Part 12 (1/2)
a”Dona't mess me around, Seth. In the monastery last night, I refrained from chastising you when a commissar would have shot you dead.a”
a”You hit me with the b.u.t.t of your gun.a”
a”Oh, you noticed that? Seeing as I probably shoulda've killed you for how you were acting, youa're not in a position to inspire much guilt in me. Throne, we thought you were going to start speaking in tongues. What the h.e.l.l is this planet doing to you?a”
Seth had no answer.
a”Listen, Seth. As much as Tionenji is turning out to be far from the a.r.s.ehole we might have expected, hea's Commissariat to the core. A bolt in the back of the head next time you even think about stepping out of line. No questions asked.a”
a”Understood, sir.a”
a”Ia'm just warning you. Time to start being the model soldier. So talk.a”
a”The Emperora's Tarot is aflame with portents. Dark omens. My own readings match those performed by Brother-Codicier Zauren.a”
Thade looked up from his cleaning and set the sword aside.
a”Ita's safe to say you have my attention.a”
a”I appreciate we are not close, captain, but I respect you. And I thank you for the faith youa've shown in my abilities in the past.a”
Thade nodded, forcing a smile and wondering where the psyker was going with this.
a”Youa're good at what you do,a” he began hesitantly. a”Ia'm no liar, Seth. I cana't say Ia'm comfortable with your talents. But you serve, and serve well. I trust you.a”
a”I am under no delusions. The Shock treats my kind with infinite grace compared to the way we are shackled and despised by many other regiments.a”
a”I know.a”
a”Then hear me now.a” Seth knelt awkwardly, sliding down his staff to the ground. Thade winced as he heard the psykera's knees pop. a”The heretics of the XIV Legion are here. That much we know. But we have seen only the edge of their efforts. They will rise against us in ma.s.sive force, and they will do it soon. All signs point to this this holocaust.a”
a”The main force of the Reclamation is only weeks away,a” Thade said.
a”The tarot doesna't deal in specifics of time. Only urgency.a”
a”And this was urgent, I take it.a”
a”The last time I had a reading of this intensity a” Seth trailed off, meeting the captaina's eyes.
a”Home burned,a” Thade finished for him. Seth nodded. a”Throne in flames, Seth. Ia'm just a captain. Ia'll warn the lord general, but dona't expect him to listen. I need more. What did the Astartes tell you?a”
a”That he shared the same visions of what was to come. That he warned the brother-captain, who in turn has his men ready for whatever darkness is coming. And he showed me why the Raven Guard loathe the Death Guard above all.a”
a”One Astartes Chapter is the same as another to me. Except,a” he clenched his teeth, a”the Flesh Tearers. Do you remember Kasr Hein?a”
a”I am unlikely to ever forget that place, captain.a”
a”Ugh. May the Inquisition take those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. So, whata's in this for the brother-captain and his giants in black?a”
a”Simply put?a”
a”Thata's the way I like it best.a” Thade was on his feet now, buckling on his weapons and reaching for his helmet. a”And it looks like I need to meet with the lord general as fast as possible, so putting it simply is putting it briefly.a”
a”Vengeance,a” said Seth. a”They want revenge.a”
Thade smiled his crooked smile. a”Maybe we do have something in common, after all. Revenge for what?a”
a”The Horus Heresy. Ancient grudges. Princ.i.p.ally, the actions of the XIV Legion flags.h.i.+p, Terminus Est.a”
a”I pray that accursed s.h.i.+p burns in holy fire,a” Thade spat. The name of the Travellera's vessel was a curse word on Cadia, long-hated for the ravages it inflicted across Scarus Sector. a”What did that d.a.m.ned s.h.i.+p do to the Raven Guard? Poison their world the way it poisons all others?a”
a”No. Their hatred burns over other matters. Terminus Est was responsible for the destruction of the flags.h.i.+p of the Raven Guard fleet during the Horus Heresy. That s.h.i.+p was called Shadow of the Emperor.a”
Thade paused. His eyes met Setha's.
a”The Raven Guard s.h.i.+p in orbit is called The Second Shadow.a”
a”It is,a” Seth said.
Thade breathed deeply. a”This is starting to have the ring of something rather fateful about it.a”
a”It is,a” the psyker said again. a”Ia've heard a voice, sir. On the night of the monastery battle. It was just a wordless scream for help.a”
Thadea's jaw tightened. This didna't bode well. Sanctioned psykers hearing voices tended to be sanctioned psykers that ended up shot in the head for their own good a short time later.
a”Fear not,a” Seth smiled his weak, unattractive smile. a”Brother-Codicier Zauren has heard the voice as well. He hears it still. We are hearing some kind of psychic plea from Kathur, and it is being answered by something off-world. Something is coming, of that we are certain.a”
a”Go to Colonel Lockwood and tell him everything we just spoke of. Ia'll meet you both at the lord generala's briefing room in fifteen minutes.a”
a”Yes, sir.a”
a”Rax, come.a” Thade was already moving to the curtained door, but stopped to look back. a”Seth?a”
a”Captain?a”
a”b.l.o.o.d.y good work.a” And with that, he left, the mechanical dog stalking at his heels.
Thade was halfway to the lord generala's prefab command centre when he altered his course. He called over the first 88th trooper he saw a- one of Taan Darricka's men s.h.i.+ning his boots outside a communal tent. a”Trooper Cerdock.a”
a”Sir!a” Cerdock made the sign of the aquila. Thade ignored the mana's eyes flicking to the silver on the captaina's helmet.
a”I need you to take a message to Colonel Lockwood.a”
a”Anything, sir.a”
a”Tell him that I will not be present for his meeting with Seth Roscrain and Lord General Maggrig, so they should proceed without me.a”