The talks were over.
Huron watched the others leave until they disappeared, his brow furrowed the entire time.
"Hmph."
Amanius snorted.
"They brought an entire main battle fleet, yet only those three came to see us."
"This was less a meeting than a threat."
"No, my brother," Huron said.
He slumped into his chair, looking dejected, then leaned his head back and closed his eyes in thought before opening them again.
"That was already a very friendly warning."
"Given the movements of the Imperium and the Thunderhawk, anyone who isn't a fool knows what will happen next."
"I don't think Abaddon can hold them off."
Amanius fell silent as well.
Once Abaddon's Black Legion was finished, the Red Corsairs would instantly become the most conspicuous target in the Milky Way.
Perhaps Commorragh deserved more attention, but the Red Corsairs would be the easiest to wipe out.
"Then what do we do? I don't want to hand my fate over to those deranged Inquisitors," Amanius said.
Huron watched the candle flame on the table sway in an unseen wind, flickering as though it were barely burning at all.
"Let's go. To the Outer Ring."
"Disband the Red Corsairs."
Amanius looked at Huron in surprise. He wanted to say something, but fell silent instead.
With a heavy rumble, the door, made of some strange material, slowly opened.
A thick, nauseating stench of blood and rot washed over them, and a weak beam of light shone straight into the dark corridor.
Strange things hung from the ceiling, swaying in the disturbance of the incoming air.
Valdor directed his light toward them and saw what was hanging there.
They were headless, disemboweled corpses, both Aeldari of the Harlequin Troupe and mortal sailors belonging to the Red Corsairs.
"This is the first time I've