A grey-stone Aquila Lander descended onto the Shadow's Sovereignty's flight deck.
Lorgar Aurelian stepped down the ramp, surveying the welcoming party.
Two ranks of Shadows of Order in armor, their power lances raised, flanked the path.
Nareth, black-armored and golden-winged, strode forward. "Lorgar, welcome."
He noticed that Lorgar's usual companions, First Captain Kor Phaeron and Chief Chaplain Erebus, were not with him.
Instead, he saw Zardu Layak, clad in the Saturnine-pattern Terminator prototype Nareth had given him, now a "Mentor of Disorder."
'Due to my influence, Zardu Layak is far more capable than he would have been. Especially since Lorgar, as the High Priest of Chaos, has placed great importance on him during the Legion's expansion.'
'But he shouldn't yet be important enough for Lorgar to bring along. It's likely based on the friendly relationship between us.'
In Nareth's memory, the Word Bearers' fleet's paper strength, before the Heresy, had even exceeded the Imperial Fists, making it the strongest of all Legions.
Besides their three Despoiler-class and two Gloriana-class battleships, they had over a hundred capital ships, and a vast number of escorts and frigates.
But just as their over two hundred thousand warriors were fewer than the Ultramarines' yet lacked comparable combat strength, the Word Bearers had a good hand, but couldn't play it well.
Even with the advantage of surprise, they couldn't secure a final victory.
'Now, however, things are different. The Shadows of Order has the most warriors.'
'In terms of naval power, even without the at least one Despoiler-class Zardu Layak might secure, we have a Blackstone Fortress, four Gloriana-class battleships, the converted Furious Abyss, fifteen Relic-class battleships, a Squat fortress-ship, and the Dark Age ships Slaughtersong and Dark Sovereign. On paper, we are stronger than the Word Bearers.'
Nareth did not include in his calculations the unique warships built during the Dark Age of Technology or other vessels he could command.
His ambition burned quietly. 'I need to find a way to get my hands on Lorgar's Chronicle of Ashes as well. Guilliman's Nemesis Chapter is only a thousand men. A Gloriana-class battleship is a waste on them.'
'And besides, that 22nd Chapter, made up of Terrans he didn't favor, is already under Gren's command. It should be under my control as well.'
As Nareth pondered, Lorgar smiled.
"Nareth, I can feel your warmth. I have always felt we have much in common."
His golden eyes fixed on Nareth. "When I proposed introducing Chaplains to the Astartes Legions, you gave me strong support."
"We are both visionaries."
'I just wanted to screen the Legion's ideological leanings, to prepare for spreading the faith of the Black Emperor.'
'I'm nothing like you, worshipping others... well, other gods.'
'You didn't come all this way just to thank me for something from a hundred and forty-three years ago, did you?' Nareth thought, probing.
"Of course. That's why you spoke up for me at the pre-war council."
Lorgar's smile widened. "Exactly."
"Horus's methods of asserting his authority will only drive us apart."
"I've just come from the Vengeful Spirit. Do you know what happened there?"
"What?" Nareth played along.
"Corax went to see Horus. He publicly declared he would no longer obey the Warmaster's commands."
Nareth was taken aback. Even with his intervention, saving over six thousand Terran lives, Corax had still broken with Horus.
His gaze grew deep. 'This is also a choice. Horus's pressure gives me a reason. If I were to do as Corax did, I wouldn't have to walk into Horus's trap at the Heresy.'
'But it would also mean he would turn his attention directly to me, and I'd have to fight a costly war with little to gain.'
Nareth remained silent, running the other path, continuing to obey Horus's commands, through his mind.
'Without a complete break, Horus would likely try to marginalize me and set traps.'
'That's how he dealt with the Lion, Guilliman, and Sanguinius. The key is whether his traps align with my interests.'
Lorgar studied Nareth. 'If Nareth also breaks with Horus, my plans can proceed smoothly.'
