Legends of the Smoke Jaguars Chapter 31

Xavaar's astral form drifted upon the roiling tides of the warp, battered by its enraged currents. Rarely had he seen the Empyrean so tormented, not since the terrifying days of the Ruinstorm had the Immaterium been so troubled. He heard the death screams of worlds and the laughter of Neverborn as they devoured billions of souls. So very close to where he lurked nightmares walked as men and drank the tears of widows, and yet he was not hunted. Where he loitered there was a strange calmness, a tiny centre of peace in the roiling madness. Oh, there were breaches and incursions, how could there not be, but compared to what circled him this spot was eerily calm.

Xavaar spent some time exploring the new dynamic of the Warp, charting its contours and the extent of the calmness. It was a small space, in interstellar terms, but relatively stable. Once he was sure the warp wasn't about to erupt and consume him he sank back to the safety of his bones, feeling the weight of ruined flesh drag upon his spirit. A part of him resented the dragging sensation, always the temptation lurked to remain spirit eternally, but an Astartes' will was iron and he accepted the burden without hesitation.

Awareness returned and he found himself kneeling in the barren observatory that served as his sanctum. The space was as sterile and cold as ever but the heavens above had changed beyond recognition. Where once lay black void and glittering stars was now an angry swirl of red, blotting out everything else. Only towards the sun itself was the red dispelled, drowned out by nucleonic fire, but thankfully his sanctum did not gaze in that direction, else he would be blinded. Xavaar breathed deeply as he centred his spirit, considering what he had learned as ritual phrases closed the doors to his mind, lest a roaming Daemon slipped past his defences.

A deep voice intruded, "So?"

Xavaar sighed deeply as he replied, "As we feared Arkqas. Kharkul's ritual has torn the veil and set loose a Warp storm of incalculable power."

"So the Ravens failed," came the bitter reply.

"Partially," Xavaar lamented, "They must have had some effect, else we would be dead already, but Kharkul summoned his storm. The interdimensional currents have formed an anti-cyclone around the Copan system, sustaining a static shell with a radius of twelve to fourteen light-years from our present position. Within those boundaries the veil remains intact, more or less. The Daemons of the Warp will be barred access, save for the occasional minor breach."

"I'm no warp-scholar but that sounds bad," Arkqas muttered.

"How to explain twenty-four dimensional metaphysics to those who see only three?" Xavaar groaned, "Suffice to say, we are trapped here, unable to depart or send a message until the storm dissipates."

"That's not our only problem," Arkqas muttered, "Half the Claw-leaders are outside the door, demanding answers."

"You summoned them?!" Xavaar cried as he leapt to his feet.

"I didn't have to, they came anyway. Kharkul is missing and the depths of space sundered, they knew you alone could explain. I told them you were scrying, but they aren't going anywhere until they see you."

Xavaar gut's clenched as he hissed, "What did you tell them of our contacts with the Raven Guard?"

"Nothing, I'm not stupid. They would never understand, better to keep them ignorant."

"That's a relief, make sure it stays that way. Give me a moment to compose myself, then send them in."

Arkqas nodded and turned to the door as Xavaar picked up his staff. He spent a second fixing his leather mask on and renewing the spells that sustained his flayed muscles and veins. A heartbeat he spent wishing for his armour but then thought better of it, his naked form was intimidating enough and should they wish him ill his plate would be little protection against so many. Better they witness him in his macabre glory and see he was not afraid.

After a moment the door swung open and a dozen Claw-leaders trooped in. He saw familiar faces among them, Savare the Arlstone Strangler and Certa White Crow. Juru He Who Thunders, Greul Bloodseeker and Cantus Unerring Eye. Mikoa Longshot and Yertan Snakeskin, Herran the Beautiful Liar and Killos Spinebreaker. Xavaar noted they were mostly from the Claws who had joined his previous raid, a telling fact. Perhaps there was more unity among them than he had suspected. This meeting could be an opportunity in disguise.

"Welcome my friends," Xavaar purred with a small bow.

"Save it," growled Greul, "Tell us what is happening!"

"What do you think?" Xavaar deflected.

"Don't take us for fools," barked Herran, "We know a Warp Storm when we see one. If you are responsible you die here."

Xavaar threw caution to the wind and uttered, "You assign blame to the wrong person. This manifestation is Kharkul's doing... a side effect of his attempt to kill us."

A shocked silence fell and Certa hissed, "You had better explain that."

Xavaar explained, "Kharkul has a mad scheme to ascend to Daemonhood, he plans to leave this mortal plane behind and join the ranks of the Neverborn. Towards that end he attempted to sacrifice all this sector to Chaos, including us. Fortunately for us he botched the ritual."

Mikoa sounded suspicious as he pressed, "Why? Why now... is it because the Raven Guard came?"

But Savare interjected, "No, it's more primal than that. This is because Curze is dead."

Xavaar's jaw dropped in surprise but Juru laughed, "You are not so cunning as you believe. The Ravens turn up and Kharkul mysteriously disappears, while you two slink about and scurry in the dark. We can read between the lines, Konrad Curze has died, hasn't he?"

Xavaar glared in equal parts annoyance and admiration as he confessed, "Yes it's true, our Primarch is dead and the Legion broken, we are left to fend for ourselves."

Juru muttered, "About damned time someone offed that maniac."

Killos snapped, "But what are we going to do about it?"

"The answer is, we get the hell out of here!" Savare spat.

"Can we?" Mikoa asked, "Even if we had a warp-capable ship, can we chart a safe passage out of the storm?"

