A Conversation

"So."

A calm voice rang out. "Our new brother hadn't even managed to unite the world he'd landed on?"

The speaker had a face like stone. He was a giant, without a doubt. His short, gray-white hair suited his expressionless face as he spoke, and nearly made one overlook how handsome he was.

"Come on, Rogal. Even I took fifty years to unite Chemos."

Another giant seated at the long table spoke, frowning slightly. His long silver-white hair fell over his shoulders, gleaming as though lit from within. It was a sight that defied common sense, yet few would care.

After all, he was extraordinarily beautiful—beautiful enough to overshadow his precious hair and his luxurious robe of white and purple silk.

Beside him, those two treasures were little more than adornments.

The beautiful giant said, "You have to understand, Rogal. Father said he's only a year and a half old. How could a child that young unite the world he landed on? He's probably still finding his feet!"

"That doesn't change anything."

The giant who had spoken earlier, the one they called Rogal, answered sternly. "He doesn't yet understand the responsibilities he'll have to bear, but we do. Age is no excuse. You should know that, Fulgrim. You learned about our responsibilities even earlier than I did."

"But he's only a year and a half old!"

Fulgrim pressed his lips together, looking somewhat displeased, though not because he was arguing with his brother.

"And another thing! At least call me Fulgrim. Are you going to make me call you Dorn?"

"I don't mind," Rogal—or Dorn—answered slowly.

He stared, but not at Fulgrim.

Their conversation made the third giant seated at the table laugh. Compared with his brothers, his appearance was far more unusual. His skin was golden, and thousands of golden symbols across its surface formed a wondrous spectacle.

He smiled, his expression gentle, and nodded. He wore a robe, his hands folded neatly on the tabletop. A thick tome rested quietly beside him.

"You don't mind, either."

The handsome Fulgrim folded his arms and pulled a face, though his voice was gentle. "Still, I agree with what you said about responsibility."

He turned and asked another brother fondly, "What about you, Lorgar?"

"I'd like to keep my opinion to myself," the golden giant called Lorgar replied with a shrug. "I don't want to share it until Ferrus arrives."

"Are you going to do that again?" Rogal Dorn said abruptly.

"Father always does the same thing," Lorgar said with a smile. "He always waits until we've all spoken before giving his opinion, doesn't he?"

He spoke with such sincerity that even the usually expressionless Rogal Dorn didn't know how to answer. All he could do was frown and turn his attention back to Fulgrim.

"Why is Ferrus late again?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You're closest to him," Rogal Dorn said.

He stated it without the slightest hesitation, as if it were simply a fact.

Fulgrim's eyes widened. He was clearly taken aback. "Rogal, my brother, I love all of you—"

"—especially Ferrus," Rogal Dorn said expressionlessly. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm simply stating a fact."

Fulgrim looked helplessly at Lorgar.

"Ahem."

The golden giant gave a quiet cough. "Well, Fulgrim. I don't think the nickname you gave Ferrus is something the rest of us can use, or he'll be very unhappy."

He smiled slowly. "I'm quite sure of that."

"So this meeting's turned into an attack on me?" Fulgrim said indignantly. "I thought we were supposed to talk about our new brother."

"Of course we'll talk about him, but not without Ferrus Manus here."

Rogal Dorn rose to his feet. Unlike his brothers, he didn't wear a comfortable robe. He wore a gray-blue long-sleeved shirt, its lines traced with gold thread in a design that was simple but far from lacking in detail.

In a way, the garment revealed something of his character.

"Where are you going?" Fulgrim asked.

"I'm not going to fetch him. That's your privilege. I'm just standing up to stretch my legs," Rogal Dorn said. "Also, Fulgrim—"

"—Fulgrim."

"Fulgrim, do you really not know why Ferrus has been missing meetings so often lately?"

"Meetings without Father," Fulgrim said. "Strictly speaking, they're just chats."

Lorgar's laughter filled the room. "You're being so obvious in your defense of him, brother!"

"What's gotten into you two today?"

The giant in the silk robe rose, looking annoyed. He strode to the door in three quick steps. "Why do you keep making fun of me? I'll go get him!"