'Horus will never allow Nareth's massive Legion and vast domains to slip from his control. That would be a very different matter from Corax's defiance.'
'If he and Nareth become locked in conflict, I will have my opportunity. I can help them both, just as the False God on Terra encourages competition.I will guide them, using them to fulfill the sacred duty the Gods have given me. Humanity will not, like the Aeldari, wither in resistance...'
Lorgar was lost in his grand vision of enlightening Nareth and Horus, of saving humanity. The light above seemed to make the scripture on his head glow, his eyes blazing with gold.
"The Warmaster has his faults, but I will still follow his commands."
Nareth's calm words dimmed the golden light.
Lorgar stared at him in surprise. 'He lost the Warmaster's title, he was made an example of, and he feels no resentment?'
His golden eyes shifted. "It's good that you think that way."
"I'm just worried Horus will use you to make another point. You know, many believe you should have been Warmaster."
"I never wanted to be Warmaster," Nareth said calmly. Though he possessed the Kingdom of Disorder, which could shield him from the Four's corruption, a direct confrontation would expose the sefirot's substance, inviting their covetous attention.
Even though he had inferred from the "Earl of the Fallen" potion ingredients and the shadowy aspects of the sefirot's substance that the Black Emperor and the sefirot's substance were linked to shadow and even concealment, he still didn't think he could hide from the Four in a direct contest.
He couldn't yet fully wield the sefirot's substance's power. And the position of Warmaster, with its limited authority and short duration, was more of a liability than an asset.
Lorgar's golden eyes faltered. He watched Nareth push open the door to the reception room, gesturing for him to enter.
Arsena, the Primarch's Aide, poured Lorgar a cup of tea. He took a sip.
"Rich and aromatic. A long finish."
Lorgar stared at Nareth across from him. "It's a pity our brother Horus doesn't see it that way."
"I think he has already learned that, even as Warmaster, his orders must be reasonable."
After much deliberation, Nareth had decided to continue accepting Horus's commands.
He believed that his previous actions, and his words to Lorgar now, would ensure that any future traps Horus set would be 'reasonable' enough.
Of course, the final interpretation of what was 'reasonable' rested with him.
If Horus tried to send him to a daemon world, as he had Sanguinius, Nareth would consider that unreasonable and overturn the table, declaring, like Corax: "I've had enough of your foolish orders."
"I will no longer follow your commands, Warmaster."
On the other hand, if the trap offered enough gain, even an' unreasonable' order could be acceptable.
He was willing to walk into a trap, relying on his hidden strength, his agents in other Legions, and the Carcharodons and Ashen Claws.
'I hope Horus, like his bald head, is brilliantly clever, and that the trap he sets for me is sufficiently 'reasonable.''
Lorgar stared at Nareth. He was so loyal to the False Emperor, even after losing the Warmaster's title and being made an example of.
Two days later, Lorgar and Zardu Layak boarded their Aquila Lander.
Lorgar watched the massive black ship recede and spoke to Zardu Layak.
"Nareth's eyes may be sharp, but they are blind to true enlightenment."
Zardu Layak, repenting in his heart to the Black Emperor, echoed Lorgar.
"Of course. Only you hold the truth. You will bring enlightenment to humanity."
Lorgar nodded, satisfied. "You have grasped the truth. You are not swayed by his small favors."
He had no suspicion of Zardu Layak. His Dark Apostles had all embraced the Gods.
If Zardu Layak had betrayed him, he would have told Nareth.
Whether it was serving Chaos or killing a Custodes, both were crimes that a loyalist like Nareth could not accept.
"Abandon Nareth. Horus will be our only target." Lorgar declared.
"The Urizen's revelation is my guiding light." Zardu Layak breathed a silent sigh of relief. Lorgar still trusted him.
His blasphemous acts, following a heretic in obedience to the Black Emperor's will, would be forgiven.
'My small acts of blasphemy are for my Lord. He will forgive all my sins. I will bring Him sacrifices.'
'I will fulfill my Lord's divine will!'
....
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