the commander from the Extranus, and his temper was becoming more and more unpredictable.
'A mistake? What are you talking about?'
'Killing Ignace,’ said Loken. 'Think what would have happened if you'd killed him. The Warmaster would have had your head for that. Imagine the repercussions if an Astartes murdered a remembrancer in cold blood.'
Abaddon furiously paced the interior of the yurt like a caged animal, but Loken could see that his words had penetrated the red mist of his friend's anger.
'Damn it, Loken… Damn it,’ hissed Abaddon.
"What was Ignace talking about, Ezekyle? Was it a lodge medal that passed between you and Erebus?'
Abaddon looked directly at Loken and said, 'I can't say,’
'Then it was,’
'I. Can't. Say,’
'Damn you, Ezekyle. Secrets and hidden things, my brother, I can't abide them. This is exactly why I can't return to the warrior lodge. Aximand and Torgaddon have both asked me to, but I won't, not now. Tell me: is Erebus part of the lodge now? Was he always part of it or did you bring him in on the journey here?'
You heard Serghar's words at the meeting. You know I can't speak of what happens within the circles of the lodge,’
Loken stepped in close to Abaddon, chest plate to chest plate, and said, 'You'll tell me now, Ezekyle. I smell something rank here and I swear if you lie to me I'll know,’
You think to bully me, little one?' laughed Abaddon, but Loken saw the lie in his bluster.
Yes, Ezekyle, I do. Now tell me,’
Abaddon's eyes flickered to the entrance of the yurt.
Very well,’ he said. 'I'll tell you, but what I say goes no further,’
Loken nodded and Abaddon said, 4Ve did not bring Erebus into the lodge,’
'No?' asked Loken, his disbelief plain.
'No,’ repeated Abaddon. 'It was Erebus who brought us in,’
Erebus, brother Astartes, First Chaplain of the Word Bearers…
Trusted counsellor of the Warmaster…
Liar.
No matter how much he tried to blot the word out with his battle meditation it kept coming back to haunt him. In response, Euphrati Keeler's words, from the last time they had spoken, swirled around his head, over and over.
She had stared him down and asked, 'If you saw the rot, a hint of corruption, would you step out of your regimented life and stand against it?'
Keeler had been suggesting the impossible, and he had denied that anything like what she was suggesting could ever take place. Yet here he was entertaining the possibility that a brother Astartes – someone the Warmaster valued and trusted – was lying to them for reasons unknown.
