It was an ugly spectacle, yet he relished the image of how intense their deaths must have been.

'No artistry,’ he said to himself as a gold and purple armoured figure detached from the shadows. A

score of warriors followed him and Lucius smiled as he recognised Lord Commander Eidolon.

'Lord commander,’ said Lucius, 'it is a pleasure to stand before you once more,’

'Damn your blandishments!' spat Eidolon. 'You are a traitor twice over,’

That's as maybe,’ said Lucius, slouching on a fallen pillar of black marble, 'but I am here to give you what you want,’

'Ha!' scoffed Eidolon. What can you give us, traitor?'

Victory,’ said Lucius.

Victory?' laughed Eidolon. You think we need your help to give us that? We have you in a vice! One by one, death by death, victory will be ours!'

'And how many warriors will you lose to achieve it?' retorted Lucius. 'How many of Ful-grim's chosen are you willing to throw into a battle that should never have been fought at all? You can end this right now, right here, and keep all your Astartes alive for the real battle! When the Emperor sends his reply to Horus's treachery you will need every single one of your battle-brothers and you know it,’

'And what would be your price for this invaluable help?' asked Eidolon.

'Simple,’ said Lucius. 'I want to rejoin the Legion,’

Eidolon laughed in his face and Lucius felt the

song of death surge painfully through his body,

but .he forced its killing music back down

inside him.

Are you serious, Lucius?' demanded Eidolon. 'What makes you think we want you back?'

'You need someone like me, Eidolon. I want to be part of a Legion that respects my skills and ambition. I am not content to stay a captain for the rest of my life like that wretch Tarvitz. I will be at Ful-grim's side where I belong.'

'Tarvitz,’ spat Eidolon. 'Does he still live?'

'He lives,' nodded Lucius, 'although I will gladly kill him for you. The glory of this battle should be mine, yet he lords over us all as if he is one of the chosen.'

Lucius felt his bitterness rise and fought to maintain his composure. 'He was once happy to trudge alongside his warriors and leave better men to the glory, but he has chosen this batde to discover his ambition. It's thanks to him that I'm down here at all.'

'You ask for a great deal of trust, Lucius,’ said Eidolon.

'I do, but think what I can give you: the palace, Tarvitz,’

"We will have these things anyway,’

*We are a proud Legion, lord commander, but we never send our brothers to their deaths to prove a point,’

'We follow the orders of the Warmaster in all things,’ replied Eidolon guardedly.

'Indeed,’ noted Lucius, 'but what if I said I can give you a victory so sudden it will be yours and yours alone. The World Eaters and the Sons of Horus will only flounder in your wake,’

Lucius could see he had caught Eidolon's interest and suppressed a smile. Now all he had to was reel him in.

'Speak,’ commanded Eidolon.

'I'M COMING WITH you, Garvi,’ said Nero Vipus, walking into the only dome of the palace not to be ruined by the siege. It had once been an auditorium with a stage and rows of gilded seats, where the music of creation had once played to the Choral City's elite, but now it was mouldering and dark.

Loken rose from his battle meditation, seeing Vipus standing before him and said, 'I knew you would wish to come, but this is something Tarik and I have to do alone,’

'Alone?' said Vipus. That's madness. Ezekyle and Little Horus are the best soldiers the Legion has ever had. You can't go up against them alone,’

Loken placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and said, 'The palace will fall soon enough with or without Tarik and me. Saul Tarvitz has done unimaginable things in keeping us all alive as long as he has, but ultimately the palace will fall,’

Then what's the point of throwing your life away hunting down Ezekyle and Little Horus?' demanded Vipus.

We only have one goal on Isstvan III, Nero, and that's to hurt the Warmaster. If we can kill the last of the Mournival then the Warmaster's plans suffer. Nothing else matters,’

'You said we were supposed to be holding die traitors here while the Emperor sent the other Legions to save us. Is that not true any more? Are we on our own?'

Loken shook his head and retrieved his sword from where he had propped it against the wall. 'I don't know, Nero. Maybe the Emperor has sent the Legions to rescue us, maybe he hasn't, but we have to assume that we're on our own. I'm not going to fight with nothing but blind hope to keep me going. I'm going to make a stand.'

'And that's what I want to do,’ said Vipus, 'at my friend's side.'

'No, you need to stay here,’ said Loken. 'Your stand must be made here. Every minute you keep the traitors here is another minute for the Emperor to bring the Warmaster to justice. This killing is Mournival business, Nero. Do you understand?'

'Frankly, no,’ said Nero, 'but I will do as you ask and stay here,’

Loken smiled. 'Don't mourn me yet, Nero. Tarik and I may yet prevail,’

You'd better,’ said Vipus. 'The Luna Wolves need you,’

Loken felt humbled by Nero's words and embraced his oldest friend. He dearly wished he could tell him that there was yet hope and that he expected to return alive from this mission.

'Garviel,’ said a familiar voice from the entrance to the dome.

Loken and Nero released each other from their brotherly embrace and saw Saul Tarvitz, framed in the wan light of the auditorium's entrance. 'Saul,’ said Loken.

'It's time,’ said Tarvitz. 'We're ready to create the diversion you requested,’

Loken nodded and smiled at the two brave warriors, men he had fought through hell for and would do so a hundred times more. The honour they did him just by being his friends made his chest swell with pride. 'Captain Loken,’ said Tarvitz formally. 'It may be that this is the last time we will meet,’

'I do not think,’ replied Loken, 'there is any "maybe" about it,’ Then I will wish you all speed, Garviel,’ 'All speed, Saul,’ said Loken, offering his hand to Tarvitz. 'For the Emperor,’ 'For the Emperor,’ echoed Tarvitz. With his farewells said, Loken made his way from the auditorium, leaving Tarvitz and Vipus to organise the defences for the next attack.

Surviving tactical maps indicated that the Mackaran Basilica lay to the north of their position and as he made his way towards the point he had selected as the best place to leave the palace he found Torgaddon waiting for him. You saw Vipus?' asked Torgaddon. 'I did,’ nodded Loken. 'He wanted to come with us,’ Torgaddon shook his head. 'This is Mournival business,’ That's what I told him,’

Both warriors took deep breaths as the enormity of what they were about to attempt swept over them once again.

'Ready?' asked Loken.

'No,’ said Torgaddon. 'You?'

'No.'

Torgaddon chuckled as he turned to the tunnel that led from the palace.

'Aren't we a pair?' he said and Loken followed him into the darkness.

For good or ill, the final battle for Isstvan III was upon them.

'You DARE RETURN to me in failure?' bellowed Horus, and the bridge of the Vengeful Spirit shook with the fury of his voice. His face twisted in anger at the wondrous figure standing before him, struggling to comprehend the scale of this latest setback.

'Do you even understand what I am trying to do here?' raged Horus. 'What I have started at Isstvan will consume the whole galaxy, and if it is flawed from the outset then the Emperor will break us!'

Fulgrim appeared uncowed by his anger, his brother's features betraying an insouciance quite out of character for the primarch of the Emperor's Children. Though he had but recently arrived on his flagship, Pride of the Emperor, Fulgrim looked as magnificent as ever.