Lucius was trailed by a violet eyed woman when he returned from the village. Angron, apparently in good humour, nudged Kharn with his elbow. The blow impacted the equerry's ear but he was used to that. "He's got a girlfriend!" the primarch declared in apparent surprise. "I thought his legion were all queer for Fulgrim."

"Most amusing, master," Kharn replied drily, although his lips quirked.

"Angry One," the woman said, going to her knees and genuflecting in front of Angron. His fists clenched and Kharn heard ceramite cracking. He also suspected he saw a smirk on Lucius's lips.

Angron studied his hands, grunted and removed the broken gauntlet from his left hand. "Damn cartoon," he mumbled and then looked down. "Get up, I can't see you properly lying down like that."

Lucius gestured to the woman as she stood. "This is Ingethel. She has been expecting us."

"The god-walkers spoke," Ingethel confirmed. "And the warchiefs heeded them when they said you would come. A man from the stars, a man of great strength. The one who will tear the stars from the skies and tread the thrones of the gods beneath his armoured feet."

Angron spat into the dirt and then pointed with his remaining gauntlet at Lucius. "This one also spoke to me of everlasting glory. Words are cheap."

Her violet eyes were... strange, Kharn thought. Had they been described then he might have thought them to be like those of Mortarian's ward, but these were different. Almost... alien. Her clothes were tanned, some kind of leather? Human skin he thought.

"I shall show you the reality. Come with me, Angron. Your armies have devoured first cities and then entire worlds. Now all of the galaxy shall fall to you."

The primarch crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. Like few others could, Ingethel met his gaze.

"Kharn. At my orders," Angron growled.

"Yes lord."

"Lucius. At my heel."

"I..." the Emperor's Child seemed unsure of the terse order's meaning but he was addressing empty air for Angron was already striding towards the village, barely moderating his pace enough for Ingethel to keep up at a run.

Kharn's lips drew back in contempt. "He means that you follow him." Like a dog, he added mentally.

{oOo}

The sun had set, chilling the winds even more. Still the World Eaters stood in their ranks, uncomplaining. Not because of orders. No order had been given to keep them from breaking ranks if they so chose. Some did, taking brief moments to see to their gear. This was not a parade. It was simply a wait, something that the legion was well used to. A lull that preceded the inevitable: sweet, sweet violence.

The World Eaters did not need the regimented discipline of the Ultramarines or the Imperial Fists. Nor did they seek refuge in the rough camarderie of the Space Wolves or White Scars. All they needed was readiness to kill. Disappointly, that was often enough to convince human opposition to surrender. They had that sort of reputation.

It was sometime after local midnight that Lucius came staggering back to their lines, his face white.

"Is something the matter?" asked Dreagher, whose company waited there. His Astartes looked at their purple-clad cousin and one of them muttered an ancient word that they had learned from the Primarch. From the dialect of the long destroyed city of Desh'ea, it translated as 'sissy'.

"There was screaming," Lucius whispered under his breath. "And... things." He was actually swaying.

"'Things'?" the Captain of the 11th Company replied, incredulously.

Lucius nodded vigorously and gestured with his hands as if trying to describe something. He failed. "Stuff," he said as if that clarified anything. "I should go back."

Dreagher had fought alongside III Legion before. He didn't recall their Captains being such sissies before. "You are back."

"Oh. Good." Lucius fell over.

It was only now that Dreagher saw that a rather large wooden stake had been driven through the back of his armour and up into his chest. Well that made a bit more sense, although the idiot should probably have reported that first. "You two," he indicated two of his World Eaters. "Take him to the apothecary's Rhino." Then he activated his vox. It was Kharn's job to deal with this sort of crap.

{oOo}