The Emperor never would have imagined that he'd only wanted to run away and retire, yet ended up as an utterly unremarkable weasel who had to be rescued by his unfilial son, Hogg. He'd completely lost face.
As they gradually left reality behind in the time tunnel, the four heroes—the dog, bird, horse, and mouse—began to change, reverting from foolish wild animals into famous figures of the Imperium of Man.
But their memories from their time as animals didn't disappear when they became human again. Everyone looked grim, especially Malcador.
After all, the others had at least been specially raised. Malcador alone had become a pony and spent five years eating fodder in the Garden. His breath still reeked of it whenever he opened his mouth.
"My lord, I'll never trust you again. Is this the retirement you promised us? If I ever trust you again, I'm an idiot."
Malcador's face was dark, and every word dripped with sarcasm. Ollanius Persson now felt sick at the sight of fries. His time as a seagull had left the old Warmaster struggling to control his sphincter, and he kept a hand clamped over his backside. Even so, he looked at his good buddy with the tender concern one might show a simpleton.
Compared with the two Perpetuals, Captain-General Valdor was probably the luckiest. At least he'd become a golden-furred Dog-man, which technically made him an Abhuman. He had hands and feet, and didn't have to perch in trees to take a shit or eat fodder off the ground like Malcador.
Even so, this most trusted of the Emperor's commanders had lost his former sparkle. His stance alone made it clear that he, too, had grievances with the Emperor.
To be fair, the Emperor was innocent this time. He hadn't expected things to