CONTENTS

CoverTheGreaterEvil–PeterFehervariAbouttheAuthorABlackLibraryPublicationeBooklicense

THEGREATEREVILPeterFehervari

‘Evilgrowsfromwithin,notwithout.Itisadisharmonyoftheself,nottheshadowofsomeelusive,predatoryother.’

TheYasu’caor

–THEFIRSTCIRCLE–OUTSIDE

NomatterhowoftenVoylerelivesit,theendalwaysbeginsthesameway.Adeepclang reverberates through the airlock as theSable Star’s boarding umbilicallatchesontothederelictship.Voylecheckstheairtankstrappedtothebackofthe trooper beside him, then turns so his comrade can return the gesture.Theroutineismirroredbyeverymemberofthesquadwithpractisedswiftness.Theyhave run through it twice already, yet nobody hesitates.Nobody complains. AVoidBreacher’slifehangsbytheintegrityofhistankasmuchashisweapons.‘SquadIndigoisbloodtight,’Voylereportsintohishelmetvoxwhentheritualiscomplete.‘Repeat,bloodtight.’‘Bloodtight confirmed, Indigo,’ Lieutenant Joliffe acknowledges from thebridge,unabletohidethetensioninhisvoice.CaptainBestertookhisownlifefourteendaysago.Nobodyknowswhy,but theyall sense Joliffe isn’t ready toleadthecompany–notonthiswarp-cursedpatrol.Voylehasconsideredseizingcommand.Noonewouldstandinhisway,leastofallJoliffe,butthentheburdenofchoicewouldbehistocarry.No,itisbettertoliveordiewithcleanhands.‘Commencebreach,’Joliffeorders.‘Emperorwalkwithyou,Indigo.’With a hydraulic hiss the external hatch slides into its recess, revealing themetal tube of the umbilical.Most of the strip lumens running its length havefailedandthosethatstillworkflickerfitfully.Thecompany’sfive-monthtourofthe Damocles perimeter has taken a heavy toll on both supplies and men,includingbothitsenginseers.TheSableStarwasjustthreedaysoutfromKliestwhenitfoundtheintruder,silentandpowerless,yetperfectlyintact.Itsmarkingsdesignate it as the Halvorsen, but though the massive derelict is evidentlyImperial in origin, they can find no record of it. That is not unusual, fornumberless ships ply the vast tracts of the Imperiumand countlessmore havebeen lost over the millennia. Factoring in the contortions of the warp, thederelictmightbedecadesorevencenturiesold.Itisacumbersomehulkdevoid

of guns or advanced sensor arrays – probably a civilian cargo freighter andcertainlynomatchforawarshipliketheSableStar,butthatislittlereassurancefor the men tasked with boarding it. With derelicts it is what lies within thatmatters,forthevoidcrawlswithphantomsseekingthesolaceofmetalorflesh.Letitrot,Voylewantstosay.Betteryet,blastitbackintothewarp!Butinsteadhesayswhathealwayssays:‘Acknowledged,crossingcommences.’And enters the umbilical. He is a Void Breacher. This is what the AstraMilitarumhastrainedhimfor.They lied tous!Voyle yellsathis former self, but it isa silent cry, for if theghostsofthepastarewithouteyes,sothoseofthefuturearewithoutvoice.TheVoidBreachers’magnetisedbootsclatteronthecorrugateddeckingastheyadvancealongthenarrowtunnelonebyone,theirhelmetlightsslicingbackandforth.Theconcertinaed tubecreaksand shuddersaround themas it strains tokeep theshipsconjoined, the living to thedead.Despite theirsealedcarapacearmour and therma-padding, the cold is gnawing at themwithin seconds andtheir movements grow sluggish before they are halfway across. The raspingexhalations from their helmets are like steam in the frigid air, forcing them towipetheirvisorscleanaftereachrespiration,lestbreathbecomesblindingfrost.Voylehaltsashislightfindsthederelict’saccesshatch.Themetalisdarkandpitted, contrasting starklywith the gleaming umbilical clamps that encircle it.Oneglancetellshimthelockingmechanismishopelesslycorroded.‘Cutusadoor,Hoenig,’heorders,movingasideasthesquad’sspecialiststepsforward.Hewatchesas the trooperengravesaglowingovalaround thehatchwithalas-cutter.Thetool’spowerpackwhinesandVoylewillsittofail,knowingitwon’t.Itneverdoes.Thenightmarewon’tallowit.‘Done,BreachSergeant,’Hoenigsays,thenshovesthehatch.Withascreechofharrowed metal it crashes into the darkness beyond. As the reverberationssubside,Voylelevelshismeltagunandstepsthrough.

Hisownshriekwrenchedhimbackfromthebrink.ButI’vealreadyfallen,Voylethoughtwildlyashesurgedtohisfeet.There’snocomingback…Thenightmarefracturedandfellawayinsluggishfragments,revealingalargewindowless chamber. Its walls were tessellated with hexagonal panels thatglowedsoftly,washingthespaceinsubduedbluelight.Voylestoodatitscentre,hisbarefeettangledinasilveryblanket.Hetorehimselffreeandspunaround,tryingtomakesenseofthings.

Where–Hefrozeashecaughtsightofsomethingwatchinghimfromoneofthewalls.Blackeyesgleamingwithahungercolderthanthevoid…Thesoundthatroseinhisthroatwassomewherebetweenascream,asnarlandasigh,bornoffearandloathingand…longing?Voylestifleditasthepredatordissolved into a human form.Awoman. Shewas crouched in a recess in theoppositewall where a hexagonal panel had retracted, her eyes glinting in thegloom as she appraised him.Her facewas tattooedwith concentric rings, thefirst shearing throughher forehead,cheeksandchin, the secondencirclinghereyesandmouthandthethirdsetdirectlybetweenhereyes.Voyleknewsheboreafourthandfinalring,butitslineswereinvisible,foritembracedthemind.‘Unity,’Voylebreathed,namingthesymbol…andremembering.Thewoman’stattoosmirrored thoseonhis own face.With that recollection the rest floodedbackandhescannedthechamberquickly,buttheotherserenitycellswerestillsealed.Onlythewoman,whoalwayssleptwithhersopen,hadbeenrousedbyhisnightmareandshewouldn’tsayanythingtotheothers.‘Forgiveme,sister,’Voylesaid.‘Iwaswalkingoldroads.’Her expression gave nothing away. Sometimes she seemed as inscrutable astheir liberators. Though they had been comrades since Voyle’s emancipationfromtheImperiumalmostfiveago,theyhadexchangedfewwords.Otherthanhername–Erzul–heknewlittleabouthersaveherloyaltytothecauseandhertalentsasapathfinder.ButthatwasfinebyVoyle.Hewasn’tmuchinclinedtotalk abouthisownpast either.Rememberingwasbadenough.Dreamingevenworse…Why now?hewondered, reluctantly considering the old nightmare. It hadn’ttroubledhiminyears–notsincehe’dmasteredthemantrasofself-sublimationduringhis induction.He’dalmostconvincedhimself itwasafalsememory,ashisinstructorshadencouraged.Almost.Voylerubbedtheoldscarunderhischin.Itwasitchingfuriously,asifinflamedby the stingof thepast.Hewasn’tgoing to sleepagain this cycle.Maybe thesour-sweet tranquillitywafers the liberators issued theirauxiliarieswere losingtheirpotency.I should report it, Voyle brooded, knowing he wouldn’t. He trusted theliberatorsofcourse,buthisweaknessshamedhim.Voiddammit,heshouldhavetakenacell.Atleastthatwayhe’dhavekepthisnightmarestohimself.Hewasabigman,broad-shoulderedandahead taller thananyoneelse inhis squad, let

alone the liberators, but that wasn’t why he shunned the serenity cells. If hiscommanderhaddemandedit,hewouldhavesqueezedintooneofthehexagonalcoffins,buttheStormlighthadnotpressedtheissue.Thatwasn’thisway.‘It is your shadow to burn,’ the xenos had said, identifying his subordinate’sdreadwithanacuitythatwouldhaveconfoundedtheImperialofficersVoylehadservedunder.‘Youalonecanlightthefire.’Buttheshipwasalreadyfivedaysintoitsvoyageandthatfireremainedunlit.EverysleepcycleVoylehadbeddeddownatthecentreofthechamber,ignoringthequestioninglooksofhissquadastheyclamberedintotheircells.It doesn’tmatter,he thought as he pulled his boots on. His loathing of tightspaceswasonlyawhisperoftheshadowthatstalkedhim.‘I’llbeintheFireGrounds,’hetoldErzulashesteppedtowardsawall.Itsplitopenathisapproach,revealingabrightlylitcorridor.Nothingcouldhideinthatcrisp,sanelight.Voidblackeyes.Why now? Voyle asked again. A new life and purpose hadn’t dispelled theshadow.Ithadsimplylaindormant.Waitingforhimtowakeup.

The Seeker faced the maelstrom of swirling, prismatic mist with his backstraight andhis staff extendedhorizontallybeforehimat eye level. Its lifelessmetalwas untarnishedby the farragoof colours assaultinghim sohe kept hisgaze locked upon it, using its truth to filter out the lies. He had diffused hisbreathingtoalowsusurration,eachexhalationextendingacrossseveralminutes,yetencompassingnomorethanelevenheartbeats.Hismasterhadattainedsevenbeats in theritualof thearhat’karra,butAun’elKyuhaiknewhewouldnevermatchsuchserenity.NorwouldheeverascendbeyondhiscurrentstationintheEthereal caste’s hierarchy. That knowledge brought neither resentment norsadness,forhehadcastasidealldesiresaveservicetotheTau’va.Allelsewasasillusoryasthestormthatragedaroundhim.Andbehindillusionsprowledbeasts…Theycameforhimtogether,springingfromthemist inperfectsynchronicity,onefrombehind,theotherfromhisleft,whichtheyhadidentifiedashisweakerside.Traditionallytheirkindattackedinacacophonyofsquawksandhoots,yetthispaircameinsilence,denyingtheirpreyanywarning.They are learning,Kyuhai approved. He spun to his left, thrusting his stafftowards the dark shape flanking him, but it sprang away into the fog like aganglingacrobat.Hefeltarushofairathisbackastheotherassailant’sblade

hackedthroughthespacehehadoccupiedamomentearlier.Theferocityoftheswingcommittedtheattackerforasecondtoolong,chainingittotheimpotentarcasKyuhaiwhirledhisstaffoverhisshoulder. Itwasablindstrike,but thedisplaced air had told him all he needed to know. When he entered thearhat’karra,everymomentstretchedintomanyandeverywhispershouted.‘Ka’vash!’ hepronounced ashis staff brushedhis opponent’s throat.Had theweapon’sbladesbeenextendeditwouldhavebeenakillingblow.Beforehisfoecouldoffertheritualresponse,thesecondbeastlungedfromthefog,itscranialquillserectwithrage.Beady,deep-seteyesglaredathimfromeithersideofaprognathous,serratedbeak.Thecreaturewasnakedsaveforaleathertabardanditssinewyformwasriddledwithtribaltattoosandpiercings.Thistimeitdidn’tattackinsilence.Rukhexpectsdefeat,Kyuhairecognisedasheswepthisstaffaroundtomeettheavianwarrior’sscimitar.WhenZeljukhfalls,Rukhalwaysfallswithher.The creature struck in a whirlwind frenzy that would have overwhelmed alesser foe, yet none of its blows passed the gliding, almost languid parries ofKyuhai’sstaff.TotheSeekertheonslaughtwasakintoaninfant’stantrum,butheallowedittorunitscourse.Perhapsitwouldbeinstructive.Once again anger blinds Rukh, Kyuhai gauged as he blocked. He wasdisappointed, but unsurprised, for they had played out this scenemany timesbefore.ItwasZeljukhwhoendedthehopelessduel,bringingherbondedmatetoheelwith aderisory tiradeofhoots andclicks.With a squawkof frustration,Rukhthrewhisscimitarasideandprofferedhisneck.‘Ka’vash,’Kyuhaisaid,gentlytappingthecreature’sthroat.‘Endsimulation.’Theswirlingfogvanishedinstantly,revealingtheochrecolouredexpanseoftheFireGrounds.TheWhisperingHand’strainingbaywasdividedintosixsectors,some housing demi-sentient sparring machines, others devoted to low-techchallengeslikeclimbingframesorropes.Kyuhaiandhisopponentsstoodinthesimulation arena, where a large saucer-like machine hovered overhead, itsunderside bristling with sensors and projectors that tracked their movements.Thislateintheship’ssleepcyclethebaywasalmostempty,yetKyuhaiandhiscompanionswerenotquitealone.Ahumanwas trainingon the farsideof thebay–thebigmanwholedtheexpedition’ssecondgue’vesasupportteam.Theirpaths had crossed here beforewhile their fellow travellers slept, but they hadneverspoken.‘Reflectuponthisdefeat,’Kyuhaitoldtheavianwarriors.‘Leaveme.’

