Chapter 441 The Oath of the Wolf God
When Rogal Dorn arrived at the Ullanor war zone, Loken believed that Horus must have realized something.
While they were discussing the final attack in the strategy hall, Horus, aside from the battle itself, thanked Dorn for his assistance and asked Rogal Dorn why he suddenly thought of taking three great companies with him, Participate in the affairs that have determined Ullanor's victory.
“It’s not that I don’t want you to come over, my brother,” Horus showed a smile, his hands gently clasped together, and the thumb of his left hand rubbed the base of his right thumb, “It’s just that I I feel that maybe the Imperial Fists have more important things to do. There is only one last battle left here, so why come all the way with your respectable army?"
Roger Dorn looked at it. Horus glanced at him and sat down with him: "The Imperial Fists will not tarnish the honor of the Luna Wolves, Horus."
"I didn't mention this!" Horus spread his hands exaggeratedly as usual, looking a little aggrieved. Dorn continued to stare at him until the smile on Horus's face faded bit by bit.
"You can't tell me." Horus responded to Dorn's gaze in a low voice.
“I have no permission.”
Horus lowered his head silently. The joy brought by several battles in recent days was gone, and the worries and worries that often spread in his heart returned again. It surged up, like the sound of burning flames in my ears. He knew immediately that the sound was an echo of the black sun's flames that had echoed in his dreams.
“Is that what I think?” Horus asked, “I can only think of that one possibility.”
Dorn frowned: "In order to avoid misunderstandings and speculations caused by excessive white space in the language, I hope you can fully indicate what you are thinking."
Horus breathed out lightly. , just as he was letting Loken, Asimand, Erebus and some clerks in charge of paperwork leave today, the person standing next to Dorn lifted off his gray hood.
The face of the person who appeared made Horus's expression tense instantly.
"Malcador?" Horus blurted out in surprise, "Are you here too?"
The Imperial Prime Minister raised his head: "That's the possibility you thought, Horus · Luperkar. It is time for you to fulfill your duty, Horus, and after that, you will receive your crown."
Horus seemed to be struck by a bolt of lightning. Perhaps the real lightning striking the leader's majestic body would not have caused him to stand silently for such a long time.
He stood up, took a deep breath, and said seriously: "I will be ready, Regent."
He rarely showed respect to Malcador, no, he At this time, the object of respect is not the imperial prime minister himself, but the person who conveys the will of the prime minister.
Makado nodded slightly: "He will be happy to see you ready, and later, you will see him at the ceremony. But before that, the last feint you agreed on will be changed to Dorn is in charge. "
Dorn turned his head, slightly surprised by Malcador's sudden order, but it did not cause too many waves on his rock-like face.
"Then you will need to brief me on the strategy you previously developed with the Emperor, Horus," he said.
"No, wait a minute," Horus said uneasily, taking a step forward around the table, his eyes wandering between Dorn and Malcador, "Why can't the Emperor come? This is His order? "
"I think this is indeed an order from the Emperor himself," Dorn said, his voice surprisingly not as strong as his appearance. With some comfort, Loken hoped that he had not heard wrongly, "Believe in your father, Horus, he has plans for each of us."
"I'm just worried..." Horus Russ swallowed the few words he had not finished, "I think maybe I should go see him after a while."
"At least one day later," Macado reminded aloud, "You The father has his own things to be busy with.”
Horus's lips moved, and Loken believed that there must be an unfinished sentence on the tip of his tongue.
"I understand." He glanced deeply at the Chancellor, "Go and fulfill the purpose you came here for, Malcador. If you need a ship to get to the Emperor's flagship, I will provide it. "
Then Horus turned away from Malcador and made a gesture to Dorn, inviting him to stay for now and continue discussing the new combat mission.
"Loken, come here. Since our comrades have been replaced by Imperial Fists, your company can also be added to the attack on Urag Tower," Horus cheered up, "Mesa Miss Ti, you can continue to use your pen. Forget it. If you can't wait to go out and rest, just leave here. If you want to stay, you can ask the servitor to bring some more drinks."
——
Loken's heightened vigilance as he approached the corner of the corridor helped him avoid Togaton's boring attack. To be precise, when Loken saw the legendary warrior Sigismund of the Imperial Fists and their other company commander present, he held back his strength and did not follow their usual fight and give Torgadun A sincere hello with an over-the-shoulder throw.
“This is First Captain Sigismund,” Abaddon introduced, “and Third Captain Alfred.”
