WARHAMMER40,000

ITISTHE41STMILLENNIUM.FORMORETHANAHUNDREDCENTURIESTHEEMPERORHASSATIMMOBILEONTHEGOLDENTHRONEOFEARTH.HEISTHEMASTEROFMANKINDBYTHEWILLOFTHEGODS,ANDMASTEROFAMILLIONWORLDSBYTHEMIGHTOFHISINEXHAUSTIBLEARMIES.HEISAROTTINGCARCASSWRITHINGINVISIBLYWITHPOWER

FROMTHEDARKAGEOFTECHNOLOGY.HEISTHECARRIONLORDOFTHEIMPERIUMFORWHOMATHOUSANDSOULSARESACRIFICEDEVERYDAY,SOTHATHEMAYNEVERTRULYDIE.

YETEVENINHISDEATHLESSSTATE,THEEMPERORCONTINUESHISETERNALVIGILANCE.MIGHTYBATTLEFLEETSCROSSTHEDAEMON-INFESTEDMIASMAOFTHEWARP,THEONLYROUTEBETWEENDISTANTSTARS,THEIRWAYLITBYTHEASTRONOMICAN,THEPSYCHICMANIFESTATIONOFTHEEMPEROR’SWILL.VASTARMIESGIVEBATTLEINHISNAMEON

UNCOUNTEDWORLDS.GREATESTAMONGSTHISSOLDIERSARETHEADEPTUSASTARTES,THESPACEMARINES,BIO-ENGINEEREDSUPER-WARRIORS.THEIRCOMRADESINARMSARELEGION:THEIMPERIALGUARDANDCOUNTLESSPLANETARYDEFENCEFORCES,THEEVER-VIGILANTINQUISITIONANDTHETECH-PRIESTSOFTHEADEPTUSMECHANICUSTO

NAMEONLYAFEW.BUTFORALLTHEIRMULTITUDES,THEYAREBARELYENOUGHTOHOLDOFFTHEEVER-PRESENTTHREATFROMALIENS,HERETICS,MUTANTS-ANDWORSE.

TOBEAMANINSUCHTIMESISTOBEONEAMONGSTUNTOLDBILLIONS.ITISTOLIVEINTHECRUELLESTANDMOSTBLOODYREGIMEIMAGINABLE.THESEARETHETALESOFTHOSETIMES.FORGETTHEPOWEROFTECHNOLOGYANDSCIENCE,FORSOMUCHHASBEENFORGOTTEN,NEVERTOBERE-LEARNED.FORGETTHEPROMISEOFPROGRESSANDUNDERSTANDING,FORINTHEGRIMDARKFUTURETHEREISONLYWAR.THEREISNOPEACEAMONGSTTHESTARS,ONLYANETERNITYOFCARNAGEANDSLAUGHTER,ANDTHELAUGHTEROFTHIRSTING

GODS.

AUTHOR’SNOTE

TheEmperor ’sGiftisn’tthebookIsetouttowrite.Itisn’tthebookIplanned,anditisn’tthebookItoldmyeditorI’ddeliver.Inmostcases,that’snotabigdeal.Ineversticktoanoutline.Inthiscase,IdecidedtoscrapeverythingI’dwrittenandstartover.Letmeexplain.TheneweditionofCodex:GreyKnightsdroppedhalfwaythroughthisbook,

updatingtheirloreandleavingalotofwhatI’dwrittensuddenlyoutdated.IoriginallyhadvisionsoftellingthestoryleadinguptotheFirstWarforArmageddon.It’saseminaleventintheWarhammer40,000setting,anditdeservestobeexplored.ButthemoreIresearchedintothearchives,themoreIrealisedthatthecrucialpartplayedbytheGreyKnightswas,ultimately,averyshort-livedone.Theydidverylittleinthewaritself,beyondstrikingthefinalblow.(Fortherecord,thecharacternamed‘Aurellian’isn’tanodtoanyofmyotherwork.I’drathernot

havetorepeatnameslikethat,butitwasalreadyestablishedinGreyKnightslore,soIwasreluctanttochangeit.)AsthedeadlineforTheEmperor’sGiftgotcloserandcloser–thenvanishedbehindmeina

familiarblur–IrealisedthatthebuilduptotheFirstWarforArmageddonwasn’tthestoryIwastelling,anymore.Iwastellingthestoryofwhatcamebeforeandwhatcameafter.TheFirstWarcertainlyfeaturesinthesepages.It’safulcrummomentforthecharactersinthis

novel,butit’snotthepointofthestory.Don’tbuythisbookwiththeexpectationit’saFirstWarnovel.It’snotsupposedtobe.TheFirstWarwasn’ttheGreyKnights’war;itbelongedtotheheroesofArmageddon,andacertainfamousChapteroftheAdeptusAstartesthatlikestoruninpacksandhowlatthemoon.Sothisisn’tthatstory.Maybeintime,theirstorywillbetold.Thisisthestoryofayoungwarrior,

cladinarmourasoldashumanity’sdarkestsecrets,ashejoinsaproudandhonourableknightlyorder.Evenmorethanthat,thisisthestoryofhowhecametostandattheheartofavenerablesquadofswornbrothers,andtookpartinthemostshamefulbattletheGreyKnightseverfought.LikeIsaid,TheEmperor’sGiftisn’tthebookIsetouttowrite.Itisn’tthebookIplanned,andit

isn’tthebookItoldmyeditorI’ddeliver.I’mgladofthatnow,butforawhileitwasprettyterrifying.Istartedwithsomethinginmind,thenscrappedthewholebookandcameatitfromacompletelydifferentangle.Sowhatisit,then?That’saprettyeasyquestiontoanswer.AfterlookingdeepintotheloreofTitan’sgrey-cladsons,

TheEmperor’sGiftisthestoryIwantedtotell.Hereendsmyself-indulgentauthor ’snote.You’reonyourownnow.

CASTOFCHARACTERS

ANNIKAJARLSDOTTYR–Inquisitor,OrdoMalleus.AXIUM–ExecutorPrimarisoftheAdeptusMechanicus‘PalladiumKataphrakt’coven.BRANDRAWTHROAT–WolfGuardoftheAdeptusAstartesSpaceWolvesChapter.DUMENIDON–GreyKnight,warriorofSquadCastian.ENCELADUS–GreyKnight,SepulcaroftheDeadFields.FREDERICDARFORD–Inquisitorialagent,formerlieutenantandsniperintheMordianIronGuard151stInfantry.GALEO–GreyKnight,JusticarofSquadCastian.GARVENMERRICK–Inquisitorialagent,formerenforcer.GHESMEIKYSNAROS–LordInquisitor,unaligned.GRAUVR–SpaceMarineoftheAdeptusAstartesSpaceWolvesChapter.HYPERION–GreyKnight,pyrokinewarriorofSquadCastian.JOROS–GreyKnight,GrandMasteroftheEighthBrotherhood.LOGANGRIMNAR–‘TheGreatWolf’,HighKingofFenrisandChapterMasteroftheAdeptusAstartesSpaceWolvesChapter.MALCHADIEL–GreyKnight,telekinewarriorofSquadCastian;twinbrotherofSothis.NADION–GreyKnight,ApothecaryoftheEighthBrotherhood.RYMIRCLOVON–Inquisitorialagent,formerleaderofthehereticalCoppertonguecult.SOSAKHATAN–‘TheKhatan’;Inquisitorialagent,formertrooperinthe73rdAttilanRoughRiders.SOTHIS–GreyKnight,warriorofSquadCastian;twinbrotherofMalchadiel.TALWYNCASTOR–LifebondedcaptainoftheGreyKnightswarshipKarabela.TAREMARAURELLIAN–‘TheGold’;GreyKnight,Brother-CaptainoftheThirdBrotherhood.TORCRITH–GreyKnight,PrognosticaroftheAugurium.VASILLATERESS–Inquisitorialagent,SisteroftheOrderoftheScrittura.VAURMAND–GreyKnight,GrandMasteroftheThirdBrotherhood.

‘Oneunbreakableshieldagainstthecomingdarkness,Onelastblade,forgedindefianceoffate.

LetthembemylegacytothegalaxyIconquered,AndmyfinalgifttothespeciesIfailed.’

–InscriptionupontheArcusDaemonica,attributedtotheEmperorofMankind

PROLOGUE

AWAKENING

I

‘Idon’tknow.’Hislifecouldbedistilledintothosethreewords.Whatlittleherememberedofit,anyway.‘Idon’tknow.’Hesaidittothevoices,eachtimetheyaskedhimthosesamequestions.Theynever

askedanythingelse.Whatisyourname?‘Idon’tknow.’Whatyearisit?‘Idon’tknow.’There’dbeapause,forexactlysixseconds.He’dcountthebeatsinhismind.Sometimes,ifitwas

lateinthequestioning,hisracingheartbeatwouldthrowoffhiscounting.Itwasneverenough.They’dalwaysaskagain.Whatisyourname?camethevoicefromnowhere–alwaysmale,butnotalwaysthesamevoice.‘Idon’tknow,’he’dsaytothesurroundingemptiness.Hisvoicedidn’techo.Theblacknessseemed

toswallowitwhole.Hecouldn’tevenseehishandheldupbeforehisface.Noamountofstaringwide-eyedeverbroughtclaritytothenothingness.Whatyearisit?‘Idon’tknow.’Sometimes,astheyquestionedhim,he’dpushhisknucklesagainsthisclosedeyes,tryingtomake

brightpressure-smearsjusttobringcolourtothedarkness.Itneverworked.That’showheknewhewasblind.

II

Hecouldn’tsayhowlongittookforthingstochange,butchangetheydid:firstthequestion,andthentheanswer.His‘day’beganthemomenthiseyesfirstopened,nodifferentfrombefore.Asever,hecouldn’t

movebeyondthesmallconfinesofwhatheconsideredhiscell.Hecheckedeachtimeheawoke,runninghishandsalongwhatfeltlikecold,featurelessstone.Thestonetastedlikesalt,andsmelledofblood.Therewasnodoor.Whatisyourname?demandedthevoice.Alowandaggressivelymasculinetone,today.Almost

angry.

‘Idon’tknow.’Whatyearisit?‘Idon’tknow.’Hewonderedifhe’dcommittedsomegrievouscrime.Perhapsthiswashispunishment.Thatmade

sense,didn’tit?Thethoughtwasn’tanewone,foritoftendancedthroughhisconsciousness,inspiringmorefruitless,answerlessmusing.He’daskedthevoicesbefore,ofcourse,manytimes.He’dalsolearnedquicklyenoughthatthey

wereextremelyunforthcoming.Theywouldask,butneveranswer.Whatisyourname?Hesighed,slinkingbacktothethinblanketheconsideredhisbed.Inthesightlessdark,hewrapped

theragaroundhisshoulders,andreturnedtoshivering.‘Idon’tknow.’Whatyearisit?‘Idon’tknow.’Hewashungry,whichsurprisedhim.Herarelywokefeelinghunger.Thoughhecouldn’t

remembereatingordrinkinganythingsincefirstwakingthere,heknewtheyfedhim.Still,theonlytasteheknewwasthatthewallsleftasalinetingleonthetongue,sohesuspectedhissustenancecamethroughanintravenousprocessduringthehourshewasunconscious.Thetinypinpricksalonghisforearmswerealwayssorestjustafterheawoke.Hefingeredthemnow,allthewaydowntothemetalsocketplugsathiswrists.Whatisyourname?He’danswereddifferently,atfirst.He’drailedattheunseenvoices,demandinganswersand

insistingheshouldn’tbehere.Thelatterclaimalwaysfeltmorethanalittlehollow,sincehehadnoideaatallwhetherheshouldbethereornot.Heoftenwonderedifhedeservedtobecontainedashewas.Perhapshedid.Perhapshewasamurderer.Thesethoughtsgrantedhimlittleguilt,forhecouldremembernothingofhislifeoutsidethese

walls.Penancewasaneasytrialwhenonecouldn’trecallthesin.Eventually,theroutinesettledintoplace.Henolongerinventednamesorspatoutmeaningless

syllables.Heabandonedthesullensilences,andtheequally-ineffectiveshoutedquestions.Theyhurthimwheneverhesaidanythingexceptthetruth.‘Idon’tknow.’Whatyearisit?‘Idon’tknow.’He’dneverunderstoodjusthowtheyhurthim,butthepainwouldbegininhisheadandbloom

outwardsfromthere.Adullthrobbehindhiseyeswouldleaktohisearsandtheroofofhismouth,creepingdownhisspine.Thelasttimehe’dmanagedtoendureituntilhisfingersfeltasiftheywereaflame.Thepainhaddrippedallthewaydownhistorso,infectinghalfofhisbody.Painwasacatalystforhonesty.Hetoldthetruthafterthatmoment.Hetolditunfailingly.Whatisyourname?Washegoingtodiehere?Didhehavelonglefttolive?Thesethoughtsstruckwithgreaterforce

thananyguilt.Feelinghisownfleshneverofferedmuchinthewayofenlightenment.Withnosightforreference,hewasreducedtoguesswork.Despitenotfeelinganylooseskin,scarsorobviouswrinkles,hisfleshwasgrotesquelytighttothebonesbeneath.Thatcouldjustaseasilybeasignofadvancedageasitcouldsuggestmalnutrition.Hehadnoideaifitwaseither,both,orneither.Itwasabizarrefeelingtonotevenknowhowoldhewas,somehowstrangerthannotknowinghis

name,orrememberingthesinthatsentencedhimtothatcell.Whatisyourname?Thevoicesnarledthistime.