ThepairinscribedthesymbolofUnitywiththeirclawsthenlopedtowardstheclimbing arena,where theywould continue training until he summoned them.Once theywould have berated each other for their defeat, but theywere pastsuchfoolishness.Hehadbroughtthemthatfaratleast.‘Yourhonourguard is formidable,exaltedone,’ theexpedition’s rankingFireWarrior had observedwhenKyuhai had come aboard the ship. ‘The kroot arefierceallies.’‘IamaSeeker,Shas’elAkuryo.Ihavenohonourguard,’Kyuhaihadreplied.‘RukhandZeljukharesimplycompanionsonmypath.’ManyofKyuhai’sfellowt’auwererepelledbytheavianauxiliaries,buthehaddetectedonlyrespectintheFireWarrior’svoice.ThoughAkuryoandhewereofthesamerankwithintheirrespectivecastes, theEtherealswereelevatedaboveallothers,creatingagulfofauthoritybetweenthem.HadtheSeekercommandedit,Akuryowouldhavetakenhisownlifewithouthesitation.SuchblindfaithhadtroubledKyuhaiwhenhehadfirststeppedontohispath,buthehadsoonlearntthatitwasnotblindatall,forhiscastewasthelivingembodimentoftheTau’va.‘Weruletoserve,’hesaid,echoingthewordsofhisformermaster.The sounds of combat drew him from his reflection. While his mind hadwandered,hisbodyhadfolloweditsownpath,carryinghimtothearenawherethe big gue’la was duelling with a pair of drones. The saucer-like machinesbuzzed around theman, harassinghimwith low intensity lasers as hewhirledabout, blocking their beamswith themirror shields strapped tohiswrists.Hisonlymethodofretaliationwastoreflectthelasersbackattheirsource,butonlyadirecthitonanemitterwoulddisableadrone,whilethreestrikestohistorsowould end the bout. Judging by their tenacity the machines had been set tomaximumaggression–achallengeevenforseasonedFireWarriors.Thoughthemanmovedwithaspeedthatbeliedhisbulk,itwasapparentthathisambitionexceededhisability.LikeRukh,hefightsintheexpectationofdefeat,Kyuhaijudged.Heanticipatedthegue’lawouldmeetfailurewithacurse,butwhenitcamehesimplysaid,‘Startover.’‘Hold,’Kyuhaiinterjectedandthedronesfroze.Thegue’laturned,surprised,thenbowedhishead.‘Ididn’tmeantointrude…’Hefaltered,evidentlyunsureofthecorrectformofaddress.‘Lord,’heventured.Hespokeinahoarsegrowl,asifhisthroatwasdamaged.‘Seeker,’ Kyuhai corrected. His sharp eyes scanned the identity disc on theman’stunic.‘Andtheintrusionismine,Gue’vesa’uiVoyle.’

‘Iamhonoured,Seeker.’Evenbythestandardsofhisspecies,withtheirjuttingsnoutsandcurledears,Voylewasugly.Likeall theexpedition’sgue’vesa,hewas shaven-headedandhis skin was stained blue to mirror his liberators’ complexion, but suchcontrivances couldn’t soften thebrutish cast of his features.His eyeswere setdeepinacraggy,scar-crossedwastelandthatterminatedinaslab-likejaw.ItwasastrangecanvasstobeartheconcentricringsofUnity,yetalsoaneloquentone,forifsuchadamagedbeingcouldberedeemedthensurelytherewashopeforthe rest of its species. To the Seeker’s mind the gue’la were infinitely moredangerousthanhonestsavageslikethekroot,butequallytheirpotentialwasfargreater.‘They are an ancient race, crooked with the malignancies of age,’Kyuhai’smasterhadtaught,‘andyettheaeonshavenotdiminishedtheirpassion.Intimetheywilleitherbecomeourmostardentalliesorourmostdirefoes.’‘Youfoughtwithskill,butchoseyourbattlewithoutwisdom,’Kyuhaisaid.‘Tooverextendoneselfistowelcomedefeat.’‘Istandcorrected,Seeker.Mythoughtswereclouded.’‘Sleepevadesyou?’‘Idon’tlikewhatitbrings.Orwhereittakesme.’ThemanrubbedathisneckandKyuhaispottedapalescarunderhisjaw.Itwascircular,almostlikeanotherringofUnity.‘Therearethings…thingsIthoughtIwasdonewith.’‘Areyouhavingdoubts,gue’vesa’ui?’‘Doubts?’ Voyle looked up sharply, evidently surprised. ‘No, no doubts… IwanttoseetheImperiumburn,Seeker.’‘ThatmaynotservetheGreaterGood.OurmissionhereintheDamoclesGulfispeaceful.WemayyetfindcommoncausewiththepeopleofyourImperium.’‘It’snotmyImperium,Seeker,’Voylesaid,hisexpressionhardening.‘Itneverwas.’Thereitis,Kyuhaisaw,thepotentialforterriblelightanddarkness.‘That is why awakened minds like yours must strive to reclaim it for theGreaterGood,’hesaid.Voyledidn’tanswer,butthedenialinhiseyeswasapparent.Heiscorrect,Kyuhaireflected.Hisspeciesyearnsforstrife.TherewillbenoaccordwiththeirImperium.Andyetwemustattemptit,evenifitonlydelaystheinevitable.Thisisaninopportunetimeforwar.Whenitcomesitmustbeofourchoosing,nottheenemy’s.Amelodioussequenceofchimesreverberatedthroughthebay,announcingthe

dawncycle.‘Wewilltalkagain,Gue’vesa’uiVoyle,’Kyuhaisaid,studyingtheman’sface.‘Thinkuponmywords.’As the Seeker turned and strode towards the door he felt theman’s shadow-wrackedeyesfollowinghim.

‘ReviewtransmissionFai’sahl-359,’Por’elAdibhcommanded.Thedatadroneembeddedin theglassy tablebeforeherburbledand itsdomeerupted with a corona of pixels, illuminating the dimly lit conclave chamberwheretheembassy’sleadershadgatheredatherrequest.Theiridescentparticlesflickered then resolved into a diminutive figure floating above the drone in arigidlotusposition.Thehololithicavatar’sfinefeaturesandhigh-collaredrobesidentifiedhimasamemberofthet’auWatercaste,likeAdibhherself.‘IbeargreetingsinthenameoftheGreaterGood,’theavatarannouncedinamellifluousbaritone.‘IamPor’vreDalythFai’sahl,firstemissaryoftheeighthbranchoftheWhispertideConcordance,entrustedwiththeenlightenmentofthenineteenthparalleloftheDamoclesGulf,designatedtheYuxasystem.‘Please forgive the excessive interval since my last communication, but myexpeditionhasbeenbesetbygrievoustravailsandmanyofmyassociateshavepassed into theDeepSilence.Yuxa isa troubledregionwhere thedominionofthegue’la Imperiumhasgrownprofoundly frayed.Suchdisorder is fertile soilforanarchyandviolence,yetalsoforopportunity,forasthestormspawnsruinsoruinationforeshadowsfreshhope.AndinhopethereisUnity.’Youwereneverone forsuccinctness,Fai’sahl,Adibhreflected.Hercolleaguehadalways leaned towards theflamboyant,andnotonly inhisrhetoric. Itwaswhyshehadrejectedhismanyproposalsforapairing,despitehiscomeliness–and also, she suspected, why she had advanced beyond him in their caste’shierarchy.YetdespiteFai’sahl’slimitationshisdisappearancehadsaddenedher.How likehim to confoundher assumptions and reappear, seemingly alive andwell.‘Know thatoursacrificehasnotbeenwithoutpurpose,’Fai’sahl’s imagewassaying,hisnasal slitsdilatedwithpride. ‘Undermyauspices,Yuxa’sdominantgue’la faction, the IllumismaticOrderof theEver-TurningCog,hasembracedtheGreaterGoodwithformidableconviction!ThoughIhavededicatedmylifeto thedisseminationof theTau’vaamong the ignorant, Ihaveneverwitnessedan ideological metamorphosis to rival the one that blossoms here. Indeed, Ibelieve the key to the spiritual redemption of this vexatious species – perhaps

eventheunravellingofitsbarbaricImperium–mayliehereintheYuxasystem!‘Regrettably, however, this efflorescence of reason is imperilled by recidivistelementsandtechnologicalimpedimentsbeyondmycapacitytosalve.Mygue’laassociateshaveprepareda reportofourpredicament that Ihaveappended tothis transmission for your elucidation. Esteemed colleagues, I urge you todespatcha reliefmission toYuxawithout delay. Itwouldbeabetrayal of ourexaltedcommissionifthispromisinglightwereextinguishedinitsinfancy.‘Spatialcoordinatesandsupportingspecificationsfollow.’Thehololithflickeredoutandthelightsrose,revealingtheothersseatedaroundtheconclave table.AdibhandFio’vreDaukh, theexpedition’sseniorengineer,hadalreadyseentherecording,butforthepairofFireWarriorsitwasthefirsttime.Theolderone’sweatheredfaceworeitscustomarydisapprovalforallnon-militarymatters.Evenbythestandardsofhercaste,Shas’vreBhoralwasadourcreature,butdoubtlessshehadn’tbeenchosenforherintellect.Shewasatightlyfocussed weapon, nothing more. It was the officer sitting beside her whomatteredtoAdibh.‘Therecordingisgenuine?’Shas’elAkuryoasked.‘It was encodedwith gue’la equipment, but the identity ciphers are correct,’Adibh replied. ‘Moreover, Por’vre Fai’sahl and I are former colleagues. It iscertainlyhim.’‘Hismanner is… singular.’ Akuryo’s brow furrowed slightly to indicate the-irony-that-anticipates-derision.ForaFireWarriorhewasunusuallyexpressive,Adibh thought, even handsome in a coarse way. More importantly he wasperceptive.Hisgue’vesatroops, towhomhewasnothinglessthanahero,hadnamedhimStormlightforhisstalwartguidanceinbothwarandpeace.‘Howlonghasthisemissarybeenmissing?’Akuryoasked.‘PriortothistransmissionourlastcontactwithFai’sahl’sembassywasalmostthree spatial years ago,’ Adibh said. ‘They were presumed lost and the Yuxasystemwasdesignatednon-viable.’‘Thematterwasnotinvestigated?’‘Asyouareaware,theWhispertideConcordanceisonlyanexploratoryventureintotheDamoclesGulf–abridgeheadtothegue’la.Ourresourcesarelimited.’‘Hissuddenreappearancetroublesme,’Akuryosaid,cuttingtothecruxofthematter.‘Naturally.Thatiswhyyouarehere,shas’el.’‘ThenwhyhaveIbeenallowedonlyBhoralandtwogue’vesasupportteamstoprotectyou,por’el?’

‘It was the High Ambassador’s decree.’ Adibh extended her hands, palmsupward. ‘Wewalk thepathof theOpenHand.AnexcessivemilitarypresencemightbemisconstruedandopportunitiesofthekindFai’sahldescribescannotbesquandered.’‘Thenyoubelievehisstory?’‘That is for our reveredSeeker to determine,’Adibh said. ‘Mypurpose is tofacilitateafruitfuldiscourse.’‘Asyoursistowatchoverus,Stormlight,’aquietvoicesaidbehindher.‘Ihavenodoubtyouwillbothperformyourdutiesadmirably.’Adibh turned and saw the Seeker standing in the entrance of the conclavechamber,his armscrossed inapostureof tranquil authority.Hewasattired inplaingrey robescinchedat thewaistbyablacksash.Asalways,adeepcowlpooledhisfeaturesinshadow,obscuringhiseyes.Hishonourstaffwasclippedtoasimpleharnessonhisback.How long has he been there?Adibhwondered as a thrill of devotion surgedthroughher. Itwas rumoured thatSeekers couldpass unseen among theothercastes andKyuhai had done nothing to dispel that notion. Formally known asyasu’aun– ‘the-finders-of-the-truth-that-hides’–Seekerswere solitarymysticswhowandered theT’auEmpire, followingpathsonly theEthereal caste couldcomprehend. Sometimes they would attach themselves to an expedition,appearing unexpectedly, but always welcome, for their presence was a greathonour.ThoughAdibhwasofficiallystillthemission’sleadertherealityofthathad changed the moment Kyuhai had joined them, yet she felt no acrimonytowards him. In her most introspective moments that equanimity sometimestroubledher,buttheuneasewouldnevercrystallise.‘Weshallnotfailyou,Seeker,’Akuryovowed,clearlyasawedbythemysticasAdibh.‘NorIyou,Stormlight,’Kyuhaireplied.HeturnedtoAdibh.‘Por’el,whenwereachYuxayouwillconductournegotiations.’‘Underyourauspicesofcourse,Seeker.’‘Youmisunderstand, por’el.Youwill lead the embassy alone. Iwill observe,unobserved.Theunseeneyeseesfurther.’‘Thenyoususpectatrap,Seeker?’Akuryoaskedintently.‘Thatismypath.’

When thenextsleepcyclecameroundVoyleclimbed intoaserenitycell.ThelastthinghesawasthehatchslidshutwasErzulwatchinghimfromthecubicle

intheoppositewall.Fightingdownhisnausea,Voyleextinguishedthelight.‘It’snothing,’hewhispered.But it didn’t feel like nothing. Not at all. His heart was pounding as thememoriessurgedupwithalmostphysicalforce.Darknessandthestenchofstalepromethium…Thenheisinsidetheothercoffinagain–theemptyfuelsilohehascrawledintoandwelded shut withHoenig’s las-cutter. His ear is pressed against the slickmetal, listeningfor theabominations thathaveslaughteredtheboardingparty.Hoenigisslumpedagainsthiminthetightspace,hisbreathcominginragged,bubblinggaspsashebleedsout.Thespecialisttrooper’sleftarmhasbeentornoff at the shoulder, along with most of his face, yet oblivion eludes him. Hissurviving eye roves about, as if seeking answers to questions he can’tunderstand, let aloneask.Voyle knowshe shouldgivehis comrademercy, butthenhewillbethelastofthemandheisn’treadyforthatyet.‘Ican’t,’hesays.Hoenig’s questing eye fixes upon him, mutely condemning, then darkens toblack.‘Faceyourfearoritwillconsumeyou.’Voylerecoilsandslipsfurtherintothenightmare,backtothemomentwhenittrulybegins.

