"I will speak with our father." Akurduana said to Vespasian, who was also a Lord Commander.
Vespasian, relieved, walked with Akurduana through the Triumphal Arch.
At intervals along the avenue, Emperor's Children stood motionless as statues, holding golden spears.
They continued to the great Phoenix Gate.
The guards, seeing two Lord Commanders approaching, bowed deeply, their spears striking the ground. The great bronze leaves of the gate parted smoothly.
Akurduana and Vespasian nodded to them and passed through the gate into the Primarch's council chamber, Heliopolis.
High, pale stone walls supported a vast, domed room. Intricate mosaic patterns covered the walls. Purple and gold banners hung between green marble pillars.
Rows of marble benches, rising in tiers, lined the perimeter of Heliopolis, enough to seat two thousand.
But at this war council, besides the Legion's attached 52nd Fleet, only a handful of commanders from the 28th Expedition Fleet, who had requested their aid, were present.
Almost all the Remembrancers, who had been integrated into the Expedition Fleets by the Regent, were present. Some had even brought easels.
They were gathered around an extraordinarily beautiful woman, the musician, Bequa Kynska.
Captain Solomon Demeter of the 2nd Company watched the blue-haired woman. The Emperor's design made an Astartes's perception of the opposite sex indistinct.
But Kynska's supernatural allure awakened his senses.
Solomon frowned, quickening his pace to draw closer to his Lord Commander, and whispered, "Lady Kynska is strange."
Solomon felt a predatory gaze sweep over him. Startled, he saw the mortal woman break away from her socializing and look back at him.
She smiled, and the scent of apples filled the Astartes' nostrils.
Solomon shut down his respiratory system and heard Akurduana say, "I know."
Bright starlight shone down from the center of the dome, reflecting off the black terrazzo floor of Heliopolis.
At the center of the pillar of light stood a polished black marble chair. Akurduana took the seat to the left of the empty chair. Vespasian sat beside him. Solomon took a seat behind.
The Phoenix Gate opened again. The honour guard of the Phoenician entered Heliopolis.
Amidst thunderous applause, Akurduana saw that Fulgrim wore the silver-hilted blade at his waist.
He had not worn that flaming sword, the one Ferrus had forged for him, for months.
It had been a symbol of friendship, called by his father the perfect blade.
But now it was out of favor.
A perfect smile on his face, Fulgrim nodded to the Lord Commanders, his gaze lingering on Akurduana.
Eidolon watched this with a dark expression. Behind him followed Captain Solomon Tarvitz of the 10th Company and Captain Lucius of the 13th.
After taking his seat, Fulgrim looked around the assembly and spoke.
"Commanders, gentlemen, ladies. I have convened you to announce the punishment of the xenos."
"Four hours ago, an Aeldari warlock calling himself Eldrad Ulthran delivered a preposterous message to me. He claimed that the great Warmaster has betrayed the Imperium."
His eyebrows rose, and a whisper echoed in his mind: "Destroy their worlds! Kill the xenos!"
"To punish them for slandering my brother, I am ordering the 28th and 52nd Fleets to conduct an orbital bombardment of 28-4."
"Using virus bombs."
Vespasian frowned. "Father, 28-4 is rich in land, has blue oceans, and breathable atmosphere readings, completely unpolluted."
"It is a world with great potential. We should not deny Imperial citizens the right to set foot on it just to punish a xenos's mistake."
"Moreover, only the Warmaster has the authority to deploy virus bombs."
"He is questioning you! He is saying you do not have the Warmaster's authority! Kill him!" a terrible voice hissed in Fulgrim's ear.
"No! He is my son!" Fulgrim shouted in his mind.
"Listen to me!"
Fulgrim rose. "Everyone."
"Father!" Akurduana rose, recalling the Black Emperor's divine command.
Fulgrim looked at Akurduana. "My son, do you have something to say?"
"We all believe the Warmaster would never betray the Emperor, and we understand your resolve, as his close friend, to punish the xenos. But I would remind you that, precisely because you are the most perfect brother in the Warmaster's eyes, you should uphold his authority, not openly violate its protocols."
