Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's Office.
Kleir, an Oblivion Knight of the Sisters of Silence, looked appraisingly at Etrich, who stood at attention by the door, a great spear across his back.
The legendary Dionysian Spear.
The gift from the Master of Mankind to Lord Nareth after the Wheel of Fire campaign.
Her gaze shifted from the spear to the man himself. He was tall and powerful, only a head shorter than an Ogryn among the general human populace.
She also sensed from him an aura similar to her Sisters.
She recalled the scene of Etrich slaying the Aeldari Warlock, then walked into the spacious room.
The asymmetrical layout, narrower on the right than the left, centered on the door, made her frown slightly in discomfort.
The furnishings were similarly asymmetrical. On the left, a weapon rack displayed a great axe and a heavy chainsword.
Lord Russ's Winter Axe and the Krakenmaw.
On the right, bookshelves held data crystals, datapads, leather-bound books, and parchment scrolls.
Kleir silently recited the prayers of the Sisterhood, approached the black basalt table, and bowed.
She made a gesture. The Novice-Sister standing behind her, who had not yet taken the Vow of Tranquility, translated:
"Kleir of the Sisters of Silence pays her respects to Lord Nareth."
Nareth nodded, his face beaming with a smile.
"There is no need for such formality."
"It is good to see you, Kleir."
Kleir bowed again, made another gesture. The Novice-Sister continued.
"We thank you for your timely aid on Magc'Sithraal. The evil xenos were extraordinarily powerful." Mindful of Lord Nareth's support for the use of psychic powers, they avoided words like witches.
"Since I saw you in need, how could I stand idly by?"
Kleir was silent for a few seconds before gesturing again.
"You have Blanks in your service."
"As I travel the galaxy, I rarely encounter my own kind."
"I hope I am not overstepping. Where do they come from?"
Nareth glanced at Etrich, standing by the door. "The Feral World of Vessor."
A flicker passed through his eyes. "Since you are curious about them, why not send some Sisters to instruct them?"
"That way, they can better use their talents, and you can gain a deeper understanding."
Another few seconds of silence. Kleir gestured.
"I am afraid not, my lord. The Edicts of the Sisterhood do not permit us to share our secrets."
"No matter." Nareth said, unconcerned.
'Now you adhere to your Edicts. But once you are abandoned, with no place to turn, someone will naturally take you in.'
Kleir bowed once more and left with the Novice-Sister.
As she passed the doorway, her gaze swept over Etrich, then across the room to the Shadows of Order serving as Honour Guard. A flicker of something passed through her eyes.
Though the Shadows of Order still stood somewhat stiffly, they had clearly grown more accustomed to Etrich's presence.
That was quite rare.
The Sisters of Silence had fought alongside Astartes of many Legions. Most Space Marines, they found, were either hostile or actively repulsed by them. The Thousand Sons' warlocks and the volatile World Eaters were the most extreme.
Others displayed obvious discomfort. The Space Wolves were the least averse.
Kleir had only ever seen a complete lack of repulsion from the other Talon of the Emperor, the Custodes.
Now, she saw no obvious repulsion from the Shadows of Order either.
She had heard that Lord Nareth's Honour Guard, unlike those of other Primarchs, including Sanguinius in the Helioret system, was not a permanent, fixed body. Outstanding members from various Chapters had the opportunity to serve beside their gene-father.
Of all the Legions, the Shadows of Order had unquestionably the most Astartes who had seen their Primarch in person.
They received Lord Nareth's personal instruction, carrying his will throughout the Legion.
Kleir walked thoughtfully towards the flight deck.
...
961.M30.
Prospero, homeworld of the Thousand Sons Legion, Segmentum Ultima.
The acropolis of Tizca, dominated by the giant pyramids and silver spires of the Thousand Sons' various cults.
The Pyramid of Photep, surrounded by water, its gleaming spire seeming to shimmer in the heat haze reflecting from the glass, appeared ethereal.
Bathed in the midday sun, the magnificent buildings blazed. Deep within, Magnus the Red, draped in a crimson robe, stood.
His ever-changing, multicolored single eye, now shifted to orange, fixed on Hathor Maat.
The Chief Librarian reported. "...The Librarians of the Shadow of Order and the Blood Angels suffered heavy losses during the battle against the psykers of Magc'Sithraal in the Helioret system."
"Lord Nareth and Lord Sanguinius have proposed the development of a new type of Dreadnought, one that would allow fallen Librarians to continue serving the Legion and the Emperor."
"That is true," Magnus nodded.
"Though Librarians possess transcendent power, they remain mortal."
"I have been exploring appropriate methods, and I have made progress."
"I have drawn inspiration from the partial psychic circuitry I've discovered in the Squats, and from the Sisters of Silence. If we could selectively block psychic power, an Astartes entombed in a Dreadnought would not be overwhelmed."
Hathor Maat looked thoughtfully at the crimson giant before him. "Father, your ingenuity is truly otherworldly."
"I am confident that when you share this with Lord Nareth, Lord Sanguinius, the Khan, and the other Primarchs, it will earn their praise."
Magnus's eye rolled to white, gazing into the distance.
"I do not seek praise. I hope that my work will usher in a new era for the Librarians."
Hathor Maat waited until Magnus's eye shifted to emerald green, his focus returning to him, before continuing.
"Enaam has finished cataloguing the entire Library of Greel."
In 866, the War Council had ordered the 19th Legion, before Corax's return, to pacify Libya and destroy the Library of Greel, a repository of knowledge on the planet.
Magnus had ordered his sons to make all haste to Libya and had sent a communication to the 19th Legion, informing them that he had intervened and pacified the rebellion.
The vast knowledge of the Library of Greel had been brought back to Tizca and entrusted to Enaam, Guardian of the Grand Library, who had catalogued and organized it.
"Valuable knowledge should be stored in multiple locations, including Alexandiria IV."
'I have completed my Lord's command. I offer the Library of Greel to Him.' Hathor Maat suppressed a surge of joy. The full-fledged "Spectator" had deliberately mentioned it, hoping to have the Library's knowledge copied to Alexandiria IV.
Alexandiria IV was a crowning achievement of the Thousand Sons, and a world under his control as Chief Librarian.
The "Hypnotist," through persistent "psychological suggestion," had already brought Ignis to follow him in loyalty to Lord Nareth.
The Order of Ruin, following his commands, controlled the world built as a replica of Prospero.
Hathor Maat gathered his thoughts and delivered his final report.
"The Shadow of Order have cleared the area around Tizca. We have established nine satellite cities and one hundred and thirty settlements."
Magnus's single eye shifted to gold. He drew his khopesh, quickly tapping patterns on the floor, deactivating the sigils.
Hathor Maat could once again perceive the Great Ocean. He followed Magnus.
Magnus pulled open a glass door and leaned on the balcony railing, his elbows propped on it.
The cool sea breeze ruffled his hair and caressed his skin.
Magnus gazed down at the people crossing the Square of the Hidden Eye and the Street of a Thousand Lions, then at his own magnificent statue in the eastern mountains.
"The City of Light will expand across Prospero."
"We will not forget the aid of Nareth and his sons."
....
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