"Bait? That's what the Captain told you?"
Faced with Leman Russ's question, Sanguinius slowly nodded. "Yes."
Then he saw Russ's features twist together into something indescribable. "Sending them to another world as bait. Fine. Looks like this place has had at least some effect on him after all."
That brief worry soon vanished—or perhaps Russ simply hid it away. The Fenrisian grinned. "I told you. Who isn't mad?"
"Sometimes, Russ, listening to you talk is truly a form of torture," Fulgrim said faintly from the side. "I know I've said it many times, but I'll say it again. Still, Sanguinius, don't you think the Captain left some things unsaid?"
Faced with the Phoenix's question, the Archangel nodded helplessly. "Of course I know he must still have many things he hasn't told us. In fact, I even think this information was just a smokescreen he threw out to confuse our line of sight and divert our attention. Who knows what the Captain is thinking?"
Behind them, a giant lying on a bench groaned in pain, then said quietly, "At least Teacher would never send them over there without certainty. Ah. Damn it."
Russ laughed and mocked him without even turning his head. "Still got a headache? Why is Magnus fine, then? Seems some people really didn't learn their craft properly."
"Spare me, Russ—I'm in no mood to argue with you right now."
Roboute Guilliman forced himself upright, his face pale and drenched in sweat. "Of course Magnus doesn't have a headache. He's merely been repeating the process of going in and out of lucidity. During that time, he needed to keep observing the Astral Beacon. From a certain perspective, he and I are both suffering torment."
Russ stopped speaking and merely gave a soft snort.
Sanguinius walked to Guilliman's side, plucked