could do to stop himself from sprawling face…first into the already congealing pool of his lifeblood。
Anger swept through him。
Marduk used the anger swelling through him to give him strength； and he pushed himself up off
the floor。 If he was to die； he would not die scrabbling on the floor like a dog。 Even as more blood
pumped from his neck； he retrieved his blood…smeared helmet from the floor and shoved it back
under his arm。
He blinked； staring at the pool of blood in which he kneeled。 There was so much blood that he
was amazed that there was any within him at all； and his vision wavered。
This is the end； he thought。
The mark of Lorgar on his forehead began to burn； smoke rising from his skin as the searing
rune blistered his flesh。
A hand was placed against his neck； and the wound was closed as warmth suffused him。
“Arise； Marduk；” said the domineering voice； and Marduk felt hands on his shoulders； helping
him to his feet。 He was weak with loss of blood； and did not realise that he had passed the final test；
and had received Lorgar’s blessing。
Lifting his gaze； he stared into the impossibly dark eyes of none other than Erebus； he who had
been first Chaplain of the Word Bearers when Horus had lived； he who had brought the true faith to
so many。
“Welcome； brother；” said Erebus。
Other than Lorgar； and arguably the Keeper of the Faith； Kor Phaeron； Erebus was the most
powerful； revered and influential member of the XVII Legion； and at his word countless millions
had perished。
Erebus’s head was shaved smooth； and covered in intricate script； his flesh a living Book of
Lorgar； and Marduk stared at him in confusion and wonder； still not understanding what was taking
place。
175
The other seven Council members stepped forwards； surrounding Marduk； and he gazed around
at their hallowed； revered faces in awe。 He knew them all by name and reputation： the Dark Apostle
Ekodas； the craggy…faced holy leader of the 7th Company Host； who had led a holy crusade of
retribution upon the Black Consuls； almost wiping the Cursed Chapter； a successor of the hated
Ultramarines； from the galaxy； at his side was the Dark Apostle Paristur； shrewd and savage； who
had killed the Blood Angels Chaplain Aristedes in single combat on the walls of the Emperor’s
palace。 Mighty heroes of legend all； the Council members closed ranks around Marduk； touching
their fingertips upon the already congealing blood and daubing unholy symbols upon his armoured
plates。 Erebus dipped his thumb in the blood and marked Marduk’s cheek； and he felt his skin
blistering beneath the touch。
One of the Dark Apostles； Mothac； encased in ensorcelled daemon armour； a gift from Lorgar；
held a thick book in his arms； its weight immense。 The book was bound in the skin of Ultramarines；
and Marduk gasped as he looked upon it。
“The Dark Creed；” he murmured； overcome with awe。 These were the holy writings of the
daemon primarch of the Legion。
Finally； realisation dawned on him。 He had succeeded！
Mothac’s face was solemn； and the Dark Apostles gave him some room as he hefted it before
him。
“Swear your undying allegiance upon the Dark Creed and you will be one with us； Brother
Marduk；” said Erebus。
Marduk placed a bloody hand upon the hallowed book； his eyes blazing with faith。
“I swear it；” he intoned。
“Dark apostle；” said Burias； and Marduk； standing on the balcony overlooking his Host； turned
towards his icon bearer with a smile。
The newly appointed Dark Apostle wore a cloak of flayed flesh； and his right hand leant upon
the butt of the mighty crozius arcanum that had been wielded by Jarulek before him。 It felt good to
wear the deadly weapon； the icon that represented his new…found position。
“That will take some getting used to；” he said。
Burias smiled savagely at Marduk； and inclined his head towards the archway leading from the
bone balcony。
“The sorcerer comes；” said Burias； a note of distaste in his voice。
The archway led into his private shrine within the immensity of the Bastion of the Word。 All
Dark Apostles had their omense structure。 This one had belonged to
Jarulek； and it now belonged to him。
With a glare of warning to Burias； Marduk turned to receive the Black Legion sorcerer。
Kol Badar stood by Marduk’s side； immense and strong； his face unreadable。 Only the clenching
and unclenching of his mighty power talons gave away a hint of the Coryphaus’s thoughts； and
Marduk smiled。 Kol Badar had not taken Marduk’s ascension well； but he had knelt before Marduk；
as had all of the Host； and sworn his life and soul to him。
Darioq…Grendh’al stood at his other side； garbed in robes of black； his face hidden beneath a
deep cowl。 The fallen magos was still changing； though his corruption was all but complete； and
Marduk marvelled at how far he had fallen。 He was truly a creature of Chaos； both in body and in
spirit； and his mighty servo…limbs quivered as if beneath a mirage； their form subtly changing from
one second to the next。
Burias stood alongside the champions Sabtec and Khalaxis。 Burias was tense and eager to be
away； and Marduk sensed too that Khalaxis was yearning to battle once more。 Soon； he thought。
Sabtec’s face was set in his usual stoic expression。 Marduk had been impressed by his skill； and
knew that he would achieve great victories in his name。
176
To the side； dwarfing them all； was the immense bulk of the Warmonger； standing immobile； his
heavy weaponry held at the ready。
These are my warrior faithful； thought Marduk； my officers and advisors。 He knew they would
