Reunion with an Old Friend

It turns out that Jonson is indeed not as thick-skinned as Hogg.

By the time everyone arrived at the Imperial Palace, the invincible Jonson had fallen. He had been beaten into a state of delirium, his face swollen into a pig's head, and he had slipped into unconsciousness.

Yet, even though he was beaten half-witted, the Lion kept muttering about wanting to be Warmaster. It was clear that Jonson had a particular obsession with the position of Warmaster; even in such a battered state, he couldn't let it go.

Since Jonson had already drawn all the fire, Hogg couldn't let him suffer in vain. He casually retracted the blood-stained Cloak of the Emperor, hurrying to destroy the evidence.

Seeing the Primarchs arrive together, the Emperor thought these rebellious sons were finally showing some sense. Malcador's worries had been completely unnecessary; why would resurrecting his most beloved Wolf-Herder God require so much trouble? If not for Malcador's desperate dissuasion, he would have wanted to save the Warmaster title for Horus.

But since things had reached this point, the Emperor wouldn't undermine the effort a second time. He followed the script Malcador had taught him:

"Since you have come together, it proves you understand my deep intentions. Let us not waste time; I am impatient to see my Wolf-Herder God. You lot..."

Hearing the Emperor nearly slip up, Malcador coughed hurriedly to remind his old friend to shut his mouth and not ruin the excellent situation.

Reminded by Malcador, the Emperor's erratic emotional intelligence regained the high ground. He didn't finish the sentence that would surely have led to a "fatherly love and filial piety" disaster, instead leading everyone to the Secret Laboratory beneath The Golden Throne.

Back in familiar territory, Roland, who usually had a very low presence, suddenly became lively.