Dan Abnett - The Horus Heresy - Horus Rising

'Is this how you expected it to be?' he asked quietly.

'What?'

When you were selected.’ he said. When they contacted me, I felt so...'

'So what?'

'So... proud, I suppose. I imagined so much. I thought I would set foot amongst the stars and become a part of mankind's finest moment. I thought I would be uplifted, and thus produce my finest works.’

And you're not?' Keeler asked.

The beloved warriors we've been sent here to glorify couldn't be less helpful if they tried.’

'I've had some success.’ Keeler said. 'I was down on the assembly deck earlier, and captured some fine images. I've put in a request to be allowed transit to the surface. I want to see the war-zone first-hand.’

'Good luck. They'll probably deny you. Every request for access I've made has been turned down.’

They're warriors, Ig. They've been warriors for a long time. They resent the likes of us. We're just passengers, along for the ride, univited.'

"Vou got your shots.’ he said.

Keeler nodded. They don't seem to mind me.’

That's because you dress like a man.’ he smiled.

The hatch slid open and a figure joined them in the quiet mezzanine chamber. Mersadie Oliton went direcdy to the table where the decanter sat, poured herself a drink, and knocked it back. Then she stood, silently, gazing out at the drifting stars beyond the barge's vast window ports.

'What's up with her now?' Karkasy ventured.

'Sadie?' Keeler asked, getting to her feet and setting her glass down. What happened?'

'Apparendy, I just offended someone.’ Oliton said quickly, pouring another drink.

'Offended? Who?' Keeler asked.

'Some haughty Marine bastard called Loken. Bastard!'

'You got time with Loken?' Karkasy asked, sitting up rapidly and swinging his feet to the deck. 'Loken? Tenth Company Captain Loken?'

'Yes.’ Oliton said. Why?'

'I've been trying to get near him for a month now.’ Karkasy said. 'Of all the captains, they say, he is the most steadfast, and he's to take Sejanus's place, according to the rumour mill. How did you get authorisation?'

'I didn't.’ Oliton said. 'I was finally given credentials for a brief interview with Captain Torgaddon, which I counted as no small success in itself, given the days I've spent petitioning to meet him, but I don't think he was in the mood to talk to me. When I went to see him at the appointed time, his equerry turned up instead and told me Torgaddon was busy. Torgaddon had sent the equerry to take me to see Loken. 'Token's got a good story," he said.’

'Was it a good story?' Keeler asked.

Mersadie nodded. 'Best I've heard, but I said something he didn't like, and he turned on me. Made me feel this small.’ She gestured with her hand, and then took another swig.

'Did he smell of sweat?' Karkasy asked.

'No. No, not at all. He smelled of oils. Very sweet and clean.’

'Can you get me an introduction?' asked Ignace Karkasy.

HE HEARD FOOTSTEPS, then a voice called his name. 'Garvi?'

Loken looked around from his sword drill and saw, through the bars of the cage, Nero Vipus framed in the doorway of the blade-school. Vipus was dressed in black breeches, boots and a loose vest, and his truncated arm was very evident. The missing hand had been bagged in sterile jelly, and nanotic serums injected to reform the wrist so it would accept an augmetic implant in a week or so. Loken could still see the scars where Vipus had used his chainsword to amputate his own hand.

"What?'

'Someone to see you.’ Vipus said.

'If it's another damn remembrancer-' Loken began.

Vipus shook his head. 'It's not. It's Captain Torgaddon.’

Loken lowered his blade and deactivated the practice cage as Vipus drew aside. The target dummies and armature blades went dead around him, and the upper hemisphere of the cage slid into the roof space as the lower hemisphere retracted into the deck beneath the mat. Tarik Torgaddon entered the blade-school chamber, dressed in fatigues and a long coat of silver mail. His features were saturnine, his hair black. He grinned

at Vipus as the latter slipped out past him. Torgaddon's grin was full of perfect white teeth.

Thanks, Vipus. How's the hand?'

'Mending, captain. Fit to be rebonded.’

That's good.’ said Torgaddon. Wipe your arse with the other one for a while, all right? Carry on.'

Vipus laughed and disappeared.

Torgaddon chuckled at his own quip and climbed the short steps to face Loken in the middle of the canvas mat. He paused at a blade rack outside the opened cage, selected a long-handled axe, and drew it out, hacking the air with it as he advanced.

'Hello, Garviel.’ he said. You've heard the rumour, I suppose?'

'I've heard all sorts of rumours, sir.’

'I mean the one about you. Take a guard.’

Loken tossed his practice blade onto the deck and quickly drew a tabar from the nearest rack. It was all-steel, blade and handle both, and the cutting edge of the axe head had a pronounced curve. He raised it in a hunting stance and took up position facing Torgaddon.

Torgaddon feinted, then smote in with two furious chops. Loken deflected Torgaddon's axe-head with the haft of his tabar, and the blade-school rang with chiming echoes. The smile had not left Torgaddon's face.

'So, this rumour...' he continued, circling.

This rumour.’ Loken nodded. 'Is it true?'

'No.’ said Torgaddon. Then he grinned impishly. 'Of course it bloody is! Or maybe it's not... No, it is.’ He laughed loudly at the mischief.

That's funny.’ said Loken.

'Oh, belt up and smile.’ Torgaddon hissed, and scythed in again, striking at Loken with two very nonstandard cross-swings that Loken had trouble dodging. He was forced to spin his body out of the way and land with his feet wide-braced.

'Interesting work.’ Loken said, circling again, his tabar low and loose. 'Are you, may I ask, just making these moves up?'

Torgaddon grinned. Taught to me by the Warmaster himself.’ he said, pacing around and allowing the long axe to spin in his fingers. The blade flashed in the glow of the down lighters aimed on the canvas.

He halted suddenly, and aimed the head of the axe at Loken. 'Don't you want this, Garviel? Terra, I put you up for this myself.’

'I'm honoured, sir. I thank you for that.’

'And it was seconded by Ekaddon.’

Loken raised his eyebrows.

'All right, no it wasn't. Ekaddon hates your guts, my friend.’

The feeling is mutual.’

That's the boy.’ Torgaddon roared, and lunged at Loken. Loken smashed the hack away, and counter-chopped, forcing Torgaddon to leap back onto the edges of the mat. 'Ekaddon's an arse.’ Torgaddon said, 'and he feels cheated you got there first.’

'I only-' Loken began.

Torgaddon raised a finger for silence. 'You got there first.’ he said quietly, not joking any more, 'and you saw the truth of it. Ekaddon can go hang, he's just smarting. Abaddon seconded you for this.’

The first captain?'

Torgaddon nodded. 'He was impressed. You beat him to the punch. Glory to Tenth. And the vote was decided by the Warmaster.’

Loken lowered his guard completely. The Warmaster?'

'He wants you in. Told me to tell you that himself. He appreciated your work. He admired your sense of honour. "Tarik," he said to me, "if anyone's going to take Sejanus's place, it should be Loken." That's what he said.’

'Did he?'

'No.’

Loken looked up. Torgaddon was coming at him with his axe high and whirling. Loken ducked, side-stepped, and thumped the butt of his tabar's haft into Torgad-don's side, causing Torgaddon to mis-step and stumble.

Torgaddon exploded in laughter. 'Yes! Yes, he did. Terra, you're too easy, Garvi. Too easy. The look on your face!'