The dark grey warships departed the crimson world of Dulan in gloom.
The Space Wolves had not, as was their custom, reduced Dulan to ruins. The industrial district was firmly in Shadows of Order's hands.
The Wolf King had not taken the Tyrant's head. For the first time, he had failed to fulfill a sworn hunt.
Around the hearth aboard the Nidhogg, there was no laughter, no camaraderie.
Ogvai Ogvai Helmschrot, Wolf Lord of the 3rd Great Company, who had always been clean-shaven, now had a few stray, coarse bristles on his face.
Since witnessing the malignant mutation, he had been plagued by nightmares, often waking from dreams of becoming a beast.
His sunken eyes stared at Naeut. The silver ring piercing his lower lip trembled. He spoke, his voice a mix of irritation and childish hope.
"If it's from the Canis Helix, any Wolf could be affected." The Wolf Priest's words fell like ice and snow on everyone present, a chill the hearth fire couldn't dispel.
"Wolf Lord, we should be more concerned about whether Nareth will make those images public."
"His relationship with the Wolf King has always been strained."
"Those vermin on Terra will certainly seize the chance to come out of the woodwork."
"Fortunately, that's the one thing we don't need to worry about," Ogvai said wearily.
"Jorin told me the Wolf King reached an agreement with him. He will keep our secret, and we will offer him Fenrisian creatures in return."
"Did Jorin say how the Wolf King is?" Naeut's question made the silent Honor Guard all look at their Wolf Lord.
"The Wolf King is fine. He's just sleeping."
"Nareth wouldn't dare kill him. The Wolves outnumber his men."
Ogvai thought of Sanchez, of the Russ Wolf Helm on his head, the Cloak on his shoulders, the Kraken's Fang at his waist. His hand trembled slightly.
"If anything happened to the Wolf King, he would never have left Dulan alive."
Ogvai gripped his silver cup. The image Jorin had shown him flashed through his mind.
The sight of the Wolf King struck down was the nightmare that haunted his waking hours.
He took a deep draught of the pitch-black liquid. The burn of Fenrisian mead dispelled the shadow of the Lord of Winter and War's defeat.
At the same moment the Wolves departed Dulan in gloom, Nareth was issuing orders in his office.
"Techmarines, study the Dulanian technology."
"Sanchez, your Chapter will remain at Dulan to rest and refit."
"Arsena, set course for Chogoris. It's time to see Jaghatai."
Though he had dealt with Russ's trouble, Nareth had promised Sanguinius and Magnus he would speak with Jaghatai.
The Dice of Prophecy had been used. He would have to wait until 873 to divine the Rangdan homeworld. This was a good time to meet Jaghatai.
Sanchez and Arsena glanced at the chainsword, as tall as a man, on the weapon rack, and answered respectfully.
"By your will."
At the same moment the Shadow of Royalty transitioned into the Warp, Ethan, the Librarian visiting Prospero, stood in the center of the Eye of the Void plaza, looking out at the eighty-one paths radiating from it.
A crimson-armored Thousand Son of the Pavoni Cult smiled and explained.
"The Eye of the Void is the center of Tizca."
"When the Emperor and Lord Nareth visited Prospero, our Father welcomed them here."
Ethan looked at the tall, Doric-style columns. The burning braziers atop them illuminated his memories of reading about his Father's visit.
He walked into a street flanked by lifelike silver lion statues.
Each was posed differently, in various sizes, as if a real pride had been plated in silver and placed on marble pedestals.
Ethan stopped, looking at the garden entrance guarded by two statues. A red-armored Thousand Son was supervising citizens exercising.
"This is Silver Street," the handsome Thousand Son walked to his side. "They are practicing Taijiquan."
"Our Father and Lord Perturabo discovered remnants of the Dragon Realm during the Morningstar rescue mission."
"Father studied it and found that people find peace in these gentle, precise movements. The repetitive cycles and elegant harmony soothe their troubled minds."
"I don't think this is unfamiliar to you. Lord Nareth's domains also have gardens where citizens practice it."
Ethan nodded. He knew the 'they' the Thousand Son referred to were psykers and mutants.
These groups made up a significant portion of Tizca's population.
Gardens had been built in every domain of his Father. Citizens were required to practice Taijiquan.
It was both a welfare measure and a precaution against loss of control psykers.
The exercising citizens, seeing the black-armored warrior, erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
They bowed in unison, gracefully and gently, calling out loudly.
"Salute to Shadows of Order! Thank you for hunting the Psychneuein!"
The Pavoni Thousand Son said teasingly, "You are almost as popular here as we are."
"You deserve it. Since you started hunting the Psychneuein in the wasteland, Tizca has suffered no more attacks."
"That is precisely my mission here." Ethan waved to the crowd, drawing even louder cheers.
As they spoke, they reached the foot of a mountain. A Thousand Son with glowing skin pointed proudly at the massive pyramid, set against the White Mountain and the acropolis as a backdrop.