“I’ve heard of you, Garviel Loken," Sigismund said, "The Council of Four Kings thinks highly of you."
"I am honored," Loken said seriously.
"Okay, tell me what Lord Horus and Lord Dorne were talking about?" Torgadon patted Loken on the shoulder, "I'm also curious about what the Imperial Fist has here. Sigismund refused to say a word about the secret mission. I thought they were all half buried in the ground of Terra, just looking at the castle of Terra."
"That is a necessary defense," Sigismund said. "The safety of the Throne World will always be considered first. This is the core of the stability of the empire's territory."
"I thought The core of pacification is the military," Abaddon said.
"The army will retire one day. When Ullanor is eaten into our mouths, and it may take more than ten years to clean up the galaxy, the Great Crusade will be almost over." Togaton laughed, "All the territories of the world belong to the hands of the Emperor, and the Lord of Mankind controls millions of worlds under his rule. It was an era of peace. Do you know what words the Memoirs use every day?"
"Gold Times," Loken said, remembering the records Mesati had last shared with him.
“The army will not retire,” Sigismund’s gaze passed over the faces of the three Luna Wolves in turn, “We are born to fight, and the purpose of fighting is to expand territory. and protect the territory. As long as there are enemies among the stars, the war will never stop."
Togaton lightly hit Sigismund's shoulder with his fist: "You can be more optimistic, Sigi. People must have a dream. If Akulduna is here, I guarantee that he will accompany us to talk. Which pub should I go to eat baked beans with tomato sauce on Sunday after retirement?"
"What are baked beans with tomato sauce?" asked Third Company Commander Alfred.
Togaton choked, realizing that explaining a dish to two people who had never escaped from the ice and snow and the barren material environment of Terra would be a difficult way to set up a battle.
"But the intensity of the war will be reduced," another person said, his voice was beautiful and soft, but what really attracted several people present was the identity of the visitor.
“We will no longer have opponents capable of exerting our capabilities as we do now,” Erebus said. “The wars we have to go through will become limited. This is what the stability and prosperity of the empire will surely bring. ”
"What, you're disappointed that there's nothing more to burn?" Togaton raised his eyebrows, "There's no reason to rain down fire from the sky everywhere?"
"I never said that." Erebus said politely Answer by putting yourself in a vulnerable position.
Togaton shrugged unhappily.
Loken knew that their conflict had been going on for some time, and Torgadon insisted that Erebus was an unpleasant person. "He has no interest in purification and destruction," Torgadon said. . "When those fanatical Word Bearers chopped orcs until their eyes lit up, Erebus was not even happy. I doubt how much he believed what he said."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Loken asked back at the time, "Halhabat needs a rational leader."
"Do you know what this means? It means that every killing order he issued was out of reason rather than fanaticism," Togaton whispered, "But a truly outstanding rational person should be like you , contradicting his father every day, worrying that he would make mistakes, instead of-" He lowered his voice, "Use your life to please the original body."
At that time, Loken gave the answer. A disapproving answer, "Maybe he is just loyal to Lorgar's orders." He said, but since then, he has always paid attention to Erebus's actions consciously or unconsciously.
Sigismund looked at Erebus. "War will continue throughout the history of mankind, just as it has done before. But the flames of war will be limited, burning only on the edge of darkness. But in your eyes it will be different. One untaught psyker is enough to bring about an annihilation ." he whispered.
Loken suspected that this was something the Word Bearers had done before in the presence of the Imperial Fists.
"We have ways to assess risk, Imperial Fists, we smell the heretics."
"All based on the guarantee that Primarch Lorgar Aurelion made for you." "Also based on Lord Aurelion's wishes," Erebus smiled, "for the Emperor."
"The Primarch should not be your excuse," Sigismund said sharply. Alfred looked at the first company commander in surprise. It was obvious that Sigismund's persistence was troubled by him. It is also rare to say, "The merits obtained by massacre should not be the reason for your promotion."
"Let's make sure the first half of this discussion is completed first," Abaddon said, "I mean, first Get a comprehensive victory."
Eribas paused and replied: "There is no doubt about it."
"So..." Loken slowly said an attention-grabbing word, waiting for others to ask.
"Oh, by the way, so what were Lord Horus and Lord Dorn talking about?" Togaton took back his hand on Loken's shoulder and patted his head, "They want Are you building the Emperor's Palace in Ullanor? Just like Lord Perturabo went to Nicea to build a big theater? I heard that a think tank conference is going to be held there. Preparing lessons for the big classroom..."
"You are off topic," Loken couldn't help but remind him.
