Broken Giants: Chapter 7
The Capital city of Almanium was a proto-Hive, formed of soaring building linked by bridges skyways and plazas; it was the first reachings towards the heavens that would one day become a towering mega-structure. Much of the upper levels were designed to disguise that fact, to allow the ruling elite to forget that they stood upon the shoulders of their fellow men and most of them would be surprised to be reminded that there was bustling life far below their feet.
Far below the top levels there were a network of roads and transit ways designed for moving cargos and bulk haulage, the paths twisted and meandered around older buildings or in some case straight through them. It was not just roads either for there were factories and warehouses, transit hubs and slaughterhouses, all suspended far above the ground in that midnight world. It was a tangled knot of openings and blind turns that resembled the interior of an ant's nest and moving along those paths were five Imperial Knights, with stab lights illuminating the darkness they proceeded slowly in a line each one of them quietly reflecting upon their defeat and losses as they moved into an manufacturing cavern filled with cranes and hanging gantries.
In 'Heart of Zeal' Kayar was glumly looking ahead via his sensorium, the loss of his auspex cutting his awareness down to a narrow aperture that he had to sweep back and forth to see where he was going. This was not helped by the repeated flashing in his field of vision from his power core reading, a red blaze that constantly reminded him his steed was running at mere eleven percent, if he did not find a way to recharge soon his war machine would grind to a halt. To conserve power he had shut down his Ion shield and Reaper blade but thankfully his Thermal canon, stubber and Icarus autocanons worked on chemical or projectile principles so he was not completely defenceless.
As he walked he was replaying the last few hours over and over in his mind and he felt a terrible sense of shame at what had occurred, his guts were churning and there was a hot, tight tingle in the back of his skull. He couldn't avoid the fact that he had driven the Knights into a terrible mistake and he was trying to rationalise why it wasn't really his fault but every time he tried the memory of Delphan's screams would intrude into his thoughts and he would relive it all over again.
His self-recriminations were interrupted as Hendrick came over the vox saying, "You are awfully quiet boy, tell me what you are thinking."
Kayar said with a quiver in his voice, "Delphan, how could he be just gone like that?"
Hendrick sighed and said, "Ah, yes this is the first time you've seen a Knight die, it's always a shock to realise we are not invincible after all."
Kayar said, "I knew it happened on occasions, I thought I was prepared…"
Hendrick said, "But knowing it in theory is quite different to actually experiencing it, in truth there's nothing that can prepare you for it."
Kayar moaned, "It's all my fault."
Hendrick replied, "No don't blame yourself, you weren't in command and it ultimately it wasn't your decision."
Kayar paused and said, "So it's Daeran's fault."
Hendrick sounded exasperated as he said, "That is a child's response, when you grow up you will realise that sometimes everything turns to Grox dung and it's nobody's fault, placing blame is a waste of time and all you can do is move forwards."
Kayar was confused and said, "What does that mean?"
Hendrick said, "Let me tell you something my father told me when I was young: In life the important thing is not to avoid making mistakes but rather to learn from them. We got overconfident, reckless and sloppy, far more dangerous things to a Knight than any enemy could ever be."
Kayar thought he followed that reasoning and said, "So how do we learn from that?"
Hendrick said, "We did not act as a proper team because we do not understand or respect one another, consider your companions: each with their own strengths and flaws that perfectly match their steeds. Ser Lugarn is belligerent and aggressive which makes him the perfect Gallant pilot but he needs direction to be effective and Ser Howle is contemptuous and merciless like his Acheron but without heavy ranged weapons he needs to be supported in the face of superior might."
Kayar asked, "And Daeran?"
Hendrick said, "Ser Daeran is a Lancer, proud and imperious, swift and decisive but he has a tendency to act without forethought, he has led us into disaster and knows it. If you feel bad imagine how he feels."
That thought rocked Kayar back; for he had not considered for a second how Daeran might be reacting in fact, he had never considered the other Knight as anything but an arrogant blowhard. The youth had never thought that Daeran might have goals and worries all his own, that the pressure of leadership might be wearing on him. In a rare moment of clarity Kayar saw that his own actions had not been helpful, in fact he had been downright rude, insolent and snide ever since he had met his superior.
Kayar swallowed as his own problems paled into insignificance and he said, "I should say something, shouldn't I?"
Hendrick replied, "Yes, you should start by thanking Ser Daeran for saving your life."