serve him well； and if they didn’t； he would sacrifice them； and none would be able to question his
actions； for he was their Dark Apostle and he held their lives in the palm of his hand。
Marduk turned his attention to the new arrival； Inshabael Kharesh； sorcerer of the Black Legion。
His gaze met piercing blue eyes that glinted with hidden secrets and knowledge； and Marduk
affected a feigned smile of welcome。 The Dark Apostle did not like the man； for he saw sorcery as a
weakness—the only true power lay in faith； not conjurer’s tricks and magic—but he was not one to
argue with the will of the Council。
“You will extend him all the courtesies that such an esteemed envoy demands in the coming
crusade；” Lord Erebus had said。 “He is the emissary of the Warmaster； and though Abaddon is but a
pale shadow of Horus； we must show the requisite respect。 This sorcerer could be a great ally for the
XVII Legion。 See that he is treated with courtesy。”
“It will be as the Council demands； my lord；” Marduk had replied； bowing。
“The… artefact is ready to be tested upon the warriors of the false Emperor？”
“It is； my lord。”
“Do not fail me； Marduk。 Should this crusade falter I will be most displeased；” said Erebus； his
voice soft； yet carrying a potent weight of menace。
The sorcerer nodded his head in respect to Marduk； dipping his staff； which bore the unblinking
eye of Horus； low to the ground。
“Welcome； Inshabael；” said Marduk smoothly。 “I am honoured that you will be joining us for
this crusade。 It is always good to fight alongside our brothers of the Black Legion； and I am sure that
your wise council will be invaluable in the coming days of blood。”
“I extend my gratitude to you for your kind words； Dark Apostle Marduk；” replied the sorcerer；
his Cthonian accent harsh。 “The Warmaster is keenly interested in your… xenos curio。”
Marduk bowed his head； a pale smile on his lips。 Abaddon had clearly sent the sorcerer to watch
over the Word Bearers； but Marduk did not allow his anger to be reflected on his face。
The sorcerer’s eyes drifted skywards； towards where the Infidus Diabolus hung in low orbit； and
Marduk followed his gaze。 The battleship was but one of many there； hovering motionless in the
burning skies of the daemon world。 There were thirteen battleships in all； and again Marduk felt his
breath stolen by their awesome sight。
Thirteen battleships of the Word Bearers： five full Hosts； each led by a Dark Apostle。
The Thunderhawks and Stormbirds of the other Hosts were already flocking skywards； each one
filled with bloodthirsty； zealous warriors。 Heavier shuttles rose ponderously towards the waiting
battleships； battle tanks and screaming daemon engines looked within their holds or hanging beneath
them from metre…thick cables and locking clamps。
Immense transports lifted from the surface of Sicarus； emerging from beneath the parade
grounds around the basilica； which slid aside to reveal gaping； subterranean crypt…holds below。 The
giant tubular vessels were powered by roaring engines that scorched the buildings below them as
they rose into the air； defying the powers of gravity that strained to pull them back to earth。
Kathartes swirled around the behemoths； filling the air with their piercing screams； for the daemons
knew what was held within； and were hungry for them to be awoken。 God…machines worshipped as
physical representations of the powers that be； the titans of the dark Mechanicus rose towards the
battleships； and Marduk relished the time that would soon come when the demi…legion of
immeasurably destructive war machines would be unleashed。 Long had it been since he had
marched to war with the immense forms of titans striding behind him； each step covering fifty
metres of ground； and their weapons laying waste to entire Imperial cities。
“An impressive sight；” said the sorcerer。
177
“Indeed；” agreed Marduk； a satisfied smile on his face。 “Once more the Imperium will tremble。”
The Dark Apostle lifted his skull…faced helmet from under his arm and pulled it over his head。 It
connected with a hiss； and he breathed deeply of the acrid； recycled air。
“The Black Legion are keeping their eye on us？” growled Kol Badar in a low voice across a
closed circuit vox that none bar Marduk could hear。
“Something like that；” said Marduk； replying across the closed circuit。 He glanced towards the
hulking Coryphaus。
“Don’t think for a moment that I don’t know what you tried to do； Kol Badar： your little attempt
to usurp me；” said Marduk mildly； his voice oozing menace。
The Coryphaus stiffened； but made no response。
“I am your Dark Apostle； with the full backing and confidence of the Council；” continued
Marduk calmly。 “I will no longer tolerate or indulge any insubordination。 I will warn you only
once。”
Then he turned to his comrades and broke off the closed communications。
“Come； my brothers；” he said； his voice booming。 “It is time。”
“onger； its voice booming； sepulchral and eager。
“To war；” confirmed Marduk。
178
EPILOGUE
Marduk stood with his arms folded across his chest as he watched Darioq…Grendh’al at work。
A series of dark metal rings； each as tall as a man and inscribed with Chaotic runes of power；
were aligned above a pentangle of blood； held in mid…air by the servo…arms of the magos。 There
were three rings in total； each fractionally smaller than the last； and they were aligned to form a
single； large circle。 Mechadendrite tentacles steadied the rings； holding them motionless with
snapping； barbed claws and daemonic mouths。 Another tentacle； black and smooth； emerged from
within the ex…priest of the Machine…God’s body； squirming fr