"I believe you should go to the Warmaster immediately and share what has happened with him. This will show your support."
"Another doubter! Kill him!" the whisper coaxed Fulgrim to draw his blade.
"No! He is my most perfect son!" Fulgrim shouted in his heart.
He ignored the incessant noise in his head. After a dozen seconds of thought, he spoke.
"Akurduana, you are right. Horus has sent several messages since becoming Warmaster, requesting a meeting."
"I was occupied traveling on the Emperor's behalf, preparing for the Council of Nikaea."
He stroked the gold ring on his right little finger, engraved with a winged goddess. His father's words echoed in his mind.
My son, you have always pursued perfection. I am proud of what you have achieved.
Horus will rely upon you as well. I believe you will continue pursuing perfection and create glory for both the Imperium and my Warmaster.
Fulgrim puffed out his chest with pride. "Afterward, I was campaigning against the Laer."
"Now it is time for me to answer the Warmaster's summons."
"I will carry the Warmaster's wrath, return to the Perdus Anomaly, burn every xenos world, and sever every xenos head."
Eidolon glared at Akurduana, envy gnawing at his heart. Bile's surgically altered throat itched; he wanted to roar.
"Everyone else is dismissed. Akurduana, stay." Fulgrim's silver hair billowed.
"We have much to discuss."
Vespasian's eyes shone with hope as he looked at Akurduana.
He had been right. Only their father's most beloved son could advise him.
As the Emperor's Children of the 52nd Expedition Fleet prepared to depart, Akurduana followed his father into his chambers.
He stepped inside and saw fine paintings on every wall: vibrant landscapes, and images of Astartes and mortals fighting together in the Crusade.
Fulgrim stopped before a painting at the room's center, studying the black-armored, golden-winged brother depicted there.
His marble-like face shone, his gleaming blade striking a robed xenos.
'Nareth defeated Ferrus's silver hand. His swordsmanship is as perfect as mine.'
"Your swordsmanship is more perfect than Nareth's. You possess the most perfect blade!" the whisper said, its voice filled with pride.
Fulgrim's lips curved. "This painting has always been one of my favorites. You captured Nareth perfectly."
"I don't think anyone can truly capture a Primarch," Akurduana said, modestly.
'No one can truly depict my Lord.'
Fulgrim laughed. "Your pursuit of perfection in art is as dedicated as your pursuit of perfection with the sword."
He removed his armor, donned a purple robe, and reclined on a couch.
He picked up a jade-green berry, a special product of the agri-world Ryne, and placed it in his mouth.
Savouring the sweet, dew-like lychee top note, he said, "My son, there is now an opportunity for you to become even more perfect."
"Bile has extracted certain sequences from the Laer genome and combined them, under controlled conditions, with mutated Astartes seed."
"He can implant a new organ within you. It will make you more perfect."
"Eidolon and many of his Emperor's Children have volunteered for the surgery. They have acquired new strength."
'I have the power my Lord has given me. I am already perfect enough.' Akurduana thought.
"Father, I do not wish to have a filthy xenos organ implanted within me."
"I have noticed that Chief Apothecary Fabius is distributing various compounds throughout the Legion. The Emperor's Children are becoming decadent because they rely on them."
Fulgrim chuckled, taking a vial of blue liquid from a cabinet.
"I know. It is just a drug."
"Fabius synthesized it from a gene taken from a gland in the Laer. It replicates the functions of the thyroid and the multi-lung."
"It significantly boosts metabolism and stamina, giving us greater combat burst and endurance."
He tossed the vial to Akurduana. "You should try it. You will find it useful."
Akurduana frowned, about to crush the vial, then relaxed his grip.
'I should offer this to the Black Emperor as a sacrifice. My Lord will surely know what Bile and Eidolon are doing.'
Seeing his beloved son accept the vial, Fulgrim smiled, rising and putting an arm around his shoulder.
"It has been so long since we practiced swordsmanship together, refining perfection."
"We will have plenty of time on the Warp journey."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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