This was the nature of the challenge – martial prowess was not to be tested, but the retention of humanity in the face of the Thirst. The Chapter Master must be able to fight the Thirst under the most testing circumstances. He must be Blood Calm.
Sorael was direct, leaping halfway across the distance between them, his muscles preternaturally strong because of the Thirst. Sword raised double-handed, he came at Castor, face feral.
Castor’s head reeled. The beast within him snapped, bloody muzzle threatening to burst through. Castor pushed it back. Restraint. Calm. Blood Calm.
He sidestepped Sorael’s wild charge. Sorael checked himself, feet digging a furrow into the sand as he skidded to a halt. Another jump, sword descending. Castor parried it, a clang of steel. He twisted. Sorael landed badly. Castor dropped low, swept a leg out to take the Fifth Captain’s feet from under him, but Sorael hopped over them, sending another blow at Castor’s head. Castor raised his blade, pushing off on Sorael’s with his own to roll away and spring to his feet.
They circled. Sorael crouched, blade gripped two-handed. Castor had one arm behind his back, sword swept out in front of him, point down. Sorael lunged, blond hair sweat-slicked to his brow. Castor ignored the attack.
Chapter Master Caedis had been his friend. The mastery was his right as First Captain. To fail would dishonour them both. He would not be drawn. Restraint, calm. Blood Calm.
The thirst bubbled in him. His veins were on fire. He chased the pain from his body, imprisoned it behind bars of will.
Calm.
Sorael lost patience and attacked.
Castor drew his blade across the other warrior’s arm with a deft flick as he pivoted out of the way. Sorael snarled. Both of them were rocked by the bright red that welled up in Sorael’s wound and pattered upon the sand.
Castor’s mouth filled with saliva. His gums ached with longing. He spat out a clear mouthful of saliva, surprised that it was not red.
Sorael came at him again. Castor held his ground, driving his blade down onto Sorael’s with all the force he could muster.
Steel shattered, Sorael jumped back, arms wide, but Castor threw himself forward, shoulder into the other’s sternum. The impact collapsed Sorael’s lungs. They went down. Castor threw his sword aside, and they were grappling. Their skin was slippery with sweat and blood, fingers skidding from flesh. And then Castor had him. He wrapped his arms around Sorael’s neck, choking him in the crook of his left elbow, his right hand applying pressure to the lever of his left arm.
It takes a long time to choke a Space Marine. Sorael fought like a daemon, all fury and unholy strength, nails raking at Castor’s arms, scrabbling futilely for Castor’s eyes. But Castor was calm, Blood Calm.
Sorael’s struggles weakened. His head lolled. Castor kept the pressure on for ten seconds longer, wary of trickery.
He let the unconscious Sorael slide to the floor. He stood.
The crowd roared their acclamations, but Castor did not hear. He stared at the blood pumping slowly from Sorael’s arm.
Blood.
His resolve wavered. He imagined it on his tongue. It was all he could do not to fall upon the other and lap at the cut before Sorael’s Larraman cells finished their work.
His calm fractured. He fell forward, sank his teeth into his opponent’s neck and drank deep. He closed his eyes with shame as the beast within him exulted. He had failed.
A hand on his shoulder. Mazrael. Castor had not fallen. He was upright. His brow creased in confusion. Mazrael was speaking. He thrust a chalice at Castor’s mouth. The smell of blood was intoxicating. He took it with shaking hands and drained it.
Sound crashed back on him. The Thirst receded suddenly. The crowd was chanting his name over and over. Sorael was being seen to by the Apothecaries.
‘Blood freely given, blood taken,’ said Mazrael.
‘Blood is life, life is duty. I choose blood. I choose life. I choose duty,’ said Castor, his tongue thick and voice hoarse.
Mazrael raised Chapter Master Castor’s hand. The assembled Blood Drinkers fell to their knees before their new lord.
Calm suffused Castor. Blood Calm.
About The Authors
David Annandale is the author of The Horus Heresy novel The Damnation of Pythos . He also writes the Yarrick series, consisting of the novella Chains of Golgotha and the novel Imperial Creed . For Space Marine Battles he has written The Death of Antagonis and Overfiend . He is a prolific writer of short fiction, including the novella Mephiston: Lord of Death and numerous short stories set in The Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 universes. David lectures at a Canadian university, on subjects ranging from English literature to horror films and video games.
Guy Haley is the author of Space Marine Battles: Death of Integrity , the Warhammer 40,000 novels Valedor and Baneblade , and the novellas The Eternal Crusader , The Last Days of Ector and Broken Sword , for Damocles . His enthusiasm for all things greenskin has also led him to pen the eponymous Warhammer novel Skarsnik , as well as the End Times novel The Rise of the Horned Rat . He lives in Yorkshire with his wife and son.
A BLACK LIBRARY PUBLICATION
The Rite of Holos copyright © Hammer and Bolter 2012, Games Workshop Ltd.
Death of Integrity copyright © 2012, Games Workshop Ltd.
Final Journey copyright © Angels of Death 2013, Games Workshop Ltd.
Blood Calm copyright © Angels of Death 2013, Games Workshop Ltd.
The Death of Antagonis copyright © 2013, Games Workshop Ltd.
The Tribute of Flesh copyright © 2014, Games Workshop Ltd.
All rights reserved.
First published in Great Britain in 2015.
This eBook edition published in 2015 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd., Willow Road, Nottingham, NG7 2WS, UK.
Cover illustration by Jon Cave.
© Games Workshop Limited 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved.
Black Library, the Black Library logo, The Horus Heresy, The Horus Heresy logo, The Horus Heresy eye device, Space Marine Battles, the Space Marine Battles logo, Warhammer 40,000, the Warhammer 40,000 logo, Games Workshop, the Games Workshop logo and all associated brands, names, characters, illustrations and images from the Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, ™ and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2015, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world.
All rights reserved.
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978-1-78251-768-9
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Defenders of Mankind - David Annandale & Guy Haley Page 73