Ben Counter - Galaxy in Flames

dome. The ruse had worked and the World Eaters had been strung out as they charged at Loken's position. Many had died to the guns Tarvitz had stationed above the barricades, and by the time Loken's sword had left its sheath it was only momentum that kept the World Eaters fighting –victory was beyond them.

Luna Wolves were mixed in with the World Eaters' dead, warriors Loken had known for years. Although the sounds of battle had faded, Loken fancied he could still hear echoes of the fighting, chainblades ripping through armour and volleys of bolter rounds splitting the air.

'It was a close run thing, Garviel,’ said a voice from behind Loken, 'but we did it,’

Loken glanced round to see Saul Tarvitz emerging from the central dome. Loken smiled as he saw his friend and battle-brother, a man who had come a long way from the line officer he had been back on Murder to command the survivors of Horus's treachery.

'Angron will be back,’ said Loken.

'Their ruse failed, though,’ said Tarvitz.

They don't need to break in, Saul,’ said Loken. 'Horus will whittle us down until there's no one left. Then Eidolon and Angron can just roll over us,’

'Not forgetting the Warmaster's Sons of Horus,’ said Tarvitz.

Loken shrugged. There's no need for them to get involved yet. Eidolon wants the glory and the World Eaters are hungry for blood. The Warmaster

will happily let the other Legions wear us down before they strike,’ 'That's changed,’ said Tarvitz. What do you mean?'

'I've just had word from Lucius,’ explained Tarvitz. 'He tells me that his communications specialists have broken the Sons of Horus communiques. Some old friends of yours are coming down from the Vengeful Spirit to lead the Legion,’

Loken turned from the battlefield, suddenly interВ­ested. 'Who?'

'Ezekyle Abaddon and Horus Aximand,’ said Tarvitz. 'Apparently they are to bring the Warmaster's own wrath down upon the city. The Sons of Horus will be playing their hand soon enough, I think,’

Abaddon and Aximand, the arch-traitors, men Loken had admired for so long and the heart of the Mournival. Both warriors stood at Horus's right hand and possibilities flashed through Loken's mind. Deprived of the last of its Mourni­val, a crucial part of the Legion would die and it would start unravelling without such inspira­tional figureheads. 'Saul, are you certain?' asked Loken urgently. 'As sure as I can be, but Lucius seemed pretty excited by the news,’

'Did this intercept say where they would be landВ­ing?' demanded Loken.

'It did,’ smiled Lucius. The Mackaran Basilica, just beyond the palace. It's a big temple with a spire in the shape of a trident,’

'I have to find Tank,’

'He is with Nero Vipus, helping Vaddon with the wounded.'

'Thank you for bringing me this news, Saul,’ said Loken with a cruel smile. 'This changes everything.'

Lucius peered past the bullet-riddled pillar, scanВ­ning through the darkness of one of the many battlefields scattered throughout the ruins of the palace. Bodies, bolters and chainaxes lay on the shattered tiles where they had been dropped and many of the bodies were still locked in their last, fatal combat.

It had not been difficult for Lucius to slip out of the palace. The biggest danger had been the snipers of the recon squads the Warmaster's forces had deployed among the ruins. Lucius had spied moveВ­ment in the ruined buildings several times and had taken cover in shell craters or behind heaps of corpses.

Squirming through the filth and darkness like an animal – it had been humiliating, though the sights, sounds and smells of these battlefields still filled his senses in an arousing way. He stepped warily into the courtyard. The bodies that lay every­where had been butchered, hacked apart with chainblades or battered to death with fists.

It was an ugly spectacle, yet he relished the image of how intense their deaths must have been.

'No artistry,’ he said to himself as a gold and pur­ple armoured figure detached from the shadows. A

score of warriors followed him and Lucius smiled as he recognised Lord Commander Eidolon.

'Lord commander,’ said Lucius, 'it is a pleasure to stand before you once more,’

'Damn your blandishments!' spat Eidolon. 'You are a traitor twice over,’

That's as maybe,’ said Lucius, slouching on a fallen pillar of black marble, 'but I am here to give you what you want,’

'Ha!' scoffed Eidolon. What can you give us, traiВ­tor?'

Victory,’ said Lucius.

Victory?' laughed Eidolon. You think we need your help to give us that? We have you in a vice! One by one, death by death, victory will be ours!'

'And how many warriors will you lose to achieve it?' retorted Lucius. 'How many of Ful-grim's chosen are you willing to throw into a battle that should never have been fought at all? You can end this right now, right here, and keep all your Astartes alive for the real battle! When the Emperor sends his reply to Horus's treachery you will need every single one of your battle-brothers and you know it,’

'And what would be your price for this invaluable help?' asked Eidolon.

'Simple,’ said Lucius. 'I want to rejoin the Legion,’

Eidolon laughed in his face and Lucius felt the

song of death surge painfully through his body,

but .he forced its killing music back down

inside him.

Are you serious, Lucius?' demanded Eidolon. 'What makes you think we want you back?'

'You need someone like me, Eidolon. I want to be part of a Legion that respects my skills and ambiВ­tion. I am not content to stay a captain for the rest of my life like that wretch Tarvitz. I will be at Ful-grim's side where I belong.'

'Tarvitz,’ spat Eidolon. 'Does he still live?'

'He lives,' nodded Lucius, 'although I will gladly kill him for you. The glory of this battle should be mine, yet he lords over us all as if he is one of the chosen.'

Lucius felt his bitterness rise and fought to maintain his composure. 'He was once happy to trudge alongВ­side his warriors and leave better men to the glory, but he has chosen this batde to discover his ambition. It's thanks to him that I'm down here at all.'

'You ask for a great deal of trust, Lucius,’ said Eidolon.

'I do, but think what I can give you: the palace, Tarvitz,’

"We will have these things anyway,’

*We are a proud Legion, lord commander, but we never send our brothers to their deaths to prove a point,’

'We follow the orders of the Warmaster in all things,’ replied Eidolon guardedly.

'Indeed,’ noted Lucius, 'but what if I said I can give you a victory so sudden it will be yours and yours alone. The World Eaters and the Sons of Horus will only flounder in your wake,’

Lucius could see he had caught Eidolon's interest and suppressed a smile. Now all he had to was reel him in.

'Speak,’ commanded Eidolon.

'I'm coming with you, Garvi,’ said Nero Vipus, walking into the only dome of the palace not to be ruined by the siege. It had once been an audi­torium with a stage and rows of gilded seats, where the music of creation had once played to the Choral City's elite, but now it was moulder­ing and dark.

Loken rose from his battle meditation, seeing Vipus standing before him and said, 'I knew you would wish to come, but this is something Tarik and I have to do alone,’

'Alone?' said Vipus. That's madness. Ezekyle and Little Horus are the best soldiers the Legion has ever had. You can't go up against them alone,’

Loken placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and said, 'The palace will fall soon enough with or without Tarik and me. Saul Tarvitz has done unimaginable things in keeping us all alive as long as he has, but ultimately the palace will fall,’