Xavaar thumped his staff upon the ground and caused an illusion of the sector to appear. Most of it was engulfed in red swirls, but at the heart a tiny band of white points flickered in a sphere of black. He explained, "This is a crude interpretation of what is occurring in the Warp. Kharkul's ritual was meant to rip apart the veil between warp and realspace, but he botched it. The ritual lost focus, it strayed out of true and created a vortex pattern of currents, with an anti-cyclone radiating from the nexus point."

Certa looked up and mused, "So instead of making a thunderstorm he produced a hurricane, with us trapped in the eye of the storm."

Xavaar was surprised at this and remarked, "An apt metaphor for our situation. Yes, we are in the middle of the calm area, a region with a radius of about twelve light-years. I've counted thirty-eight stars within that sphere, about a third of which boast human colonies, including Alar-Median. Within that zone ships can move freely and remain safe from Daemons, but to venture beyond the border is certain death. Any ship that dares to sail beyond the dead zone will be torn apart, and you can forget Astropathic messages. We are cut off entirely from the galaxy."

This caused a stir among the Claw-leaders and they started muttering among themselves, arguing as to what this meant. Yet it was Greul who declared, "This is excellent!"

"What?!" spat Cantus in surprise.

Greul grinned as he explained, "Think about it, the loyalists were coming for us, in endless number. Now they are blocked off. We are safe from Terra's retribution, with a kingdom to be conquered. Look at these stars, thirty-eight systems to conquer and rule. A small empire perhaps, but one that will be ours. Safe, secure and inviolate!"

That sent more whispers scurrying but Juru countered, "Just the small matter of the Raven Guard loitering nearby and an Ork Waaagh on our doorstep."

"Perhaps you fear Orks but I do not," Greul sneered, "I see opportunity unfolding."

"You dream," Xavaar snapped, "Kharkul will not abide contenders to his glory."

"So say you," Greul growled, "I say different. Perhaps the ritual was not botched, as you assume. Perhaps this is what Kharkul intended. Forging a kingdom of splendid isolation for the Night Lords to rule over."

But Cantus snorted, "Kharkul never does anything for anyone save Kharkul. Face it, he sought to ascend and leave us behind to burn."

Xavaar let the illusion fade as Greul and Cantus turned to face one another and the Bloodseeker growled, "So what if he did? The power it must take to transcend mortality beggars belief. If we could grasp a tenth of that might we could become unstoppable!"

Cantus snorted, "So you propose we throw ourselves at his feet and beg for scraps."

"He will need servants and acolytes," Greul snarled, "We can become champions in his service."

Angry growls arose but Arkqas interrupted, "You forget whom we serve! Kharkul is obsessed with gaining power, he hungers for every drop and does not share a morsel. If he succeeds in his mad ambitions he will not deign to lift a finger to help us. And he will try again, of this you can be sure. If he ascends, we burn."

Cantus agreed, "He speaks true. Kharkul has turned his face from us, he has become our enemy. Sooner or later it will come down to us versus him, and I don't intend to wait for him to make his move. When he returns we need to strike first!"

Xavaar was pleased by the growls of approval from the crowd but Greul snarled, "Face the Red Flayer?! Ha, you are deluded, his power is beyond compare. I will have no part of this."

Glowers of disapproval came from all sides as Juru snarled, "If you're not with us, you're against us."

"You wouldn't dare touch me!" Greul barked.

But Xavaar sighed, "I am sorry to say, yes we would."

Greul's hand flashed to his sabre but too late, for Xavaar's gaze washed over him. A moment of contact and then Greul collapsed to the floor, unable to move or speak. Xavaar knelt beside him and knew all thought had fled, but it pleased him to imagine some small part of the Bloodseeker remained aware, watching all that was about to occur. With one hand Xavaar undid the clasps securing the breastplate and removed the Ceramite layer, then he drew the notched sabre from Greul's belt. As all watched on he sliced a deep cut into the exposed belly, penetrating the Black Carapace to let blood flow, but then he paused.

Xavaar stood up and held out the blade saying, "If we are to triumph over Kharkul we must act as one."

Arkqas stepped up and took the blade adding, "We ask you to join us in our Brotherhood. United in trust and blood."

Arkqas slashed the helpless Greul, adding his cut, then held out the blade to the next. Sullen silence was his only response until Savare stomped forward, grabbing the blade muttering, "Wretched cowards, I'll do it myself. Sorry Greul, I did like you but you were stupid, and I cannot abide stupidity."

Savare added his mark to the body, then passed the blade on to the next. One by one the Claw-leaders took their cuts, each slicing deeply but some more so than others. Fourteen stabs were made and by the end Greul was a gory mess upon the floor. None of them could say who had made the fatal slice but all of them had blood on their hands, the shared murder of Greul uniting them in a dark compact.

"It is done!" Arkqas proclaimed, "Now we are one, trothed in blood and murder!"

"Don't harp on," Cantus snarled, "What of the other Claws?"

Certa replied, "Any Claw not presented in this room is an enemy. But do not assume our own clawmates will turn with us. We must ensure our subordinates will follow where we lead and if not, we must eliminate them, Before Kharkul returns."

Xavaar lifted his staff to utter, "So it shall be. We here pledge ourselves to Kharkul's murder. We shall not wait for him to gather his strength but strike in his moment of weakness, and he shall never be weaker than when he returns, drained from his ritual. The next time Kharkul sets foot on Oblivioni Cavum we shall strike and his last sight will be our knives sinking into his hearts!"