‘Proceed,’Kyuhaicommanded.‘Subject:Voyle,Ulver.Species:Gue’la,male,’ thedatadroneanswered in itssexless,perfectlymodulatedvoice.‘Age:thirty-sixbiologicalyears.Height…’‘Omitsomaticdata,’Kyuhaiinterrupted.‘Proceedtobiographic.’‘Yes, Seeker,’ the drone replied. ‘Former Astra Militarum trooper, EleventhExordioVoidBreachers…’Alone in the conclave chamber,Kyuhai listened as the drone relatedVoyle’shistory.Hedidn’tknowwhathewas lookingfor,buthewascertainhewouldrecognise it when he found it. In time that recognition would blossom intounderstanding,butitwasanambiguousprocess,drivenbyintuitionratherthanintellect. A Seeker perceived connections and anomalous elements – be theyevents, objects or individuals – as an artist of the Water caste perceived therhythmofcolours,wordsormelodies.Like thatartist,Kyuhai’scallingwas tocreateharmony,buthiscanvasswasspiritualratherthanaesthetic.‘SubjectVoylewassubsequentlypromotedtotherankofBreachSergeantandassigned to patrol duties along the perimeter of the Damocles Gulf,’ the data

dronewassaying.‘Hisfirsttour…’Hiseyesclosedandarmsfolded,Kyuhailetthestorywashoverhim.ThusfarnothinginVoyle’sservicerecordhadstruckthediscordantnotehewaswaitingfor. Theman’s careerwas competent, but unexceptional.Grey.Yet somethinghaddrawnhimtoVoyle,justasithaddrawnhimtothismissionwhensomanyothershadviedforhisattention.Whoareyou,UlverVoyle?Kyuhaimused.Whydoyoumatter?

Though Voyle has fallen only minutes further into his nightmare’s past it isenough to resurrect his comrades and the delusion of order. The squad hastravelledfarinsearchofthedeadship’sbridge,forifthereareanyanswerstobefoundtheywillsurelybethere.Unexpectedlythederelictisstillpressurised,thoughitsatmosphereisstaleandnoneofthetroopershaveopenedtheirvisors.Theydon’ttrustthisplaceenoughtotasteitsair.‘Howmuchfurther,Hoenig?’Voylehearshimselfask.Wholeagain, thespecialist trooperconsultshisscanner.Theglowingmaponits readout is only an approximation of the hulk’s layout derived from similarvessels,butHoenighasatalentfornavigatingonthefly.‘Another deck up, Breach Sergeant,’ he replies. ‘Should be an access ladderthreeorfourjunctionsahead.’ButVoyle,bothpastandpresent,isn’tlisteninganymore.Didsomethingmovein the intersecting corridor he just passed?He steps back and illuminates thepassageway.Itslengthischokedwithasnarlofpipesandcorrodedmachinerythatspinstrangeshadowsfromhislight.Thatconstrictedabattoirof junkisn’tsomewherehewantstogo,buthehastobecertain,sohestepsintoitsmaw.‘Don’t!’Voylepresentyellssilentlyintohispast.Withawethissapileofdebrisuncoilsbeforehim, extending longarms thatendinhook-liketalons.Amomentlaterasecondpairunfurlsbeneaththefirst,butthesetaperintolong-fingeredhandsthatlookalmostdelicate.Thecreature’sganglingformissheathedinchitinousblueplatesthatbulgeintoacarapaceofbones over its chest and shoulders. Though its posture is hunched its bestialheadislevelwithVoyle’sown–soclosehecanseeitsmauvefleshpulsating.Itwaswaitingforme,heunderstands.Voyle’smeltagun is trained on the thing’s ribcage, but his trigger finger hasturnedtostone,alongwithhislegsandthroat,allheldrigidbyitsgaze.Itseyesare a lustreless black, yet the hunger in them is unmistakable.Unassailable…evenbeautifulinitspurity…

NowoneofVoyle’shandsmoves,risingtothesealofhisvisor.Hegaspsasthederelict’s freezing air hits him, but it is not enough to snap him free of thosemesmerisingeyes.‘BreachSergeant?’someonecallsbehindhimasthecreature’sjawsdistendandarigid tongueextrudes,drippingviscous ichor.Theorgan is thorn-tippedandpregnantwithpromise.‘Burnit!’Voylebellowsathimselfasheraiseshisheadandoffershisthroat.Perhaps his warning rends time, space and logic to stir his former self toaction. Perhaps it is nothing more than a shock reflex. Either way, when thebeast’s tongue pierces his flesh he squeezes the trigger. As cold corruptioncourses into his bloodstream a blast of purifying heat incinerates the thing’storso.Itstongueiswrenchedfreeasitfalls,butVoylefeelsnopainthroughthenumbnessinhisneck.Hesnapshisvisorshutasgunfireeruptsinthecorridorbehindhim.‘Xenos!’somebodyshouts.In thepandemoniumthat follows the firstattackVoylecan’t tellhowmanyoftheabominationsthereare,butwithinsecondshissquadisfightingforitslifeasthethingsassailitfromallsides.Soonthreetroopersarelostandthefighthasbecome flight.Reaching thesanctuaryof theSableStar is theironlyhope,butthe rout has transformed the corridors into amaze andHoenig’s scanner hasbeen lost alongwith the arm that carried it. Voylewields his heavy gun one-handedashesupports thewoundedman.Theyarebothdrenchedin thebloodpumping from the raw stump of Hoenig’s shoulder, yet the specialist is stillconscious–stilltheirbestchanceoffindingawayout.Thesevensurvivorsbecomesixthenfivethenonlyfourasclawsyanktroopersintodarkrecessesorthepipesabove.‘SableStar!’ Voyle shouts into his helmet vox, but the only reply is a hiss ofstatic.Thesquad lefta stringofcommsrelays in itswake tomaintaincontactwiththeship,buttherouthascarriedthemfarfromthatpath.‘Take…right,’Hoeniggaspsastheyreachanotherjunction.Abruptlythevoxcracklesintolife:‘–status,SquadIndigo?Irepeat…’‘Lieutenant!’Voyleinterrupts.‘We’reunderattack.Takingheavycasualties.’‘Confirmed,’ theactingcommanderreplies.‘Whatareyouupagainst,BreachSergeant?’‘Unknownxenos…Don’tknowhowmany.Weneedasupportteamnow!’Thereisalongpause:‘Iamdisengagingtheumbilical.’‘Wait…’

‘Ican’tallowtheSableStar tobecompromised.’Lieutenant Joliffe’s voice iswalkingaknife-edgeofpanicnow.‘Listentome,we’re…’‘Emperorprotectyou,BreachSergeant.’Thevoxgoesdead.Voylecurseshimasthetrooperaheadispulledthroughthefloorbysomethingunseen.He sends an incinerating blast into the torn ground as he steps past,virtually dragging Hoenig now. Moments later a plangent metallic scrapingechoesthroughthecorridor.EveryVoidBreacherknowsthatsound.‘Thatwastheumbilical!’Thorstenyellsfromsomewherebehind.Wewerealmost there,Voyle realisesbitterly. ‘Keepmoving,’heordersashestaggerson,goingnowherenow,buttooangrytostop.SoonThorstenisalsogoneandonlyVoyleandthewoundedspecialistremain.Hoenighaspassedout,buthe’sstillbreathingandVoylewon’tleavehimbehindeven if itmakesnodifferenceanymore.Ashewanders the labyrinthhesensestheblack-eyedxenoswatchinghimfromtheshadows,inexplicablyreticentnowhis comrades are dead. Are they toying with him? No… Voyle is strangelycertainthatcrueltyisn’tintheirnature.Strangerstill,hecan’tbringhimselftohatethem.Whateverelsetheyare,thecreaturesarehonestintheirdesires.Thebeautyheglimpsedinhisfirstencounterwasn’tentirelyfalse.Besides,hehasnohatredlefttospareforthem.‘We were so close,’ he rasps, thinking of Joliffe. Dimly he recalls Breacherprotocol–evenrecognisesthatthelieutenantwasright–butragedrownssuchreasonablenonsense.‘So…damn…close.’Thecorridorsreverberatewithadeep,distantpoundingandVoylerealisestheSableStarhasopenedfireonthedeadship.Hedoubtsitsdepletedweaponscandestroythecolossalvessel,buttheoutersectionswillcertainlybedepressurised.Eveniftheshipsurviveshemightnot.‘I’mdeadanyway,’Voylehisses.Buthisbodydeniesit.Andsuddenly–fiercely– he realises he wants to keep it that way. His fury demands it. That andsomethingcolder.Shortlyafterwardshefindsthefuelsilos.

‘FivespatialyearsagosubjectVoylewas recovered fromanabandonedvesselfoundintheninthDamoclesparallel,’thedatadronesaid.‘Thereportspecifieshe had been adrift for three months following an encounter with hostile lifeformsofanunknownnature.Notraceoftheseaggressorswasfound,howeverevidence…’

Kyuhaiwaslisteningintentlynow.AccordingtothereportVoylehaddisplayedremarkableresilience,bothphysicalandmental,inthefaceofhisordeal.‘Onsiteexaminationconcludedthat…’‘Hold,’Kyuhaisaidsharply.‘Repeatprevioussegment.’

Voyleclawedhiswayoutofthenightmarelikeapanickedcorpsefromitsgrave,but the taste of rotten flesh in his mouth wasn’t his own. He had finallyremembered the last, worst part of the horror – the part his liberators hadsupressedduringhisinduction.Onlytheyweren’tliberatorsatall.Notforhim.Howcouldtheybewhenhewasknee-deepindamnation?Gut-deep.

‘Itwas evident that the subject had sustained himself by cannibalising a deadcomrade,’thedronerepeated.Cannibalism? Kyuhai thought. The practice was not unknown among somespecies – indeed it was revered by the kroot – but among the gue’la it wasregardedasextremelydeviantbehaviour.‘Thematterwasnotnotedasacauseforconcern?’heasked.‘The presiding Ethereal, Aun’vre Kto’kovo, deemed it within acceptableparametersofgue’ladegeneracy.’‘Proceed,’Kyuhaisaid,supressingarareflickerof irritation.Evenamonghisowncastethereweretoomanywhodismissedthegue’laasprimitives.‘Following screening and remedial therapy, the subjectwas inducted into theKir’qathauxiliaryacademyonSa’ceasept,wherehedemonstratedexceptionalaptitudealignedwitharobustcommitmenttotheTau’va.Hisinitialposting…’Five years of faultless service to the Greater Good followed, with Voylefighting on various battlegrounds at the fringes of the empire. The Seekerlistenedtoitall,thoughhewascertainhehadalreadyfoundthekeytoVoyle’sanomaly.Nowhehadtomakesenseofit–anddecidewhetherUlverVoylewasanassetoraliability.

‘No,’Voyle rasped,overandover,butnomatterhowoftenhe repeated it, thetruthwould not be denied.As the days of his confinement had stretched intountoldweeks,his soulhadnarrowed towardsnothingness.Starvedofhope forretribution,evenhisragehaddimmed,yethisbodyhadfoughton.Somewhereblood deep – much deeper than he could see – it had been unwilling to die.Whenhissuit’s rationswereexhaustedhe’dscavengedfromthecorpsebesidehiminthesilo,andthenwhenitssupplieswerealsogone…

Voyleretchedandslammedafistagainsthissleepingcell.‘WhatamI?’hesnarledintothedarknesswithin.Andforthefirsttimethedarknessanswered,butitsvoicecamefromwithout.

–THESECONDCIRCLE–THRESHOLD

TheYuxasystemhadelevenplanets,butonly twoharboured life–Phaedra,afungus infested water world, and Scitalyss, a bloated gas giant whose outerlayersswarmedwithphantasmalaeriformvermin.ItwastothesecondofthesethattheWhisperingHandwasbound, thoughitsdestinationwasnot theplanetitself,butthelesserleviathansuspendedinitsanaemicexosphere.FromadistancethestructureappearedtobeadarkblemishagainstScitalyss’ochre and russet swirl, but as thevessel drewcloser themotegrew spiny andmisshapen, likea tumour inmetastasis.Closerstill it resolved intoasprawlofinterconnectedmetalmodulesofvarying size and shape.Amonolithic spindlerosefromthecentreofthetangle,toweringovertheotherstructuresandtrailingtitanic extraction pipes into the world below. The spindle’s cog-like tiersshimmeredwithlightsastheyrevolved,butfurtherfromthecentretheexpansegrewdark and thedomesof its componentmoduleswere crackedopen to thevoid,asthoughtheyhadbeenwrackedbysometerribleviolence.Though the sprawlwasartificial itwas still acancer, for itsgrowthhad longagobecomerampantandperverse,twistedoutofanysemblanceoforderbythecountlessmasterswhohadpresidedoverit.Mosthadbeguntheirstewardshipinsobriety, but few had ended that way, for despite the intent of its architects,discordrandeepinthisplace.Whetheritwastheinfluenceofthebalefulgiantitleecheduponortheconsequenceofsomeintrinsicflaw,theskyhivewastainted,itshistorysaturatedinstrife.Andyetithadenduredacrossmillennia,grudginglypayingitstithestotheImperiumandneverquiteembracingaheresythatwouldhaveinvitedretaliation.ThereweremyriadsuchcancersgrowinginthecracksoftheImperium,butfewasfurtive.The place had acquired many names, some truer than others. Its formaldesignationwasScitalyss-Altus, but its currentmasters had ennobled it as theUnfoldingNexus,howevertothemillionswhoekedoutalivinginitscorroded

avenuesitwassimplytheRat’sCradle.