Wasthatarepetition?Hadhemissedananswer?Thepainsparkedlikeasecondheartbeatinhishead,throbbinginhissinusesandthedelicatetissueconnectinghiseyestohisbrain.Hehadtospittoclearhismouthofthesuddendrool-flush.Maybetheywouldkillhimifheheldbackfromanswering.He’dtriedtodiethatwaybefore,back

inthebeginning,butthepainalwaysbrokehim,leavinghimweepingandpanting,confessingthetruthyetagain.Whatisyourname?Helookedup,seeingnothing,alreadyfeelingthetrembleinhisfingersasthepainspreadwith

pinchingfiredowntohisjaw.Asnortedbreath,notquitealaugh,brokefromhiswetlips.Hefelthimselfsmiling,feltthewelcomewarmthoftearsonhisface.Perhapsthiswaswhatgoingmadfeltlike.Perhapshe’dbeenmadformonthsalready.Whatisyourname?Hischeekshurt,bothfromthespreadingpunishmentandtheacheofgrinning.Thisshouldn’tbe

funny,butitwas.Inaway,itreallywas.Whathadhedonetobelonghere?Itmusthavebeensomethingbad.Somethingreally,trulybad.Washeimportant?Didheknowsomethingtheywantedtopryfromhisskull?Ifthatwasthecase,

theywereoutofluck;thememory-starveddarknessinhisheadwasasemptyastheblacknessbeforehiseyes.Thatsethimlaughingagain,harderthistime.‘Myname,’hebegantoanswer,butcrumbledintochildishsniggering.Thepainrampedup,

quickerthanbefore,knifingtohistongueandthroatinaquickpulse.Hegagged,butdidn’tstopgrinning.Ifthere’dbeenanythinginhissystem,hewouldhavethrownituprightthenandthere.Whatisyourname?‘Idon’tknow.’Thepainreceded,butdidn’tdissipatecompletely.Hewasstilllockedintoa

madman’ssmileashedrewanotherbreath.‘Idon’tknow.’Heleanedbackagainstthewall,thelaughterfinallyfading.‘Mynameiswhateveryouwantittobe.

Mynameiswhateveritneedstobe,togetmethehelloutofhere.’Inaninstant,thepainvanished.Thevoiceswentwithit,leavinghimcold,blind,andunsureifhe’d

passedsomekindoftest,orfailedit.

III

Whenheawokenext,hisarmsweresore.Hishandswereleadenweights,connectedtostone-heavybonesthatweighedhismusclesdown.

Evenopeninghiseyeswasatrial.Withagrunt,hereachedtofeelthetenderskinofhisforearms.Dotsofpainmarkedtheminiscule

puncturewounds,andhewonderedjusthowlonghe’dbeenunconsciousthistime.Hecouldn’tremembergoingtosleep,butthatwasn’tanythingnew.Hecouldneverrememberdriftingoffintowelcomingslumber.Ahollowabsencepunctuatedhisperiodsofwakeningintothecold–hesuspectedtheywererenderinghimunconscioussomehow,ratherthanlettinghimsuccumbtonaturalsleep.YournameisTwenty-six.Thevoicewasgentlernow,thoughstillgrindinglymasculine.Hefroze,

statue-stillintheblackness,suddenlytrembling.Youhaveacceptedthatyoumustbearanewname.Thatisthefirststep.YournameisTwenty-six.

‘Myname...’Hehadtoswallowbeforegettingthewordsout.‘MynameisTwenty-six.’Whatyearisit?Helickedhislips,fearfuloflosingwhatpatheticprogresshe’dmade.‘Idon’tknow.Iswear,I

don’tknow.’Itwasthetruth,buthehesitated,unsureifthetruthwasenough,anymore.Hebithislipfartoohardaspanicthreatened.‘ButIwanttoknow.Iwanttoknowtheyear.Whatyearisit?’Theexpectedpausebegan,andstretchedfarlongerthantheroutineusuallyallowed.Hewas

drawingbreathtospeakwhenthevoicereturned.ItistheyearFour-Zero-Six.Thedatemeantnothingtohim.Hewasn’tsureifhewassupposedtoreply.‘HowoldamI?’Chronologically,youarefifteenTerranstandardyearsofage.Healmostlaughedagain.Hewasbarelymorethanachild.Andforsomanyhours,he’dbeen

thinkinghewasanoldman.Theconceptwasenoughtoleavehimreeling.Stand,Twenty-six.Despitethenausea,hedidasordered,feelingforthewallandusingitassupport.Openyoureyes.‘I…’Openyoureyes.Heblinked.Tremblingfingertipsbumpedagainstthecold,softsurfaceofhisopeneyes.Hewas

gettinggritinhiseyesfromhisdirtyfingers.Hehadtoswallowagain.Salivastringedbetweenhisteeth.Openyoureyes.‘Buttheyareopen.’Twenty-six,openyoureyes.‘They’reopen!Theyare!’Twenty-six,openyoureyes.Hemoanedinthedarkness,beatinghisfistsbloodyagainstthestonewall.‘They’reopen!’Twenty-six,openyoureyes.Andthen,infearthatborderedonferal,hetriedtoobey.Hetriedtoopeneyesthatwerealready

wide.Thatwaswhenhewokeup.

IV

Hedidn’tcomeupslowlythistime.Hewokewithajolt,andtheveryfirstthinghedidwasscream.Lightknifedintohiseyeswiththemercilesskissofacidpouredintoahole.Hescreamed,draggingcoldairintoprotestinglungs.Twenty-six,remaincalm.Hefeltlikehewascrying,buthisfacewasn’twet.Hishandswereaprotectivescreenoverhis

closedeyes,aguardtowashoutthepain.Twenty-six,remaincalm.‘Ican’tsee.It’stoobright.’Twenty-six,thevoicesaidagain,justasthepainbegantopulse.Remaincalm.Heroseonshakinglimbs,blinkingashedaredaglancethroughhisfingers.Thelightpouredback

in,fire-keen,burninghiseyeballsintheirsocketsanddancingdownthenervesintohishead.

Hebreathedawordless,meaninglessmishmashofcurses,pantinglikeatrappedanimal.Twenty-six.Remainstill.Notachance.Thesecondheheardthegrindofametaldooropening,heboltedblindlytowardsit,

onehandreachingouttofeelforanythingintheway.Hecrashedteeth-jarringlyhardintosomethingmetal,somethingtall,thatemittedapervasive

engine-growlheavyenoughtomakehisgumsache.Afterthuddingagainstit,hefellbacktothestonefloor.Footsteps.Heavy,bootedfootsteps,sendingshiversthroughtheground.‘Ididn’tdoanything.’Hestillwonderedifthatweretrue.‘Justletmego.’Twenty-six,camethevoiceinhismindagain.Stand,besilent,andopenyoureyes.Hecouldatleastcomplywiththeordertostand,thoughhislegsbarelyobeyed.Beingsilenttook

evenmoreeffort,andasforopeninghiseyes…‘It’stoobright.’Theilluminationissettoitslowestlevels.Youhavenotusedyoureyesinninety-ninedays.Thepain

willpass.‘Idon’tunderstand.’Yourignorancewillalsopass.Thatiswhywehavecome.Anothervoice,deeper,withtheedgeofirritation,joinedthefirst.Openyoureyes.Hetriedagain.Itworkedonthesixthorseventhattempt,thoughhisvisionofferednothingmore

thanasliceofharshlightatfirst.Hiseyeswateredcontinually,asiftheycouldflushthestingfromhiseyesockets.Shapesresolvedatlast.Threeshapes,eachoneaman–twocladinhoodedrobestherich,dark

shadeofdirtyiron,andtheotherwearingahulkingsuitofarmour,asbrightaspolishedsteel.Thepainfullightcamefromthislastfigure,astheoverheadilluminationreflectedfromtheburnishedsilverplating.Allthreekepttheirfaceshidden;theformertwobeneathdeephoods,thelatterbehindanornate

helmwitheyelensesofthemostdistressinglypure,piercingblue.Twenty-six.Hehadnoideafromwhencethevoicecame,fornoneofthefiguresmoved.Look

aroundyou.Whatdoyousee?Whatindeed.Throughstrainingeyes,hetookinthechamber ’sdetails.Everydimensionseemed

thesameasbefore–theonlyexceptionswerethedoor ’ssuddenexistence,andthesymbolsinscribedinbrightmetalalongthewallsandfloor.Heknuckledhiseyesfreeoftearsforamoment.Blinkingcleareduptherest.Heshouldhavefelt

thesesymbols,eveninhisblindquesting.Eachonewasraisedinbas-relief,starksilveragainstthedarkstone.‘Thesesymbols,whatarethey?’Wards.Again,noneofthefiguresmoved.Hexagrammicwards.Wehadtobesureyouwerefree

fromtaint.Wealsohadtobecertainyourecallednothingofyourformerlife.Thesecondvoicecutin.Youhaveremainedhereforthemandatedninety-ninenights,aswescryed

intoyoursoul.Theritualiscomplete,athirdvoicespokeatlast.Wearesatisfiedwithyourpurity.Thearmouredfigure’sjointsgrowledasitinclineditshead.Thoughsomedoubtsyetremain.‘Whycouldn’tIfeelthesesymbols?Wherewasthedoor?’Hecouldn’tstoptrembling,though

morefromadrenalinethanthecold,andmorethecoldthananyrealfear.Lookingdownrevealedhewascladinasimilarrobetotwoofthefigures,thoughitwasoncewhite,andnowonlygreyedbydust.Thefirstrobedfigurereacheduptoloweritshood.Themanwasclean-shaven,andhelooked

anywherebetweenthirtyandsixty,withevidenceofeverydecadeetchedonhisface:thesmoothskin

ofyouth;theknowingstareofexperiencedeyes;thefinelinesoflaughterandsleeplessnights,withsteelystubblegonetogreyatophisshavenhead.Theindefinablequalityofhisagewas,however,notthemostbizarrethingabouthisface.Hewasa

manenhancedtoimposingproportions,asifhisentirebodyhadundergoneadecademoregrowthanddevelopmentthanwouldbenatural.Evenintherobe,hecutatoweringfigure,dwarfingtheprisoner.‘Whywon’tyouanswerme?WhywasIblind?’Youwereneverblind.Weengineeredyoursensestoserveourneeds.Theagelessonehadthe

respectfuldemeanourofaholyman,butamurderer ’spiercingeyes.Hisbluegazeloweredthetemperatureoftheroom.Wemanipulatedyourthoughts.Youreyesstayedclosed,yetyoubelievedtheywereopen,seeingonlydarkness.Webluntedyourtactilesensitivity,sothatyoufeltnothingbutsmoothstonebeneathyourfingers.Youwereaprisonerinyourownmind.Thedoorwasneverevenlocked.Youweresimplyunabletofeelitsexistence.Hehadtohandittothem,theymadeforsomeingenious,twistedprisonwardens.‘WhoamI?’Hehadn’tevenmeanttoaskit,butitslippedoutafterdanglingtoolongonthetipof

histongue.YouareTwenty-six.‘No,’heshookhishead,andregretteditimmediately.Nauseasweptbackoverhim.‘No,Imean

before.BeforeIcamehere.’Irrelevant,saidthreevoicesatonce.Yourpastisgone,castasideinthenameofnecessity.Fromthemomentyoucametous,youwere

reborn.Youwillbeaddressedbyyournumberuntilyouearnyourtruename.Whatyouwerecalledis

meaningless.Allthatmattersiswhatyouwillbecome.Hedrewinanotherbreath,suspectingheknewtheanswerbeforeheevenaskedthequestion.‘AndwhatwillIbecome?’Youwillbecomeoneofus,thefirstvoiceintoned.Oryouwilldietrying.

PARTONE

HYPERION

Sobegins[DATARESTRICTED]testimonyof[DATARESTRICTED]HyperionofCastian.TranscribedbythehandofScrivenerElrek[DATARESTRICTED]underoath,

IntheYear[DATARESTRICTED]ofHisImperialMajesty’sEternalReign.

ONE

EXECUTION

IMPERIALDATE:M41.444

I

TheysayFenrisbreedscoldsouls.Iwasn’tcertainhowmuchofthesentimentwaspoeticlicense,butthefrozenworlddefinitelyleft

somethingcoldinthebloodofitssonsanddaughters.Forbetterorworse,weareallthechildrenofourhomeworlds.Annikawieldedherauthoritywithcuriousease.Iwasneverawordsmithtomatchmybrothers,soI

foundherpresencedifficulttodescribe.Galeowouldsayitbest:thatshecommandedauthoritywithaneconomyofeffort,asifsheexpectedhermerestwordstobeobeyedatalltimes.ThenightwesetfootonChethIheardhimthinkingitagain,evenasIwatchedAnnikawork.Galeo

readmymind,apassiveperception,gentlyleechingmysensesforresidualinformationonwhatIwaswitnessing.Itlefthimcloseenoughformetofeelhisownsurfacethoughtsinreturn.Galeo,ofallmybrothers,wasalwaystheleastintrusive.IlethimremaininmymindtoseewhatI

saw.Annikawastall,butnotunusuallyso.Herworldbreditschildrentallandstrong,andshewasno

exception.ThedarkflowofhermanewasrareforaFenrisian:longhair,thesableofcleanblacksilk,wasbraidedintoobedience,streamingdownoneshoulder.Herskinwasahealthypale,thewhiteofwintercliffsratherthanthepallidbleachofaconsumptive.Theblueofhereyeswasrichenoughtomakeothersuncomfortable.Ihadonlyseenthatshade

matchedbyonesightbefore,inthestormseasonsofmyownhomeworld.ThecryovolcanoesofTitanbreatheliquidammoniaandnitrogenintothesky,andinthelowgravity,theirexhalationsfreezeintocrystalsthathanghighintheair.Thosethatdonotrainbackdowntotherockswilldriftintotheatmosphereandbeyond.Theirisesofhereyescouldhavebeencutfromthosecrystals–theywerethesameclearglassturnedceruleanbluebythenightsky.Theywereartificial,ofcourse.Despitetheexquisitecraftsmanshiptoshapetheminabsolute

mimicryofhumaneyes,Icouldhearthesoftestclickswhenshewoulduseherbio-opticstotakeapict.Ioftenwonderedifshehadchosenthecolourforitsinhumanhue.Wedidnottalkoften,sothechancetoaskhadneverarisen.Shenolongerdressedasawarrior-maidenofherbirthworld,preferringtogocladinthe

bodysuitsandjacketswornbysomanyrankingImperialagents.Still,sometraceofherorigins

remained:atherhipwasathrowingaxeofwhitewoodandpoor-qualitybronze,itsbladedrenchedingreenpatinastains.Isensedatheatricaledgeinwhysheboretheantiquatedweapon,butsheclaimedshe’duseditthelineofdutyseveraltimesbefore.I’dnevertriedtoreadbeyondherwordstoseekthetruth.Onherbackwasabolter,andthisgavemepauseeachtimeIsawit.Shecarriednoscaled-down

weapontofitwellwithhumanhands.Herswasamass-calibreAdeptusAstartesboltgun,MkVbGodwynpattern,heftedlikeacannonwhenshehelditinherglovedhands.Evidenceofitscraftsmanshipwasineverycontouralongtheweapon’sbody:anartisanofrareskillhadwroughttheblackironalloywithjaggedCretacianrunesofdirtygold.Thatonlyraisedmorequestions.IcouldspeakthreedialectsofCretacianGothic,foritwasoneof

thesixhundredmongrelthreadsoftheImperium’sroottongueIstudiedinthecourseofmytraining.Theweaponhadbeencraftedforher,thatmuchwasundeniable.Thescripturealongthebolter ’ssideprovedit,thoughwhatdeedsshehadperformedalongsidetheFleshTearersChapterthatclaimedCretaciaastheirhomeworld,Icouldnotguess.Theweapon,somonstrousindelicatehumanhands,wasrenderedusablebyastreakofthumbnail-

sizedsuspensorsattachedtothestock.Therareantigraviticcoins–threetinythimblesofbronze–buoyedtheweaponbycounteringitsweight.Shecarriedthebolterslungoverherback,onathickleatherstrap.‘Mylordregent,’shesaid,notbotheringtosmile.‘Wemustspeak.’TheImperialRegentofChethnodded.Hisexpressionshowedindulgence,asifhehadanyrightto

refuseherdemand.‘Yes,inquisitor.Indeedwemust.’Hewasfattothepointofbeinggrotesque.Bymyestimate,hehadfewerthanthirtysecondstolive.

