by Nick Kyme
‘The fealty the tablet spoke of,’ said Scar-borne, showing some interest in what Kinebad had discovered for the first time, as the inquisitor began to activate the aetheric beacon, ‘it was to Guilliman, wasn’t it? He was the Avenging Son and the pact he had Dorn make was for the Codex.’
‘I believe it was, yes.’
As if scenting that their prey was leaving, the skels began to move and their howling increased in pitch.
‘And the gift he gave? The one to force the men of Iron onto bended knee…’
Dematerialisation was in process, and both Scar-borne and Kinebad felt their bodies and immortal souls being slowly surrendered to the warp.
The skels were rushing now, shrieking and baying as the prey-scent began to fade. Saliva-wet fangs glistened in their hyperextended mouths.
Kinebad spoke a silent prayer as he felt the first pull of aetheric wind, the skin-tingling charge of corposant.
‘It was the skull of their primarch,’ said Kinebad as the screaming of the skels and the tearing of reality merged. His voice trailed off, partially lost to the warp but lingering long enough for Scar-borne to hear what he said, ‘the head of Ferrus Manus.’
TO BE CONTINUED IN INFERNUS
About the Author
Nick Kyme is the author of the Horus Heresy novel Vulkan Lives, the novellas Promethean Sun and Scorched Earth, and the audio drama Censure. His novella Feat of Iron was a New York Times bestseller in the Horus Heresy collection, The Primarchs. For the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Nick is well known for his popular series of Salamanders novels and short stories, the Space Marine Battles novel Damnos, and numerous short stories. He has also written fiction set in the world of Warhammer, most notably the Time of Legends novel The Great Betrayal for the War of Vengeance series. He lives and works in Nottingham, and has a rabbit.
Ancient prophecies and new rivalries rock the Salamanders Chapter as enemies gather to destroy them...
For my beautiful girlfriend, Stef. Without you, none of this would have been possible…
A BLACK LIBRARY PUBLICATION
First published in Great Britain in 2014.
This edition published in 2014 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd., Willow Road, Nottingham, NG7 2WS, UK.
Cover illustration by Cheol Joo Lee.
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