Idonotlikeit,Por’elAdibhdecided,notatall.The skyhive rotated slowly above the conclave table, its tangled lineamentsreproducedinperfectholographicfidelity.Itspresencefeltlikeataintupontheroom.Uponher…Taint? Adibh dismissed the notion. Such irrationality had corroded thecollectivepsycheofthegue’la.Ithadnoplaceinthethinkingofat’au.‘Yourthoughts,shas’el?’sheasked.‘Itisdangerous,’Akuryoreplied.Hestoodontheoppositesideofthetable,hisformdistortedbythehologram.‘Iconcur,’Adibhsaid,‘yetwemustproceedwiththemission.’They were alone in the conclave chamber. Her first impressions of the FireWarriorhadprovedcorrectandoverthepassingdaysshehadcometovaluehiscounsel, even to regard him as a friend. After the artifice of theWhispertideCongresshisdirectnesswasbracing.‘Why?’Akuryoasked.‘Whyarewetakingthisrisk,por’el?Thetruereason.’‘BecausetheHighAmbassadorhasdecreedit,’shereplied.‘TheYuxasysteminterestshim.’Sheraisedahandtostemhisnextquestion.‘Idonotknowwhy.Por’oSeishinkeepshisowncounsel,butwemusttrusthisjudgement.’‘Heisyoung,’Akuryosaidflatly.‘He is gifted,’ Adibh corrected, thinking of her idealistic, driven superior.‘Exceptionallyso…Theempirerecognisesandrewardstalent.’Akuryowassilentforamoment,brooding.‘ItisfortunatethataSeekerwalksbesideusonthispath,’hesaidfinally.‘Weareduetodockinninehours.Imustgo,por’el.’‘WhyBhoral?’Adibhaskedasheturnedtogo.‘Idonotunderstand?’‘WhydidyouchooseShas’vreBhoralasyouraide?’Thequestionhadnaggedatherforsometime.Atfirstshehadassumedthewarriorswereoldcomrades,perhaps even Ta’lissera bonded, but she had seen no warmth between them.Indeed,Akuryoseemedclosertohisgue’vesathantohisfellowFireWarrior.‘Ididnotchooseher,’hesaidstiffly.‘Shewasassignedtomeforthemission.’Do you trust her?Adibh wanted to ask, but that was absurd. ‘Thank you,shas’el,’shesaidinstead.‘Seetoyourtroops.’Whenhewasgoneshereturnedherattentiontothehologram.Shewasn’tsurewhyshehadasked thequestionorwhyAkuryo’sanswer troubledher. In fact,

theclosertheydrewtotheirobjectivethelesscertainshewasofanything.

Alone in thedarknessofhisserenitycell,UlverVoyle listened to theVoice. Ithadgrownstrongeroverthepastfewdays,swellingfromasubliminalmurmurtoanevanescentwhispering,yetitswordsstilleludedhim.‘Whatareyoutryingtotellme?’hehissed.

–THETHIRDCIRCLE–INSIDE

Por’elAdibh’s nostril slits dilatedwith disgust as she stepped onto the ship’sdisembarkationrampandtheacidstenchoftheskyhivehither.Sheimaginedabroken machine leaking the black sludge that powered so much of theImperium’s technology.Quellinghernausea, she studied the immenseexpanseofthehangerbayasshedescended,herdatadronehoveringaboveherheadlikeadomedhalo.Thewallsofthecavernouschamberwerecorrodedandslickwithfilth, its floor knottedwith trailing pipes and discarded tools. Dozens of sub-human labourers toiledamong the labyrinthofmachinery, theirbodiescrudelyfusedtometallimbs,theireyesasvacantastheirminds.IthadalwayspuzzledAdibhthattheImperiumembracedsuchatrocitieswhilecondemningtheelegantdronesoftheT’auEmpire.Somuchoftheirsufferingisself-inflicted,shemused.‘Noteworthy,’Fio’vreDaukhdeclaredbesideher.Adibhdidn’tknowwhetherthe stocky engineerwas referring to theodouror someobscuredetail onlyhecouldsee,butshehadlearntnotenquireaftersuchremarks;Daukh’sconceptofnoteworthy rarely converged with anyone else’s. He had found much of noteduringtheirapproachtothehive,whileAdibhhadseenonlydecrepitude.WhyhadFai’sahlledthemtothisfloatingsewercity?Akuryo and another armoured figurewerewaiting for her at the foot of theramp. They had donned their helmets so their faces were hidden behind flat,sensor-studded visors that gave them an impassive machine-like aspect.Akuryo’smottledcrimsonarmourboreafive-armedsunburstonitsbreastplate–personal colours and heraldry granted to him when he’d earned his rank. Incontrast, his companion’s uniform was the stark, unadorned white of theWhispertideConcordance.‘Your gue’vesa understand there is to be no violence, shas’el?’Adibh asked,indicating the human soldiers lined up on either side of the ramp. Both the

supportteamswerepresent,thetroops’riflesslungovertheirshouldersastheycrouchedinthestanceofwatchful-repose.TheyworelightervariantsoftheFireWarriors’ armour, retaining thebreastplates and shoulder pads, but lacking thecontouredplates that sheathed their superiors’ limbs.Theirhelmetswere fittedwithtintedlensesthatcoveredtheireyes,butlefttheirfacesbare.‘The Stormlit know their duty,’Akuryo replied, referring to his troops as anextensionofhimself. Itwasagreathonourandseveralof thegue’vesapuffedouttheirchestsathiswords.‘I have faith in your faith,’ Adibh acknowledged, then appraised thewarriorbesideAkuryo.Thedeceptionwasflawless.Despitethearmourandhelmet,shehadexpected to feel something,butall shesensedwaswhathereyes toldher:this was just another Fire Warrior. It was as if the Seeker had somehowconstrictedhisspiritwhenhehaddonnedthearmour.Hehasbecomewhatheseemstobe,shethought.Therewas a pneumatic hiss as the hanger’s hatch split down the centre andretractedtoeitherside,spillingbrightlightintothechamber.‘Andsowebegin,’Adibhmurmuredasarobedfigureentered.

Hisvisionenhancedbythesensorsofhisborrowedhelmet,Kyuhaistudiedthenewcomeras itapproached.Thoughitwasswathed inahoodedpurplemantlethereweresubtlequalitiesofpostureandgaitthatspokevolumestohisrefinedsensibilities.‘Por’vreFai’sahl,’Adibhdeclaredwhenthestrangerstoppedbeforethem.Shesawittoo,Kyuhairealised,impressed.FewoutsidetheEtherealcasteweresoperceptive.‘Youknowmetoowell,oldfriend,’thenewcomersaid,pushingbackitshoodtorevealthefamiliarfaceofthemissingemissary.Hesmiledandstretchedouthisarmstoencompasstheothers.‘Onbehalfof theOrderoftheEver-TurningCog,IofferyouwelcometotheUnfoldingNexus,anewbornengineofreasonamongthebenightedgue’la!’Kyuhai was perplexed. On the hololith Fai’sahl had appeared pompous –superficialeven–butinpersonhewasalmostelectric,asthoughanavidvitalityburnedwithinhim.‘It has been too many years since we last conversed, Por’vre Adibh,’ theemissarycontinuedwarmly,turningbacktoAdibh.‘Por’el,’shecorrected.‘Iwaselevatedshortlyafteryourdisappearance.’‘Myapologies,por’el.’Fai’sahlbowedhishead.‘Itpleasesmethatyourtalents

havebeenrecognised.’Smoothly,hereachedoutandgraspedherhands.ItwasabrazengesturethatbreachedalletiquetteandAdibhstiffenedvisibly.‘Ihavesomuchtosharewithyou,’Fai’sahlsaid,hiseyesbright.‘Thisgue’larelicharboursmanywondersthatmayadvancetheGreaterGood.’‘Youcamealone,emissary?’Akuryoaskedbluntly.Fai’sahlturnedtotheFireWarrior,hissmileunwavering.‘No,butwethoughtitbestthatyouweregreetedbyonewhoisknowntoyou.’‘ButIdonotknowyou.’Akuryoindicatedtheirontalismanhangingfromtheemissary’sneck–afour-toothedcogembossedwiththedouble-loopofinfinity.‘NordoIrecognisetheseptyounowspeakfor.’‘IbeartheCogEternalasamarkofrespect,’Fai’sahlsaid.Hissmileremained,butthewarmthhadslippedfromhiseyes.‘Yourmessage indicated urgency, por’vre,’ Adibh interjected, extricating herhands.‘Iwouldliketomeettheseremarkablegue’layouhaveuncovered.’‘Ofcourse,por’el…’Fai’sahl’sgazesweptovertheparty.‘Yourembassywasnotaccompaniedbyanexaltedone?’‘Unfortunatelytheyarefewandtheneedsoftheempiremany,’Adibhreplied.Kyuhai studied Fai’sahl’s face, expecting relief or disappointment, but therewasnothing.Icannotreadhim,herealised.Howcanthatbe?Onimpulseheglancedatthegue’vesatroops,searchingforVoyle.Thebigmanstood at the front of his team, his expression distant, as if his attention waselsewhere. Though they had talked occasionally during the remainder of thevoyageKyuhaiwasnoclosertodecipheringtheman’ssignificance.Andyethedidnotdoubtit.‘Chance is a myth perpetuated by those who only see what seems to be,’Kyuhai’smasterhadtaught.‘ASeekerlooksbeneaththeliesandfindsthelinesthatbind.Andwheretheyhavebecometwistedorfrayed,hefollows,forhispathistomendwhenhecanorexcisewhenhecannot.’It was the first axiom of the Yasu’caor, the philosophy by which a SeekerservedtheGreaterGood.Mypathhas ledme true,Kyuhai judged, returninghis attention toFai’sahl’ssmiling,emptyface.Nothingiswhatitseemshere.

‘Support Team One, the ship is under your watch. Be vigilant!’ Akuryocommandedashestrodetowardsthehangerdoors.‘TeamTwo,withme!’Voyle shook his head, trying to break free of the Voice that haunted – or

hunted?–him.‘Gue’vesa’ui?’someonesaidbehindhim.Heturnedandstaredattheexpectantfacesof…Whowerethey?‘Voyle,theshas’elcallsus!’ahatchet-facedwomansnapped.Erzul,herememberedandtherestfollowed.‘Moveout,’heordered.‘Go!’AmIlosingmymind?Voylewonderedashefollowedhissquad.Somehowtheprospecttroubledhimlessthananyofthealternativeshecouldimagine.Threevehicleswaitedoutsidethespaceport.Twowereopen-toppedtrucks,thethird a massive armoured car emblazoned with the sigil of the Ever-TurningCog. A group of robed figures watched over them, their long-barrelled rifleslevelledatthesurroundingbuildings.Morewerestationedalongthesegmentedwallthatencircledthespaceportlikeametalserpent.Floodlightsilluminatedtheperimeter, but beyond their reach everything was swathed in gloom. Voylelookedupandcountedlessthanadozenlightsintheironskyofthedome.Hekneweachwasavast,burningglobe,butitwouldtakehundredstoilluminateacity-sizedterritorylikethisone.Thiswholeregion isdying,heguessed, remembering themanydarkmoduleshe’dseenfromspace.AsthepartyapproachedthevehiclesVoylesawtheguards’purplerobeswereembroideredwiththeconcentricringsofUnity,butthebronzemaskstheyworeunder their hoods were less reassuring, for they were fashioned to resemblesomething more insect than man, with jutting compound jaws and bulbous,multi-facetedlenses.‘Watchmen of the Second Rotation,’ the t’au emissary explained. ‘They arehereforyourprotection.’‘Protectionfromwhat?’theStormlightdemanded.‘Regrettably the Order’s enlightenment is not entirely unopposed. A fewdissidentfactionsremainactiveintheouterdistricts,buttheyareasinchoateastheyareignorant,’Fai’sahlsaiddismissively.‘ThespaceportisundertheOrder’sjurisdiction, but to reach the Alpha Axis we must traverse a… troubled…region.’‘I adviseagainstproceeding,por’el,’ theStormlightwarnedAdibh. ‘Let theirleadersmeetushere.’With awhir of gyros one of the guardsmarched towards them, its footstepsreverberatingunder itsweight. Itwas taller andmorepowerfullybuilt than itsfellows,itschestencasedinaslab-likebreastplate.Inplaceofahooditworea

backswept helmet with a vertically slit visor that pulsed with blue light. Anaugmetic arm extended from its right shoulder, dwarfing the limb below andterminating in a three-fingered claw.Alongside thatmonstrous appendage thewatchman’sornateriflelookedalmostdelicate.‘MydesignationisAiode-Alpha,WardenPrime,’thewarriorsaidinapristine,but lifeless femalevoice. ‘Your security ismyprimarydirective.Pleaseboardthe transports.’ It rapped a gauntlet against its breastplate. ‘For the GreatestGood.’‘There is no cause for concern,’ Fai’sahl urged. ‘TheWarden is the Order’spreeminentguardian.’‘Be advised that I havemade provisions for our safety,’ Adibhwarned him.‘Myshipexpectstoreceiveacodeddata-burstfrommydroneeveryhour.Anybreachofthiswillbeconstruedasahostileact.’‘Iamfamiliarwithfirstcontactprotocol,’Fai’sahlsaidgently,‘butthisisnotafirstcontact.Iassureyou,theOrder’sofferoffriendshipissincere.’‘AsistheEmpire’s,’Adibhparried,‘buttheOpenHandmustbefirmofgrip.Youwillrespectmyprecautions,por’vre.’‘Naturally,por’el.’Fai’sahlbowed.AdibhturnedtoAkuryo.‘Wewillproceed.’Thegue’vesaclimbedinto thebackofa truckwhileFai’sahlusheredthe t’auintothearmouredcar.Thewatchmenboardedthesecondtruck,liningupalongitssidesinregimentedrankswiththeWardenattheircentre.Voylegrippedtheguardrail as his vehicle surged forward and took its place at the rear of theconvoy,with theother truck leadingand thecar shieldedbetween them.Oncetheywere underway his troops began to talk, eager toweigh up their strangehosts,buthesilencedthem.‘Staysharp,’heordered,unslinginghispulserifle.‘Trustnothing.’