II

Chethwasaworldliketenthousandothers.Populated,cladinaclankinggreycoveringofindustrialcities,yetclaimingneitheraforge

world’shonour,norahiveworld’sfleshresources.ItpaiditsImperialtithesincoinandtradetothesubsectorcapital,whichinturnshippedthemtothesectorhub,andtheoreticallyontothecoffersofHolyTerra.ThelastImperialGuardfoundingwaselevenyearsago,andraisedalmosttwohundredthousandfreshGuardsmen,knownunderthecollectiveregimentalname‘ChethSixteenthRifles’.Theregiment’snicknameforthemselveswaslessofficial,andobscenelybiological.Iseenoneed

foritsinclusioninthisarchive.Chethsupporteditsowncoloniesontwonearbyminingmoons,andmaintainedastandingdefence

garrisonofonemillionsouls.TheChethdefenceforcewastheusualmixtureofveteranex-Guardsmenandcareersoldiers,unifiedwithaminorpercentageofvolunteerswhopossessedlittlemoretrainingthanhowtoloadandshootstraight.Amillionbodiesbetweeninvasionandconquest,though.Nosmallfigure.Sheerweightofnumberscountedwhereexpertisedidnot.Eventheheavenswerewell-defended.Thirty-sevenweaponsplatformsorbitedtheworld,and

ChethwasafrequentresupplypointforImperialNavypatrols.AnyinvadercomingtoChethfacedalong,grindingstruggletooverthrowawell-defendedand

entrenchedgovernment,makingitanunenviabletaskfortheImperialGuard,shouldtheyeverbesummonedthere.EvenforacontingentofSpaceMarines,therewasnoguaranteeofaneasyvictory,orafastone.

Cheth’sdelicateinfrastructurewasruledbytheofficeoftheImperialregent.UnlikemanyImperialworldsansweringtoalordgovernororgovernormilitant,theseatoftheImperialregentwasaspiritualpostasmuchasatemporalone,namedinhonourofthemanwhowouldruletheworldinlieuoftheabsentGod-EmperorofMankind.Howveryquaint.ButChethdifferedinonecrucialwaytotenthousandotherImperialworlds.Thoseworldswere

loyal.Chethwasnot.Whiledeviancy,dissidenceandapostasywerehardlyrareinthegreatkingdomhumanityhad

carvedacrossthestars,itwasrareforaworldintheImperium’sheartlands–withnoevidenceofformercorruption–tofallintosedition.Chethturnedsour,rottingatthecoreofitsgovernment,withthetaintthreateningtospreadtotherestofsociety’srulingtiers.Fromthere,thespreadwouldneverbecontained.IknewallofthisafterstudyingtheInquisition’sbriefingdataenroutetotheworld.Itmadeforbleakreading.ThewiderImperiumhadtwochoices.Thefirstwastowaitforpublicevidenceofrebellion,and

thusdeclareacrusadeofreclamation;thesecondwastocutoutthecancerattheworld’scorebeforeitcouldinfectplanetarysociety.InquisitorAnnikaJarlsdottyroftheOrdoMalleushadchosenontheEmperor ’sbehalf,aswasher

investedright.She’dkeptusathersideforathirdconsecutiveoperation,citingthatancienttruth:thebestwaytowinawaristostrikebeforetheenemycanfirethefirstshot.

III

TheImperialregentsmiledatAnnika.Hegrinned,confidenceemanatingfromhiminanaurathatwasalmostpalpable.I’dseenitbefore,

ofcourse.Itwasalwaysthiswaywhentheyhadnoideawewerethere.AllhecouldseeopposinghimwasAnnikaandherteam,andtheywereplainlynotarrayedtodobattle.Theystoodbehindher,notapproachingtheraiseddaisasshehad.Darfordwasfirst,inhisdark

dressuniform–completewithsilveraiguilletteropesfromcollartoshoulder–withhismoustacheandbeardneatlytrimmedclosetohistannedfeatures.Helookedcuriouslyincompletewithouthisweapons,thoughtheywouldbeuselessinsuchconfinedquarters.Iwonderedwheretheywere,andifhefeltasincompleteashelooked.Asimplebrushoverhisthoughtswouldhaveprovidedananswer,butitwashardlythetimetobotherwithsuchthings.TheKhatanwasnexttohim.Herauburneyeswerenarrowed,displeasurewritclearlyintheir

depths,andshewascladinheranimalfurswiththeever-presentspearoverhershoulder.Shehadthelookofadreadlockedbeastfindingitselfcornered,asshealwaysdidwhenstandingbeneatharoof.Ididn’tneedtoreadhermindtoknowshefeltirritationratherthanfear–theKhatanalwayspinedforopensky.Sheneverspokeofit,buthernightmaresonlongvoidjourneyswereloudandunpleasant.Inherdreams,shewasalwaystrapped,alwayschokingforairthatwouldn’tcome.Vasilla,robedinblack,hadn’tcometomakewar.Alilyflowerwastattooedbeneathherlefteye,

likesomered-inkedtear.Shorthairthecolourofmahoganyframedherfeatures.Shecouldbenoolderthanseventeen,andIdoubtedshewaseventhat.Ihaveneverbeenskilledatjudginghumanage,butVasillastillwalkedtheborderbetweengirl-childandthewomanshewouldsoonbecome.LikeDarford,shelackedweapons.UnliketheelegantMordian,shedidnotseemdiminishedfor

thatfact.Withnosloshingtanksofpromethiumfuelonherback,andnoflamerunitinhersmallfists,

herhandswereempty,claspedtogetherwithfingerslinkedoverherstomachasifinprayer.GarvenMerrickcarriedhisbulkyshotgunslungoverhisback.Askinghimtodisarmwasan

exerciseinfutility,evenwhenitwashismistressgivingtheorder.Heworehisscratched,slopingenforcerarmour–allevidenceofranktornoff,leavingonlythebeatencopperaquilaonhischestplate.IfDarfordsoughttodisplayhisformeraffiliationloudandproudwithhisdressuniform,Merrickwastheunprepossessingopposite.Heworehisarmourbecauseitwasreliable,comfortable,andfamiliar.Alltracesofhisformerlifeasalawbringerwereabsentfromthebarecarapacegear.Athisside,tallenoughtoreachhiship,acyber-mastiffstoodatmotionlessattention.Theenforcer ’sglovedfingersreacheddowntoscratchbehindtheridgedsensornodeclustersthatservedasthecybernetichound’sears.Thewretchcamelast.Clovon,hisfaceamessofoldscarringoverlaidbyaquilatattoos,was

foreverdeadlierinagameofcardsthanwiththepistolathishiporthethrowingknivesacrosshischest.Notforthefirsttime,Iwonderedhowtheinquisitortoleratedhispresence.Foulcreature.Annikatossedherheadback,perhapsnotrealisinghowsheresembledaspiritedhorseinthat

moment.Hercrystal-cuteyeswerecoldreinforcementsforherscowl.Intruth,InquisitorAnnikaJarlsdottyrgaveveryimperiousscowls,asaneffectiveindicatorofhertemper.I’dbeenonthereceivingendofseveralofthem.Theregentstillsmiled.‘Wewelcomeyoutoourcourt,’hesaid,offeringhissignetringtobe

kissed.Annikaremainedwhereshewas,tallandproud,adaughterofFenrisandanagentofthe

Emperor ’sInquisition.Icouldfeelherrisingireasshemethiseyes.Hewastakingthewrongapproachwithher;notthatitwouldmatterformuchlonger.‘Andthelastinquisitor.’Annika’svoicewasadispleasedpurr.‘Didyouwelcomehim?’Severalofthecourtierslaughed,asifshe’dutteredsomegreatwitticism.Herdispleasuregrated

hotter,higher.Icouldfeeljusthowkeenlyshewishedtoreachforherbolterandendthecharade,buttheoddsweren’tinherfavourjustyet.Evenforaplanetarygovernor ’spalace,theroyalchamberwasostentatioustothepointof

caricature.Psyber-cherubsflittedinthethroneroom’srafters,carryingwhitesilkbannersproclaimingtheregent’sholinessandthemanywarswonbyCheth’sdistantImperialGuardregiments.Thevat-grownclonedinfantsflewonanti-graviticangelwingsofwhiteiron,gigglingandcommunicatinginmonotonebuzzesofinformationtooneanotherwhentheyweren’tsinginginchoir.Theyhadtheirusestothoseenamouredofviledecoration,I’msure.Istillfoundthespawningofsuchthingstobeanabhorrentandblasphemouswasteofresources.Wasitmankind’splacetobreedasoullessimitationoftruelife?Surelynot.Anhonourguardofmarblestatueslinedthecentralredcarpet,eachoneanarmedandarmoured

renditionofapastrulerthathadneverraisedafinger,letaloneablade,inthedefenceoftheirworld.Adynastyetchedinstone,lookingdownuponthegatheredcourtierswithexpressionsofdignifiedpride.Theregent’sseatofrulershiprivalledpaintingsI’dseenoftheEmperor ’sownGoldenThrone.

Ornatearmrestsledtoacurvedback,whiletheentirethingsquattedheftilyontwelvethickstumps.Foramoment,Iwonderedwhatkindofmindcouldfindsuchathingbeautiful.Tomyeyes,itresembledsomethingflawedandhalf-digested.Noamountofgoldcouldsaveitsgrotesquearchitecture,thoughinagespastsomemaddenedcraftsmanhadcertainlytried.Thethronewasalesserplanet’sannualwealthincarnatedintosomethinggrotesque,flankedbyroyalguardsandrisingbeforeanoceanofcourtiersinfortyshadesofred.‘Mydear,’theregentbegan.Hissilksstrainedtocontainthefattymeatbeneath.I’dalways

struggledtorespectanysoulthatcouldallowthetempleofitsbodytowitherintocorpulence.

Perhapsyoucouldn’tfightagewithoutmoneyandthecontactsforrejuvenatsurgery–butonecanfightslothalone.Acorruptbodyistheresultofaweakmind.‘YouwilladdressmeasInquisitorJarlsdottyr,’Annikatoldhim.Morelaughterfromthelackeys.‘InquisitorJarlsdottyr,’theregentacquiescedwithanothersmile.Hewasn’tblindtohowhissmirk

aggravatedher.Evenwithouttouchinghismind,Icouldseetheperceptivegleaminhiseyes.‘Wewereoverjoyedtolearnofyourarrival.Itrustyouhaveenjoyedyourtimeonourworldthusfar?TheharvestseasonisatimeofgreatpraisetotheEmperor.Tellme,inquisitor,haveyouheardthechantsrisingfromthetempledistrict?Isitnotasoundtosoothetheverysoul?’‘IreceivedInquisitorKelman’sfinalastropathicmessage.’Annikaslowly,purposefully,turnedto

takeintheentirethroneroom.‘IamherebytheauthorityofHisHolyMajesty,todotheworkofHisblessedInquisition.’Morelaughter.Eventheregent’schinsquiveredasheheavedwithsuppressedchuckles.Without

readinghismind,Icouldn’ttellifitwasafacadeoffeignedconfidence,orifhegenuinelybelievedthingsweregoingwell.‘Wehavewelcomedyoutoourcourt,havewenot?’Foramoment,hishoneyedvoicepushedmy

thoughtsforwards,leadingmetoimaginethegreatspeecheshegaveatgatheringsofthepopulace.Despitehisappearance,hisbio-recordlistedhimasapowerfulpublicspeaker.Isawthefirstinklingsofitinthatmoment.‘Enough,regent.’Annikastillmadenomovetogoforherweapon.Shemerelyturnedbacktohim.

