Umbram Ignis Chapter 29

Against the star spackled backdrop of space the world of Clom spun eternally onwards, continuing on its lonely path as it had so for millions of years uninterrupted. It had danced among the stars since long before the rise of man and would do so long after man returned to dust. Today though long lines of transports and Mass-Conveyors were thrusting out of orbit, rising slowly with holds packed full of refined metals as they broke for deep space. Their goal was the Warp Translation point and they scrambled to reach it, driven by the threat of the Immaterium surging into turmoil and trapping them all here for the next ten years. Moving among their number was the majestic form of the Silent Hunter, effortlessly overtaking the lumbering transports as the warship prepared for the jump into the roiling madness of the Warp. Walking along her spinal observation bays were a pair of Storm Heralds, it was Captain Toran and Sergeant Furion and they paced slowly as they gazed out at the stars with their own eyes, in no particular hurry to reach their destination.

Toran stared at the receding orb of Clom and the reflection from his augmetic eye cast a red smear over the view portal that seemed all too appropriate. He took in the planet and asked, "Tell me, do you think we have served the Emperor well with this campaign?"

Furion cocked his head, his face bore many scars but there remained a rough nobility to the set of his jaw as he said, "Undoubtedly, we rooted out a heretic and drove off an alien infestation. The plasma charges we set upon their Webway Gate blew the entire base to atoms: they will not be returning that way in a hurry."

Toran sighed and said, "I would not be so sure, nothing is ever certain with the Eldar and they may yet find another way back to this world."

Furion looked at his Captain, "Brother-Captain, we successfully achieved our Primary and Secondary mission objectives, what is troubling you?"

Toran grimaced as they resumed walking, "We are the champions of humanity and yet have we left this world better than when we found it?"

"Ah," said Furion, "You have concerns about the new planetary Governor: Ricko Dumman."

Toran nodded, "The man is greedy and venal, his only thoughts are for his own benefit and he cares little for the rule of Terra. I predict he is too cowardly to lead a rebellion, but even then this world will suffer under his administration."

Furion drew in a slow breath to say, "The Emperor made us to fight his wars, not audit his governors. Let the Inquisition deal with him, we will soon have other foes to fight."

Toran nodded, "Sage counsel as always, so tell me how do you rate our Company's performance?"

Furion stood taller and said, "The fires of true battle have forged our squads into an effective force, their spirit is strong and many of the petty disagreements and slights have been forgotten. Battle has united them into a brotherhood that shall endure. The only blemish is our casualties, many brothers were wounded and Gorfan will require a new arm, but the worst is that we lost five initiates in one campaign, a steep price indeed."

"Four." countered Toran, "When we returned for the armour of those buried in the mines we found brother Grethan was merely in a sus-an-membrane coma. Memnos is certain he can make a full recovery once we return to the Fortress Monastery."

"Some good news," said Furion, "But before we can return home there is still a matter of honour that must be settled."

"Indeed" said Toran glumly as they reached their destination, the entranceway to a lone steeple tower that protruded from the spine of the Silent Hunter, well away from anything else on the ship. The door was inscribed with the sign of a ram's skull and it was covered in marks of warding and runes of aversion; it was the portal to the Librarius' sanctum and the dwelling of Shade-Seer Imix. The pair made no attempt to signal their presence to the inhabitants, partially because they knew that they had tripped countless alarms by merely walking this far but mostly because neither of them was at all eager to enter the abode of the Warp-touched. They stood in silence for a full minute until without any preamble the doors split down the middle and parted to reveal blackness beyond. Stood in the middle of the gap was a wizened serf, whose eyes had been put out to stop him seeing madness, and whose tongue had been removed lest he speak forbidden secrets. Even without sight the serf seemed to know who was waiting outside for he waved the pair inside and set off at a slow walk into the darkness. Toran swallowed a knot of apprehension and stepped boldly within as he tried not to flinch at the first horror awaiting him.

The pair followed the serf into the darkness and found themselves in a plain stone-clad corridor lit by flickering lumen orbs. Toran hadn't known what to expect but this was somewhat disappointing, in fact it was barely distinguishable from one of the initiate barracks of his own Chapter. The serf led them along the corridor and they passed a number of plain doors on either side hiding Emperor alone knew what. Toran tried not to look too hard lest he see something he would regret in this abode of Witches but thankfully nothing leapt out at him. After a few minutes the serf paused at a door completely identical to the others and he bowed before leaving them outside. Toran wondered if he should knock but before he could decide the door swung open to reveal Shade-Seer Imix wearing a plain tabard and open sandals. The Librarian looked weary for his pale features were marked with ashes and deep furrows, yet he gestured them inside saying, "Welcome, this is an unexpected visit."

