion. I was a junior officer back then too, but I remember distincdy that Horns said... what was it? That the Emperor's Children were the living

embodiment of the Adeptus Astartes. Horus enjoys a special bond with your primarch. The Luna Wolves have cooperated militarily with just about every other Legion during this great war. We still regard yours as about the best we've ever had the honour of serving with.’

'It pleases me to hear you say so, sir.’ Tarvitz replied.

Then... how have you changed so?' Torgaddon asked. 'Is Eidolon typical of the command echelon that rules you now? His arrogance astounds me. So damned superior...'

'Our ethos is not about superiority captain.’ Tarvitz answered. 'It is about purity. But one is often mistaken for the other. We model ourselves on the Emperor, beloved by all, and in seeking to be like him, we can seem aloof and haughty.’

'Did you ever think.’ asked Torgaddon, 'that while it's laudable to emulate the Emperor as much as possible, the one thing that you cannot and should not aspire to is his supremacy? He is the Emperor. He is singular. Strive to be like him in all ways, by all means, but do not presume to be on his level. No one belongs there. No one is alike to him.’

'My Legion understands that.’ Tarvitz said. 'Sometimes, though, it doesn't translate well to others.’

There's no purity in pride.’ Torgaddon said. 'Nothing pure or admirable in arrogance or over-confidence.’

'My lord Eidolon knows this.’

'He should show he knows it. He led you into a disaster, and he won't even apologise for it.’

Tm sure, in due course, my lord will formally acknowledge your efforts in relieving us and-'

'I don't want any credit.’ Torgaddon said. You were brothers in trouble, and we came to help. That's the start and finish of it. But I had to face down the War-master to get permission to drop, because he believed it was insanity to send any more men to their deaths in an

unknowable place against an unknowable foe. That's what Eidolon did. In the name, I imagine, of honour and pride.’

'How did you convince the Warmaster?' Tarvitz wondered.

'I didn't.’ said Torgaddon. You did. The storm had gone out over this area, and we detected your vox scatter. You proved you were still alive down here, and the Warmaster immediately sanctioned the speartip to come and pull you out.’