‘Iwillnotallowyoutodragthisworldintoseditionwithyou.Confess,andyourexecutionwillbeswift.Thepeopleofyourcourtwillbeimprisoned,tobereleasediftheyrevealnotraceofheresyduringinterrogation.’Theregentwasnolongersmiling.Hiscourtiersstillwhisperedandsnorted,butthelaughterhad

faded.‘AndifIresist?’AnnikagaveaFenrisiansmile,breathingthroughherbaredteeth.‘Resist,andnooneleavesthis

roomalive.Eitherway,theofficeofImperialregentonChethwillnolongerexistcomethehourofsunfall.’Sunfall.AnotherFenrisianterm.Annikaalwaysslippedbackintoinstinctivehabitswhenshewas

losinghertemper.She’dprobablybesnarlingsoon.‘Youpresumeagreatdeal,girl,’hetoldher.Somethingblackmovedbehindhisteeth.‘AgovernormilitantwillbeappointedtoguideCheththroughtheturbulentmonthsahead.Your

littlecoven–’shefairlyspattheword,‘–won’tevenmakeitintothehistoryscrolls.’Theregentstoodtaller.Andtaller.Andtaller.Isawtheveinsinhisfacewritheundertheskinlike

whipscrackingagainstabarrier.Thethingwearinghisbodywasmakingitselfknownatlast.Annikabackedaway,andasinglethoughtlancedintomymind.Myname.Shesilentlysaidmy

name.‘Hyperion.’

IV

Athousandkilometresabove,Iopenedmyeyes.‘Now,’Isaidtomybrothers.Thechamber ’slightsfelltodeepredasanengagementsirenbegantowhine.Robedadeptsworked

clankingmachinesbythechamber ’sedges.‘Fifteenseconds,’oneofthetech-priestscalledinablurtoftinnyvox-voice.EachofmybrotherswascladasIwas.Eachofusraisedourweaponsinunison.+Areyouready?+Galeoaskedinourminds.Thewhitemistbegantorise,cloudingtheair

betweenus.‘Tenseconds.’Dumenidonrepliedforallofus,ashealwaysdid.‘FortheSigilliteandtheEmperor.’‘Fiveseconds,’calledthetech-adept.‘Themachine-spiritssing.Initiatingtelep–’

Ablurofpainandfire.Astormofnoiseandcancerouscolour.Liquidnothingness,yetwithaspitefulsentienceinitstides.Itmanifestedenoughsoliditytogripatyourarmsandlegsasyoufellthroughit.BeforeIcouldfocusmyconcentrationenoughtorepelthesensationback,we–

–appearedinperfectarrangement,allfiveofusringingtheregent’sthrone.Ourweaponswerestillraised:fivewrist-mountedstormboltersaimingtenbarrelsattheconvulsingrulerofCheth.Hisrobesrippledatthetidalmerciesofthefleshcraftingbeneath.Thesonicboomofourarrivalshatteredalmostallthirtyofthegreatstained-glasswindows,letting

evenmoresunlightspillintothethroneroom.Thewhitemistofteleportation,nowpoisonedtoarterialcrimson,lingeredincoilingtendrils.Evenasitdispersed,itstrokedatourarmour,dullingthepolish.Theregentactuallymanagedtogaspatourappearance.Hewasflushedandmutableinhisspasms,

bleedingpusfromhistearducts,butstupefactionandfearhaltedhischange.Galeospokewithoutspeaking.Theweightofhispsychicproclamationwasenoughtogrindmy

teethtogether.+InthenameoftheEmperorofMankind,wedojudgetheediabolustraitoris.Thesentenceis

death.+Weclosedourhandsintofists,andfivestormboltersboomedintheharmonyofabsoluterhythmic

unity.Theregent’sphysicalformburstacrossthefiveofus,paintingsilverarmourwithvascular,stringy

viscera.Bonesshatteredandcrumbled,blastingapart,crackingoffourhelmsandbreastplates.Apartiallyarticulatedribcagecrashedbackontothethrone.+Peace.+Onthejusticar ’sorder,weceaseddeliveringsentence,butdidnotlowerourweapons.Smokerose

fromtenbarrels,addingapowderychemicalscenttothesurgicalreektaintingtheraiseddais.Onlytheregent’sshadowremained.Ittwistedinthecentreofthecirclewehadformed,writhing

andclawingatnothing,strainingtobuildaphysicalformfromtheair.+Dumenidon,+pulsedthejusticar.Thenamedwarriordrewhisbladeinasharppull.Eachofusaddedouremotions–ourdisgust,

ourrevulsion,ourhatred–tohisown,layeringoursurfacethoughtsaroundhisclear,cleanrage.Thetouchofourmindsspurredhisangerdeeper,blacker,intoawrathintenseenoughtocausehimphysicalpain.Buthewasstrong.Helethisownbodyandbrainbecomethefocusforourpsychicforce,

channellingitalongthelengthofhisblade.Psychiclightningdanceddownthesacredsteel,rainingfragilehoarfrosttothemarblefloor.Allofthis,fromourarrivaltothefocusofkillingenergy,happenedinthespanittookAnnika’s

hearttobeatfivetimes.IknowthatbecauseIheardit.Itformedastrangelycalmingdrumbeattotheexecution.

Despitebarelybeingabletoseeit,Dumenidonimpaledthecrippledshadowwithadeepthrust.Hisbladeinstantlycaughtfire.Thistime,theburstofgorewasectoplasmicandetherealinnature.Slimehissedagainstourwardedaegisarmourplating,failingtoeatintotheblessedceramite.Thecreature’sshriekranginourears,shatteringthefewwindowsourteleportationarrivalhadn’t.ThusendedthereignofRegentKezidhatheEleventh.IturnedtoInquisitorJarlsdottyr,findingherinacaninecrouchhalfwaydownthestepsleadingup

tothethrone.Ahundredsilk-robedcourtiersstaredatus.Fiftyarmedpalaceguardsdidthesame.Noneofthemmoved.Mostofthemdidn’tevenblink.Thiswasnotquitethegalaballroomeventtheyhadbeenexpecting.‘Andthem?’Iaskedher.Myvoicewasarasp-edgedgrowlfrommyhelm’svox-grille.‘Skitnah,’shesaid,herlipsformingaFenrisiansnarl.Skitnah.Iknewthewordfromherhome

world’stongue.Dirty.Foul.Tainted.Weraisedourweaponsagain.Thatsentthemrunning.‘Iwillcagethevermin,’saidMalchadiel.Heraisedhisarmsasifpushingatthechamber ’sgreat

doubledoors,evenfromthisdistance.Therestofusopenedfire,scythingdownthosefleeingslowest,orwhodaredraisedarmsagainstus.Insignificantlas-firescorchedmyarmour,toosporadicandpanickedtobeworthyofconcern.Acrosshairedtargetingreticuleleaptfromrobetorobe,flickeringwhitewithscreedsofbiologicaldata.Noneofitmattered.Thesewerevermin.Iblankedmyretinaldisplaywithathought,preferringto

firefree.ThenoblesofChethhammeredonthethroneroomdoors,crushingeachotherintheirattemptsto

escape.Fistsbeatagainstthesolidbronze,formingarevoltingcacophonyintheirfear.Astheyweptandscreamed,theyburstlikebloatedsacksofbloodunderexplosiveboltershells.IsparedaglanceformybrotherMalchadiel.Hestoodrigidbythethrone,facingthedoubledoors,

handstalonedbyhisefforts.Psy-frostrimedhissplayedfingers,cracklingintoicedustwitheachfractionalmovement.Thedoorsheldfastasthedyingnoblessurgedagainstthem,andIwonderedifhewassmilingbehindhismask.Lessthanaminutelater,allgunsfellsilentandbladesslidbackintosheaths.Malchadiellowered

hishandsatlast.Theimmensebronzedoorscreakedastheysettledbackontotheirhinges,atthemercyofgravityandarchitectureoncemore,ratherthanmybrother ’swill.Stinking,openedbodieslayinrupturedreposealongthecarpet,andaworld’sworthofaristocratic

bloodranacrossthefloor.Annikawastoe-deepinaspreadinglakeofit,clutchingherbolterinherhands.Redstainsfleckedherfaceinacarelessimpressionoftribaltattoos.‘It’sthesmellIhatemost,’shesaid.TheydosayFenrisbreedscoldsouls.Darford’suniformwasdrenched.Therewasnowayofknowingwhereonestainendedandanother

began.Histrimmedmoustachewasfairlytremblingwithirritation.‘Theyalwaysdothiswhenyousummonthem,’hesaidtoAnnika.‘Everybloodytime.’Vasillawasonherknees,pressingbloodiedpalmstoherfaceaspartofsomepiousritual.She

whisperedvoicelesslythroughlipsthatdrippedwithwarmgore,prayingtothedistantEmperor.Merrickwasdistractedlyreloadinghisshotgun,withthepercussivesnick,snick,snickofshells

slidinghome.Thecyber-mastiffstalkedaroundattheothersideofthechamber,dippingitsbloodyironjawsintothedead.‘Getbackhere,’Merrickcalledtoit.Itobeyed,redeyelensesgleaming.TheKhatanpokedafatcorpsewithherspear,liftingagoldmedallionfromitsthroat.Hergrin

formedamarblecrescentinhertanfeatures.Thiswasherfavouritepart:afterjusticecamethelooting.

+Wearereturningtoorbit,+Galeosenttotheinquisitor.Annikainclinedherheadingratitude.‘Mythanks.Wewillhandletherest.’ButIturnedaway.Icouldhearaheartbeating.‘Hyperion?’Annikacalled.+Hyperion?+Galeoechoedinsidemymind.Iignoredthem,scanningthebodies,lettingmyeyesfollowmyears.Theheartbeatwaslittlemore

thanadull,wetpound,weakwitharrhythmia.There.Oneofthepalaceguards–hisburstbodyspreadacrossthecarpet–nolongerexisting

fromthestomachdown.Somehow,hestilllived.Loyaltothelast,hisriflewasinhisshakinghands,aimedatthesourceofallthisdestruction.Darfordsawthedangerintheverysamemoment.HemanagedtosayhalfofAnnika’snamebefore

theguardfired.Thelasriflecrackedasitdischarged.Iliftedmylefthandtowardstheinquisitorastheweaponspat.Shehadonlyhalf-turnedwhentheenergybeamwhinedasideatthelastmoment,deflectingto

carveagrooveinthegildedwall.Asecondlater,Ireleasedmyangerasflame.Thevioletfireignitedhim,bodyandsoul.He

shriekedasheburned,dissolvingtopowderybonesinalakeofhisownboilingblood.Thesmellwouldhavebeensomethingformidable,butmyhelm’solfactionfilternegatedmuchofitsstrength.Annikaclearedherthroatwhennothingbutablackenedskeletonleeredupatus.Hereyeswere

fixedupontheburnslashinthewhitewall.‘WhichoneofyoushouldIthankforthat?’sheasked.Iloweredmyhand,lettingtheshieldofprotectiveforcefadefromaroundher.‘Ilivetoserve,inquisitor.’

TWO

INSTINCT

I

Shecametomejustoverthirteenhourslater.Thedoorchimedoncebeforerisingongrindinghydraulics.Curiously,shedidn’tenterrightaway.Shestoodintheopendoorway,herhandsonthesteelframe.‘Mijaggekovnessan?’‘Yes,inquisitor,youmaycomein.’‘Ah.’Shegaveaknowingsmile.‘NoFenrisiantoday.Youareangrywithme.’DidIseemso?Strangetoconsiderit.Iwasn’tangry,exactly.She’dbeencarelessinthepalace,but

noharmhadcomeofit.‘Notquite,inquisitor.Iameagertomakespeedfromthesystem.That’sall.’Strippedofherwargearandsymbolsofauthority,shewascladinhighbootsandablack

bodygloveundersuit.Itclungtoherfigurewithatensionthatapproachedtenacity.Mytraininghadtornawaythecapacitytofeelbiologicaldesire,butitwasstillpleasanttowatchtheruthlesslyfemininegraceintheplayofhermuscles.Shewasahealthyanimalinherprime–ahuntresscladinblack,herlonghairnowlooseabouthershoulders.Alas,Fenrisiansseldompayheedtosuchnotionsasmanners.Annikawalkedintomymodest

chamber,immediatelylettingherfingertipsglideacrosstheparchmentscrollshangingonthewalls.‘Pleasedonottouchthose,’Isaid.‘Whatarethey?’Theyweremyownwritings:parchmentsdetailingthedeedsmybrothersandIhadachievedinthe

shortyearsinceI’dbeenappointedwithhonourtoserveJusticarGaleo.Thereasonshecouldn’treadthemwasbecauseoftheruniclanguageused.IwroteeverythingofimporttoourChapterinTrecenti,oneofTitan’sencryptedtongues.Itusedthreehundredseparatelettersinitscorealphabet,andhadnospokenequivalent.‘Theyareaprivatearchive,’Itoldher.‘Thepaperisbeautiful.Thetexture…’Shehesitated,herfingersjustshyoftouchingitagain.‘Itispapyrus.’Annikaraisedaneyebrow.‘Terran?’ItriednottolaughattheideaoftreesonTerra.‘Veryamusing,InquisitorJarlsdottyr.Isthere

somethingIcanhelpyouwith?’Annikasighedthroughherteeth,wolfishevenwhenshedidn’tmeantobe.‘IreturnedfromCheth

nottwentyminutesago.AthoroughinvestigationoftheremainingAdministratumtiersisnowunderway,butwehavepurgedthehoggormnest.’Isaidnothing.Shelookedatmyraisedeyebrow.

