ALL NOVEL Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Seven
The Space Marines are superb singers. Possibly the best I have ever heard. It is easy to forget that Space Marines were intended to excel in all pursuits. We use them for war, but they can do so much more when given half a chance.
With a tiny flick of my telekinesis, I remove my tears so that no one will notice I cried when they sang.
Once their song is done they salute two men standing out in the open, between the two rows of Space Marines and war machines. The man on the left is incredibly tall and bulky, rivalling myself in height and girth. His power armour is an absolute masterwork, covered in gold ornamentation and purity seals. The helmet under his arm is shaped like a snarling, monstrous dog.
The right hand man is much shorter, matching the average two point one metres of most Space Marines. He wears a light grey hood and robes over his armour. A force staff, topped with the Imperial Aquila floats next to him.
The two men stride towards us. Odhran and his squad step aside to let them through. The big man gives them an equally large grin, his substantial sideburns and peppered, floppy moustache shifting as he does so.
“Greetings, Magos Issengrund,” says the big man, “I am Chapter Master Lir Brackin. Beside me is the Head Librarian of our chapter, Aengus Mhanaigh. Thank you for bringing my brothers home.”
I reach out and shake both their hands, “It is good to meet you at last, Chapter Master Brackin and Head Librarian Mhanaigh.”
I notice immediately that both of them are their minds and souls are shrouded within the Warp. A small tendril reaches out from Aengus and he tries to slip through my own defences, but I turn it back on itself and make the Librarian’s mind look like mine. When he finally cracks his own defences, he inhales sharply through his teeth. A small trickle of blood flows from his nose, ears, and eyes.
“Excuse me a moment,” says Aengus. The Librarian turns around, pulls a cloth from a pouch on his belt, and wipes his face. He turns around, “Good trick.”
This is much more like what I expected. I want to be annoyed about him trying to peek into my mind but it suits my purpose as I’ve been preparing for this day for decades. Tugging at my connection to the Emperor, I send him my last souls. My hand shines with a golden light and the air around us becomes distinctly heavy. I feel another mind peering through my eyes for a brief moment, then the sensation disappears.
Lir and Aengus’s eyes go wide and they immediately kneel. The moment everyone else spots the golden light, they too, kneel.
I reach out and place my hand on Aengus’s shoulder and heal him. The miracle is more powerful than I expected and he rapidly becomes more youthful, his scars fading.
“Be at peace, Librarian Mhanaigh,” I lean close and speak softly next to his ear, “but do take care at what you peek. That was quite rude.” The light fades and I speak up so that all may hear my words. I infuse a slight compulsion to them as well. “Defenders of the Imperium, stand!”
Everyone immediately stands, including Eire and my own Heralds.
“The Guardians of Humanity do not bow! They do not kneel! They are ever vigilant, ready to beat back the void with courage and conviction. Show your respect through valiant deeds for His eyes are upon you! What say you?”
“YES, MAGOS!”
My auspex gives me perfect three hundred and sixty degree vision so it’s easy for me to spot Lir giving Odhran a fiery glare when he doesn’t think I’m watching. Odhran’s face is as impassive as always, though there is a distinct crinkling around his eyes that is obvious to me. Lir’s eyesight is also sharp enough to spot Odhran’s amusement and his face turns equally impassive, though I can see Lir is clenching his jaw hard enough to bite through steel.
“Well, that’s enough excitement for now,” I say. “Don’t you agree, Chapter Master Brackin?”
“Yes, Magos. What would you have of us?”
“Fair and far reaching trade. My second here today,” I gesture towards Eire, “High Factor Eire Lobhdain, will negotiate on my behalf with your representative. Did you have anything else planned aside from your marvellous parade?”
“A tour of our vaults and armouries,” says Lir. “Odhran said you preferred relics and artefacts to gold and grains. Is this assumption correct?”
“That depends on the quality of your teas, Chapter Master, though I would still like to see what you have hidden away. Do you have any made from camellia sinensis?”
“No. I do not know what that is. We do have a small tin of Tanna though, from Valhalla. A gift from the commander of a Valhallan Ice Warrior regiment that we saved many decades ago. Would you like to try?”
“Absolutely.”
“I will call Tech-Marine Balor Roan to discuss trade with High Factor Lobhdain. If she is willing to wait here with your men, he will be along shortly. I would have Sergeant Odhran and his squad join us as well. There is much to discuss and, after that little show you put on, some confusions I would like to clear up.”
“That’s fine. I ask that you let Bedwyr Keane, the Captain of my bodyguards also accompany us with one power armoured special weapons team. He doesn't get many chances to practise aboard my own vessel.”
Lir chuckles, “Acceptable,” He voxes some orders and the Space Marines begin to disperse. A rather battered rhino trundles towards us and stops. Lir presses a green button in an armoured box and the rear ramp folds down.
Bedwyr sends his Herald into the Rhino first silently voxes me with his MIU, “There is nothing unusual here, Magos. It is safe to proceed.”
I duck into the Rhino and hold onto one of the bars on the roof. There are no seats, though there are harnesses bolted to the sides of the hull, designed to fit an average Human in carapace armour. The magnets in my gauntlets and boots are more than enough to hold me and my Heralds in place though. Once everyone is secure, Eoghan taps his fist against a big red button and the ramp rises up. Librarian Mhanaigh does not join us.
