Asdrubael Vect

The battle between the two Kabals outside finally drew to a close.

Mukhadas staggered to his feet and looked at Dalk nearby, his face twisted in pain from the blade wound in his abdomen.

"You fool. The Holy Relic of Isha should belong to me, not you."

Dalk's face contorted, but the neurotoxins coursing through his body left him unable even to stand.

"You two fools made such a commotion in Commorragh for this?"

The supreme ruler's voice rang down from above, accompanied by a great host of black, winged figures descending from the sky and an ornately decorated airship.

Commorragh's sole supreme ruler, the Archon of the Kabal of the Black Heart, the one every Kabal feared.

Asdrubael Vect, lord of Commorragh.

Asdrubael Vect.

He had been born in an ancient age, long before even the fall of the Aeldari Empire.

Once a slave at the very bottom of Commorragh's society, Vect had survived the Fall of the Eldar through sheer luck, then climbed step by step to Commorragh's supreme throne through his mastery of schemes and deceit.

And now, he was displeased that these two fools had caused such a commotion in Commorragh and disturbed his pleasant dreams.

Vect sat upon his throne, looking down at the two fools.

Mukhadas laughed with delight.

"You fool, you arrogant tyrant. Your age ended long ago."

"Now I, Sathoc Mukhadas, shall become the only voice in Commorragh."

"Now, kneel!"

Vect, resting his head on one hand, raised an eyebrow slightly. He roused himself a little and looked at the fellow.

Hmm... how long had it been? There were so few left who dared to challenge me so openly.

"Oh? Mukhadas, it seems you've found something interesting."

Mukhadas triumphantly raised the crystal sphere high.

"I am Isha's chosen. Vect, your age must end."

In the blink of an eye, the Holy Relic of Isha blazed with dazzling light. The Drukhari present felt as though the Love Goddess were caressing them, and many fell to their knees.

Then the light went out.

Everyone froze.

Mukhadas stared in astonishment at the Holy Relic in his hand. What had seemed to carry Isha's breath now looked like nothing more than a...

Glass ball.

He raised the Holy Relic high once more.

"Isha, please look upon your people!"

The entire gathering fell silent.

Then Vect's cool voice drifted down from above.

"Mukhadas, why are you trying to fool me with a human toy?"

Only then did the Kabal Archon suddenly notice the human Low Gothic engraved on the base of the Holy Relic.

It read:

Blessed by the Emperor. Made on Agripinaa Industrial World.

In an instant, the looks the other Drukhari gave him changed. Their reverence, surprise, and awe turned into...

The looks one gave an idiot.

An utter moron who could be duped by cheap human manufactured goods.

Mukhadas's complexion changed rapidly, like a chameleon's.

Then he dropped to both knees with a fawning smile.

"Lord Vect, I hope you enjoyed Mukhadas's little performance, and that it brought a few smiles to your day."

Vect did indeed smile.

He chuckled softly and clapped his hands, and the Drukhari beside him began applauding one after another.

The kneeling Mukhadas smiled obsequiously as well.

"A fine performance, Mukhadas. I've always admired that sense of humor embedded deep in your soul."

"Thank you, Lord Vect."

Still smiling, Vect uttered words that plunged Mukhadas into icy despair.

"Send him to the Haemonculi. My sitting room needs a new patch of wallpaper."

"No!"

Mukhadas wailed, tears streaming down his face.

"Lord Vect, heaven and earth can bear witness to my loyalty to you!"

"My lord, these are all misunderstandings that I can explain!"

The Incubi used their weapons to cast high-strength rope nets over Mukhadas. Potent toxins immediately robbed him of the ability to speak.

Then a Kabal Archon was dragged away like a dead dog, and silence fell over the gathering again.

Vect yawned in boredom.

Though the fellow was foolish and had disturbed his pleasant dreams, he had at least provided some memorable amusement for an otherwise dull day.

Who should I scheme against next?

Vect's gaze suddenly fell on the Thunderhawk that had crashed into the plaza, the Imperium's gleaming Aquila still emblazoned upon it.

It seems a few little rats have slipped in.

Meanwhile, even louder cheers erupted inside the Arena.

When the witch before them cleanly severed the Six-legged Xenos's head, using deft bladework to delay its death and shower the stands with blood and pain, the Drukhari felt the agonized screams of the Gladiator's dying soul and were swept into ecstasy.

Then, close behind, a mass of slaves smashed through the gates and surged out.

The Wych on the arena floor was puzzled. He did not remember this being part of the program, yet the spectators burst into even louder cheers.

Only when the slaves hooked Drukhari from the front rows down into the arena and crushed them to death did everyone realize what was happening.

This was no special performance. The Arena had simply erupted into chaos!

Some boarded airships and fled, but even more Drukhari drew their weapons without hesitation and joined the melee.

Amid the chaos, a small, inconspicuous squad slipped away.

"So... where do we find Yvraine now? There are Aeldari everywhere," Horus said.

Bona was at something of a loss as well.

He only knew that Yvraine was a Gladiator. Beyond that, he had no further information.

He reckoned Slaanesh knew little more than he did.

But there were so many fighting pits here. Who knew where she was?

"Take Bals back to the Righteous Protector first. I'll be back soon."

"No, Your Highness. That is far too dangerous," Captain Dakan objected.

"We have a mission to complete. With Bals along, we're too conspicuous," Bona countered.

He looked at Horus again. He knew what the fellow was thinking.

"Take them back. I won't feel at ease unless you're with them."

Horus, who had just been about to say something, shut his mouth and shrugged.

Gagags, on the other hand, was very excited.

"Whoa! You humies brought a ship all the way in here?!"

"Gagags Ironclaw can show you the strongest, most WAAAGH technology!"

Bona felt rather helpless.

Honestly, if not for the mystery of why Bals was still alive, Bona would have wanted nothing to do with this Ork.

"Then please look after our Waaagh boy. I need him alive."

"It's WAAAGHHHH!"