‘YoudonothavehoggormonTitan,doyou?’sheasked.Again,Ididn’tanswer.WehadnothingonTitan;thesurfaceoftheworldwashardlywelcomingto

life,indigenousorotherwise.SheknewthataswellasI.Annikasmiled.‘ThenwhatofbeforeTitan?Didyounothavereptilesonyourbirthworld?’Thistime,Icouldn’thelpbutsmile.‘YoushouldknowbetterthantoaskaGreyKnightabouthis

past,inquisitor.’Hersmilebecameagrin,allwhiteteethandbrighteyes.‘PerhapsIdoknowbetter.PerhapsIlike

thisgame,anyway.Ahoggormisawrithingserpent.Veryvenomous.’‘Asnake.I’dguessed,thankyou.’Shechosetobeoblivioustomydrytone.‘Whenanewlordmilitantarrives,hewillhavetorebuild

theinfrastructureofplanetarygovernance.’Therewasnothingunusualinthat.Deeppurgesoftenrequirednothingless,andIdidn’tunderstand

whyshewaschoosingtotellmeallthis.Therewerethreeinquisitorsandtheirretinuesonthesurface,ofwhichAnnikawasmerelyone.Morethanenoughtodealwithsuchmatters.Darfordwouldhavecalledthatoverkill,inoneofhisdramaticturnsofphrase.‘Inquisitor,theparticularsofyourbureaucraticrestructuringholdnointerestforme.Ipresume

youarehereforarelevantreason?’Readinghermindtooknoeffortatall.Irritationwasturningeachofherthoughtsjagged,andher

wordsweremiredinhesitation.Sheknewwhatshewantedtosay,butwasn’tsurehowtophraseit.ShealsoexpectedIwouldrefuseherrequestonceshe’dmadeit.Thathadmecurious.Iwithdrewthepsychiccaress,guiltlessabouttheintrusion.Passionatesoulswerealwaystheeasiest

toread.Itactuallytookeffortnottoheartheirthoughtsmuchofthetime,andAnnikawasaprimeexampleofwhy.I’dconversedwithrelativelyfewhumansoutsidethemonastery’swalls,butAnnika’smindwasdistinctlyamongtheloudest.‘Ihavealreadyreceivedasummonstodealwithanothermatterofgreaturgency.Imustleave

Chethatoncetodealwithit.’Aninformalsenseofdignitybuoyedherwords.Whatevershehadbeencalledtodowassomethingthatgrantedhersecretpride.Fewtaskswouldbeconsideredmoreimportantthanretainingtheloyaltyofanentireworld.‘And?’Iprompted.‘AndI’mmakingaformalrequesttotheTitanfortress-monasterytosecureyourpresenceforthe

upcomingoperation.’IfinallyputdownthehelmI’dbeencleaning.Thesacredoils,thrice-blessedbythePurifiers,

clinkedintheirglassjarsasIsetthemaside.Shewasyoung.Perhapsshedidn’tunderstandwhatshewasasking.‘Thatisnotpossible,’Isaid.‘WithourdutyonChethcomplete,weareoathboundtoserve

InquisitorHarulintheCybeleReaches.’‘Iknowit’snotcustomary,’sheconfessed.‘Ialsoknowhehasseniority.’‘Youhaveyourownteamforyourpurges.Wearethefinalweapon,broughttobearintimesof

absoluteneed.Whatisthisduty,thatitrequiresusatyourside?’‘Icannotsay.’Ilaughedattheidea.NothingwassosecretthattheInquisitioncouldn’trevealittous.‘That’salie,’

Itoldher,‘andIdonotneedtoreadyourthoughtstoknowit.’‘Aslipofthetongue,’sheamendedwithanarchair.‘Icouldsay,butIwon’t.NotuntilI’mmore

certainoftheoperation’sexactdetails.’Andjustlikethat,Iwassuddenlycurious.‘Whatcodeisthisundertaking?’‘CodeRegalia.’Again,theglimmerofprideinherwords.Shewashonouredandpleasedtobe

summonedforsuchavitalmatter.‘Soyoucannot,ingoodconscience,refuseme.’

Maybeso,butconsciencehadnothingtodowithit.Inourduty,itrarelydid.‘Whereisthisoperation?’Iasked.‘Valdasca.’‘Giventheempyrean’stides,Valdascacouldbeasmuchastwomonthsawayunderconventional

warpflight.InquisitorHarul’ssummonsstilltakesprecedence.Youcansummonothersofourordertomeetyouthere.’Shescowled,andlookedsurprisinglyregalindoingso.Inthatmoment,shelookedverymuchthe

warchief’sdaughtershewouldhavebecome,hadtheInquisitionnotreacheddownandpluckedherawayfromFenris,toserveafinerfate.‘ItislessthanthreeweeksfortheKarabela,’shepointedout,asifIneededtelling.‘TheKarabelaisourvessel,inquisitor,notyours.AndwearealreadyoverduetoserveHarulat

Cybele.’Herthoughtscurled,sharpened,growingedges.‘ThisisnotgoingthewayIwished.Ihavethis

feeling…Onmyworld,wecallitanellsa.Doyouknowthisword?’‘Iknowitsmeaning.Nevertheless,wecannotremainwithyousimplybecauseyouhaveasenseof

foreboding.’‘Foreboding.’Shetastedtheword.‘Yes,that’sit.AndIwasrightaboutCheth,wasInot?’‘YoualsohadagreatdealofevidencesupportingyourprosecutionoftheChetharistocracy,not

leastthelastmissiveofInquisitorKelman,threeweeksofinvestigationontheplanet’ssurface,accesstotheplanetaryAdministratumarchives,andtheauguriesofourownPrognosticars.’Indeed,thelastofthosewasthereasonmybrothersandIhadbeensentwithherinthefirstplace.

ThePrognosticars’visionhadbeenoneofrareclarity,heraldingaworldgoingdarkwithintheyearifthesourceofthecorruptionwasnotendedbeforeitcouldbloom.Shegavemealookthatshowedjusthowlittleattentionshepaidtomyassurances.‘Itrustyou,’she

said.‘Itrustyourpack.Iwantyouwithmeforthis.’Iinclinedmyheadinrespect,hopingtoremovethebitefrommywords.‘Iamhonouredbyyour

regard,inquisitor.AllofCastianishonouredbythefaithyouhaveinus,andIhopeweserveyouagaininthefuture.Buttobeblunt,thedaemonspokenofinprophecyisbanished.Wehaveotherduties,closertootherstars.YouwillcometotrustandrespecttheotherGreyKnightsthatattendyouonyournextundertaking.’Shenarrowedhereyesatme,asifI’dsaidsomethingintentionallyoffensive.‘Hyperion,areyoualwayssoformal?’Sheaskedthestrangestthings,sometimes.‘Yes,mistress.Always.’‘It’sveryaggravating,youknow.’‘Icanonlyapologise.’Ididn’tunderstandwhyshewasbeingsoobstinate.Anellsa?Asenseofforeboding?Surelyshe

wasfarabovefeelinganylingeringacknowledgementofsomeinfantileFenrisiansuperstition.‘Iwishtojourneywiththefiveofyou.IneedapackIcantrustimplicitly,andoneIhaveworked

withbefore.Ifeelitinmybones.’Shejabbedherfingeratmeaccusingly.‘Istoodinthatchamberwithyou,surroundedbythebodiesofhereticsslainwithyoursacredshells.I’veshedbloodalongsideyoumanytimesintheselasttenmonths.BeforeCheth,itwasMelaxis,andJullandbeforethat.Weworkwelltogether.’Idecidedtostoparguing.Weweren’tgettinganywhere.‘Ifyouaresodesperateforourpresence,whydidyounotgotoGaleo?Heleadsus.Iamthe

youngestofmybrothers,andmywordcarriestheleastweight.’Shebaredherteethinanothersmile.‘Ashardasitistobelieve,youareactuallytheeasiesttotalk

to.’

Ihadn’tconsideredthat,nordidIseehowitcouldpossiblybetrue.Thankfully,shedeniedmetheneedtoreply.‘Willyoucomewithmetospeakwiththeothers?’sheasked.Inoddedandrosetomyfeet.‘Ifyouintendtoaskthemthesamequestionyouhaveaskedme,you

willreceivethesameanswer.WearesworntoattendHarulimmediately.’Annika’seyesglinted.‘Weshallsee.’

II

Malchadielwasfirst.Hestoodinthestarboarddockingbay,unhelmed,withhiseyesclosed.Theairliterallytremored

withhisconcentration–afaintshiverofresistancemetus,asifwewadedthroughthethinnestliquid.Theairwasalsopopulatedbydebris.Ithungabovetheground,orbitingMalchadielwithstellar

serenity,makinghimthestarattheheartofasystemofscrap.Metaltubingturnedintheslowaerialdance,alongwithfocusinglenses,rivets,screws,boltsandslatsofmatt-blackarmourplating.Whateverhewasworkingon,itscomponentpartsfloatedaroundhiminconflictingdirections

withoutevercolliding.Annikaweavedoutofthewayasagunbarreldriftedpastherhead.‘Whatthe…’HersentenceendedinhushedFenrisianinvective.‘Iwasnotexpectingadistraction.’Malchadiel’stonewasdenseandtight,showingjusthowmuch

hewasfocusing.‘Pleasegivemeamoment.’Theservitorsandloadercrewsgavehimawideberth.Theylabouredatthefarendofthehangar,a

populationexistingatoursufferanceandinourservice.Intheirredrobes,adeptsofthePalladiumKataphraktwentabouttheirworship,soothingthemachine-spiritsofthecradledtanksandgunships.Evenfromthisdistance,Icouldsmellthesanguinetangoftheirincense.ThemessMalchadielhadmadebegantocondenseandtwisttogetherintheair,withonlythe

faintestwhisperingsofmetalagainstmetalaseachchunkofdebrismet.Screwsrolledunerringlyintoplace,turningoftheirownaccordtospiraldownandlocktight.Iwatchedaseriesoffocusinglensesdriftintoapiecemealgunbarrel,whileunseenhandsscrewedeachsectiontogetherwithpatientcare.Annikacaughtonatlast,andtherealisationnarrowedhereyes.Inlessthanaminute,afully

assembled,many-barrelledmultilaserturrethoveredintheairbeforeMalchadiel.Heloweredittothedeckingwithagesture.‘Practicegoeswell?’Iasked.‘Iamgettingfaster,butthegreatestprogressisinhowmuchcontrolIcanexertovereachpiecein

mygrip.Yes,brother,itgoeswell.Thankyouforasking.’Annikawasstilllookingatthearmouredturretwithitsgunbarrelsrestingonthedeck.‘Youtookthatfrommytank,’shesaid.‘Yes.’Malchadielgaveasmallsmile.‘Idid.AndIwillreturnitbeforeyourequiretheuseofit.I

neededaconstructofsufficientcomplexitytoremainchallenging.’Sheexhaledsomethinglikeagrowl,seemingtodwellonjusthowbesttoreply.Thetwoofthem

couldargueforhours.I’dseenithappenseveraltimes,anddecidedtoabortthisargumentbeforeitcouldbegin.‘Theinquisitorcomestouswitharequest,’IsaidtoMalchadiel.‘Doesshenow?’HispaleeyesturnedtoAnnikaagain.‘Strangethen,thatshecomestous,notthe

justicar.Howmaywebeofservice,inquisitor?’

‘IwishtoappealtotheTitanmonasterytosecureyourpresenceatmysideforanotherundertaking.MydemandtakesequalprecedencetoyournextdutywithInquisitorHarulintheCybeleReaches.’Malchadielturnedtome.‘Brother,pleaseexplainthisperformanceofFenrisianhumour.Ifthisis

somewitticism,itisbeyondmygrasp.’Annikasnuffedalockofhairfromherface.‘I’mquiteserious.’‘She’squiteserious,’Isaid,scratchingmycheektohidemysmile.‘Isee.’MalchadielgesturedfortwoofthePalladiumKataphraktadeptstocomeforwards.‘Sire?’theysaidinunison.Icouldn’tseetheirfacesbeneaththehoods,butonevoicewashuman,

theotherwarbledthroughavocabulator.Malchadielgesturedtothegunturret.‘Pleaserestorethistoitsrightfulplace.Youhavemythanks.’HismannerssethimapartfromanyothersoulIknew.NooneeveraddressedaMachineCult

menialadeptwithquitethesameneedlesspolitenessasMalchadiel.Heevensaidpleaseandmythankstoservitors,thoughthelobotomisedcyborgslavesneveracknowledgedit.Thetwotech-priestssettotheirtask,deployingseveraladditionalservo-armsfromtheirrobesin

ordertolifttheturret.Malchadielmovedasidetoletthemwork,andturnedhiseyesbacktotheinquisitor.‘MayIaskwhyyouhavenottakenthisunorthodoxrequesttoJusticarGaleo?’Annikashrugged.‘Thiswayfeltright.Toaskyouallfirst,beforegoingtothejarl.I’dhopedto

enlistyouragreement.’Malchadiel’sunscarredfaceshowednoneofhissurprise.Hewas,asalways,consummateat

shieldinghisemotions.‘Andwhywouldweagreetoremainatyourside,whensuchanactwouldrequirebreakinganoath

toanotherinquisitor?ThePrognosticars’visionhasbeenavertedwithabsolutefinality.Chethiscleansed.Castianispledgedtoansweranotherlord’ssummons.’‘Iknewyouwouldsaythat.’AnnikagaveherFenrisiangrinagain.‘IwishtospeakwithSothis

next.Hewillagreewithme.’