Lir has a frown on his face during the whole journey and nobody speaks. His mind is still shielded somehow, so it must be a device or his will, rather than Aengus as I first thought. I suspect that he’s irritated that I pulled his authority from under him in front of a significant portion of his chapter. He can’t complain about either because I literally shoved a miracle in his face and brushed off an attack with grace.
I believe I have put him off-balance because he assumed he could negotiate from a position of power and now it’s suddenly the other way around, yet being belligerent towards someone who can directly call upon the Emperor’s Grace goes against his foundational beliefs. On the other hand, he can’t let me order his whole Chapter as I please as he no doubt has many other commitments, like deals with Forge Worlds and Agri Worlds, that would have catastrophic consequences for his fleet if he chooses me over his word to others.
I have no intention of taking advantage of Lir, or putting him in a difficult position, but he does not know that, and thus broods for the entirety of the twenty minute drive.
It suddenly strikes me that I am bullying a Chapter Master. An idea so absurd, that it takes me several seconds to process at high speed. Perhaps, at last, I am a minor power in this Game of Worlds?
We disembark and step between two great doors, covered in an extravagant relief. The doors are pure adamantium, so I am rather impressed that they managed to cast and polish a grand artwork into it.
The hall is distinctly gothic with great pillars and a vaulted ceiling. Skulls, black dogs, and scorched banners decorate the walls and pillars. Every few metres there is a small alcove in the wall, holding trophies like the head of a Zoanthrope, or the jaws of a Catachan Devil. Eight plasteel long tables run through the central section of the room and a large throne rests upon a high dais.
Lir glances at his throne, then gestures at the closest table, “Please, have a seat. Refreshments will be here soon.”
Odhran and Killian sit either side of me, and the other three marines join Lir on the opposite bench.
Lir looks me straight in the eyes, “Magos. An explanation please. I felt His gaze upon me. I wish to know His intentions. Why are you here?”
“The Emperor did not send me to you, nor do I need your aid at this time. You are free to act as you always have, with care, thought, and fury. I am, and have always been, here to trade.”
“I see. We are a poor chapter, Magos. I do not know what you are expecting,” Lir slumps, and for a moment he looks his age. Three golden studs line his left eyebrow. Three hundred years of endless horrors yet he soldiers on.
“Sergeant Odhran saved my life, just like I saved his and those of his battle brothers. He asked a boon of me, that I sell the artefacts I have to your chapter, or at least give you first pick: enough Great Crusade Era Space Marine wargear to outfit an entire chapter, including twenty jetbikes.”
Lir gapes slightly and looks over to Odhran.
Odhran nods, “The Magos’s word is credible. My brothers and I have examined all of the wargear present on Iron Crane. It is untested in battle, though I doubt we would find it wanting. Additionally, the Magos is underplaying his hand, he did not save our lives, he brought us back from the dead with priceless, irreplaceable archeotech. Then at great risk to his body, channelled the power of the Emperor until our souls returned from His side. We are a little unclear on the exact details. I have sensory and visual recordings as proof of Magos Issengrund’s deeds and generosity.”
“An extraordinary claim. I require the whole tale.”
“Magos?” Odhran looks at me.
“Tell him what you wish of our tale, our travels, and encounters, but the details of the Stellar Fleet and Stellar Corps are to remain private. I don’t expect you to tell me the exact composition of your Chapter and I expect the same in return.”
“Very well.”
Odhran talks about his original mission and his last stand. He tells of his first meeting with me and his impressions, unflattering though they may be. I give him a mock glare, but do not interrupt or contradict Odhran. Half way through his overview of Marwolv, the tea arrives.
It arrives in a plasteel mug, held in the unsteady fist of a shoddy, half clothed Servitor. Not the most glamorous presentation, but at least the brain dead creature is clean. The liquid within is light brown, almost golden. I stare at it for a full moment, inhaling its sweet, floral scent. Swirling in the bottom of the cup is a small pearl that gradually unravels into a single dark green, almost black leaf.
With some trepidation, I bring it to my lips. The water is pure, unflavoured by minerals. The Tanna tea has a slight hint of sweet vanilla and tangy iron, much like rooibos. Rather than a cleansing aftertaste of hot black tea, there is a distinct, yet mild bitter taste, reminiscent of green tea. My extensive implants simulate a caffeine rush for me so that I get the full experience.
I let out a long sigh and try to keep the disappointment off my face.
Tanna tea is close, so close to recreating the crappy builders tea I miss so much. It is, ironically, a bit too high quality. I can tell that milk and two sugars would obliterate its delicate flavour, nor will it go well with some buttery shortbread or a chocolate digestive.
I shake my head and smile. What matters is that it is good enough. The herbal nonsense I usually drink is still delicious and stimulating, but it’s the nostalgia I am chasing. The taste of a long lost home.
I put down the mug and close my eyes. A mechadendrite sneaks out and stows the leaf. I startle as a booming laugh comes from across the table.
“Magos Issengrund, does the Tanna tea meet your expectations?”
Lir suddenly looks a lot more relaxed. Apparently openly snatching samples, even a dried, then well boiled leaf, places me back within the boundaries of his world view.
“It was delicious, thank you.”
“Would you like a better sample?”
“It would aid me greatly, Chapter Master. A single pearl would be enough.”
He waves me off, “You can have the rest of it. Now, what’s this I hear of a xenos habitat on your remarkable vessel? You don’t have a licence for that, do you?”