Legends of the Smoke Jaguars Chapter 64

Aapo hung from an overhang in the rocky wall, clinging to the rough surface with a securing crampon driven into the stone. He felt the skin on his face pulling and drool gathering behind his teeth. He was facing straight down, staring at a sixty-metre drop to the nearest surface, twice that to the ground. The mythical Imperator Titan of ancient history wasn't that tall and he had to admit the sight was making the palms of his hands itch with vertigo. His companions didn't seem to mind though, utterly silent as they waited for the signal to move.

Directly below was Denshu's Palace, a tall structure of low domes and sharp towers. Its frontage was white marble, but from above the defensive layout was plain, bottlenecks forming between high walls and cunning channels wrought in stone that would funnel attackers into concealed gun nests. Only the initial third was left open, the rest carved out of the rockface behind. Any foe trying to breach these walls and gain entrance would be bathed in blood, but the designers had not considered this little overhang a threat. No mortal man could scale this wall unseen, nor would they dare drop right into the heart of the palace. The Smoke Jaguars were not mortal however.

"All the blood is rushing to my head!" Hanphu laughed.

"Quiet!" Xavaar growled.

"Enjoy the moment old man," Hanphu quipped.

"If you don't shut up I'll cut your grappling line."

"No fear, for I shall land on my feet!"

Takana cut in, "The shadows of evening time are long, but not so long as your gravestone's."

The Magpyr took the threat as a fine jape, "I see people down there, they look like Fireants!"

Aapo gritted his teeth as the wit-addled fool harped on. To distract himself he looked down, seeing people going about their days a hundred metres below. Lives of toil and drudgery, never even seeing the light of a sun. He had thought the surface dwellers were impoverished of spirit, but this was a life of unending grey. Yet was not grey better than darkness, their spirits would never know the shame that bubbled in his chest.

"Illchosen, if you brood any louder then Palanque will hear it from another planet," Xavaar growled.

"You hear my thoughts?!" Aapo spluttered.

"You are radiating guilt like a vox-unit set to broadcast static. For a Psyker it is harder not to hear it. Whatever's bothering you, out with it."

Aapo swallowed nervously then said, "When we fought the guard of the Bronze Beast, I shamed myself. I killed them with vicious spite and cruelty. When we trothed our pledge I lied to myself that I took no pleasure in it, but that was falsehood. I enjoyed ending them... I... liked their suffering..."

"And?" Xavaar sniffed.

"Evil has taken root in my hearts," Aapo confessed.

Xavaar however chuckled, "There are none among the Legiones Astartes who can claim to be other than blood-soaked warlords, no matter if they drape themselves in cloaks of righteousness and honour."

"Surely it cannot be so," AApo protested.

But Xavaar sighed, "We grow old, the young look at us and see meek shepherds of men, but once we made whole worlds shake with terror at the merest whisper of our approach. So much fell into ruin that I do not miss, but I do miss the company of my first Brothers."

Aapo frowned, "But surely we must cleave to the noble example of Sedaxus."

Xavaar snorted, "Sedaxus was a killer before anything else. We Astartes were made to kill and kill supremely well. Do not run from that truth, embrace it. You have forgotten the Testimony: we are monsters, made to fight monsters. Arkqas reminded us of that, when all others had forgotten. We have a purpose, one that demands harsh spirits and cruel hearts. Evil yes, but we are necessary evil."

Aapo was taken back, but before he had time to consider the words a great ruckus brewed up from below. Instantly his eyes went to a courtyard where cooks and cleaners were running from a steaming doorway. They fled in terror, hands over their heads and wailing as if the Daemons of the Warp were after them. Guards came rushing from all directions, fighting to get through the fleeing mob, trying to unearth the source of the calamity. Aapo could see it though, his genhanced eyes picking out the tiny form of K'oy scampering away across the rooftops, disappearing to leave only ghostly tales of a howling monster in the kitchens.

Instantly Xavaar shot downwards, followed an instant later by Takana and Hanphu. Aapo let go of the stone and dropped, reeling out a grappling line behind. In the confusion below the foursome dropped unseen, all eyes diverted. Aapo's guts rose into his ribcage and the wind tore at his eyes. The ground rose alarmingly fast, but they were not aiming for the flagstones. Instead their plummet brought them to the tallest tower of the Palace, where a narrow balcony rang around a golden dome. Aapo flipped upright a second before impact, then his grappling line bit and his descent halted. Bone-shattering forces tried to compress his legs into his spine but his genhanced frame withstood the landing, as his knees bowed low to absorb the tremendous impact.

Instantly Takana summoned his Shadow-path, disappearing into a dark haze as he smashed a window and dove inside. Aapo was last through the hole, following his kinsmen. All was black smoke and impenetrable gloom, yet he had trained in stygian caves that no light had ever touched, learning to see with his ears and hear via the vibrations of his boots. Kinesthetic senses told him precisely where he was in the room, and the movement of wind currents across his face told him where obstacles were located.