‘Howfar?’Akuryoasked.Hehadn’tremovedhishelmetanditssensorsglowedinthedingycabinofthearmouredcar.Adibhsuspectedhewouldhavepreferredtotravelwithhistroops,butwasunwillingtoleaveherside.‘TheAxis is fivezonesdistant.A journeyofmanyhours,’Fai’sahl answeredfrom the seat opposite them. ‘Regrettably our only functioning port is on thehive’soutskirts.Thatisoneofthelimitationswehopetorectifywithyouraid.’‘Fio’vreDaukhwillmakeafullassessmentofyourrequirements,’Adibhsaid,keepinghertoneneutral.‘My team stands ready to assist you,’Daukh concurred earnestly, though his

eyesdidn’tleavethecar’swindowslit.Doubtlesshesawmuchofnoteoutside.‘Ipredictthereisconsiderableworkaheadofus.’‘The Order’s resources will be placed at your disposal, honoured fio’vre,’Fai’sahlpromised.‘Togetherweshallachievegreatthings.’‘Assumingwereachanaccord,’Adibhcautioned,soundingquerulouseventoherself.InthecrampedcabinFai’sahl’spresencewasalmostoverpowering.‘We shall, por’el.Whenwe reach theAxis youwill understand everything.’Fai’sahlsmiledandAdibhfeltarushofunwelcomeaffectionforhim.No,itwassimplerthanthat–moreprimal.Howhehaschanged,shemused.Helooksyoungerthanhe–Bright light flashed into her face, breaking the fascination.Abruptly Fai’sahlwas gone and a hollowed out, predatory thing sat in his place, appraising herwithhungryeyes.‘Forgiveme, por’el,’ the Seeker said from the seat beside the apparition.Heextinguished his helmet light – and with it the horror. ‘I fear my helm hasdevelopedanerror.’‘See thatyoucorrect it,FireWarrior,’Adibh replied, surprised thather terrorhadn’t reachedhervoice.Perhaps itwasbecauseshame eclipsed the fear.TheSeekerhadseenherdesire…No!Thedesirewasnotmine,shethoughtangrily,willingKyuhaitoseethat.‘Areyouwell,myfriend?’Fai’sahlasked,hisfacefurrowingwithconcern.‘Perfectlywell,’Adibhsaid.Itwasthemostprofoundlieshehadevertold.

Thetwilightdistrictpassedinablurofcrookedtenements,theirgrowthstuntedbytheconfinesoftheironsky.Somehadbeenreducedtoscorchedhusks,whileothershadcollapsed into rubble.Citizenshaunted the squalor like flesh-boundghosts,eitheraloneorinsmallgroups,oftenhuddledaroundopenfires.Allwereemaciated and grey, their bodies as wasted as their world. Most ignored theconvoy,butafewwatcheditpasswithemptyeyes.Sometimessquadsofpurplerobed watchmenmoved among them, their weapons swivelling about as theypatrolled.Oncethevehiclesswervedaroundatoweringbipedalautomatonwitha warrior sitting astride it. Themachine stomped through the streets, rockingback-and-forthtoitsowngracelessrhythmasitssearchlightscouredthehovels.Thisisawarzone,Voylejudged,orthetailendofone.Occupiedterritory.They had been travelling for almost an hour when the road narrowed andcarriedthemintoastretchofguttedmanufactories.Thevehiclesslowedtoahaltand Voyle heard a clamour from somewhere up ahead – presumably the

watchmendisembarking.‘Erzul,takealook,’heordered.Thepathfindernoddedandclamberedontothetruck’scabin.‘Somethingon theroadahead,’shesaid. ‘Looks likeanother truck,but–’Shethrewherself flat as a barrageof gunfire erupted from the ruins to their right.One of the gue’vesa snapped backwards and fell as a bullet punched into hisface.AnotherricochetedoffVoyle’shelmet.‘Stay low and return fire!’ Voyle shouted, ducking as bullets battered thevehicle’ssides.Therewasachorusofelectronicchimesashistroopsactivatedtheir pulse rifles, followed by the sibilant whine of plasma bolts when theyopenedfire.Voyleraisedhisheadandscannedtheruinsthroughhisrifle’sscope,weavingaboutuntilhelockedontoafigurelurkingbehindabrokenwindow.Hisweaponpingedasheincreasedthemagnificationanddrewhistargetintosharperfocus.Itwasamaninraggedgreyfatigues,hisheadprotectedbyarustyironhelmetpaintedwithastylized‘M’.Anarchaicrebreathermaskcoveredhismouth, itstubessnakingoverhisshouldersintoabulkybackpack.Abovethemaskhiseyeswere bloodshot wounds in a pallid face riddled with scars and sores. Heappeared to be in the terminal stages of some flesh-eating pestilence, yet hestoodstraight,unbowedbyhisbulkystubbergun.Thislotlookworsethanours,Voyledecidedsourly,liningupontheattacker’sface.Beforehecouldfiretherewasavoltaiccrackleandastreakoflightflayedhismark like an electric whip. The man convulsed as current played about him,igniting his clothes and charring his flesh. Voyle turned and saw theWardenmarching across the building’s rubble-strewn courtyard with her watchmenfollowing inawidearc.Ventinganelectronicululation, sheseizedachunkofdebris with her claw and hurled it at a crouching enemy. Simultaneously herrifle’s glassy barrel glowed blue and spat another jagged bolt into the ruins.Without slowing their stride, her troops fired a volley of explosive rounds inperfectsynchronicity,everybulletfindingadifferentfoe.‘They’re fighting as one,’ Voyle murmured, studying their lethal combatsymmetry. He felt calm now, as if the skirmish had elevated him above hisprivatedamnation.TheVoicewasstill there,oozingaround thebattlefield likeanauricularspiritofwar,butitalmostmadesensenow.Cantheyhearittoo?Voylewonderedhazilyasheslippedintoharmonywiththe Order’s enforcers, becoming another cog in a precision killing machine,

aimingandfiringandexecutingtheraiderswithouthesitation.Bullets exploded around the advancingwatchmen, frequently tearing throughtheir robes and ricocheting off the armour beneath. The Warden appearedimpervious,butoccasionallyoneofhercohortswouldjerkorstumbleasabulletpenetrateditsarmour.Onefelltoitskneeswithashatteredleg,butcontinuedtofireasitscomradesmarchedon.Anothertookaroundinthethroatandtoppledover.‘Theydon’tlackcourage!’oneofthegue’vesayelled.Maybe,Voyle thought, stirring from his combat reverie.Or maybe they justdon’tknowanybetter.‘Noheroics,’hecautioned.‘Thisisn’tourfight.’Andtheydon’tneedusanyway,hegauged.TheambushwasalreadyfalteringundertheWarden’scounterattack.Whoevertheraiders–orrebels?–were,theywerewoefully outclassed by theOrder’s troops, but theywere fighting to thebitterend.Thiswasn’tachanceattack.Thepoorbastardsthreweverythingtheyhadatit.Why?AstheWardenreachedthebuildingaraiderthrewagrenadefromthewindowabove.Shesearedhimwithlightningandlashedoutwithherclaw,snatchingthegrenadefromtheairandhurlingitback,butitdetonatedafewmetresaboveher.She staggered under the concussion, her augmetic armwhipping about as shefoughtforbalance.What…?Voyle’s rifle pinged repeatedly as he zoomed in on her whirling limb. Theexplosionhadtornawayapatchofitsarmour,revealingnotrawmachinerybutwhat looked likemoreplating, though itwas roundedanddarkblue incolour.Almostorganic…Likeinsectchitin.Voylefroze,staringdownhisscopeastheWardenrecoveredandstompedintothebuilding,leavinghimzoomedinonnothingbutmemories.Void black eyes, holding him transfixed as the predator uncoils to embracehim…‘Statusreport,Two?’hishelmet’scommunicatorhissed.TheStormlight.‘One gue’vesa dead, one lightly wounded,’ Voyle answered automatically.‘Situationundercontrol,shas’el.’‘Acknowledged,Two.Holdyourposition.’AsthelastofthewatchmenenteredthebuildingVoylemadeuphismind.

‘Coverme,’heorderedhissquadandvaultedfromthetruck.Keepinghiseyeson the injured watchman who’d been left behind, he sprinted to its fallencomrade.Thewarriorlayflatonitsface,motionless.Whatdoyouexpecttofind?Voyleaskedhimselfashekneltbythebody.A cold and thirsty poison awakening in his blood and watching the worldthroughhiseyes…Heheaved thewarrior onto its back and a third arm slid free from its robes.Like theWarden’s ‘augmetic’, itwas encased in segmented iron plates, but itendedinascythe-likebladethatwasunmistakablybone.‘Mutants,’Voylespat,feelinghisgorgerise.Heappraised thegapingwound in thewarrior’s throat.A large calibre roundhadtornrightthroughit,almostdecapitatingthecreature.Nothinghumancouldhavesurvivedsuchtrauma,butdidthatmeananythinghere?AshereachedforitsmaskthesubterraneanswirloftheVoicesurgedintosuddenclarity:‘No…’Voyle froze. That denial was the firstmeaningful word it had said to him –perhapseventhefirsttimeithadbeentrulyawareofhim.‘You were never talking to me, were you?’ Voyle whispered, following atenebrousintuition.‘Iwasonlyeverlisteningin.’‘No.’Theprohibitionwasmoreforcefulnow,yetitheldnoswayoverhim.‘Whatdon’tyouwantmetosee?’Voylechallenged.‘Why–’A bullet drilled into the ground by his feet.He turned and saw the kneelingwatchmanhadlevelleditsrifleathim.‘They’reyours,aren’tthey?’VoylesaidtotheVoice.‘Allofthem.’‘Go…now…’itbreathed.Nowithadthekeytohisheaditwaslearningfast.Didthatmeanitwouldstartpullinghisstringssoon?‘No,’ Voyle snarled back and activated his helmet’s transmitter. ‘Erzul,woundedwatchmantomyright.Takeitout.’A bright bolt lanced across the courtyard and erased thewarrior’s head in aburstofplasma.Shedidn’thesitate,Voylethoughtwithgrimsatisfaction.Imightbelosingmymind,butmysquadstilltrustsme.IgnoringtheVoice,hepulledthedeadwatchman’smaskaside.Andfroze.Watchingandwaiting for themomentwhenhecanclaimanother to feed thehungerthatcanneverbesated…Voyleswitchedhistransmittertothesquad-widechannel.‘Seizethevehicles,’heordered.‘Thewatchmenarehostile.Takethemdown.’He looked up and saw the Warden emerging from the building, doubtless

summonedbyherunseenmaster.Herhelmetswungabout,itsvisorslitpulsingwithbluelightasshescannedthebattleground.What’sunderthere?Voylewondered,glancingbackatthecorpse.Itsfacewasatravestyofhumanity,withdeeplyrecessedeyesandrubbery,mauve-huedskin.Achitinousridgeranfromitsforeheadtothebridgeofitsnose,beneathwhichitsfaceeruptedintoanestofpinktendrils.Manyofthemwerestilltwitching,asifanimatedbyalifeoftheirown.TheVoicewasgnawingatVoyle’smindnow,buthe shut itout, sensing thatevery word it spoke would sink another root into his soul, like one of thecorpse’sundyingtendrils.‘I’mnotyours,’heraspedasthegue’vesaopenedfireonthewatchmen.

‘Seizethevehicles,’Voyle’svoicehissedinsideKyuhai’shelmet.TheSeekeractedwithoutconsciousthought,movingbeforethecommandhadevenconcluded.ThetoneofVoyle’s firstwordwasenoughto tellhimthat thewheel of possibilities had turned, carrying them from diplomacy into conflict.The cause and consequences could be assessed later. For now only actionmattered.‘Donotbealarmed,’Fai’sahlwassayingbesidehim,respondingtothemuffledsoundsofbattle.‘Thewatchmenwill–’Kyuhai’sarmouredelbowslammedinto thesideofhishead.As theemissaryslumpedover,theSeekerleaptupandsurgedtowardsthedriver.ThemanturnedandKyuhai’sfisthammeredbetweenhiseyes, throwinghimagainst thewheelwithstunningforce.Fai’sahlhadcalledthepale,hairlesscreatureatimekeeperof the Fourth Rotation. Had he been one of the armoured warriors Kyuhaiwouldn’thaveriskedholdingback,butfornowkillingwasbestavoided.‘Thewatchmenarehostile,’Voyle’swarning continued asKyuhai hauled theunconsciousdriverfromhisseatandtookhisplace.‘Takethemdown.’‘Whatishappening,Seeker?’Adibhasked,shockedbythesuddenviolence.‘We are betrayed,’Akuryo answered flatly, activating his pulse rifle.He hadalsoheardthemessage,buthisreactionhadinevitablytrailedbehindKyuhai’s.‘Seetoyourmen,Stormlight,’ theSeekercommanded,assessingthecontrols.The car appeared to be standard gue’la technology – rudimentary, but robust.‘Wemustreturntotheshipimmediately.’‘Understood.’ Akuryo opened the hatch and leapt out, slamming it closedbehindhim.‘HowmayIserve?’Adibhasked.OnceagainKyuhaiwasimpressedwithher.