Toran stepped within and found a squat cell filled with a large circle of ashes on the floor and a discarded flail, bloodied from flagellation. On the far wall was reliquary that was sealed and shut with purity seals. The Captain stepped gingerly for he did not want to mar some important ward but Imix scowled and kicked the ashen circle aside and waved for them to stand easy as he said, "I regret that I have no refreshments for such honoured guests, but I have been occupied with matters of penance."

"Penance," said Furion curiously, "I was not aware that your Chapter had such stringent protocols following victory."

Imix's scowl deepened and he said, "For a Librarian the manner in which victory is won can be as important as the victory itself. I overreached in the final fight and must atone for my carelessness."

Toran was confused and said, "I was under the impression that you saved my life and won the battle, surely such an achievement should be celebrated not lamented."

Imix sighed, "How to explain such theologies to the uninitiated… Know that the first law is that all power comes with a price and the greater the feat the greater the cost, Woe unto those who think that power comes without consequence. I drank too greedily and too deep of the Warp's tainted bounty and risked far more than all our lives when I did so, I exposed myself to the Daemons of the Warp and a single slip may have let the Neverborn into my flesh."

Furion stated, "Yet you didn't slip."

Imix replied, "But I may have and even that is too great a risk. Ask your own Librarians and they will tell you a litany of the horrors that occur when a Prince of the Warp finds a host. True are the words: Better to die for the Emperor than live for yourself."

Toran was disturbed by this revelation of how close to disaster they had come and he changed the subject saying, "I have no authority to censure your acts but I must have redress for your actions in the mines. Your subsequent deeds were honourable but I need to know why you abandoned us."

Imix said evasively, "I have explained that it was a matter of Chapter honour."

Toran replied, "My Chapter Master will not accept that, he will declare a feud if I cannot give him a good cause."

Imix sighed and said, "My Shade-Lord would not welcome such news... very well it seems I shall have to double my penance."

With those words he turned to face the reliquary and bowed low with his hands forming the sign of the Aquila, then he deferentially reached out and broke the seals before opening the doors to reveal the contents. Within was a single ingot of Transparisteel, shaped into the form of a massive teardrop and threaded with delicate gold wires. The object was as long as Toran's forearm and seemed to be a receptacle for a smaller item, a single spar of thin, grey metal that was shorn off at one end.

Toran was perplexed by this and said, "What is it?"

Imix breathed reverently and whispered, "A quillion."

Toran looked at the metal spar and raised an eyebrow quizzically saying, "A feather?"

"Yes," Imix replied in awe, "A single quill from the Korvidine Pinions, torn from the Sable Armour of Corvus Corax himself upon the killing fields of Istvaan V. Its recovery is a legend in its own right and it was entrusted to the Smoke Jaguars in perpetuity."

Toran was incredulous and spat, "You abandoned our brothers to die over a feather?!"

Imix bristled and said, "It was our legacy, the last link we had to our Primarch and it was stolen from our vaults by a Traitor, may his name be forever forgotten. For a thousand years we have scoured the stars seeking to undo that shame!"

Furion stepped in before anyone could say something they would regret and declared, "It is to you what the Sword of Thiel is to the Storm Heralds."

That set Toran back for he well understood the impulse to connect with the legendary Primarchs, every Space Marine craved a link to their ancient, lost gene-fathers and the urge to commune with their gene-sires was practically written into the genetic codes of every Astartes. It was one of the bedrocks of their brotherhoods and he himself had not been above exploiting such a trait where necessary. Toran did not believe in divine legacies but he knew that in similar circumstances there was nothing his Chapter would not do to recover a touchstone of their Primarch.

Toran paused then said, "Please forgive my rash words, I misspoke out of ignorance. I shall explain this to Chapter Master Gorgall and tell him that the honour of the Smoke Jaguars is beyond blemish."

Imix nodded and said, "No offense was taken and if you keep this information to your Lord alone then Shade-Lord K'inich Yux shall hear that the Storm Heralds are most worthy allies and that we owe you a blood debt."

Toran bowed his head respectfully for such words carried great weight among the Astartes, bonds like this were never given lightly and always fulfilled when called upon. He had just earned a mighty ally for his Chapter yet he still said, "I thank you Imix but do you have the authority to make such a pledge?"

Imix smirked and said, "K'inich Yux listens to me."

Furion said doubtfully, "Does he heed a mere Shade-Seer?"

Imix let out a short laugh at that and declared, "Oh, you don't know! Let me put it this way, our Chapter Master is a Shade-Lord so what does that make a Shade-Seer?"

Toran swallowed in shocked disbelief as the implications struck home and he extended his hand saying, "The Storm Heralds are pleased to count you among our allies, Chief Librarian Imix."

The Storm Heralds will return in Ancra Mortis