"Oh, right, kid. Where are you from? You don't look like you're from Colchis."
Johnny leaned against the sandbags and lit another cigarette, his gaze settling on the young soldier who had just claimed an officer's head.
Firelight danced between them, casting their faces into flickering light and shadow.
The young soldier paused, then scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "Ah, yes. My father is from Cthonia, and my mother is from Colchis. My father serves under the Warmaster—he's an officer in the Cthonian Headhunters."
"Well, damn!"
Johnny's eyes suddenly lit up. He threw an arm around the young man's neck, tightened his grip, and tucked the soldier's head under his armpit, vigorously ruffling his hair.
"That's fucking impressive, kid! Your dad serves under the Warmaster! Warmaster Horus himself! That alone gives you bragging rights for life!"
"Ah! He's only—only an officer in the Cthonian Headhunters." The young soldier was struggling to breathe in Johnny's headlock. He wriggled and laughed as he protested, but unmistakable pride shone on his face.
"My father's unit is an elite reconnaissance force under the Warmaster. They specialize in infiltration behind enemy lines and gathering intelligence. He's been serving with them for over twenty years."
"That's still fucking impressive!" Johnny released his neck and clapped him on the shoulder hard enough to make him sway.
"The Headhunters. I've heard of them—they're the tip of the Warmaster's spear. If your dad's an officer in that outfit, he must be one tough bastard."
He paused, then asked, "But why did you join the Colchis Auxiliary Army? With your dad's connections, getting you into the Warmaster's forces shouldn't have been hard, right?"
The young soldier's smile faded a little. His gaze settled on the dancing campfire, and he fell silent for a moment.
Then he