Panicked cries arose from lower down, a man, horizontal, probably in bed. One, no two, women by his side, concubines possibly, or just maids summoned for a night. The creak of a door closing, the tread of a Ceramite boot and a scrape of wood on stone, Hanphu had secured the entrance and barred it. A flurry of motion, someone coming at him. The softest tread, a woman fleeing the bed, drawing a breath to scream and alert the guards. Aapo's fist put paid to that, lashing out with a low blow. A soft belly folded under the impact and the woman doubled over, vomiting bile over the floor as she collapsed.

Light returned as Takana's Shadow-path ebbed and the room was revealed. Fine furniture, brass lumen holders, a marble statue of a naked maid holding a jug, a lush carpet underfoot, now spoiled by vomit. Aapo saw a pale woman at his feet, nursing her abused belly. Hanphu stood near the door, Multi-las held ready in case of intruders. Takana held another terrified woman still, her neck in the crux of his arm, he didn't need his lightning claws, one twitch and he'd snap her spine like a twig.

Xavaar faced a naked man laid out on the bed, clutching sheets to his breast. Denshu, king of Xilbalba, ruler of all he surveyed, naked and helpless before the might of the Shade-Seer. Xavaar loomed over him, skin mask wet and glistening and his Transonic staff a rod of midnight in his hand. Strange depths etched his outline, making him seem taller than the room could contain, a proto-historic legend brought to life.

"Denshu..." Xavaar hissed, "You have betrayed us."

"You..." the man squeaked.

"You have dwelt among sinners and become steeped in sin yourself. You have given fealty to the powers of ruin, and your recompense is come at last."

"But..."

"Speak not of innocence," Xavaar hissed, "Your guilt is known, confess and purify your soul before you die!"

But Denshu sat upright and spat, "This is how you respond to my message?!"

A pause as everyone blinked in surprise. Xavaar's eyes moved under his mask to Takana, who shook his head fractionally to indicate ignorance. Aapo was mystified, this was not the reception they had expected, if anything Denshu looked more offended than afraid. Something was very wrong here, but Aapo held his tongue.

Xavaar's aura of dread faded as he probed, "You messaged us?"

Denshu glowered, "Mere hours ago, I sent word of a treachery most foul. I thought you would be fast, but not this fast. You could have knocked on my door and been welcomed, instead of breaking into my bedroom like an acid-storm!"

Xavaar cocked his head, "This treachery you speak of involves the Bronze Beast?"

"That's what my message stated," Denshu retorted, "That lowlife has been a thorn in my side for years, lording over my father and grandfather, but he steps too far. My rule is threatened and by the compacts that bind my world to your Chapter I demand you end him."

Takana growled, "You knew of the Bronze Beast for generations and said nothing?!"

Denshu spat, "He's never been this big of a problem before, keeping his operations quiet and the criminal element orderly. But he's gone too far I say!"

Xavaar leaned in, "You make demands of us?! You who confess to associating with criminal scum, allowing sinners to rampage over the helpless, and think we shall not punish you?"

Denshu snorted, "You aren't half as scary as the Bronze Beast! I fear his reprisal not yours, but if you remove him from this life we shall all be freed. He speaks of you, he wants you dead, your enemy is my enemy. Offer me your word I shall remain unharmed, and shall tell you where to find him."

A long silence as Xavaar pondered this deal then finally agreed, "My word, not one drop of your blood shall be spilled by Smoke Jaguar hands."

Denshu grinned, "He's on the southern shores, a PDF outpost near the Sulphuric sea. They are supposed to be watching for Orruk invaders, but he took my troops from me."

Aapo blinked, "You gave him your men to command?"

"I had no choice," Denshu spat, "He owns this moon, my troops would obey his word over mine. He has used my family as his façade, but all truly answer to him. You see now why I did not send word before, I dared not risk it. But if you can kill him for me, then I can offer you the undying gratitude of Xilbalba."

Xavaar nodded, "I understand, thank you for your candour. You have paid half your blood-debt with this information, but the other half must be paid in blood."

"What?!" Denshu cried, "You swore not to hurt me!"

"Merely the smallest taste of justice, for your crimes," Xavaar hissed, "Warn the Bronze Beast of our coming and your suffering will make men weep to hear, rest assured of that."

"No..." Denshu wept as he backed away, "You promised me not one drop of blood!"

But Xavaar chuckled, "I lied."

His hand flashed, catching Denshu in the side of his face. Ceramite digits tore like sandpaper and the skin over his cheek was torn away, exposing teeth and spilling blood freely. Rich, coppery scents filled the air, along with the stank of piss soiling the bed. The king fell back on his bed, clutching his cheek, wailing in dismay as his maids covered their faces to avoid the wretched sight. The Shade-Seer turned for the window, leaving the grizzly scene behind. Takana threw down the woman as Hanphu moved to depart. Aapo was a second behind, seeing Denshu rolling in the bed, consumed by agony. His wound was broad and deep, bleeding freely. The finest Chirurgeons would be required to tend that wound, and the surgeries would take years to remove all traces.

The Smoke Jaguars left but Takana grunted, "You espy this is a trap?"

"Naturally," Xavaar replied.

"What shall we do?" Aapo asked as he reached for his dangling grapple line.

Xavaar's reply betrayed amusement, "We spring the trap."