Shehadadjustedquickly.‘Search the emissary for weapons then alert the ship, por’el,’ he said. ‘Thestatuscodeismal’caor.Fio’vre,seetothedriver.’‘Yes,aun’el,’theychorused.What have you done, Voyle?Kyuhaiwondered as he gunned the engine intolife.

Voyle raced for thevehicles,weavingbetweenpiles of rubble as plasmaboltssweptoverheadandsolidroundsexplodedaroundhim.Sometimesawhiplashofelectricitycrackledpast,buthesensedthattheWardenwasonlytryingtoslowhim.‘Youwantme alive,’ Voylemuttered between breaths, addressing the Voice.‘Youwanttoknow…howIwork…orwhyIdon’t.’Upaheadboth thearmouredcarand the rearmost truckhadbegun to reversealong the road. Erzul and two other gue’vesa crouched in the truck’s back,exchanging fire with the watchmen. Unlike the raiders’ antiquated guns theirpulseriflespunchedthroughthemutants’armourwithease,forcingthemtostayincoverordie.Eventhetank-likeWardenhadretreatedbehindawall.SuddenlyVoyle felt a ferocious pride in his xenos liberators. In a galaxy drowning incorruptiontheyweresurelythebest–perhapstheonly–hope.‘Gue’vesa’ui,beswift!’theStormlighttransmitted.Voyle saw Akuryo leading the rest of his team against the lead truck. TheWardenhadleftapairofwatchmenbehindandtheyhadtakencoverbehindthedriver’s cabin, one on either side, where they held his comrades back withalternating volleys. Two gue’vesa were already down and Voyle cursed asanotherwasblastedfromherfeetasshetriedtoflankthemutants.‘Unity!’hegrowledandswerved towards them, sightingdownhis rifleashecharged. Itwasaprecisionweapon, ill-suited tosuchassaults,butheknewitsrhythms better than his own mind and his third shot brushed the nearestwatchman’shood,settingitalight.Thefourthboredamoltencraterintoitschestasitturned,throwingitbackwards.Anobscenehissingbubbledfrombehinditsflame-wreathedmaskasittriedtolevelitsrifleathim.Witharoarofloathing,Voylebarrelled into it, sending it crashing into its comrade.The impact threwhim to the ground, but he kept firing, riddling the entangled watchmen withplasmabolts.Hedidn’tstop,notevenwhentheyfell–thenfellstill.Hishatredwastoodeep.Toohungry…Andthehungergazesbackathimfromthevoidithascarvedoutinhissoul.

Andthenitspeaks,forithasaVoice:‘Voyle…’‘Voyle!’someoneshouted,haulinghimup.HestifledasnarlasherecognisedtheStormlight.‘Wemustgo!’hiscommandersnapped.‘Thetruck…’‘No time!More enemies come.’TheFireWarrior jabbedhis rifle at the roadahead.Abipedalwalkerwas striding through thewreckageof thevehicle thathad blocked the convoy’s path. It was similar to the one Voyle had spottedearlier, but its saddle was fitted with a massive cannon. The gun’s spinningbarrel was still smoking from the destruction it had just wreaked on theobstruction.‘Move,Voyle!’Theysprintedaftertheretreatingvehicles,followingthesurvivingsoldierwhohadaccompaniedAkuryo.Boththecapturedvehicleshadpickedupspeednow,buttheywerestillhobbledbytheirinabilitytoturnonthenarrowroad.Asthefleeing trio drew level with the car a bolt of electricity struck the gue’vesa,throwing him against the vehicle. Voyle leapt over the charred corpse thatrebounded into his path and glanced over his shoulder. The Warden wasmarching across the rubble in pursuit, flanked by her surviving watchmen.Worsestill, thestriderwasbearingdownon thecarwithfrighteningspeed, itscannonspinninguptofire.Momentslaterastormofhigh-velocityroundsraineddownonitsprey.We’redone,Voylerealised,duckingasricochetswhistledpasthim.Suddenlythecarthrustforward,itsengineroaringasitacceleratedtowardsitshunter.Thestriderlurchedofftheroad,butthevehicleveeredafterit, itsiron-shodtiresclatteringoverthedebris.Therewasathunderouscrashasitrammedtheautomaton.Thestrider’slegsbuckledanditssaddleplungedforward,slidingalongthecar’sroofandploughingadeepfissureinitswake.VoyleandAkuryodivedasideasthewreckagehurtledpastthem,stillbearingitsstiff-backedriderandcannon.Thegundetonatedwhenithittheroad,vomitingafireballintothedarksky.‘SacredThrone,’Voylegrowled,dredginguptheoldImperialcurseasthecarwhirledoutofcontrolandoverturned.Itspunaboutonitsroof,sheddingarmouras itscreechedalongtheground.Caught in itspath, theWardenwassweptupand ground down, along with the watchmen flanking her. Finally the car’smomentumgaveout,leavingitwedgedhalfwayupamoundofrubble.‘TheSeeker!’Akuryoyelled over the transmitter.Hewas alreadyonhis feet

andracingtowardsthewreckage.

‘Rouseyourself,por’el,’theSeekercommanded,hiscalmvoicecuttingthroughthecacophonythatlingeredinAdibh’sears.Ignoringtheprotestsofherbatteredbody,sheuncurledfromthefoetalhuddleshe’dadoptedandrolledtoherknees.Kyuhai’ssensor-studdedfaceplateloomedintoview,appraisingher.‘Youarefortunate,’theSeekerpronounced.‘Didyousendthesignal?’‘I…yes…’Adibhsaid,strugglingforfocus.‘Justbefore…before…’‘Then come,we cannot linger here.’Kyuhai turned away, ducking under theseatsthathungfromtheinvertedrooflikestalactites.Throughthesmoke-filledgloom Adibh saw that the others had been much less fortunate. Fai’sahl laybesideher,asparofmetaljuttingfromhischest.Daukhwasonthecabin’sfarside,slumpedagainstthehatch,thetopofhisheadmashedintoaraggedcrownof blood and bone. The timekeeper was sprawled brokenly across the drivepanel,hisrobessmouldering.‘Tread carefully,’ Kyuhai cautioned as he stepped over the gaping fissurerunning through the floor.Chokingon the smoke,Adibhmoved to follow.AssheclimbedoverFai’sahl’sbodyhiseyesopened.‘Adibh… what…?’ His words splintered into a blood-flecked cough and heclutched at her. She took his hand instinctively, gripping it as spasms rippledthroughhisbody.Thepredatorshe’dglimpsedearlierwasgone,alongwithitsbalefulmagnetism.Indeathheisonlyhimself,shesensed.‘Theemissarystilllives!’sheshoutedtoKyuhai.‘Hisinjuryismortal,’theSeekerreplied.‘Youcannothelphim.’Reachingthehatch,heheavedDaukhasideand tuggedat theopening lever,but itwouldn’tbudge.As the emissary’s convulsions subsided Adibh leaned in close. ‘The CogEternal,’sheurged.‘Whatisit?Thetruth,Fai’sahl.’‘Toldyou… truth,’hewheezedashis eyes clouded. ‘Greatest…good…’Hisheadfellback,revealingacircularscarunderhischin.‘Thatisalie,’Adibhsaidsadly.‘ButIdon’tbelieveitisyours,oldfriend.’She released Fai’sahl’s hand and crawled towards the Seeker. As sheapproached the fissureanelectronicburblingsounded fromsomewherebelow.Herdrone.Sheleantovertherift’slipandreacheddown,expectingtotouchtheground,but therewasnothing.Thecarmusthavecometorestaboveacavity.Shestretchedfurtherandherfingersbrushedsmoothmetal.

‘Seeker,I–’A cold blue light flared into life below, dazzling her. She jerked away, butsomethingseizedherwristinavicelikegrip.‘Do not be alarmed,’ a sterile voice boomed. ‘Your security is my primarydirective.’AdibhshriekedastheWardenyankedherthroughthefissure.

‘Watchmen. Heading this way, shas’el,’ Voyle warned as a group of robedfiguresappearedontheroadahead.‘Youmustdelaythem,’Akuryoordered.‘Yes,shas’el.’Whatelsewastheretosay?TheycouldnotabandonanEthereal.After thecrash they’dclimbed to thestrandedcar,where theFireWarriorwaswrestlingwiththehatchwhileVoylecoveredtheroad.Ithadn’t takenlongformoreof theOrder’s troops toarrive,butas theydrewcloserhesawtherewassomething new among them – something much larger. He sighted down hisscope and grimaced.The hulking figurewas swathed in the customary purplerobes, but it was almost twice the height of its fellows. A bulbous helmetencased its head and shoulders, locked into place by heavy chains that criss-crossed its chest. Itsvisorwascarved into the likenessofacog,witha singlelens at the centre and smokingcensers affixed to each tooth.Thegiant’s rightarmsplitattheelbow,spawningapairofarmouredtentaclesthatwerewrappedaroundthehaftofamassiveindustrialhammer.Itsrightarmwasaweaponinitsownright,bulgingintoaserratedclawthatdraggedalongthegroundbehindit.They’vegivenuponhidingtheirsecrets,Voylethought,targetingthecog-facedhulk.As his plasmabolts seared its helmet the giant swung its hammer up toprotect its lens, almost as if it had readhismind.Moving like clockwork, thewatchmenraisedtheirriflesandretaliatedwithavolleyofbullets,thensteppedaside,openingapathfortheirchampion.I can’t put that thing down, Voyle realised as the behemoth broke into alumberingcharge.ThisiswhereIdie.‘Thenloweryourweapon…andlive,’theVoicesuggested,slitheringintohisthoughts like a shameful secret. It spoke fluentlynow, itswords redolentwithsombreauthority.Voylecouldn’trememberwhyhehadeverquestionedit.‘Becauseyouwerelost,child.’There was a metallic creak behind him. Voyle turned unsteadily and sawKyuhaiemergefromthevehicle.‘Iwillassisttheothers,Seeker,’Akuryosaid,hisvoiceseemingtocomefrom

somedistant,meaninglessplace.‘Theyaregone,’Kyuhaisaid.‘Por’elAdibh…’‘Allofthem,Stormlight.’The Ethereal turned to Voyle, as if to speak. Instead hemoved, whipping ametal tube from his belt andwhirling it towards the dazedman. It elongatedfrombothendsasitsweptthroughtheair,itstelescopedsegmentssnappingfreewithastaccatoburstofclicks.Intheheartbeatittooktocompleteitsarcithadbecomea staff. It struckVoyle’shelmetand threwhimoffbalance.Ashe fellagainst the vehicle he saw the Seeker twirl the weapon back then thrust itforward–intothevisorofthegiantthathadclimbedupbehindVoylewhiletheVoiceheldsway.Theblunttipshatteredthemutant’scyclopeanlensanddrovethroughtowhateverlaybelow.‘Mont’ka!’theSeekershoutedandthebehemothshudderedasthestaff’sbladessprang free inside its skull.Kyuhai twisted theweapon thenwrenched it free,tearing away the creature’s visor, along with most of its face. As the gianttoppled backwards Voyle glimpsed a protean morass of tendrils and brokenbonesinsideitshelm.Kyuhai leaptbackintocoveras thewatchmenansweredtheirchampion’sdeathwithasalvoofbullets.‘Youractionshaveinvitedgreatdanger,gue’vesa’ui,’hesaidtoVoyle.‘Yes,Seeker,’Voyleanswered,loweringhishead.‘I–’‘Later.’Kyuhaiwhirledhisstaffand itcontractedback intoa tube. ‘Wemustgo.’‘Support team, your status?’ Akuryo transmitted as they retreated down themoundwithVoylebringinguptherear.‘Thetruckisclear,’Erzulreplied.‘Doyouneedus,shas’el?’‘Negative.Weareen-routetoyounow.’TheVoicealmosthadme,Voylethoughtashefollowedthetwoxenos.‘Child,youmust–’‘No!’Voylehissed,bitinghislipuntilhedrewblood.‘Getout…ofmyhead.’Butnowthatithadtastedhissoulheknewitneverwould.