III

NeitherSothisnorMalchadielhadservedformuchlongerthanI.They’dpassedtheirtrialsandearnedtheirarmouronlysixyearsbeforeI’dtakenmyfinaloathsandearnedmyownplaceintheChapter.Tome,theywerealreadyveterans.Ifeltasthoughaneternityseparatedus,forsixyearsinsworn

servicewassixyearsofharrowing,gruellingfrontlinepurgesIcouldscarcelyimagine.YetthetwoofthemwerestillconsideredfreshbloodbytheChapter.Morethanthat,inanorder

thatheldnofaithinnotionsoffortuneandluck,thesetworepresentedtheabsolutepinnacleofimprobability.SothisandMalchadielwereamathematicalmiracle,manifestinskinandbone.Ourtrainingscoursthemindbeyondsimplelobotomy.Allmemoryisflensedaway,strippedand

removedasasurgeoncutscancerfromhealthyflesh.SothisandMalchadielwerenodifferenttoanyofusinthatregard.TheyrememberednothingoftheirlivesbeforecomingtoTitanaschildren.Butonehadonlytolookatthemtoseethattheyweretwins,truetwins,brothersbybloodaswellas

bythebondofswornoaths.Ican’taccuratelyrecordthesheernumberofinfantsharvestedfromtheImperiumwhofailintheir

trainingonTitan,todieforgottenandaloneinthebowelsofourfortress-monastery.I’veseen

archivalevidencethatforeverymillionchildrenstolenbyouragents,asingleonesurvivestobecomeaGreyKnight.Therestarefatedtoendtheirlivesasservitors,Chapterserfs,ormorelikelyasnamesintheArchivesofFailure.Andyet,withinourranksweretwosonsofthesameovum.Theoddsagainstsuchanoccurrence

werebeyondastronomical,deepintotherealmofbeinglaughable.Malchadielborelittleevidenceofhishalf-decadeasaknightofthefortress-monastery.Thesame

couldn’tbesaidforSothis.Heworehisbattlesplainly,eachofthemwrittenuponthere-stitchedmaskofhisface.Thestructureofhisvisagestillresembledhisbrother ’s,buthisfacewasadiscolouredmeshofbarebionics,regrownfleshandsyntheticskin.Mostofhisteethwerereplacementmetalpegssetintohisgums,andtheleftsideofhislipswaspulledbyovertightfleshintoapermanent,crookedsneer.Wefoundhiminreverentmeditation.Hispatchworkfeaturessoftenedasheceasedhischanting,

buthedidn’trisefromhiskneesatthecentreofhissmallchamber.‘Issomethingamiss?’heasked.IgesturedtoAnnika.‘Iwishtospeakwithyouall,’shesaid.‘IhavebeenissuedaRegalia-codesummons,andIrequire

thepresenceofhuntersfromyourorder.’‘Knights,’allthreeofussaidatonce.‘Not“hunters”,’Iamended.Shebreathedslowly,andagainitwasalmostagrowl.‘YouknowwhatImeant.’Sothisneversmiled,forhiswoundsdeniedtheexpression.However,hisamusementreachedhis

eyes.‘Iamintrigued.Whatisthisundertaking?’Annikagruntedindismissal.‘Iwillnotspeakofituntilyouragreementissecured.’‘IsthisajokethatIhavefailedtocomprehend?’Sothisglancedtome.Bothofhiseyeswerestill

natural–practicallytheonlypartofhisfacethathadescapedhisgrievousinjuries.‘Evidentlynot,’Itoldhim.‘ShehopeswemighthelpherconvinceGaleotoremainatherside.’Sothisrosetohisfeetinachorusoflowsnarlsfromhisarmourjoints.‘Inquisitor?’heaskedher.Shenodded,justonce.‘YourbrotherHyperionspeaksthetruth.’Sothis’sabusedcheekstightenedagain,hardeningtheuglysmearofhislipsintoarictus.‘Very

well.LetusfirstfindDumenidon.’

IV

Hewastraining,whichwasasurprisetononeofus.Hehadn’tevenremovedhishelm.Thebladeinhishandswasablurofdeactivatedcerulean,movingfastenoughtosinginsharp

chimesasitslicedtheunresistingair.Iconfess,itwasalwaysapleasuretowatchDumenidonmove.Hehadnoequalamonguswithasword,executingeachcutandthrusttoseamlessperfection.Fewwarriors,evenamongourorder,couldclaimsuchflawlesscontroloverablade.HepersonallymentoredSothis,buteventhemutilatedtwinscarcelycameclosetoDumenidon’sskill.Inagreatdealofhumanliterature,itisaclichétostatethatafighter ’sweaponisanextensionof

theirbody.Suchasentiment,thoughttrite,atleastcomesclosetodescribingthereality.Hismasteryovertheblade’smovementswasmorethanpost-human,itwasconsummate.I’dneveronceseenhimmakeamistake.Notone.I’dbeatenhimahandfuloftimesinoursparringoverthelastyear,thoughIhadanadvantagefew

ofourordercouldclaim.Ididn’tuseablade.

Dumenidonendedhiswhirlingdisplaybeforeus,sheathingtheswordaspartofthefinalmotion.Evencomingtorest,hewasanexemplarofgrace.Tomyshame,Ienviedhimhisprowess.‘Kindred,’hegreetedus.Hishelmregardedeachofuswitheyelensesofemotionlessblue.

‘Inquisitor?’Annikasteppedforwards.‘Ihavesomethingtoaskofyou.’Theceramitemasktiltedslightly.‘Iamlistening.’

V

WestoodbeforeGaleosoonafter.TheKarabela’sstrategiumwasanorderlychamber,resemblingaprayerroomasmuchasa

traditionalwarshipbridge.Coal-burningbraziersstoodbycommandconsoles,theirrich,smokyfumesinhaledbytheairfiltrationsystemstobecleansedandrecycled.Scrollsweredrapedacrossthewalls,somepennedinmyhand,otherswritteninthescriptofthosewhohadcomebeforeme.Ninebannershungfromthefresco-paintedceiling:eachofthemagreatvictoryworthyofinclusioninthemonastery’sownHallofValour,achievedsinceJusticarCastianfoundedthesquadtenthousandyearsbefore.Themostrecent,depictingaloneknight,haloedinvibrantgoldthread,waswovenbytheChapter

serfsinmemoryoftheAjantaInsurrection.Thislastknightstoodinacircleofninefallenbrothers,hisbladedeepintheskullofaslaindaemon.Thecreatureitselfwasastylisedrepresentationofsomethingdrawnfromhumanlegend–IrecognisedmanyofitsfeaturesfromthedevilsandfalsegodsofHinduvianmythology.Theserfshadneverbornewitnesstothegreatbeastitself,andthuscouldbeforgivenfortheirembellishment.Thescrollworkatthebanner ’sbasereeledthenamesofthefallen,andthesolesurvivor.Thelatter

wasasinglenameinflowingGothicscript:Galeo.Thewarriorhimself,nowsixyearspastthebattlethatkilledhisbrothersandelevatedhimto

leadership,stoodunhelmedbeforetheocculusscreen.Hewatchedtheplanetturnbelow,bearingwitnesstoitsinfinitelyslowdanceinthevoid.Histhoughtswereunquiet,rumblingthingsthatalmostmeltedintothethrumoftheidlingdriveengines.Hewasdwellingonsomething–thethoughtshadthesepiaqualityofdistantmemories.Galeoturnedatourapproach,whilethenearbyserfsallbowedinawhisperofrobes.Theservitors

ignoredus,continuingtheirmurmuringattentiontotheirduties.Bioniclimbsthuddedonthedeckasthemono-taskedcyborgswentabouttheirbusiness.CaptainTalwynCastorloungedinthecommandthrone,readingadata-slateinhisglovedhands.

Heofferedusafaintnoduponentering,butitwasclearhewasbusy.Heworehisexperiencelikeauniform–amanunashamedbytheburnscarringthatspeckledandpockmarkedhisthroatandtheleftsideofhisface.Ratherthanreceiveanaugmeticimplant,hekepthisruinedeyemaskedbehindanarchaicpatchofblackcloth.Galeogreeteduswithabow.+Brothers,+hepulsedintoourminds.+Inquisitor.Whatbringsyoutothestrategium?+Annikaneverbowed,nottoanyone.Instead,asalways,shetiltedherheadbackslightly,baringher

throatforamoment.Isensedfromherthoughtsjusthowsheviewedthegestureofrespect,performingitexactlythesamewayshewouldoffergreetingtoatribaljarlonherhomeworld.‘JusticarGaleo.Myastropathhasreceivedwordofanimmediatesummons.Withtheprincipal

purgeofChethcomplete,ImustmakespeedtotheValdascaCaul.’Galeowasanothermanwhoworehiswoundswell.Exceptforthescartissueringinghisnecklike

atorc,hewasunbrokenbyacenturyandahalfinservicetotheorder.Hescratchedathisthroat,anunconscioushabitthatalwaysdrewattentiontothechokeroflumpy,paleflesh.+Valdasca.+Hisdarkeyesneverleftherface.Annikamethimeyeforeye.DespiteherFenrisianheight,shestillhadtocranehernecktolookup

athim.‘IunderstandthatyouareoathboundtoattendInquisitorHarulonhisongoingoperation.

Nevertheless,IaskyoutoremainwithmewhileIjourneytotheCaul.Harulcansummonanotherforcefromthemonastery.Iwantyouforthisduty.IwanttheKarabela,andIwantSquadCastian.’Galeosmiledatthepraise.RelationsbetweentheInquisitionanditsChamberMilitantwerealways

ruthlesslyefficient,buttheywererarelywarm.GaleoconsideredAnnika’sdemeanourassomethingofapleasantrarity.+Harul’sneedisasurgentasyours.Hepossessesouroathofservice,andhisdutyiscloser.Ifyou

wishtoretainourblades,Iwillneedtoknowwhy.+Forthefirsttime,Annikalookeduncertain.I’dneverseenherhesitateindoubtbefore,andIfound

itastrangelycompellingsight.Shelookedveryhumaninthatmoment–sovulnerable,youngandultimatelymortal.Humans.Sometimesit’seasytoforgethowfragiletheyare.+Isenseyourcaution,mylady,+Galeosent.+Communewithme.+Helockedusoutofthecommunion.Assimpleasthat;aseasyasamoment’sthought,heshielded

histhoughtsfromallofus,speakingtoAnnikainpsychicsecrecy.Theircommunionlastednomorethanthreeheartbeats.Itendedwhensheclosedhereyesand

nodded.Galeo’swordsreturnedtoourminds.+Isee.Andwhydidyoubringmykindredhere,inquisitor?+Herhonestywasadmirablyblunt.‘Ihopedtheywouldtrustmeenoughtolendtheirsupport,evenif

Icouldnotrevealthemission’sdetails.’Galeoregardedusinturn.+Sheasksustobreakanoathofservice.Shouldweserveherand

forsakeonedutyforanother?ThedecisionisminetomakeasJusticarofCastian,butIwouldhearyourthoughtsfirst.Whatsayyou,brothers?+Sothisansweredfirst.‘Itrusttheinquisitor ’sjudgement.Iwouldtravelwithher.Necessityornot,

wearewithheralready.’‘LetHarulsummonothersfromthemonastery,’Malchadielagreed.‘TheKarabelawillallowher

toreachherobjectiveinafractionofthetime.ARegalia-codeassignmentrequiresnothingless.’Dumenidonshookhishead.‘Iabstainfromthedecision.Ihavenodesiretobreakanoath,norturn

mybackononedutytofulfilanother.Iwillfollowthejudgementofmyjusticar.’Galeonoddedateachanswer.+Andyou,Hyperion?+‘Ifinditintriguingthatsheevenaskedus,ratherthandemandingourpresence.Iwouldtravelat

herside,ifitcamedowntoachoice.’+ThenwewilljourneywithInquisitorJarlsdottyr.+Atideofquestioningthoughtrippledfromeachofus.Galeomouldedareply.+ThewarshipFrostbornliesdeadinthevoidattheheartoftheValdascaCaul.+Icouldfeelthetight,narrowfocusofhissilentvoice.Ifastandardpsychicemanationwasakintoa

shiningalightuponamind,thiswasathin,sharpbladeofcommunication,jabbingdirectlyateachofus.Thejusticarwastakinggreatcaretoensurenonearbymindsoverheardhiswords.Eachofusshiftedourownspeechtothesameunspokencommunion.+Iknowthatname.+DumenidonleechedatouchofGaleo’sstrengthtorespondwiththesame

focus.Thejusticaroffereditreadily,forDumenidonalwaysstruggledwiththesubtlestuseofhispowers.Someofuswereborntobeblunterinstrumentsthanothers.Weallknewthename.AnnikahadservedaboardtheFrostborn,albeitbriefly.Shealwaystoldthose

taleswithasmile.Galeonodded,sensingourunderstanding.+Accordingtotheinquisitor ’ssummons,anImperial

NavypatrolfoundaHunter-classdestroyerpowereddownandcoldinthevoid,deepwithintheValdascaCaul.IthasbeenconfirmedastheFrostborn.Thejarl’sdaughteristheclosestagentoftheordoswiththeclearancetoinvestigate,thustheresponsibilityfallstoher.++Andtous,+Iadded.Proximitytotheothersusingtheirpowersalwaysstrengthenedmyown.It

wasnoeffortatalltoembraceGaleo’spsychicpulse,reformit,andpushitbackwithmyownwordswithin.+WherewastheFrostbornassignedbeforeitmetthisfate?+ItwasAnnikawhoanswered,stillboundtooursilentspeech.‘WhenIleft,theywereboundforthe

JopalandRuissystems,’hervoicedriftedthroughourminds.Jopal.Ruis.Iknewthosestarsfrommystudyofstellarcartography.TheywereclosetoTisra,the

starthatwarmedthemanufactory-densehiveworldofArmageddon,buttherewaslittleelseofinterestnearby.+Mythanks,inquisitor.TheValdascaCaulisafarcryfromJopalandRuis.+Galeo’sagreementcamewithamoment’shesitation.+Theywerealmostcertainlywarp-lost.+Iwassmilingbehindmyfaceplate,andIsuspecteachofthemknewit.+Attheveryleast,itwillbe

interesting.+‘Yousoundeager,’Malchadielsaidwithhistruevoice.‘Iam,’Iadmitted,thenaddedinsilentspeech:+IhavenevermetaWolfbefore.+‘Yes.’Annikabaredherteethinaparticularlyferalsmile.‘Youhave.’

THREE

DUST

I

TheValdascaCaulisnamedforthestreakofionisedsulphurandhydrogengasesformingapale,ashennebulathroughthesubsector ’scorewardedge.TheCaulblanketsseveralsunsandtheirrespectiveworlds,bleachingthemcleanoflifeanddrowningentiresolarsystemsinlethalgases.Mankindhasneversettledhere,andtomyknowledge,neitherhaveanyofthexenosbreeds.Fewregionsofthegalaxyareanathematoalllife,buttheCaulisoneofthem.ThefirstthingIsenseduponarrivalwastherainingofdustagainstthehull,astheclangingrattles

wokemefrommymeditations.Foramurkymoment,Irecalledasimilarclattering:thesoundofhardrainbeatingdownontinroofsandmetalwindowframes.Instinctforcedmetoreachforthememory,butitfledassoonasIfocuseduponit,siftingfrommymindthewaysandfallsthroughopenfingers.Ithappensfromtimetotime,theseflashesofinsightintoadeniedlife.Childhoodmemoriescan

teasethesenseswhenaccidentallydredgedupbymeditation.Suchthingsarestrippedfromourpsychesintheveryfirststagesofourtraining,yettherearealwaysechoes.Wewerebornhuman,anddespitetheproximitytoperfectionofferedbytheEmperor ’sGift,westillcarryafewoftheflawsthatplagueourbirth-species.Iopenedmyeyesastheshipshookaroundme.Moreparticulateclatteredagainstthehullwitha

gritty,rattlinglackoftempo.Thenearbymindsonotherdeckswerewildandemboldened,firedbyourarrival.Ifastenedmyhelmintoplace,gatheredmyweapons,andleftthebrokensolaceofmyarming

chamberbehind.

