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Like a Shadow in the Night
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"Lord Corax!" called a young male voice through the plasteel door of the chambers of the Raven Guards Primarch, causing the man in question to rise and key the door open. On seeing the young scouts excited face he cast his thoughts through his memory for a name.
"Scout Aakesh?" he hazarded.
"Yes, sir!" the young Marine saluted smartly, beaming at his gene-sires recollection of his name, "I have important news."
"And this news is…?" Corax prompted, somewhat bemused at the enthusiasm of the youth in front of him, and hiding relief that his guess was correct.
"Sir!" the scouts dark eyes where full of pride, "Senshi Deliverance has been born!"
In spite of himself, Corax's eyes widened and an uncharacteristically open and delighted smile spread across his pale, sober face, stunning young Aakesh in its appearance.
"Well now," Corax said in his quiet voice, clapping a hand on Aakesh's shoulder and steering him out into corridor, "I take it that you know her location?"
Aakesh nodded.
"Well then," Corax squeezed his shoulder lightly, "Show me."
"Yes, sir!" the scout lead his Primarch through the winding passages of the Ravenspire, and up to its starport, where a squad of veteran Marines stood at attention, one in the fore ground gingerly holding a small blanket wrapped bundle in one ceramite encased fist.
As Corax and Aakesh approached all the Marines but the one holding this oh-so-small but infinitely important package saluted.
Corax wordlessly held out his hands, and on receiving the blanket-swathed infant he cradled her gently in one hand and nudged aside the cloth with one finger to get a clear view of his homeworlds living, breathing heart, the spirit nurtured in its core in the Immaterium, fed by the fervent hope, dreams and most of all the belief of Deliverances small population, including himself.
He look down into a small face as pale as his own, capped with night-dark hair, and seemingly sensing his gaze, the girl opened her eyes, just as dark as her hair, and stared up at him.
Then giggled, small hands waving up at him.
Corax's lips twitched into a small, almost unnoticeable, smile.
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