False Gods

'Be careful, Ignace. Are you suggesting that the War-master does not think clearly?'

'No, no, no,’ said Karkasy. 'Only that with his humours out of balance, Erebus was able to manipulate him,’

'Manipulate him to what end?'

Karkasy shrugged. 'I don't know, but what I do know is that Erebus wants Horus to go to Davin's moon,’

'But he counselled against going there. He even had the nerve to suggest that others go in the Warmaster's place,’

Karkasy shook his hand dismissively. 'Only so as to look like he had tried to stop him from his course of action, while knowing full well that the Warmaster couldn't back down from this insult to his honour,’

'And nor should he, remembrancer,’ said a deep voice at the entrance to the yurt.

Karkasy jumped, and Loken turned at the sound of the voice to see the First Captain of the Sons of Horus resplendent and huge in his plate armour.

'Ezekyle,’ said Loken. 'What are you doing here?'

'Looking for you,’ said Abaddon. 'You should be with your company. The Warmaster himself is to lead the speartip, and you waste time with scriveners who call into question the word of an honourable Astartes,’

'First Captain Abaddon,’ breathed Karkasy, lowering his head. 'I meant no disrespect. I was just apprising Captain Loken of my impressions of what I heard,’

'Be silent, worm,’ snapped Abaddon. 'I should kill you where you stand for the dishonour you do to Erebus,’

'Ignace was just doing what I asked him to do,’ Loken pointed out.

You put him up to this, Garviel?' asked Abaddon. 'I'm disappointed in you,’

'There's something not right about this, Ezekyle,’ said Loken. 'Erebus isn't telling us everything,’

Abaddon shook his head. 'You would take this fool's word over that of a brother Astartes? Your dalliance with petty wordsmiths has turned your head around, Loken. The commander shall hear of this,’

'I sincerely hope so,’ said Loken, his anger growing at Abaddon's easy dismissal of his concerns. 'I will be standing next to you when you tell him,’

The first captain turned on his heel and made to leave the yurt.

'First Captain Abaddon,’ said Karkasy. 'Might I ask you a question?'

'No, you may not,’ snarled Abaddon, but Karkasy asked anyway.

'What was the silver coin you gave Erebus when you met him?'

FOUR

Secrets and hidden things

Chaos

Spreading the word

Audience

Abbadon froze at Karkasy's words.

Loken recognised the signs and quickly moved to stand between the first captain and the remem­brancer.

'Ignace, get out of here,’ he shouted, as Abaddon turned and lunged for Karkasy.

Abaddon roared in anger and Loken grabbed his arms, holding him at bay as Karkasy squealed in ter­ror and bolted from the yurt. Abaddon pushed Loken back, the first captain's massive strength easily greater than his; Loken tumbled away, but he had achieved his objective in redirecting Abaddon's wrath.

'You would raise arms against a brother, Loken?' bellowed Abaddon.

'I just saved you from making a big mistake, Ezekyle,' replied Loken as he climbed to his feet. He could see that Abaddon's blood was up and knew that he must tread warily. Aximand had told him of Abad­don's berserk rages during the desperate extraction of

the commander from the Extranus, and his temper was becoming more and more unpredictable.

'A mistake? What are you talking about?'

'Killing Ignace,’ said Loken. 'Think what would have happened if you'd killed him. The Warmaster would have had your head for that. Imagine the repercussions if an Astartes murdered a remembrancer in cold blood.'

Abaddon furiously paced the interior of the yurt like a caged animal, but Loken could see that his words had penetrated the red mist of his friend's anger.

'Damn it, Loken… Damn it,’ hissed Abaddon.

'What was Ignace talking about, Ezekyle? Was it a lodge medal that passed between you and Erebus?'

Abaddon looked directly at Loken and said, 'I can't say,’

'Then it was,’

'I. Can't. Say,’

'Damn you, Ezekyle. Secrets and hidden things, my brother, I can't abide them. This is exactly why I can't return to the warrior lodge. Aximand and Torgaddon have both asked me to, but I won't, not now. Tell me: is Erebus part of the lodge now? Was he always part of it or did you bring him in on the journey here?'

You heard Serghar's words at the meeting. You know I can't speak of what happens within the circles of the lodge,’

Loken stepped in close to Abaddon, chest plate to chest plate, and said, 'You'll tell me now, Ezekyle. I smell something rank here and I swear if you lie to me I'll know,’

You think to bully me, little one?' laughed Abaddon, but Loken saw the lie in his bluster.

Yes, Ezekyle, I do. Now tell me,’

Abaddon's eyes flickered to the entrance of the yurt.

Very well,’ he said. 'I'll tell you, but what I say goes no further,’

Loken nodded and Abaddon said, 4Ve did not bring Erebus into the lodge,’

'No?' asked Loken, his disbelief plain.

'No,’ repeated Abaddon. 'It was Erebus who brought us in,’

Erebus, brother Astartes, First Chaplain of the Word Bearers…

Trusted counsellor of the Warmaster…

Liar.

No matter how much he tried to blot the word out with his battle meditation it kept coming back to haunt him. In response, Euphrati Keeler's words, from the last time they had spoken, swirled around his head, over and over.

She had stared him down and asked, 'If you saw the rot, a hint of corruption, would you step out of your reg­imented life and stand against it?'

Keeler had been suggesting the impossible, and he had denied that anything like what she was suggesting could ever take place. Yet here he was entertaining the possi­bility that a brother Astartes – someone the Warmaster valued and trusted – was lying to them for reasons unknown.

Loken had tried to find Kyril Sindermann to broach the subject with him, but the