II

TheKhatanandVasillawaitedoutsidethestrategium’seasterndoors,speakinginlowvoices.ForVasilla,thiswasasnaturalasbreathing.Thegirlhadamouse’svoice,barelymorethanawhisper.Bycontrast,theKhatan’svoicecouldcutcoldiron–forhertospeakquietlymeantthesharingofsecrets.‘Mistresses,’Iacknowledgedthem.‘MasterHyperion.’Thegirlpressedherpalmstogetherandofferedabow.TheKhatangrinned,whiteteethinafacethecolourofburnthoney.Herdreadlockshungdownin

theirusualmessofdarktangles.ShewastheonlyAttilanIhadevermet,butI’dstudiedthearchivesontheirsociety.Theirclanstookgreatprideinbeinganunwashedpeople.TheKhatanexemplified

thisculturaltendency,thoughitgaveheranearthy,naturalscentofsweat,ratherthanoneofsloth.‘Two-Guns,’shesaid.‘Howdoyoufare,myhandsomekiller?’Herflirtationdidn’tmakemeuncomfortable,butnorwasIsureofhowtorespondtoit.Ialways

struggledtounderstandthepointofherhumour.Perhapsthatwasthepointofit.Iwasnonethewiser,andhadnodesiretobeilluminated.‘Whydoyouremainoutside?’Iasked.Vasilla’syouthfulfacewasthepictureofserenity.‘Weawaittheinquisitor,’shesaid.‘Yourkindred

arealreadywithin.’Iturnedtofaceanemptysidecorridor,sensingtheapproachoftwomoreminds.Darfordand

Clovonroundedthecornertogether;theformercladinhisimpeccabledressuniform,thelatterinhisjacketandlooseclothes.Darfordsmelledofcleanskinandtheartificialmuskofhisaftershave.Clovonsmelledofliesandpolishedknives.‘Whichoneareyou?’Darfordaskedme.‘Actually,don’ttellme.I’llgetitrightthistime.’ThiswasagameI’dgrownboredofsometimeago.Ileaned,justslightly,toshowthenameetched

inburnishedgoldletteringuponmyshoulderguard.‘Ah,ofcourse,’hesaid.‘Hello,Hyperion.’Clovondidn’tgreetme.Helingeredattheedgeoftheirgroup,hislaceratedfaceturnedawayfrom

me.UnlikeSothis,whoboretheruinofhisvisageasalegacyofhonourablebattle,Clovon’swoundsweretheneatlyarranged,symbolicmarksofritualdesecration.Tostandinthepresenceofonewhohadbeenaheretic…Ifeltafoultasteinmymouthfromevenlookingathim.Darfordranhisthumbsdownthesidesofhisclose-trimmedbeard.‘Iloatheboardingactions,you

know.HaveImentionedthat?’‘Onceortwice,’Clovonsaidsoftly.‘Athousandtimes,’saidtheKhatanwithmockgravity.‘Noplaceforasniper,’saidtheuniformedsoldier.‘That’sallI’msaying.IfAnnikadoesn’tstart

choosinghermissionsmorecarefully,ImayjustgobacktoMordianandtakethatpromotiontheyofferedme.I’dbeacolonelbynow,youknow.ColonelFredericDarfordoftheIronGuard.That’sgotquitearing,nowIthinkaboutit.’TheKhatanspatontothedecking.‘Alwaysthesamewhining.Enough.Sparemyearsforone

week.’Thesniper ’ssmilewasamusinglyrehearsed.Frompryingintohismindonmorethanone

occasion,Iknewhepractisedinfrontofthemirroragreatdeal,seekingasmilethatmadehimlookthemosthandsome.Helikedtothinkhewieldeditasaweapon.‘Canyouevenhearme,myfilthydarling?Canyouhearanythingwithallthatdirtinyourears?’‘PerhapsIreadyourbabblinglips,nai-mori.’TheKhatangrinnedassheusedtheAttilaninsultfor

awarriorwhowentintobattleonfoot,ratherthanmountedonahorse.I’dreadthathonourduelswerefoughtonherworldovertheuseofthatslur.Asgraveculturalinsultswent,itseemedacuriousone:theequivalenttonamingamanincapableofhuntingforhimselfandhistribe,orbeingtooweaktofightinaclanwar.Ilistenedtotheirbanter,watchinginsilence,unsureofwhattosay.AnywordsIspokewouldjar

theflowoftheirconversation,soIoptedtosaynothingatall.Irarelyhadthechancetowitnesshumansinteractinglikethis.Clovonwaswatchingme.Histhoughtsbetrayedhim–hehadnocapacitytomaskhisdeeper

thinking.Thefacadeofdisinterestwasbrittle,thewaydryinglavaformsacrackablecrustoverthefusionofoozebeneath.Hewasafraidofme,andhewasthekindofmantohatewhathefeared.Youcouldn’thideemotionlikethat.Annika’stimelyarrivalsparedanythingmoreonthematter.Herblackhairwasarrangedinlong

twinbraidshangingoverhershoulders,insomeFenrisianarrangementthatIsuspectedwassupposedtobeeitherfeminineorregal.Perhapsboth.Tome,itseemedneither.‘Hyperion,’shegreetedme.‘Mylady.’‘Wereyouwaitingforme?’IhadnodesireforhertoknowI’dlingeredhere,captivatedbythecasualwayhumansspoketoone

another.Still,Iwouldspeaknolies.Nottoher.‘No,mylady.’HersmiletoldmethatsheknewwhyI’dwaited.Shewasakeenone.‘Come,then.’Shegesturedtothedoors.‘Let’sseewhatthereistosee.’

III

Thehololithflickeredabovetheprojectortableingrainy,distortedmimicryoftheimageontheocculusscreen.TheFrostbornwasastandardAdeptusAstartesdestroyer,meaningitbristledwithweaponry,statuary,jaggedbattlements,andwascloseinsizeandbulktotheKarabela.OurownvesselwasamodifiedNova-classfrigate,betterarmedandmuchfasterthanitscounterpartsintheImperialNavyorthelesserChapters.WeweretheonlyGreyKnightsonboard.TheFrostborn,anescortvesseloftheSpaceWolvesChapter,lookedbothfamiliarandunknown,

allatonce.Irecognisedthestandardpatternsofitsbattlementsandgunbatteries,yettheiconsofwolves’headsrendereditdifferentenoughtobeunfamiliar.‘Iseenosignsofbattledamage.’Malchadielreachedforthehololith,rotatingitwiththesensor

padsinhisgauntlets’fingertips.Heturneditslowly,hisexpressionrapt.Forsomereason,heremindedmeofachilddelicatelyholdingafamilyheirloom.‘Definitelynobattledamage,’heconfirmed.Thestrategiumhaditsusualmutedhumofactivityastheserfsandservitorswentabouttheirduties.

Thefiveofusstoodwiththeinquisitor ’steam,closetothecentraltable.Galeo’svoiceflowedthroughourminds.+Whatofthedamagealongthebattlementsandcentral

spine?+‘Damage,yes.Butitisn’tbattledamage.Ifyoulookatthesuperficialbleaching…’Malchadiel

turnedtheimagetowardsGaleo,‘…there.Theshipshouldbeblue-grey,inthecoloursoftheChapter.Butthearmourplatingisbleachedandmeltedintothiscolourlessnothingness.That’sthesurestsignofhowshetooksomuchdamage.’Galeonodded,unsurprised.+Ihadanunpleasantfeelingyouwouldsaythat,brother.+‘Idon’tfollow,’theKhatanadmitted.Malchadielrotatedtheimageagain,baringtheship’sslender,skeletalbackashecontinued.‘The

malformationsalongthesuperstructurearealmostdefinitelytheresultofaethericscarring.Thespinalconcourseistorninenoughplacestodepressurisetheentirevessel,evenwithouttherestofthis…’heranafingertipalongtheship’sside,‘…thisextensivedamage.Butnoneofitwasinflictedbyweaponsusedinvoidwarfare.’‘Wait.’Darfordclearedhisthroat.‘Aethericscarring?’Malchadielwasstillcradlingtheruineddestroyer.‘Damagefromthewarp’stides.Shewasrunning

throughthewarpwithoutaGellerfield.’‘Forhowlong?’askedAnnika.

‘Seconds.Hours.Years.’Malchadielshookhishead.‘Thereisnowayoftellingwithoutplunderingtheonboardarchives.Andeventhatpresumesthevessel’sanimusmachinaeisstillsane,andremainsalive.Ifit’sdead,wewillbeunabletorecoverthearchivedinformationwithoutagreatdealofeffort.’‘Uh.’Darfordclearedhisthroatagain.Hedidn’tspeakHighGothic.‘Theanimusmachinae?’‘Hemeansthemachine-spirit,’Iexplained.‘Theship’ssoul.Havewedetectedanylifesigns?’‘Unquantifiable,’Malchadieladmitted.‘Thereisatracesign,buttheCaulisruinoustoauspex

sweeps.’Iturnedfromthehololithtowatchtheshipitself,hanginginthevoid.‘Sheispowerlessandopen

tothevoid,andshe’ssurvivedanunshieldedrunthroughthewarp.Buttherearetracesignsoflife?’Malchadielwouldn’tabandontheholo-image.Itsflickeringgreenlightbathedhisface.‘The

mysterydeepens,brothers.Doyouseethedamagealongthesecondandfourthquadrants?’ThewarriorsofCastiannodded,buttheKhatanleanedoverthetabletosee.Malchadielmovedthe

hololithawayfromher–achildunwillingtoshareatoy.‘Theholes?’sheasked.‘Aren’ttheythesamewarpwounds?’‘Aethericscarring,’Malchadielcorrected.‘Andno,theyarenot.Lookatthewaytheablative

armouriswrenchedoutwards,likethepetalsofaflowerinbloom.Thesehullrupturesareallfrominternalsources.Somethinginsidebrokeitswayout.Manythings,judgingbythenumberofruptures.’TheKhatansniffed.‘Youreyesarebetterthanmine,Ironmonger.’Malchadielcouldn’tquiteresist

asmileatthetribeswoman’snicknameforhim.Darford’ssniper-eyeswereatouchkeener.‘Icountthirty-threehullbreaksontheportside.’I’dcountedthesame.Somewerelargeenoughtodriveatankthrough.‘WhatoftheNavyvessels

thatfoundtheFrostborn?’Iasked.Annikaconsultedadata-slate.‘ItwasapatrolofViper-classdestroyers,ledbytheIndefatigable

Heart.Theirlong-rangesensorsfoundtheFrostborn,buttheirmandatewastoghosttheedgesoftheCaul.Thepatrolcaptainrequested–andwasexplicitlydenied–permissiontosailintothedustfromtheHolyOrdos.’‘TheViperpatrol,weretheymerepirate-hunters?’Dumenidonasked.‘Iamnotfamiliarwiththe

Navalvesselclassesofthissubsector,butIknowthisnebulaisahavenforreavers.’Theinquisitornodded.‘TheViperswereill-equippedtodealwithathreatlikethis,’sheconfirmed.

‘Itwasbraveofthemtoevenaskpermissiontoinvestigate.’‘There’safinelinebetweenbraveryandignorance,’Iventured.‘Hastherebeenanyvox-contact

withthedestroyersincewearrived?’‘Nothing,brother.’Malchadielfinallyreleasedthehololithicimage.Freedofhisgrip,itdrifted

intotheslowrollbeingperformedbytheactualwarshipinthedustcloud.Annikawrinkledhernose.‘Notevenadistressbeacon?’‘No,mistress.’Ilookedattheothersastheystoodinsilence.‘Butwhatofthepsychiccry?’Iasked.‘Havewe

managedtosourceit?’‘The…what?’Annikaturnedtome.Everyoneturnedtome.‘Can’tyouhearit?’Iasked,growingunsuremyselfnow.Afteramoment,mygazefoundGaleo.I

sensedhimquestout,linkingwithmysixthsensethewayahuntinghoundwouldsnuffafterascent.+Ihearitnow,+hesaid.+Anindistinctwhineintothewarp.Human,orcloseenoughtofeign

humanitywithruthlessaccuracy.+Inodded,forI’dhearditthesameway.‘Idon’tunderstandhowtheastropathscouldhavemissed

it.’Thejusticarwatchedmeforalongmoment.Judgementrodeinthatgaze,evenhiddenbehindhis

eyelenses.+Theymisseditbecauseitissoweak,+hesaidatlast.Fromthefocusofthemessage,Iknewitwas

designedonlyformymindtohear.+Youaregrowingstrong,Hyperion.++Thankyou,justicar.+Annikatappedherknucklesonthetable–anotherofherhabitswhenconcentrating.‘Thesaga

twists,’shesaidwithanannoyedsigh.‘Verywell.Goaboard.Makepreparationsformyteamtojoinyouassoonasitisdeemedanacceptablerisk.’Sheglaredattheocculuswherethepowerlessvesselturnedinthevoid,enslavedtogentle,

unfadingmomentum.‘Iwanttoseeinsidethatship,’shesaidatlast.Wesalutedasone.+Gunshipinsertionintotheportdockingbay.+Galeogesturedtothesealedbaydoors.

