If you asked Fulgrim to be completely honest, he would probably tell you—
"Yes, I just wanted to have a meal by myself. Is there a problem?"
And that was exactly what he told his brothers.
"How could you keep a fine meal all to yourself?" Russ sidled up to him with a grin. "I'll join you too, all right, Fulgrim?"
The Phoenix glanced at him in distaste and showed him his sprained wrist. "What do you think? I couldn't even hold you back. You were truly mad back then, Russ."
Leman Russ froze for a moment, but not for long. He quickly recovered and kept his smile in place, though his tone changed slightly. "I was just a little too angry, that's all. Sorry, Fulgrim."
"I wasn't trying to blame you." The Phoenix turned away and poured himself a glass of wine. A rich aroma surged out, and Russ looked regretfully at his own cup. The wine inside had already been spilled all over the floor the first time Fulgrim grabbed him.
"Should've taken a sip when I had the chance," he muttered.
"What?" Sanguinius looked over curiously.
"Nothing, brother, nothing."
As Fulgrim drank, he glanced at Corax, who was ceaselessly crooking his fingers. Shadows churned endlessly beneath his feet. If one set aside his identity and abilities, it was actually a rather eerie sight. If the Sisters of Battle who had boarded with them were here, they would most likely have started clutching their rosaries or crosses and praying at once.
Thinking of that scene, Fulgrim smiled, though his tone remained very calm. He asked, "Curze still hasn't finished handling things?"
The Lord of the Ravens did not answer immediately. A few seconds later, he narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded to the Phoenix. "He was supposed to