Nareth's psychic projection crossed the void, guided by the Astropaths, arriving at the Vengeful Spirit.
As he took his seat amidst the choir's guiding tones, he immediately sensed the immense changes in the War Council.
Not only were the Fabricator General of Mars, Kelbor-Hal, the Regent Malcador, and Captain-General Constantin Valdor absent, as the Emperor no longer presided over the council, but the seating arrangement had also changed.
The seat opposite the Warmaster, Horus Lupercal, was empty, a symbol of the shift from Imperial diarchy to singular authority.
Nareth read Horus's intentions from the seating arrangement, a clear attempt to reshape the political landscape.
Unsurprisingly, to his right sat his close friend and advisor, Sanguinius.
This was the obvious choice; any other would have been seen as a betrayal.
Opposite him sat his other protégé, Fulgrim. The silver-haired Phoenician clearly took pride in his position, his eyes frequently flicking towards Ferrus Manus.
Beside Sanguinius sat Lorgar Aurelian, who had 'seen the light' after the destruction of Monarchia.
The Emperor had been pleased by Lorgar's transformation, and Nareth had sensed his satisfaction at his 'successful tutelage' in several war councils.
His conquests had skyrocketed, his tally of compliant worlds surpassing even Lion El'Jonson's, surpassed only by Horus, Nareth, and Guilliman.
His Legion numbered over 'one hundred and fifty thousand,' making it the fifth-largest.
He had also been invited by the Warmaster to serve as an advisor and counselor.
Nareth was most surprised to see Perturabo seated beside Fulgrim.
'Clearly, Horus has two objectives: to win Perturabo over, and to warn him not to get too close to me. Though my relationship with Perturabo is close, Primarchs never decide based solely on relationships. Perturabo is no exception.'
'He hasn't yet been crushed by the burden of garrison duty, nor by the guilt of destroying his homeworld. His primary identity is the Emperor's Lord of Iron. He will support the Emperor's appointed Warmaster, whatever his true feelings. Horus must have thought of this.'
Though Nareth was surprised by Horus's attempt to win over Perturabo, he wasn't worried about his own plans to secure his loyalty.
'Perturabo will eventually realize Horus is also using him as expendable, and will refuse to be Horus's hammer any longer.'
Next to Lorgar sat the hooded Mortarion, another of Horus's advisors.
Through reports from Balsar Kurthuri, Chief Librarian of the Raven Guard, Nareth knew that Corvus Corax and Guilliman had gone to the Emperor, warning him that Mortarion might be loyal not to Him, but to Horus.
The Emperor's response was as Nareth remembered: "Loyalty to Horus is loyalty to me."
Next to Perturabo sat the rock-like Rogal Dorn, who, like Sanguinius and Lorgar, was attending in person. He had come to the Vengeful Spirit after the Battle of the Gate Forty-two.
'Hmm, Dorn, though principled, is not inflexible, nor lacking in political acumen. He recommended Loken for the Mournival, hoping he would become a naysayer.'
'However, since I took "Terra" early, Sejanus didn't die, so Loken never had the chance to join the Mournival... hmm, Sejanus might become an obstacle for Erebus on Davin. How will he deal with that?'
As Nareth pondered, his gaze swept across the room. He was seated between Mortarion and Leman Russ.
Russ's ice-blue eyes gleamed with a strange light, constantly studying him, as if searching for something.
Opposite him sat the Lion, who, despite not having fought the H'rud, was still absent from Ullanor. He sat silently across from Nareth.
Only five days prior, from communications sent to Caliban by a "corroded" Dark Angel, did Nareth learn that the Lion had mustered about one hundred thousand warriors and was heading to the galactic west, to purge a psychic xenos race entrenched there.
'The Lion truly believes the Emperor's words: "My father thought it necessary to remind me that all battles are the same."'
'I must say, the Lion works hard, quietly and diligently. In that regard, we are alike, though our motivations are 'somewhat different.'' Nareth's gaze slid to Guilliman, seated beside the Lion.
'Horus has placed the three of us in the middle. It shows his magnanimity, not relegating potential rivals to the back. But it also serves as a reminder that we are potential rivals?'
