"Captain Pollux, I heard of that splendid naval battle of yours in the Phall system. You are an admirable loyalist, so I suppose you hold the same doubts and suspicions toward me, do you not?" Dantioch began.
"I reserve judgment." Before the primarch, Pollux chose his words with care.
Yet even Lox could easily see the dissatisfaction and hatred on his face.
"There is no need to be restrained. Lord Roboute will not be angered with either of us over such a matter." The Warsmith smiled. The muscles and skin behind his mask twisted into a strange overlap, making it clear that he was smiling.
"Do not lie. Sons of Dorn never lie."
Pollux was almost angered into laughter by the Iron Warrior's words. Going along with him, he said, "Very well, I hate you. The Iron Warriors have betrayed the Emperor's great expectations. Your leader, Perturabo, chose to betray the Imperium."
"At the Battle of Phall, I boarded your Iron Blood. The warriors of the Imperial Fists fought their way to Perturabo himself."
The Warsmith picked up the thread. "I pity you. Had I been there, I would certainly have killed Perturabo as well. He was unworthy of the Emperor's regard, and he betrayed us too."
Pollux had expected the Warsmith to offer a few words in defense of his primarch, but Dantioch's unreserved condemnation left him somewhat at a loss.
He decided to set that aside and continue with the matter of Dantioch's management of Sotha.
The Imperial Fist said, "My lord, as you ordered, I improved and inspected Macragge's defensive systems. As you invited me to do, I spared no effort in examining every potential flaw. Now, I have found the most critical weakness."
Guilliman and Lox watched Dantioch and Pollux standing side by side as the