Countless carved beams and painted rafters stood in orderly rows alongside banners and reliefs. Scrolls recounting the glorious history since its birth stretched for thousands of miles, vanishing beyond Kasgar's line of sight.
The Imperial Palace.
Light snow still fell from the silvery sky, each delicate flake drifting down to complement the rocks jutting out beneath their thin white covering.
The golden city stretched for thousands of miles across the plateau, occupying the entirety of that vast highland.
Their footsteps passed softly over the broad white stone ground, where countless Titan-class constructs and soldiers had once marched in review. Kasgar and Fulgrim finally stopped before the imperial palace gates, which rose several hundred meters high, and submitted themselves to the inspection of the golden-armored godlike figures.
Logically speaking, only Fulgrim should have received an invitation to a dinner between the primarch and the Emperor.
Yet for some reason, the Emperor's invitation had also arrived in Kasgar's hands.
Two invitations.
One was for Fulgrim, while the other was for Kasgar himself.
The Emperor had invited Kasgar to dine with him.
"Wait, you mean I'm invited too?"
"Yes. Aside from Number Three, the Emperor has invited you as well."
"I hope you will not disappoint his expectations."
Even when the Adeptus Custodes messenger had handed it to him, the displeasure in his eyes had nearly been enough to devour Kasgar alive.
After placing the invitation, woven from golden thread, into Kasgar's hands, the Adeptus Custodes had departed Fulgrim's door at remarkable speed.
The Emperor invited me to attend a meeting?
Me, Kasgar Sherlock?
A perfectly ordinary Chief Lord Commander of the Sons of the Emperor?
"Why did he invite me?"
Kasgar had no answer.
But since it was the Emperor's invitation, he could not possibly refuse to come.
After changing into an