Next to Russ sat Ferrus Manus, another strong candidate for Warmaster. But he had long recognized that his cold calculations would lead to conflict with other Legions.
Magnus, opposite Ferrus, was the only remaining Primarch who seemed to care about his seating, but his attention was clearly elsewhere.
Nareth remembered the Emperor and Magnus's psychically shielded conversation on Ullanor. Though he hadn't heard it, he knew what they had discussed.
'Magnus's "greatest discovery" did not earn the Emperor's approval. He firmly refused Magnus's participation... well, he brought it on himself...'
Nareth's gaze moved to Vulkan, beside Ferrus.
'No wonder Vulkan was so disillusioned with the Emperor when he saw the Webway during the War in the Webway. If he, Ferrus, or Magnus, masters of psychic arts, had been involved, the shoddy, ramshackle Webway wouldn't have been such a flawed copy.'
'But the Emperor would never trust a Primarch. Hmm... that's fine by me. I don't want to be part of his plan anyway. If I want to build one, I'll do it myself.'
Nareth thought, unconcerned. His gaze passed over the last three Primarchs, each, for various reasons, on the periphery.
Jaghatai enjoyed riding alone, charging across the plains.
Konrad Curze walked in darkness, guided by prophecy.
Alpharius Omegon, moving in secret, did not wish to be noticed.
Angron, though supportive of the Warmaster, was absent due to his hatred of psykers.
Corvus Corax had broken with Horus and would no longer accept the Warmaster's commands.
Just as Nareth had finished analyzing the positions of the fifteen Primarchs, aside from himself and Horus, the Warmaster spoke.
"I'm sure you've all heard the news of the formation of the Council of Terra."
"We've become a subordinate department," Mortarion said coldly.
"The Astartes shed blood for the Imperium, and now a new institution has appeared out of nowhere, seizing the authority to rule. The most ridiculous part is that they are not warriors."
Mortarion's dissatisfaction and mockery echoed in every Primarch's mind.
Lorgar looked around, his golden eyes blazing.
'Father, I thank you. Your foolish decision to leave the Great Crusade and form the Council of Terra has caused my brothers to grow dissatisfied.'
He remembered the False Emperor's words: "The Imperium does not belong to me. It belongs to all of humanity."
'How ridiculous! Your goal is for mortals to rule mortals. What a naive and laughable fantasy.'
'Under the Gods' great power, mortals are insignificant. Faith is the most powerful weapon. To rule humanity, one must build on faith in the Gods.'
As Lorgar scorned the Emperor, Nareth crossed his arms, looking at Horus.
The War Council's demotion to a subordinate body of the Council of Terra, its authority limited to military campaigns, was the primary reason he had never sought the position of Warmaster.
Even with the Kingdom of Disorder, which could resist the Four's corruption, the Warmaster's authority was simply too limited.
Especially since he lacked the strength, in the short term, to fully establish his own domain.
As Nareth pondered, a voice like grinding rock echoed in the silver hall.
"I believe today's meeting is not for questioning Father and Malcador."
"I agree with Father's decision. It is right that humanity should govern the Imperium. We are their shield." Vulkan said loudly.
"Naive," Curze said coldly.
"Mortals are foolish and greedy. Left to govern themselves, they will become vermin."
"The flesh is weak. They cannot make rational decisions." Ferrus's silver eyes swiveled.
Horus watched his arguing brothers, sighing inwardly.
He suppressed his disappointment at being stripped of power so soon after becoming Warmaster, burying his own discontent.
"I will speak with Father about this."
His tone was stirring. "Don't forget, we still have four thousand six hundred and fifty-nine Expedition Fleets, and over six thousand secondary forces engaged in compliance actions."
"We are still waging the Great Crusade across the galaxy, conquering new worlds for humanity. Every Astartes is a hero fighting for the Imperium. They will not be forgotten. As long as I am Warmaster, I will ensure we are never abandoned!"
Magnus's eye swept over the gathered Primarchs. Seeing Horus's stirring words had temporarily calmed their discontent, his mutable eye shifted to gold.
"I have good news."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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