Merseyside system, aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's office.
Nareth leaned back against his throne, listening to Arsena 's report.
"My Lord, the Legion suffered one thousand five hundred and ninety-four casualties in the campaign."
"The Tenth Chapter suffered the most, with one thousand and forty-seven killed, most during the assault on the Gate Forty-two."
"I see."
Nareth nodded. He had paid the price of nearly a thousand warriors to save over six thousand Terran Raven Guard, who were ill-suited to siege warfare.
On Merseyside, he had also gained three hundred and twelve Unsighted Kings.
The Unsighted Kings were not potion ingredients for Sequence 5; they were at least Sequence 4.
The "Mentor of Disorder" identified their spiritual luster as that of a primary ingredient for Sequence 4.
Based on their parasitic nature, he was certain they were the primary ingredient for the "Error" pathway's Sequence 4 "Parasite."
The Unsighted Kings were another significant gain.
As the Primarch pondered, Arsena continued.
"The nobles of the Akum-Sothos Cluster captured by the Legion have been delivered to their designated sectors."
Arsena, leading his "Student of Ratiocination," had previously screened the captured nobles, selecting those with influence or control over key assets.
After reporting to the Black Emperor, he had received orders to send them in groups to nineteen star systems.
"Excellent. Maria and her people will handle the next steps," Nareth said, providing the information Arsena needed.
"I have received a report from the Warmaster's attendant, Maloghurst. Lupercal has personally pronounced judgment on the leaders of the Merseyside and other rebellious worlds, executing them for defiling his honor."
After the Black Emperor had been made an example of, Arsena's respect for Horus had evaporated. He referred to him and Russ by their surnames.
"He has accepted the lists we and the Raven Guard submitted, allowing some nobles to retain their positions."
"The Akum-Sothos Cluster is gradually recovering and will soon resume its role as the engine of the Great Crusade."
"Horus has decided to convene his first war council as Warmaster, but preparations will take time."
Arsena glanced at his datapad. "A new astropathic choir from Terra is establishing a psychic focus aboard the Vengeful Spirit and solidifying links to the various Primarchs' flagships."
"I suspect the Warmaster needs time to contact the other Primarchs. He has set the date for the thirteenth of the twelfth month of this year."
"I see." Nareth nodded.
War councils had traditionally been held in the Golden Palace on Terra. With the Emperor's authority transferred to Horus, they would naturally move to the Vengeful Spirit.
'Perhaps it will be the only one.'
As Nareth thought, Arsena continued.
"Lord Lorgar has requested a meeting."
Nareth's mind immediately went to the pre-battle council, where Lorgar, brought in to support Horus, had spoken on his behalf.
'Lorgar has an agenda...'
After a moment's silent consideration, Nareth said, "I will see him."
To understand Lorgar's motives, he would have to meet him.
Arsena tucked his datapad under his arm. "Miss Vivar has returned to Terra."
"She is very invested in your biography. She went to the hive-founding of Bondsman & Co., a company specializing in ancient papermaking, and spent 3.6 billion Aquila coins to acquire it outright."
"She then approached Malcador, and the Regent approved the expansion of Bondsman's operations to include publishing and electronic data."
"Petronella is quite dedicated." Nareth smiled.
He remembered that Ignace Karkasy, one of the greatest poets of the Great Crusade era and a Remembrancer of the 63rd Expedition Fleet, had received a first payment that only allowed him to order two hundred quarto, fifty-page Bondsman No. 7 notebooks.
All his famous works were composed in these black lambskin, cream-colored, heavy-paper notebooks, including the still-reprinted Introspections and Hymns, for which he received the Imperium's highest literary award.
Also, In Praise of Unity, the eleven Imperial Epics, and the Oceanic Poems were all completed in Bondsman No. 7 notebooks.
Even for a well-paid poet like him, Bondsman paper was a rare and expensive consumable.
Only a handful of Terran nobles could afford such extravagance as spending 3.6 billion Aquila coins to acquire Bondsman and publish books on its paper. Petronella, as a senior court representative of House Carpinus, was certainly among them.
'I never expected Petronella to spend so lavishly to publish my biography.'
As Arsena left the Primarch's office, the Starcaller translated into the Yanis system of the Akum-Sothos Cluster.
Deck L-19 of the Starcaller had once been quarters for the Fifth Chapter's neophytes, who had been assigned to various ships during the campaign to assist the Court members in charting star systems.
Now, it housed captured nobles from fourteen worlds.
The young noble, Pezela, lay on his bed. The Astartes neophyte's bed was similar in size to the one on his family's ship, but its steel frame was far less comfortable than his soft wooden bed.
He stared at the lumen strips above, his eyes unfocused.
Not long ago, his family had been the ruling house of Potsdam Prime, representing the Imperium and Lord Horus, governing thirteen worlds across six star systems, supplying the Great Crusade, and coordinating transshipment along five Warp routes.
The Pezela domain was larger than any Imperial sub-sector.
Its industrial output far exceeded most similar worlds, rivaled only by those under Nareth, Guilliman, and a few developed industrial worlds.
Pezela had enjoyed this glory for nearly two hundred years. But a year ago, things had changed.
His father, the previous patriarch, had convened a meeting and declared his faith in the Unsighted King.
He and his kin had vehemently opposed it, but his father had changed.
He possessed a strange charisma, and soon the family had followed.
Now he knew: his father had been possessed by the xenos, who had deceived them all.
But it was too late. He was the last of House Pezela and he was still a criminal.
"The House of Pezela... is doomed..." he murmured bitterly.
Click...
The door slid open with a hiss of cold mist.
Pezela turned curiously, his dull eyes brightening. He saw a pair of flawless legs beneath a flowing black skirt.
He sat up, shedding his lethargy, and rose with fluid grace.
He looked at the tall woman entering the chamber. Her golden hair fell softly; her blue eyes sparkled.
The black dress was elegant, a strange allure mixed with a sense of solemn sanctity.
'There is no woman in all of Potsdam... no, in all the Akum-Sothos Cluster, as beautiful as her.' Pezela thought, astonished.
"I am Maria of House Kournikova."
The "Pleasure's" red lips parted. Her voice was magnetic, resonating in Pezela's heart.
He forced himself to look away, fixing his thoughts on her words.
'House Kournikova... I've heard that name.'
"I heard the heir of House Pezela was in dire straits. I came to see if I could offer my assistance."
"Can you truly help me?" Pezela asked, half in doubt.
"Of course. My house has followed Lord Nareth since His arrival on Vostroya."
"I can secure your pardon and restore your control of Potsdam."
'Kournikova... Yelena Kournikova, Chancellor of Vostroya.' The name clicked in Pezela's mind.
He said, his voice thick with emotion, "Lady Kournikova, I beg you. Please help me."
"Once I am restored, I will repay your kindness."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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