–THEINVISIBLECIRCLE–UNITY

Shas’vre Bhoral triggered the jetpack of her Crisis battlesuit and launchedherself into the air, arcing high above the spaceport. Ensconced within thecontrolcocoonof thehulkingmachine,protectedbymultiple layersofangularnanocrystal armour, she felt invulnerable. It had been many years since herdutieshadcalleduponhertowearthebattlesuitincombat,buttheolddisciplinehad returned the instant she’d activated the machine and its sensors hadinterfaced with her nervous system, transforming her into a towering bipedaltank.Ithasbeentoolong,shethoughtfiercely.Asshenearedthecity’sdomeshecutherthrustersandplungedbacktowardsthe spaceport, confident in her armour’s durability. She came down hard,pulverising an enemy warrior under her massive piston-like legs and sendingtremors through theground.Triggering the flamethrowerattached toher suit’sright arm she spun at the waist, washing the dead guard’s comrades in awhooshingarcoffire.Theirrobeswerescorchedawayinseconds,revealingthemisshapenformsbeneath.These are not common gue’la,Bhoral judged as one of the burning figuresflailedatherwithascythe-likeclaw.Amutantstrainperhaps?She stomped over their charred corpses and fired a fusillade of plasma boltswithhersecondaryweapon, targeting theguardson the farsideof the roof.Asquadronofgundronessweptbyoverhead,theirpathguidedbyherbattlesuit’stactical system. The ship had carried eighty of the saucer-like machines andBhoralhadactivatedthemallwhenshehadreceivedtheSeeker’ssignal.Mal’caor.Thewordmeant‘spider’,butthecodesignified‘a-great-peril-awakened’.Theprotocol for the situation was clear: ensure the ship’s safety at all costs.Accordingly Bhoral had launched a surprise attack on the port’s guards

immediately, but they had reactedwith uncanny swiftness and a total lack offear.‘Theyfight likemachines,’Bhoralobservedasapairof three-armeddeviantsbrokecoverandchargedtowardsher.Onesportedamusculartentacle,theothera chitinous appendage that ended in a snapping pincer. Theywere bigger andbetter armoured than the others she had encountered, their heads protected bysealedhelmetsbearingribbedcrests.‘For…Greatest…Good!’ theyhissed, theirwords slurring as if theirmouthsweren’tshapedforspeech.BeforeBhoralcouldfire,alankyavianfiguresprangpastherandracedtomeetthe mutants with a hooting cry. The Fire Warrior clicked her tongue withirritationassherecognisedthekrootcarnivore,thoughshehadnoideawhichofthetwoitwas.ShehadfoughtalongsidethepairinservicetotheexaltedKyuhaiformanyyears,yetshestillcouldn’ttellthemapart.‘TheYasu’caorforgesstrangebonds,’theSeekerhadinstructedwhenshehadjoinedhiscircle,‘butitistheirverystrangenessthatmakesthemstrong.’Bhoral’ssuitchimedawarningassomethinglandedonitsblockyshoulders.Amoment later the second kroot vaulted from its perch to join the fray. Thecarnivoreswhirled about themutants in a feral dance–hacking, stabbing andfeintingwith their broad-bladedmachetes then leaping away, always one stepaheadoftheungainlymutants.Bhoraldidnotdoubttheoutcomeofthecontest,butherallies’frivolityirkedher.‘TheSeekerhastaughtyouwell,’sheobserved,‘butyouremainbeasts.’Shefeltatwingeofpainasanexplosiveslugdentedherbattlesuit’sleftarm.Itwas a sympathetic sensation generated by the suit’s cocoon, sharp enough tobindhertothemachine,butnotenoughtodistracther.Hersensorspinpointedthe aggressor in moments – a sniper crouched on a tower to her left. Anevaluationof theenemy’scapabilitiesflashedacrossherawareness,relayedbyherbattlesuit’stacticalsystem.Thethreatwasminimalsoshedispatchedapairofdronestoeradicateitandcontinuedheradvance,leavingthefrenziedkroottotheirgame.The lastof theguardshad takencoverbehindaclusterofmachinery.Dronesbuzzed about them, kept at bay by the defenders’ disciplined volleys. Bhoralstrodetowardstheirposition,pinningthemdownwithahailofplasmaboltsassheapproached.Whenshewasinrangeshescouredtheirshelterwithfire.‘Disharmonyportendsdissolution,’ shedecreed,quoting theYasu’caor as herenemies burned. She rotated her battlesuit, scanning the rooftop. The fighting

wasover.Eventhekroothadfinishedtheirfoes,thoughtheywerestillhackingawayatthecorpses,jabberingatone-anotherastheytriedtomakesenseoftheiroutlandish victims. The Seeker had forbidden them from eating the dead, buttheirfascinationcouldnotbecompletelycurtailed.‘Forwardperimeter issecure,shas’vre,’ avoice reportedonher transmissionlink – Hurrell, the leader of the first gue’vesa support team. Something wasplaying havoc with their communications systems and the signal was badlydistorted.‘Confirmed,gue’vesa’ui,’Bhoralreplied.‘Ihavethreedeadandthreemorewounded,shas’vre.Permissiontoevacuatethemtotheship.’‘Denied.Remainatyourpost.’‘Baumannisinbadshape…’‘I will despatch a salvation team to your position.’ Bhoral cut the link. Thecasualtieswere significant,but shedidn’t share theStormlight’s sentimentalitytowards the human auxiliaries. She was more concerned by the number ofdrones she’d lost; her strategic display recorded thirty-nine damaged ordestroyed. When enemy reinforcements arrived the situation would rapidlybecomeuntenable.Sheswitchedhertransmittertolong-range.‘Seeker?’ Predictably shewasmet by the howling electronic whine that hadfloodedthechannelshortlyafterthefightingcommenced.Comingtoadecision,Bhoral stompedback to the kroot.They lookedup from their butchery as sheloomedoverthem.‘Badmeat,’oneofthemgrunted,holdingupaglisteningtentacle.‘Eee-veel,’itscompanionaddedsagely.‘Enterthecity,’Bhoralcommanded,speakingslowly.‘Findourmaster.’Thecarnivoresexchangedaglancethensprangupandsprintedaway.Itisalmostasiftheyalreadyknowwhereheis,Bhoralmused.Andmaybetheydid. She had reluctantly accepted that the savages’ bondwith the Seeker wastighter–orperhapsdeeper–thanherown.Her battlesuit’s strategic display bleeped as another drone’s signature wentdark. She frowned as the rest of its squadron followed in rapid succession.Somewhere in the spaceport the enemy was still active. Bhoral checked thesquadron’slastknownlocationandhissedthroughherteeth.Thehangerbay…

Thetruckrumbledalongthedarkstreets,itsheadlightsboringatunnelthrough

the gloom.Voylewas driving,with Erzul beside him; if anyone could retracetheiroutbound journey itwas the squad’spathfinder.The restof the survivorswerecrouched in theback, their rifles levelledover thesides.Thedistrictwasdeserted,itscitizen-slavespresumablybanishedtotheirhovels,butanexpectantwatchfulnesspervadedthestreets.Everyoneofthefugitivescouldsenseit,t’auandhumanalike,butnoneaskeenlyastheSeeker.The dissonance here runs deep,Kyuhai reflected, yet I have learnt nothing.Voylesprangthetraptoosoon.Butwasthatreallytrue?ThethreadsofambivalentfatehadwovenUlverVoyleinto this tangle.Therewasnoreasoningbehind it, for thefirmamentof realitywasblind,buttherewasarhythmtoit.ItwasaSeeker’spathtolistenandlearnthen tune the composition to serve the Greater Good, conducting events byintuitionalone.AndKyuhai’sinstinctshadurgedhimtotrustthisbrokengue’la.PerhapsVoylehadnotsprungthetraptoosoon,butjustintime.‘Seeker,aquestion…’theFireWarriorcrouchedbesidehimbeganhesitantly.‘Speakyourmind,Stormlight,’Kyuhaiurged.‘YouarequitecertainthatPor’elAdibhwasdead?’‘Icouldnotsaveher,’Kyuhaisaid.Icouldnotattemptit.HehadseenAdibhfallintothefissure–hadevensteppedforwardtohelpher–then stopped when he’d heard the soulless voice booming from the rift andunderstoodwhatlaybeneaththewreckedcar.Theriskhadbeentoogreat.‘Herlosswillnotbewithoutpurpose,’hepromised.‘Asyousay,Seeker.’ButtherewasnoconvictioninAkuryo’svoice.Kyuhai could not share the Fire Warrior’s sorrow. Like love, hate and themyriadothershadesofemotionthatelevatedordegradedhiskin,sadnesswasaconceithehadtranscended.Thatwaswhatitmeanttobeyasu’aun.‘Thevoidwithinstandsvigilagainstthevoidwithout,’Kyuhaiwhisperedtothelostcity.

‘Taketheright,’Erzulinstructedasthetruckapproachedanotherjunction.Shewasalways thebestofus,Voyle thought,obeying.Sheshouldhavebeenourgue’vesa’ui.Maybetheotherswouldstillbealivethen.‘Youledthemtoruin,’theVoiceagreed.‘Becauseyouarelost.’Ithadn’tletupthroughouttheescape,cajolingonemomentthenthreateningthenext,butmostly justwearinghimdown.Theworstpartwas thatheneeded itnow.‘AsIneedyou,Ulver.AsdoyourkindredintheCogEternal.’

‘Whydidyoushoot thewatchman?’VoyleaskedErzul, trying toshutouthisblessed tormentor. ‘Back at themanufactorywhen I ordered it –whydid youobey?’‘Becauseyouarethegue’vesa’ui,’Erzulansweredwithouthesitation.‘Youtrustme?’‘ShouldInot?’‘Notatall.’‘I’llwarnyouwhentostop,’Voylesaidseriously.‘Whydidyouorderit?’Erzulasked.‘Becausethey’remonsters.’‘TheImperiumdamnseverythingbutitselfasamonster,’theVoiceobserved.‘Sometimesthat’strue.’‘Idon’tunderstand,’Erzulsaid.‘Sometimesthemonstersarereal.’‘Thenyouareamonstertoo,UlverVoyle.’‘Iknowit.’Hespat,rememberingthetasteofrottenflesh.‘Whatareyou?’Hesensedheshouldn’tencouragetheentity,buthehadtoknow.‘Atravellerwhobecameagodinservicetoagreatergod.MychildrenreveremeastheAnimus-Alpha.’‘WhycanIhearyou?’‘We share the same divine, star-spawned seed, though you are not of myblood.Thatiswhyyouwereinvisibletomeforsolong.’‘Voyle,’Erzulsaid,eyeinghimwarily,‘you’renotmakinganysense.’‘Whatdoyouwantwithme?’hepressed,ignoringher.‘Iofferyoufreedom,Ulver.Yourmastershavedeceivedyou.’‘That’salie.’‘Theyarenotliberators,butoppressors.’‘They…savedme.’‘They gelded you, body and soul.Have you felt any desire save obediencesincetheytookyou?’‘It’s for theGreaterGood,’Voylemuttered, remembering theendlessmantrasof self-sublimation and the contentment the tranquillity wafers had brought.‘Unity.’‘Slavery!’ theAnimus-Alphacorrected.AndasVoylerecogniseditstruth,theinvisiblegodslippedpasthisguard.‘Turnleft!’Erzulsnapped.Heturnedright.

‘Voyle!Whatare–’Hislefthandthrustoutandgrabbedherhair.Herinstinctshadalwaysbeenrazorsharpandshereactedquickly,snatchinghercombatknifefreeand swinging it towardshim in the samemotion. Ifhe’dhesitatedevenamoment it might have been enough. But he didn’t hesitate. Before the bladecouldconnectherammedherfaceintothedashboard.No!Voyle tried to scream, but he no longer had amouth. It belonged to theVoicenow.

Bhoral’sburstcannonventedsmokeasitspewedplasmaboltsatthefour-armedabominations infesting thehangerbay.Thecreatureszigzaggedbetweenbanksofmachineryastheycircledher,theirsinuousformshunchedintoaninsect-likescuttle.Theirbodiesweresheathedinbluechitinthatflaredintospinesattheirjoints and along the ridge of their bulbous skulls. In place of jaws their facestrailedthorn-tippedtentaclesthatwhippedaboutasthecreaturesmoved.Drones skimmed around the beasts, chattering electronically as they harriedthemwithburstsofplasma,butthemachineswerefallingfasterthantheirprey,theirrigidmindsconfoundedbytheirenemies’erraticmovements.Bhoralhissedasanotheroftheflyingdiscswasyankedfromtheairandshredded.Thebeasts’clawswere improbably strong.Evenherbattlesuit’sarmourwouldn’t last longagainstaprolongedattack.Therearetoomany,Bhoraljudged,immolatinganabominationwithaspurtoffire as it veered towards her.Her flamethrower’s ammunition gauge chimed awarning. The weapon had already been running low when she’d entered thehangerandengaged the infiltrators.Therehadbeensevenwhenshe’darrived,butmore had crawled from the ducts lining thewalls, arriving faster than shecould cull them. She had summoned all her forces, but they had turned upsporadically,nevergivingher thenumberstomountaconcertedcounterattack.Hurrell’sgue’vesateamhadbeenoverwhelmedwithinsecondsof theirarrival.The drones had fared better because of their mobility, but less than twentyremainednowandthechitinousonslaughthadn’tfaltered.Thebattlecouldn’tbewon.‘Kor’vreUbor’ka,’Bhoraltransmittedtotheship’sflightdeck.‘WithdrawtheWhispering Hand immediately. The Concordance must be alerted to thistreachery.’‘Icannotabandontheexaltedone,’thepilotprotested.‘Wemustassumeheislost.’Bhoralabhorredthewords,butKyuhaihadmadeher duty clear. ‘The ship will be overrun if you delay. Authorisation cypher

follows.’Shesentthecodeashercannonfinallyoverheatedandfellsilent.‘Iunderstand,Shas’vre.Signalmewhenyouareonboard.’‘Thatisnotanoption.Go!’Bhoral kept the beasts at baywith brief bursts fromher flamethrower as thedocking clamps disengaged and released the slumbering ship. Before theirechoeshadfadedthevessel’senginesrumbledintolife,sendingtremorsthroughthechamber.‘Come then,’ Bhoral whispered as her flamethrower ran dry. The tentacledabominations surged forward, vaulting over one-another in their eagerness toreachher.Sheclubbedthefirstoneasidewithaclumsyswingofhercannonandrammed her flamethrower into the face of the next, shattering its skull. Thenthey were upon her, hissing as they raked at her armour.Within seconds herbattlesuit’sdamageindicatorwasflashingredincountlessplaces.Sheignoredit,knowingtherewasnothingmoretobedone.Chantingamantraofcertitude,shestoodmotionless.Waiting.Thehanger’smassiveexternaldoorsslidopenbehindher,unleashingashriekofvoid-wrackedair.Aheartbeat laterBhoralwaswrenched into theemptinessbeyond, trailing a string of chitinous horrors. As she whirled about in thevacuumsheglimpsedthedepartingglowoftheWhisperingHand’sengines.‘Thecirclecloses,’ shesaidandoverloadedherbattlesuit’spowercore.Forabriefmomentsheburnedbrighterthantheengines.

