"Angron! Curze! I'm back!"
Lorgar Aurelian reappeared in the grand, solemn main passageway of the Word Bearers' flagship, the Gloriana-class Battleship Law of Faith.
His robes brushed the polished deck, and his face bore its customary, inscrutable calm.
Seras, Chapter Master of the Third Chapter, followed close behind like a silent shadow, with Hercules bringing up the rear as before.
The lingering scent of incense and candles, and the cold feel of metal, offered Lorgar a reassuring familiarity born of order as he emerged from his tangled thoughts.
That familiarity, however, was soon broken by a hint of discord. He had not gone far before First Company Captain Rockefeller and Legion Lord Commander Evans hurried toward him.
The two battle-hardened Astartes commanders wore rather peculiar expressions.
A barely perceptible trace of embarrassment touched Rockefeller's normally resolute face, while Evans frowned slightly, seemingly weighing his words.
"Father, you've returned." Rockefeller saluted first, his voice as respectful as ever, though it faltered at the end.
"Welcome back, Primarch," Evans added. His gaze briefly met that of Seras behind Lorgar before returning to Lorgar's face, as though he found what he had to say difficult.
Lorgar stopped, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his two trusted subordinates.
"It seems things aboard the ship haven't been entirely normal in my absence?" His tone was mild, but the question demanded an answer.
"Uh..." Rockefeller rubbed his bristly cropped hair, the somewhat uncouth gesture betraying his unease. "How should I put this, Primarch? Here's what happened..."
Evans took over, speaking more cautiously. "It's Lord Angron and Lord Konrad Curze. They... seem to be in a foul mood."
"A foul mood?" Lorgar raised an eyebrow. "How long was I gone? I only went to handle a little family business on Colchis. What trouble have they stirred