Under His Shadow

160. Under His Shadow

What was wrong?

Horus asked with concern, his brows tightly furrowed as he looked at Sanguinius, who had suddenly frozen across from him.

The Archangel did not answer him.

Beside the small chairs where the two primarchs sat, a waterfall built from scattered rocks burbled downward. Green leaves swayed amid the splashing water, and birdsong trilled softly.

Sanguinius blinked blankly, and the warm smile at the corner of his lips gradually faded.

+I might... be leaving soon.+

Sanguinius said softly. He seemed to accept this fact quite easily, without any dissatisfaction or indignation.

He merely looked away from Horus and casually raised his cup, swallowing the thick, bitter liquid inside.

No,

Horus froze for a moment and leaned forward.

You will be fine—I promised our father I would bring you back. It was his order. He still believes in you, Sanguinius.

+Is that so?+

Sanguinius said flatly, lowering his eyes as his long golden lashes trembled.

+I, on the other hand, do not believe in him.+

The Archangel then smiled, revealing the fangs at the corner of his mouth. He stretched, adjusted his sleeves, reclined against his chair, and swirled the wine in his cup.

+He is not trustworthy,+

Sanguinius said frankly.

+I have never seen anyone so despicable and yet so forthright. The last trace of respect I had for him came from the fact that he is humanity's lord, our father. But now... I do not wish to respect him.+

Sanguinius fell silent for a moment. Horus across from him was clearly utterly stunned. Sanguinius sighed inwardly and shook his head. On this matter alone, Horus would never truly understand him.

+But...+

Sanguinius withdrew his smile, amusement seeming to linger in his eyes.

+I can understand him as well.+

He smiled bitterly again, as