Read Online Legion by Dan Abnett - Free Book Online Page A

who would have ever made a viable addition to the Cabal’s inner circle. ‘He sees the long picture of it,’ Gahet had said. ‘He understands the vast, slow cycle, and is content to allow it to run its course. He appreciates the epochal dynamic of true and thorough change.’
    ‘Have you ever met him?’ Grammaticus had asked.
    ‘No, John, I haven’t.’
    ‘Then you have no idea what a bloodthirsty bastard he really is.’
    Gahet had smiled. ‘That’s as may be, but he understands that the Primordial Annihilator is the true enemy of everything, so perhaps we need a bloodthirsty bastard on our side?’
    ‘Konig?’
    ‘I’m sorry, uxor,’ Grammaticus said.
    Rukhsana smiled down the table at him. ‘You were quite lost in thought.’
    ‘I was. I apologise. Where was I? Uhm, it is my belief that the extraplanetary harbour was built by some xenos kind several hundred years before this world was colonised by the original human out-ships. As far as the Nurthene are concerned, it has always been here.’
    ‘So it is an intriguing aside, and not pertinent to our combat evaluation?’
    ‘Indeed not. But for all their parochial mindset, the Nurthene have an appreciation of extraplanetary matters. They have lived in fear of first contact, of discovery by beings from other worlds. In their doctrine, our arrival proves to them the universal presence of evil. There is no dealing with them.’
    ‘None at all?’
    ‘No, uxor.’
    He wanted to tell her that they were dealing with a human culture that had succumbed to the corruption of the Primordial Annihilator, but he knew she simply wouldn’t understand what Chaos meant. Very few humans did. Grammaticus did, because he had shared the Cabal’s Acuity. He had a feeling, deep in his gut, that the Emperor knew all too well.
    So why hadn’t he told any of his children? Why hadn’t he forewarned them about the deathless abomination they would encounter if they ventured out into the stars?
    The briefing turned to matters of fortification and placement. Grammaticus had brought the plans he had carefully hand drawn.
    Discussion began on the best practice of attack on Mon Lo. Tuvi surprised him by suggesting the most perceptive tactical solutions. She would be a full uxor soon, with a pack of aides of her own. Rukhsana let her lead the plotting, nodding contentedly at her stepdaughter’s excellence.
    As the talk went to and fro, Grammaticus decided, wilfully, it was time to switch places. He put himself behind Rukhsana’s eyes – she was far too preoccupied to resist or even notice – and looked back down the table at himself.
    He saw what she saw: a well-made man of mature years, strong in the back and arms, with a very handsome face and grey hair. The man wore a scarlet dress coat with ornate double hogging down the front, and he was perspiring very slightly.
    Not bad, thought John Grammaticus, not bad at all. It wasn’t the body he’d been born with, but at least it pretended to be from the Caucasus, which was where the first John Grammaticus had been born, towards the end of the Twenty-Ninth Millennium.
    ‘If we are going to commit to an attack,’ Tuvi was saying, ‘we need to know more about the enemy disposition in these lines, and along the north wall here, and here.’
    ‘I wasn’t able to collect data,’ Grammaticus replied, ‘but you’re right. I’ll be going in again tomorrow. In three days, I should have the information you need.’
    ‘Good,’ said Rukhsana. She paused. ‘You’re going inside again?’
    ‘I think it’s necessary, uxor.’
    ‘Then may the Emperor protect you,’ Tuvi said, and several of the aides echoed her.
    Oh, I’m quite sure he won’t, Grammaticus thought.
    ‘That’s all for today,’ Rukhsana told her aides. ‘Be off with you. I’ll finish the brief myself.’
    Grammaticus sensed annoyance and disappointment as the aides filed out.
    The door closed behind them. There was a long silence.
    ‘Where were we?’ Uxor