Vengeful Spirit, Horus Lupercal's private chambers.
Fulgrim sat across from Horus and watched him slice into an apple with a gleaming dagger with a serpent hilt.
An imperceptible, mysterious power permeated the air.
Fulgrim felt uneasy and spoke.
"Your injury has healed well."
Horus put a piece of apple into his mouth. "You heard?"
Horus shrugged, his eyes profound.
"I tried to stop the news from reaching the other Expedition Fleets. I was worried it would affect the troops' morale."
"It was nothing, just a minor wound on my shoulder."
Fulgrim smelled a lie. "I heard you were nearly dead."
"I survived, stronger than before."
Fulgrim raised his glass. "Then let us toast your 'swift' recovery."
He emphasized the word swift, a smile appearing on his face. Crossing words with an existence as powerful as the Warmaster pleased him.
Be patient. The truth will soon be revealed, a voice said in Fulgrim's mind.
Trust Horus. Your fate is inseparably bound to his.
Fulgrim frowned slightly. He would not wait.
He studied the dagger in Horus's hand. "Tell me, then, about your perfect journey of rebirth."
Horus stared intently at Fulgrim. He could feel the flame of his brother's pursuit of perfection blazing within the Warp.
An urge swelled within him, and the desire to draw Fulgrim in was difficult to suppress.
Horus began to speak, and he spoke for three consecutive days.
He candidly told Fulgrim of everything the 63rd Expedition Fleet had experienced on Davin: Eugene Temba's betrayal, and the wound inflicted by the Anathame.
He skimmed over the dream within the Temple of the Serpent Lodge, but described in detail the great truth he had witnessed and his father's terrible deception.
A chill ran down Fulgrim's spine. The warning of the xenos wizard had actually been true.
Whenever