He opened the door and left soon after. The room fell quiet for a moment, but Lorgar broke the silence before it could spread.

"Rogal."

"Hmm?"

"Ferrus has probably been busy sketching out a weapon lately. That's why he keeps arriving late."

The golden giant smiled. "The last time I went to see him, I spotted it on his desk. Emperor above, what a mess that desk was."

"A weapon?"

Rogal Dorn answered with his characteristic expression: he frowned, and frowned deeply.

"A weapon?" he repeated. "He's going to make a weapon aboard the Emperor's Dream?"

Lorgar blinked. His brother's reaction was completely different from what he'd expected, and he hurried to explain. "Rogal—"

"Under the Emperor's very eyes?"

The frown between Rogal Dorn's brows grew deeper and deeper. He bent over, braced both hands on the table, and gazed slowly at Lorgar for a while.

The latter blinked and placed his right hand on the thick tome.

Half a minute later, Rogal Dorn said, "All right. I think I can guess who that weapon is for."

"Uh?" Lorgar let out a short, bewildered sound.

His brother didn't answer. He merely shook his head and did nothing else. Five minutes later, two sets of footsteps sounded in the corridor outside.

Fulgrim pushed the door open with a smile. "I brought him!"

Behind him, a giant with silver hands walked in.

He had short black hair, and his features weren't as perfect as Fulgrim's. In fact, it would have been almost impossible for anyone to be as beautiful as Fulgrim.

But that didn't mean he was ugly. In truth, he looked like a suit of steel armor forged by hand. His beauty was simply nothing like Fulgrim's.

"I'm sorry," the giant said. His voice was deep, but not distant. "I've been busy lately."

"Father hasn't assigned you any work, Ferrus."

"So now you call him Ferrus? Why not call me Fulgrim?"

Fulgrim raised an eyebrow and cut in. Then, before Rogal Dorn could speak, he laughed and led Ferrus to a seat at the table. Seeing this, Rogal Dorn fell silent for a moment, then sat down as well.

"Anyway, let's talk about our new brother," he said. "Konrad Curze. That's the name Father gave him."

"Did Father's attendant tell you?" Fulgrim asked.

"No, I asked him myself."

Lorgar's eyes widened. "But he hasn't spoken to us in three days!"

"I asked him three days ago."

"All right." The golden giant nodded reluctantly, and Fulgrim patted him comfortingly.

"What is there to discuss?" said Ferrus, his hands silver. "He's a year and a half old. It's only natural that he hasn't united the world he landed on."

"But he's one of our brothers."

Rogal Dorn said gravely, "That means we need to hold him to a stricter standard. We can't ignore these matters just because of his age."

"Ahem, Rogal, if I may say something—" Fulgrim gestured, his expression growing serious. "—if you'll allow me."

"You don't need my permission," Rogal Dorn said. "You're Fulgrim."

"Call me Fulgrim, please."

"Fulgrim."

"Good. Anyway, I still think it's unfair to judge his achievements without considering his age."

Fulgrim waved an arm emphatically, as if to make his argument more convincing.

"It took me fifty years to unite Chemos peacefully, and that was only because its people were relatively friendly. If you want more evidence, you're one of the best examples yourself. Rogal, what were you doing when you were a year and a half old?"

"I was studying," Rogal Dorn answered reluctantly.

He had to answer, or he'd be contradicting himself.

"Exactly. Even Rogal Dorn—one of our most accomplished brothers—had to study. So what can we expect of Konrad Curze?"

Fulgrim sighed and shook his head. "Besides, I really don't understand why Father gave him that name."

"It doesn't have a very good meaning. I've studied some ancient Terran languages."

Lorgar nodded thoughtfully and joined in. "But it was Father's decision, after all."

"We'll understand what sort of person he is when we meet him," Ferrus Manus said slowly. "Also, Lorgar."

"Hmm?"

"Fulgrim said you wanted to save your opinion until after I arrived."

"Oh!"

Lorgar nodded as though he'd just remembered. "About that. I think that no matter what, we shouldn't criticize him too harshly. Father guided us to find him, didn't he? The voyage had nothing to do with the Navigator."

"And?"

"So, no matter what he's like, I'll love him just as Father loves us."

The golden giant smiled.