+Dumenidonwillleadusinthepreparatoryrituals.WewillbeaboardtheFrostbornwithinthehour.+

FOUR

FROSTBORN

I

ASpaceWolveswarship.Atleast,theremainsofone.Inaway,ithadcomefullcircle.FrombirthinthefrostofFenris,itnowdrifteddeadinthedeep

void,losttoiceandfarfromanysun.Theship’soceansofcoolantandinternaloilswerelikelyhardasdiamond,blockingtheinternalsystemsbeyondhopeofthaw.Myfirststepontothehangardecksentagentlehumthroughmyarmour.Withthepoweroutand

theshipopentothevoid,thebaywasahiveofsilenceandzerogravity.Beyondmyslowbreathing,sighingthroughmyhelm’srespiratoryfeed,theonlysoundwasSothis’smurmursashelockedhisownbootstothedeckbehindme.Apairofhumaneyeglasses,almostcertainlytheformerpropertyofaChapterserf,tappedagainst

myshin.Iglanceddownatthemastheydriftedaway.Bloodfleckedthecorrectivelenses.‘Thechamberisriddledwithdebris,’Dumenidonvoxed.‘Personalitems.Driftingrocketsand

ammunitioncrates.Severallifter/loaders.TheWolves’onegunshipandRhinotroopcarrierarebothsecuredtothedeck.Theshiphastakenondustandgritfromthenebula.Visibilityinhumanspectrumsispoor.Eyelensescompensating.’‘Bodies?’cametheinquisitor ’scracklingreply.Wecouldbarelyhearher.Thedustwasmurderto

voxcohesion.‘None.Nobodies.’Idisengagedmymagneticsealsanddriftedaheadoftheothers,risingtothe

chamber ’sgirder-thickroof.Tomove,Idraggedmyselfgentlyacrosstheceiling.Aloose,unfiredboltershellclackedoffmyshoulderguard,slowlyspinningaway.‘There’snothinghere,inquisitor.Nothingalive.’Herreplywasstolenbystaticdistortion.‘Repeat,please,’Isaid.‘Interference.’Again,herwordswereabusedbythestrugglingvox.‘Justicar,IamlosingcontactwiththeKarabela.’+I’velosther,aswell.+IfeltGaleoinsidemyhead,asoftpresencewithoutthesoliditytobe

intrusive.+Itwastobeexpected.++Inquisitor,+Ireachedouttoher.‘Ihearyou.’Shesoundedcloseenoughtobestandingnexttome.Closeenoughtobesharingmy

suitofarmour.Withamomentarylurchofperception,Itwistedintheair,lockingmybootsontotheceiling.‘Showmewhatyousee,’shesaid.Sharingmysenseswasoneofourgiftsthathadalwayscomeeasilytome.Ittookafragmentof

concentrationtoopenmyselftowhatIwasseeing–pasttheflickeringtargetlocksandscrollingrunesofmyretinaldisplay.TheangleofthechamberasIstooduponitsceiling;therevolvingstars

beyondtheopenbaydoors;thedebrisdriftingthroughtheair,likethewreckageinadrownedcity.OurStormravengunshipwasabloatedsilverticklatchedontothehangardeck,itstongueunrolled

intoagangramp.Malchadiel,thelastofus,wasdescendingitnow.SothishaddriftedovertothePredatortanksintheirorderedrows,andwasbrushinghishandsovertheirbleached,deformedarmourplating.Galeostoodbytheopendockingbaydoors,staringoutintospace.Dumenidonhadstompedacrosstheplatformtowardsadeactivatedcontrolpanel,andwasclearingfloatingcratesasidetoreachit.‘Isee,’cameAnnika’sresponse.Forasplitsecond,Ireachedtoofarintothebondbetweenus,and

myvisiondoubledasIsawthroughhersenses.ShestoodintheKarabela’sstrategium,facingtheocculus.DarfordandClovonwerewithher.Thehereticwasmutteringsomething.Mysurgeofirritationstrainedthepsychicunion,leavingmyvisionwateryandindistinct.Ittooka

momenttoclawitbacktostability,littledifferentfromstaringintodarknessandwaitingforyoureyestoadjust.‘Whathappened?’sheasked.+Nothing.+‘NowIcanhearyouwhisperingsomething.’Iwasrecitingtheninety-secondlitanyofabsolutefocus.Ratherthananswerher,Iturnedtothe

reasonI’ddrifteduptotheceiling.Manoeuvringthroughthegirderswasnotrialatall;noincidentalcontactwouldbreachmyarmour.Theinquisitor ’spresencereceded,leavingherapassiveobserverthroughmysenses.Bloodhadfrozenintoacrystalcrustalongseveralofthedarkironbeams.Itflakedawayundermy

touch,turningtoredpowderinthedustyair.+Kindred,+Galeosent.+Bereadytomoveon.Hyperion,whatofthepsychicdistresscall?+‘Itceasedthemomentwesetfootaboard,’Ivoxed.‘Thisfeelslikeaverycrudetrap,justicar.’+Almostcertainly.Stayalert.+Iunlockedmybootsandkickedofftheceiling,driftingthroughthedebris.Atthelastmoment,I

turnedandlandedonthehangardeck,relockingmystabilisers.‘Nobodies.’Malchadielechoedwhatweallknew,andwhatwewereallstillthinking.‘Theyhavea

gunshiphere,andnevermanagedtoreachit.’ThroughmypsychiclinktoAnnika,IheardDarford’sdistantgrumble.‘Thisjustgetsbetter.’

II

AnAdeptusAstarteswarshipisabastioninthevoid,designedtobreakblockadefleets,rainbombardmentuponthesurfaceofaworld,andfacedownwarshipsmanytimesitssize.Manyofthesecretsinourfleetvessels’exactdesignarelosttous,predatingtheImperium,withtheirrootsbackintheDarkAgeofTechnology.Sufficetosay,anyImperialSpaceMarinewarshipisafortressinspace,anditsinsidesarealabyrinthofornatearchitectureandgrandchambers.Wemadeourwayfromthemodesthangarbay,consultingretinalschematicsaswemovedtothe

primaryarmoury.WhileaHunter-classdestroyerlackedthescaleofitslargercousins,itwasn’tentirelydevoidofmajesty.Wolf-headedgargoylesleeredfromthewalls,watchinguswithfrostedfacesandunblinkingeyes.Doorarchesshowedcarvingsofelaboratebronzeworking,whichwouldbeconsideredmasterpiecesonmanyworlds.Gold-leafrunesranthelengthsofwholecorridorwalls,whilemanyofthechambersboastedentirefloorsencrustedwithmosaictiles.IntheGothicbowelsof

thesewarships,ostentationmetpracticalitylikenowhereelseinmankind’sgalaxy.Wedidn’tsplitup.WewereGreyKnights,notapackofidioticsalvagers.Eachofushadbeen

raisedandtrainedtoactashisbrother ’sshield,andwekeptourmindsfaintlylinked,readytoseethrougheachother ’ssensesatamoment’snotice.TheartificialpulseofMalchadiel’sauspexscannerwasaclockworkheartbeatwecouldn’tignore.

Ittick,tick,tickedincontemplativerhythm,seeingnothing,hearingnothing,sensingnothing.Wemovedwithourweaponshigh.Asalways,GaleoandDumenidonledtheway.Iwalkedas

rearguard,mystormbolterraisedandmypistolinmyotherhand.Theshiphadsuffered,therewasnodoubt.Aserforservitorteamnavigatingthroughthewreckage

wouldhaverequiredagreatdealofdoublingbackonthemselvestoseekotherpassages.Anyblockageswefound,wherewreckagebarricadedtheway,wereclearedbyMalchadielandGaleoworkingintelekineticunity.Theyhauledthemangledironasidewithpullsandburstsofkineticforce.Malchadielwasbreathinginlowgruntsoverthevoxbythetimehewrenchedasidethethirtiethpile

oftwistediron.Hisprimarygiftwasasatelekine,butthehumanbodyhaslimits,evenoneimplantedwiththeEmperor ’sGift.Psychicicehoarfrostedhisarmour,flakingawaywhenheflexedhismusclestorefocus.Wefoundthefirstbodiesintheprimaryarmourychamber.ServitorsandChapterserfsdecorated

theroominmurderedprofusion,hangingsilentintheweightlessair.Eachcorpsetoldofafouldeath:thebodieswereburstopen,pulledapart,orcleavedcleanintwain.Thefirstcorpseofnotesatslumpedagainstthewall,aceramite-cladhandonitsarmoured

stomach.He’ddiedwhilefailingtorestoretheropesofhisintestinestohisbelly.Likeus,he’dlockedhisbootstothedeck.Unlikeus,hewasunarmed.Arune-inscribedbolterdriftedjustoutofhisreach.‘Sovagudt,hell’ten,’Annikamurmuredinmymind–aFenrisianbenedictionforaherotorestin

peace.UnfamiliarwiththeChapter ’sinnerworkings,Ididn’trecognisethecompanymarkingsonhiswarplate:arivetedironwolfstaringfromhisshoulder,withwolf-tailtalismanshangingfromhisbelt.Apooloffrozenbloodspreadinalldirectionsfromhiscorpseatitsepicentre.Notallofthediscolouredfluidwashuman.+Hyperion,+Galeoprompted.Iknewwhathewished.‘Aye,justicar.’Iwalkedtothecorpse,lettingmyfingersrestonhishelm.Thewarrior ’shangingheadlefthim

staringdownatwhatwasleftofhistorso.+Whatdoyousee?+Isawasifthroughaveilofmist–theviewfromanother ’seyes.Thischamber,alivewithrunning

serfsandservitorsarmedwithindustrialtools…Lithe,daemonicfiguresranbetweenthem,cleavingaboutthemwithserratedbladesthatlookedtobeforgedofbrassorbronze.Themistveilthickened,clearingagaintoshowthewarrior ’sverylastsight.Oneofthecreatures–athingofswollen,moltenveinsbeneathcrackedblackskin–sprayedbileintomyvisionasitlanceditsbladeintomystomach.Iheardnothing,feltnothing,butthesightleftlittletotheimagination.Iliftedmyhandfromhishelm.‘ChildrenoftheSanguinaryUnholiness,justicar.Dozensofthem.’+Spreadout,+heordered.+Iwantanswers.+Theprimaryarmourylayundefendedbutforthebodiesoftheslain,itsgreatdoorsopento

resembletoothlessmaws.Thewallswerebarrenracks,holdingnosignofbladesorbolters.Everyweaponhadbeenclaimed.Sincethedeathofgravity,cratesofammunitionandsparechainswordteeth-trackshadspilledtheircontentsintotheair,punctuatingthespacesbetweenthefloatingcorpses.Theonlylightcamefromourweapons,bladessoftlygleamingwithlow-tunedpowerfields,

occasionallysendingshadowsdancingalongthewallsasacrackleofelectricalforceraspeddowna

sword’sedge.Theflickeringplayofsilhouettesturnedthebroken,frozenfacesintothetremblingvisagesofdaemons.‘Theydepletedthisplace,’Sothissaid.‘Notaweaponleft.’Igesturedtotheceiling,pittedandcrackedtoabsoluteruinationwithbolterfire,aswellasthe

impactsofsmallercalibreweapons.‘Somethingwasabovetheminthischamber.Theysoughttobringitdown.’Evenourenhancedvisionsufferedinthedustynear-dark.Myarmoursensedmystrainingsight

andswitchedmyeyelensestoadifferentfrequency,piercingsomeoftheashendistortion.Stillnothingthere.+We’redeepenoughnow.Hyperion,commenceasending.+Iholsteredmyboltpistol.‘Atonce,justicar.’

III

Thereisasaying,drawnfromtheagesofOldEarthandwrittenbyacouncilofAncientMericankings,thatallmenwerecreatedequal.I’doftenwonderedifthewordssoundedasfalseandidealistictothosemen’searsastheydidtomine.Truly,humanityhasaninfinitecapacityforself-deception.Deceitisasinagainstpurity,asrecordedinthefifteenthdecreeofpiety.Tolieistostainthesoul,

andhewhodeceiveshimselfisthrice-blackenedbythefalsehood.Allmenarenotcreatedequal.Theproofisthereforanyeyetosee.Whilewearenolongermeninthehumansense,wecarryouroriginswithinus,sonoKnightis

exactlyequal,either.Sothishadnoaffinitytocarryoutasending,nordidDumenidon.Malchadiel’sabilitieswere

primarilythoseofatelekine,whileIwasclassifiedinthestrictesttermsasapyrokine.ButofthefivesoulsinCastian,theresponsibilityforasendingalwaysfelltoGaleoormyself.Theywerealmostalwaysundertakenalone.Howtodescribeasending?Howdoesonedescribeastormtoanunderhivechildwhocan’t

imaginewindandweather?Youcanexplainthatrainiswateragainsttheface,andthattheblackcloudsabovearelikeabankofpollutantfog,butthepicturewillalwaysbeincomplete.Thechildhasneverseenthesky.Theonlywindhehaseverfeltistheasthmaticbreathingofventilatorexchangers.Inmyearliestnights,I’dneededtokneeltocommitasending–tochantscriptureandfocuson

ignoringthesensationsofmybody.Thankfully,mytraininghadbroughtmefarfromthosefirsthaltingtrials,andthebondwithmybrothersamplifiedmytalents.OntheFrostborn,Imerelyhadtoclosemyeyes.Theshipresistedme.Icouldfeelthetaintinitsbones,thespoiledironandsoursteelrepellingmy

questingtouch.Hallbyhall,chamberbychamber,Iunfoldedmysensesanddriftedthroughthedeadship.Toseewithoutsight,toperceivewithoutanyphysicalsense,isdisconcertingevenforaprepared

mind.I’donceperformedasendinginahabitationblock,andtheassaultingfeedbackhadbeenasiegeagainstmysenses:ahundredmindshammeringtheirneedsandthoughtsbackintomybrain,allinonetoxicflood.Beneaththatmaelstromofsentiencelingeredthesimple,sharphind-braininstinctsoftheverminbreedingbehindeverywall,andthecontoursofthebuildingitself–itsangles,theporousholesinitsmaterials,thewayitsweightleanedonitsfoundations…Sendingmysensesthroughthedestroyerwaspoisonouslykintothatexperience.Thebaroque

wallsandnarrowconduitspulsedwithasecretheartbeat,aliveinawaythatnoscannerwouldeverdetect.NowhereatalldidIfeelanyclosertoreachingthesourceofthepsychicwhine.Whateverhadbeen

weepingintothewarpnowshieldeditselfwithtenacityandstrength.‘Isensenolivingsoulsontheship,’Itoldthem.+Bodies?+Icouldfeelthem,andtheirspiritslingeringnearby.EverytimeIpassedacorpse,I’dcatchahalf-

sent