Liar…
It had been on the fifteenth day since leaving interex space, and a week before reaching Davin, that Loken finally had the chance to speak with Erebus alone. He awaited the First Chaplain of the Word Bearers in the forward observation deck of the Vengeful Spirit, watching smudges of black light and brilliant darkness slide past the great, armoured viewing bay.
'Captain Loken?'
Loken turned, seeing Erebus's open, serious face. His shaved, tattooed skull gleamed in the swirling vortices of coloured light shining through the glass of the observation bay; rendering his armour with the patina of an artist's palette.
'First chaplain,’ replied Loken, bowing low.
'Please, my given name is Erebus; I would be honoured if you would call me by it. We have no need of such formality here,’
Loken nodded as Erebus joined him in front of the great, multicoloured vista laid out before them.
'Beautiful, isn't it?' said Erebus.
'I used to think so,’ nodded Loken. 'But in truth I can't look on it now without dread,’
'Dread? Why so?' asked Erebus, placing his hand on Loken's shoulder. 'The warp is simply the medium through which our ships travel. Did not the Emperor, beloved by all, reveal the ways and means by which we might make use of it?'
'Yes, he did,' agreed Loken, glancing at the tattooed script on Erebus's skull, though the words were in a language he did not understand.
They are the pronouncements of the Emperor as interpreted in the Book ofLorgar and rendered in the language of Colchis,’ said Erebus, answering Loken's unasked question. They are as much a weapon as my bolter and blade,’
Seeing Loken's incomprehension, Erebus said, 'On the battlefield I must be a figure of awe and majesty, and by bearing the Word of the Emperor upon my very flesh, I cow the xeno and unbeliever before me,’
'Unbeliever?'
'A poor choice of word,’ shrugged Erebus dismissively, 'perhaps misanthrope would be a better term, but I suspect that you did not ask me here to admire the view or my scripture,’
Loken smiled and said, 'No, you're right, I didn't. I asked to speak to you because I know the Word Bearers to be a Legion with many scholars among their ranks. You have sought out many worlds that were said to be seats of learning and knowledge and brought them to compliance,’
True,’ agreed Erebus slowly. Though we destroyed much of that knowledge as profane in the fires of war,’
'But you are wise in matters esoteric and I. desired your counsel on a… a matter I thought best spoken of privately,’