"That magnificent one is our cult's."
"It is the largest, besides the Primarch's Pyramid of Photep."
The proud Chief Librarian, Hathor Maat, had used his influence to make the Pyramid of Pavoni exquisitely beautiful.
Ethan looked into the distance. Such imposing structures would seem jarring elsewhere, but these pyramids harmonized seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, as if they had always been part of the mountains.
Only one stood out. He pointed curiously at its burning pinnacle. "And that?"
"The Pyrae Cult's." The handsome Thousand Son made a face.
He produced a gleaming psychic crystal and handed it to Ethan.
"A gift for you. Every Shadow of Order who visits receives one."
"You can consider the Pyramid of Pavoni your home. Everyone in our cult is eager to speak with you."
"You can also read any book in our library. After the Great Library and Photep, the Pyramid of Pavoni holds the most books."
The Pavoni Cult Thousand Son said warmly.
'Father's relationship with Lord Nareth was amicable, and the Magister Templi had been seconded to Shadows of Order. He often recounted his experiences during his lectures, fostering widespread goodwill towards Lord Nareth and his sons within the cult.'
Ethan did not lose himself in the knowledge of the Pyramid of Pavoni. The next day, he took a red disc-shaped speeder provided by the Thousand Sons and flew into the wasteland.
The Thousand Sons prioritized the small number of speeders they had just begun to equip for Shadows of Order heading into the wasteland.
As the speeder left Tizca, Ethan saw, surrounding the city, dozens of iron-stone towers. Red-armored Thousand Sons were setting up defense arrays.
They looked up and raised their staves in salute.
Ethan returned the salute and flew past the forward base established by Shadows of Order for the Thousand Sons, heading towards the location rune of his battle-brothers deeper in the wasteland.
A blackened iron-stone tower, heavily overgrown with green, came into view. He guided the speeder down into the valley.
A squad of Shadows of Order emerged from the decayed steel structure, scanning their surroundings vigilantly.
"Don't use psychic power!" Ethan heard the warning instantly.
"Every time psychic power is used, they become more frenzied."
"Knock one down, a thousand come."
Though Ethan was curious about the "Griffin's Roar's" effect on creatures like the Psychneuein, he would not risk his own life or those of his brothers.
He guessed the Chief Librarian had sent him to Prospero precisely to temper his self-control and will.
The resilient psyker nodded and removed the arc projection gun from his back.
"Here they come." The "Monster" of the hunting squad warned, hearing the scraping sound.
Ethan followed the "Monster's" gaze. Countless wings hummed and flashed towards them.
The "Warrior" joined the circular formation, raising his arc projection gun and firing at the churning swarm.
ZZZZAAAP...
Crackling arcs struck their slender bodies. The ugly, multi-winged, insect-like creatures fell like rain.
"Raise shields!"
At the command of the Shadows of Order who had spoken earlier, three Shadows of Order unlimbered shields from their backs and gripped them with both hands.
The "Warrior" hesitated a moment, then reacted, raising his left arm and activating the mounted energy shield.
He noticed the others suddenly contracting inward and immediately understood his role.
The "Warrior" charged the Psychneuein. The impact made his arm numb.
He glanced at the six chitinous pincers, then at the blade-scarred armor of the other shield-bearing Shadows of Order.
He suddenly understood why the people of Tizca held Shadows of Order in such high regard.
Taking advantage of his backward leap, he slung his arc projection gun over his back.
He drew the force sword the Librarians used. He didn't activate the psychic field, lest it attract more Psychneuein.
The "Warrior" lunged forward. His shield slammed into a razor-sharp pincer. His blade swept, like a club, sending another Psychneuein, its multi-faceted eyes locked on him, flying.
The "Warrior" held back the surging tide of buzzing, diving Psychneuein.
He endured impact after impact until the energy field on his arm was exhausted.
Ethan's arms trembled as he gripped his force sword.
The "Warrior" felt his strength wane with each impact. His breathing grew heavier.
CLANG!
His sword wavered, nearly slipping from his grasp.
Ethan struggled to control the blade. Mortarion dragging him like an animal flashed through his mind.
He thought of the Death Guard, famed for their endurance.
'I will not lose to them.'
An unyielding belief blazed in Ethan's soul. His weary body filled with strength.
He drew the arc projection gun from his back and spun his force sword one-handed.
Crackling lightning tore through the shadow of the swarm. His force sword swept, sending groups of Psychneuein flying.
The Shadows of Order watched the erupting Ethan in astonishment. The strength within him seemed inexhaustible.
"Follow him," the Sergeant was the first to react, giving the order.
Ethan charged, determined not to fall before every enemy was down.
CRACK, CRACK, CRACK...
One by one, the Psychneuein fell.
The shrieking grew sparse, until it ceased entirely.
Ethan looked at the gifts for his Father strewn across the ground, the hunting squad's eyes filled with wonder. He thought silently.
'I understand now what true endurance is.'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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