Those capable earned Khorne's favor; the incapable were spurned by Khorne and torn to pieces by Flesh Hounds. But now Khorne's power had waned, and his restraints on Tzeentch could be ignored. This gave the officials and nobles before Fulgrim a safe haven. During past daemonic invasions, how could this group—surely unnoticed by both the God-Emperor and Khorne—possibly have survived?
Once Fulgrim understood this, he pressed his lips tightly together. They had naively believed that, so long as they moved quickly enough, even fifty short years would be enough to unleash the productive capacity of many worlds. But now, it seemed the most worthwhile thing to do during those fifty years might be the Great Purge.
His temples throbbed as the words ordering Konrad Curze to skin and dismember them hovered on his lips. Footsteps sounded from the doorway. Vulkan entered with several children in his arms. These children were just as finely dressed, and good nourishment had made their features all the more striking. Compared to them, the offspring of the poor might as well have been a different species.
Vulkan looked at Fulgrim and let out a deep sigh. "A group of mothers entrusted their children to me. I could not refuse..."
These nobles had moved quickly indeed... If they had such ability, why had they not used it somewhere more useful?
Seeing Vulkan like this, Fulgrim recalled how, during the Great Crusade, Vulkan had once bent down to shield a child from artillery fire. For a moment, he began to consider whether the children should bear any of the blame.
"That is why you are fools." Konrad Curze sneered twice, leaping out from beside Fulgrim and swiftly killing every trembling official and noble. He did not even spare the souls within them, drawing them directly into his