The Trembling Truth

Chemos's days were exceptionally bright, giving its cities an uncommon abundance of green spaces and driving its annual tourism revenue to astronomical heights beyond the reach of many garden worlds.

After all, what beautiful holiday destination capable of offering pleasure could compare to a miracle personally crafted by a primarch?

Standing in one of the Wing of the Eagle's corridors and gazing outside, Karyl adjusted the sunglasses he had found on short notice while privately wondering whether Fulgrim had turned "meeting him" into a business opportunity at any point during the past ten thousand years.

By instinct, he believed the Phoenix had done exactly that, but had likely called it off before making much money.

Perhaps Fulgrim had realized it was no longer stimulating economic growth, but instead threatening to collapse Chemos's still-developing economy; or perhaps he had understood that it would bring a great many complications.

Karyl smiled faintly, the corner of his mouth lifting, and then a voice reached his ears.

"My lord?"

"What is it, Ra?"

"Nothing, my lord." The tribune nodded to him. "Just making a second confirmation."

Karyl glanced back at him, his expression carrying both amusement and helplessness. He shook his head, put on his wide-brimmed hat, and began striding forward.

It was already the second day. The time allotted for personal matters had run out, and it was time to handle business. As he walked, he observed the fortress around him—this, too, was part of his work.

Therefore, he had refused the convenient option of using the teleportation beacons stationed in Chemos's major cities to arrive directly in the Wing of the Eagle's hangar. Instead, he had taken a "skyward flight" himself and arrived under the strange stares of everyone aboard.

It was troublesome, and it would create further trouble, but Karyl firmly