Kayar was grimaced as he realised he had not even given Daeran his due for his actions, a terrible lapse of the Code Chivalric which bound Knights in bonds of brotherhood and mutual respect, he was about to spur his steed forward when he paused and said, "Hendrick… have I thanked you for saving my life?"
"Twice" Hendrick replied, "I have saved your life twice and no you have not… but you recognised that fact which is a good sign, maybe there is hope for you yet. Now hurry up or you will miss your opportunity."
Kayar bled a trickle more energy to his steed's motive systems, keeping a careful eye upon the power readout lest he tax what little reserve he had left. He drew closer to 'Frostfury' and pulsed a request for a private vox, to his surprise Daeran responded snapping, "What is it?" Kayar bit back his first instinct to take umbrage and reminded himself that Daeran was just as hurt as he was so said, "Good Ser, I come to offer thanks for coming to my aid, your swift actions saved my life."
Daeran sounded surprised as he said, "It was nothing, I would have done the same for any Knight."
Kayar replied, "Nevertheless I am in your debt."
Daeran replied sadly, "On any other day I would take that as high praise but not today, I have led us into inglorious defeat and cost the life of a good Knight."
Kayar was struck by how similar the words were to his own thoughts and replied, "You cannot be held accountable for the actions of the enemy, your plan was sound but the foe was canny indeed."
Daeran didn't sound consoled as he said, "I will be held accountable, how can I explain this to my uncle?"
Kayar tried to think an uplifting response and settled upon something his father was fond of saying, "Some days you get the Tuskgor, other days the Tuskgor gets you."
Daeran actually let out a snort of laughter and said, "That sound like something my uncle would say."
Kayar replied, "Your uncle?"
Daeran confessed, "The High King."
"Ah" said Kayar as he was suddenly struck by a very nasty suspicion as to how Daeran had gained this command but he swallowed his next remark before he said anything, Daeran was an experienced Knight and surely would have earned the right to lead, even nepotism had its limits. Kayar tried to think of something else to say and said, "Tell me of him, tell me of House Pardus and the High King's seat."
Daeran drew in a breath and said wistfully, "House Pardus is the greatest House of San Grael and has been since the dark days before the coming of the Imperium, when other Houses were falling to the perils of Mega-Predators and disrepair we could still call upon our steeds to march forth. Unlike most Houses we do not command a mere tropical rift valley but a wide fertile basin surrounded by sheltering mountains and the High King's keep can be seen everywhere within their bounds, it soars so tall that when one stands upon the battlements you can see all the way out to the icy glaciers that cover the rest of San Grael. Ah you should see the proud banners flying high and the great jousting fields that stretch for miles, rare are the days when Knights are not training for war, the commoners gasp to see them gallop past, while the High King sits over all with the sign of the Emperor upon his brow. Nobles from all seven Houses of San Grael travel the icy wastes to bow before him as he grants the Mechanicus' gifts of new Knight Engines to those he deems have won the most glory… of course he expects his own House to excel above all others."
Kayar understood that last part all too well and said, "My grandfather is the Duke of House Frostwyrm, I know what it is like to be expected to excel at everything."
Daeran confessed, "Yes all I ever hear is how Knights must be the greatest men of all and must never show weakness before vulgar peasant folk… like Imperial Guard generals."
Kayar was surprised to find how much he had in common with a man he thought he hated and grasped that he had never taken the time to really know his fellow Knight as he said, "My grandfather often says the same thing and yet sometimes I remember my mother's advice: Great men are the ones who are not afraid to admit when they need help."
Daeran was silent for a long moment as he mulled on over that thought and then slowly he said, "There are still a dozen Guard regiments out there with super-heavy weapons and a pair of Warhounds… together we could still turn this around."
Kayar heard a spark of defiance at last and said, "So that's the plan, link up with the Guard and show that monster what a united Imperial army can do?"
Daeran sounded more confident now as he said, "First we have to find a way out of this maze back into the light, then we show the enemy our wrath."
Kayar smiled and said, "Lead on then but not too fast, my power core is running on embers and I would hate to have to abandon my steed and ride on your carapace."
Daeran chuckled at that and led them onwards further into the dark led by the light of hope but little did any of them realise that above their heads cruel eyes were following them, as the sound of Knight's footsteps faded away and utter blackness returned the roof began to move. A wave of heaving ceramite followed the Imperials into the depths, clinging to the ceiling and swinging from gantries Transhuman warriors revealed themselves and began gathering in numbers as they stalked after the departing nobles.
The Night Lords had their scent and the hunt had begun.