“Why do you think we are here to build buildings?” Sigismund asked in confusion.
“Isn’t it?”
Sigismund didn't answer, which made Togaton reveal a mysterious and understanding smile.
“You’re not really here to practice the palace, are you?” he asked.
"Lord Dorn and Lord Horus didn't mention it," Loken couldn't help but interrupt Torgadon, otherwise he felt that he wouldn't find the time to speak, "They were just talking about taking over. In the next battle, we need to attack the fortress planet of Urag together."
"So you must be prepared," Horus Luperkar said, coming from behind and holding Loken in his left hand. on the shoulder, patting Torgadon and Abaddon with his right hand in turn, "Instead of gathering in the corridor to gossip about me, warriors."
Rogal Dorn, who walked with him, was silent. For a second, he hesitantly put his hand on Sigismund's shoulder.
"Understood, Wolf God." Abaddon said seriously, looking like he was considering saluting the Wolf God.
"Oh," Horus smiled, "Go and say this to me on the battlefield, Ezekiel."
——
"Also How long?" Makado asked, looking down at the chess piece in front of him.
"Ten years." The person opposite him replied, "In the first five years, I need you to continue to check and monitor me, and wake me up when you are not sure of my status. Then, if necessary, I will Go to the galactic frontier and wield the power; otherwise, I will enter the throne room."
"Don't you think-" Malcador couldn't help but raise his eyes and put down the chess piece in his hand. He almost crushed it.
Opposite him, the Emperor sat there, wearing a coarse gray robe, his dark skin was haggard from fighting with a part of himself, and in those dark eyes, Malcador saw They were so bright, and the stubborn eagerness for the future lit up the Emperor's eyes like fire, but Malcador felt so physically and mentally exhausted.
"Too early?" asked the Emperor, pushing a chess piece to the center of the board. "Too risky?"
Malcador knocked the chess piece on the table angrily.
"You asked me for an answer to your question, Malcador, and I gave it to you." The Emperor smiled.
"I just... don't understand."
"What?"
"I don't understand how you dare to do this." Macado swallowed, "I don't understand your plan How long, and how much of it, I don’t know. You can’t even stay awake. Think about my mood when I saw you yesterday!”
“You are scared.” Maybe.”
"What are you afraid of?"
The Emperor leaned forward, close to Malcador, forcing him to look directly at him. His tall shadow hid Malcador's hand.
"Your disappointment." Malcador said.
“Not my failure?”
“No.” Malcador muttered.
The Emperor sat back straight.
“I have seen my failure,” he said softly, still looking at Malcador. “I was not disappointed then. On the contrary, I was glad that I could see it before embarking on the journey. "
"What do you mean?" Makado couldn't help but ask.
The Emperor shook his head slightly and moved his gaze to the door, "Come in, Horus."
Horus walked into the room and quickly glanced at Malcador and their table. The chess piece finally rested on his beloved father. The Emperor turned sideways and met the eyes of his returning son.
Malcador waited for Horus to show concern about the Emperor's status. He already knew about the unexpected incident that occurred in the Draconis Sector. It was a miracle for the Primarch that Horus Luperkar was able to survive until the end of the campaign to get to the bottom of it.
But Horus walked straight forward, knelt on one knee, took out a red wax seal with a slender piece of paper from his waist, and presented it to the emperor with both hands. The tail end of the wolfskin cloak spread out on the ground, like a heavy flag.
"Father," he said. "I swear to you in battle."
The Emperor took the note.
"My son." He sighed. "I bear witness to your oath."
Horus took out the sword from his waist and handed it to the Emperor together. The Emperor raised the blade to level with Horus's neck, unfolded the note, and read the words in Horus' own handwriting.
“Horus Luperkar: Are you willing to fight to the death for those who betray my glory, to hold on with your sword for those who are not as powerful as you, to dedicate yourself to the bright future of mankind, and to fight for the future of mankind? The eternal struggle of those who are struggling in the dark galaxy? "
"I do, I swear so. Wherever your light is, my eyes will be; wherever you go, I will follow you; The direction your sword points is the only path for my soul, today and every day."
Horus grasped the blade held by the Emperor and drew it from shoulder to edge. Blood gushed from his palms. He took his oath note and soaked it with blood.
The Emperor fixed the wax seal on his breastplate for him. Horus stood up.
"Thank you, father." He said loudly, smiling brightly, "I still have a battle to fight, and I will set off in a week."
The Wolf Shepherd returned his sword to its sheath, turned and left.
(End of this chapter)