I didn’t warn Erzul, Voyle thought bitterly, remembering his promise to thepathfinder.Hesat stiffly inhischair,hishands steering the truckof theirownaccord.Hecouldn’t even turnhishead tocheck if thewomanslumpedbesidehim was still breathing. His comrades hadn’t seen the violence that hadtranspiredinthecabin,norcouldtheyknowthetreacheryplayingoutnow.I’vebetrayedthemall.‘No,youhavesavedthem,Ulver.Alongwithyourself.’Thevoicewashis,butthewordswerenot.Youliedtome,Voyleaccused,struggling tobreakfree.Whereareyou takingus?‘You shall all be enlightened, but the Ethereal among you is of singularimportance.’TheSeeker…How…?‘Whatyouknow,Inowknow,child.’ShamewashedoverVoyle inacorrosivewave,scouringhimofall thehopes

and hates that had bedevilled him since his long fall began. Finally all thatremainedwasableakyearningfornothingness.‘Itisyourshadowtoburn,’theStormlighthadadvised.‘Onlyyoucanlightthefire.’Hesitantly at first, then with growing conviction, Voyle began to recite thenineteenth mantra of self-sublimation. The-Winter-That-Rises-Within focussedon attaining a state of perfect stillness, conditioning its aspirants to slow theirbreathingandlocktheirmusclesrigidastheypurgedtheirmindsofdesire.Voylehad always been drawn to its obliquewords and the ephemeral oblivion theyoffered.Emptinessunwoundblindsthelightthatbindsunseen.He repeated the spirallingphraseover-and-over, speakingwithhisminduntilhisbodylistened…andremembered.Likecreepingfrosthisgriponthewheeltightenedthenfroze, lockingthetruckto itscurrentpath.Fromsomewherefaraway he heard his own voice calling to him, wheedling then reasoning thenrailing, becoming evermore strident as the road ahead curved yet the vehicledidn’tfollow.Noneofitmattered.Noneofitwasreal.Butthedeceiverwasblindtosuchtruths,andinitsturmoilitscontrolfrayed.The lapse was brief, but it was enough for Voyle to stamp down on theaccelerator.Emptinessunwound…Witharoarthetruckleaptforward,itsframerattlingasitswheelslefttheroad.…blindsthelight…Theusurperfledhismindasthebuildingaheadrushedtowardsthewindscreen.…thatbindsunseen.‘Bloodtight,’Voylesighed,closinghiseyes.

Kyuhaihitthegroundhard,buthisarmourabsorbedtheworstoftheimpact.Herolledwith the fall and swept to his feet. For amoment he stoodmotionless,gazing inward to assess his body. There was some damage, but nothingsignificant.Asintherecentcrash,hisarmourandtraininghadservedhimwell,thoughhewouldnotwelcomeathirdsuchincidentanytimesoon.Hescannedthesurroundingbuildingsbutsawnobody.Upaheadthewreckedtruckwasstillblazing,itsdeaththroescastingaredhazeoverthestreet.‘Yourtruthdieswithyou,UlverVoyle,’Kyuhaisaid,thenturnedhisattentionto the living. Akuryo knelt nearby, wrestling with his helmet. Its dome was

crackedandsparksflickeredbehinditsshatteredlenses.Oneofthegue’vesalayfurtheralongtheroad,hisnecktwistedatastrangeangle.Noneoftheothershadjumpedfromthespeedingvehicleintime.‘Howwillwereachtheship?’Akuryoasked,finallytearinghishelmetfree.‘Wecannot,’theEtherealreplied.‘Itistoolate.Eithertheshipisgoneoritisintheenemy’shandsnow.’‘Thenonlyvengeance remains tous,’ theFireWarrior saidbitterly, throwinghisruinedhelmetaside.‘Vengeance is immaterial. No, we shall keep to the shadows and learn ourenemy’struth.’‘Towhatpurpose,Seeker?’Akuryo rose tohis feetunsteadily.His scalpwasscorchedandbleeding.‘Todestroyit.’Kyuhaislicedtheairwithhisrighthand,indicatingan-outcome-already-proven.‘Itmustbedone.OfthisIamcertain.’‘Withrespect…wearebuttwo.’‘We will find others. I suspect this broken world harbours many secrets,shas’el.’Kyuhaiallowedhimself theghostofasmile, though itpassedunseenbeneathhishelm.‘Andwearefour.’Akuryoswungroundasarangyavianfiguredroppeddownbesidehim,landinginaferalcrouch.Amomentlaterasecondoneleaptfromtheroofbehindtojoinit.‘ForGreaterGood!’thekrootcarnivoresgrowledtogether.

–THESPIRAL–OBLIVION

Por’elAdibhopenedhereyesasthedoorofherchamberopened.At’austoodinthedoorway–a femaleof theWatercaste likeherself,butmuchyoungerandcladinthepurplerobesAdibhhadcometoloathe.‘SoFai’sahlwasnotthelastofhisembassy,’Adibhobserved,risingfromherchair.‘Elevenofusremain,’thenewcomerreplied.ShesharedthemalignantvigourthatFai’sahlhadprojected, thoughheraurawas lesspronounced. ‘IamPor’uiBeyaal.Por’vreFai’sahlwasmybondedmate.’‘Hisdeathwasdifficult,’Adibhsaidflatly.‘HisdeathservedtheGreatestGood,’Beyaalsaidwithoutatraceofsorrow.‘Itrustyourinjurieshavebeenattendedto,Por’el?’‘You know they have, traitor.’ Several days had passed since the Order’sminionshadrecoveredherfromthewreckedvehicle,alongwiththemonstrouswarrior thathadseizedher.Sincethenshehadbeenconfinedtothisroomandher questions had gone unanswered. ‘You are aware that your attack on myembassywillbeconstruedasanactofwar,’shechallenged.‘Youattackedus,’Beyaaldemurredserenely.‘Withoutprovocation.’‘I do not accept that, but I advise you to release me without delay.’ Adibhsoftenedhertone.‘Perhapsanaccordmayyetbereached.’‘That isouraspiration.’Beyaal extendedherhands,palmsupward. ‘TheCogEternalhasembracedtheGreatestGood.IthasalwayssoughtanalliancewiththeT’auEmpire.’‘Thenreleaseme.’‘Asyouwish.’Beyaalbowedherhead.‘Pleasefollowme,Por’el.’Adibhdidn’tmove.‘Youagree?’sheaskeddoubtfully.‘TheAnimus-Alphawilladdressallyourconcerns,’Beyaalassuredher.‘Who?’

‘HeistheFirstArchitectoftheCogEternal,butmanyofushavecometoseehimasafather.Ibelieveyoushalltoo.’Adibh’s eyes narrowed as she spotted something lurking in the passagewaybehindBeyaal.‘Yourpardon,Por’el,’Beyaalsaid,catchingherglance.‘Iwantedtointroducemyson,Geb’rah.’Shecalledoverhershoulder.‘Enter,child!Thereisnothingtofear.’A squat figure shambled in, its heavyset form swaddled in robes. LovinglyBeyaalpulleditshoodbackandsmiledatherprisoner.Adibhstared,aghast,strugglingtomakesenseoftheinfant’sface.‘Heisbutthreetau’cyr,’Beyaalcrooned,‘butchildrengrowswiftlyhere.’AsthehybridthinggrinnedatherthroughaveiloftendrilsAdibh’scomposurefinally unravelled and a dark thought flashed through her mind: Perhaps thexenophobiaofthegue’laisnotasickness,butastrength.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

PeterFehervariistheauthorofthenovelFireCaste,featuringtheAstraMilitarumandTauEmpire,thenovella‘FireandIce’fromtheShas’o

anthology,andtheTau-themedQuickReads‘OutCaste’and‘ASanctuaryofWyrms’,thelatterofwhichappearedintheanthologyDeathwatch:

XenosHunters.HealsowrotetheSpaceMarinesQuickReads‘Nightfall’,whichwasintheHeroesoftheSpaceMarinesanthology,and‘TheCrown

ofThorns’.HelivesandworksinLondon.

InthejunglesoftheDolorosaCoil,acoalitionofalientauandhumandesertershavewagedwarupontheImperiumforcountlessyears.

http://www.blacklibrary.com/newsletter

ABLACKLIBRARYPUBLICATION

PublishedinGreatBritainin2017byBlackLibrary,GamesWorkshopLtd,WillowRoad,Nottingham,NG72WS,UK.

ProducedbyGamesWorkshopinNottingham.

TheGreaterEvil©CopyrightGamesWorkshopLimited2017.TheGreaterEvil,GW,GamesWorkshop,BlackLibrary,TheHorusHeresy,TheHorusHeresyEyelogo,SpaceMarine,40K,Warhammer,Warhammer40,000,the‘Aquila’Double-headedEaglelogo,andallassociatedlogos,illustrations,images,names,creatures,races,vehicles,locations,weapons,characters,andthedistinctivelikenessesthereof,areeither®orTM,and/or©Games

WorkshopLimited,variablyregisteredaroundtheworld.AllRightsReserved.

ACIPrecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.

ISBN:978-1-78572-828-0

Thisisaworkoffiction.Allthecharactersandeventsportrayedinthisbookarefictional,andanyresemblancetorealpeopleorincidentsispurely

coincidental.

SeeBlackLibraryontheinternetatblacklibrary.com

FindoutmoreaboutGamesWorkshop’sworldofWarhammerandtheWarhammer40,000universeat

games-workshop.com

eBooklicense

Thislicenseismadebetween:

GamesWorkshopLimitedt/aBlackLibrary,WillowRoad,Lenton,Nottingham,NG72WS,UnitedKingdom(“BlackLibrary”);and

(2)thepurchaserofane-bookproductfromBlackLibrarywebsite(“You/you/Your/your”)

(jointly,“theparties”)

Thesearethetermsandconditionsthatapplywhenyoupurchaseane-book(“e-book”)fromBlackLibrary.Thepartiesagreethatinconsiderationofthefeepaidbyyou,BlackLibrarygrantsyoualicensetousethee-bookonthefollowingterms:

*1.BlackLibrarygrantstoyouapersonal,non-exclusive,non-transferable,royalty-freelicensetousethee-bookinthefollowingways:

o1.1tostorethee-bookonanynumberofelectronicdevicesand/orstoragemedia(including,bywayofexampleonly,personalcomputers,e-bookreaders,mobilephones,portableharddrives,USBflashdrives,CDsorDVDs)whicharepersonallyownedbyyou;

o1.2toaccessthee-bookusinganappropriateelectronicdeviceand/orthroughanyappropriatestoragemedia;and

*2.Fortheavoidanceofdoubt,youareONLYlicensedtousethee-bookasdescribedinparagraph1above.YoumayNOTuseorstorethee-bookinanyotherway.Ifyoudo,BlackLibraryshallbeentitledtoterminatethislicense.

*3.Furthertothegeneralrestrictionatparagraph2,BlackLibraryshallbeentitledtoterminatethislicenseintheeventthatyouuseorstorethee-book(oranypartofit)inanywaynotexpresslylicensed.Thisincludes(butisbynomeanslimitedto)thefollowingcircumstances:

o3.1youprovidethee-booktoanycompany,individualorotherlegalpersonwhodoesnotpossessalicensetouseorstoreit;

o3.2youmakethee-bookavailableonbit-torrentsites,orareotherwisecomplicitin‘seeding’orsharingthee-bookwithanycompany,individualorotherlegalpersonwhodoesnotpossessalicensetouseorstoreit;

o3.3youprintanddistributehardcopiesofthee-booktoanycompany,individualorotherlegalpersonwhodoesnotpossessalicensetouseorstoreit;

o3.4youattempttoreverseengineer,bypass,alter,amend,removeorotherwisemakeanychangetoanycopyprotectiontechnologywhichmaybeappliedtothee-book.

*4.Bypurchasingane-book,youagreeforthepurposesoftheConsumerProtection(DistanceSelling)Regulations2000thatBlackLibrarymaycommencetheservice(ofprovisionofthee-booktoyou)priortoyourordinarycancellationperiodcomingtoanend,andthatbypurchasingane-book,yourcancellationrightsshallendimmediatelyuponreceiptofthee-book.

*5.Youacknowledgethatallcopyright,trademarkandotherintellectualpropertyrightsinthee-bookare,shallremain,thesolepropertyofBlackLibrary.

*6.Onterminationofthislicense,howsoevereffected,youshallimmediatelyandpermanentlydeleteallcopiesofthee-bookfromyourcomputersandstoragemedia,andshalldestroyallhardcopiesofthee-bookwhichyouhavederivedfromthee-book.

*7.BlackLibraryshallbeentitledtoamendthesetermsandconditionsfromtimetotimebywrittennoticetoyou.

*8.ThesetermsandconditionsshallbegovernedbyEnglishlaw,andshallbesubjectonlytothejurisdictionoftheCourtsinEnglandandWales.

*9.Ifanypartofthislicenseisillegal,orbecomesillegalasaresultofanychangeinthelaw,thenthatpartshallbedeleted,andreplacedwithwordingthatisasclosetotheoriginalmeaningaspossiblewithoutbeingillegal.

*10.AnyfailurebyBlackLibrarytoexerciseitsrightsunderthislicenseforwhateverreasonshallnotbeinanywaydeemedtobeawaiverofitsrights,andinparticular,BlackLibraryreservestherightatalltimestoterminatethislicenseintheeventthatyoubreachclause2orclause3.