Read Online The Flight of the Eisenstein by James Swallow - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: James Swallow
Ads: Link
Guard way. Still, Garro chose to invoke an aged right, to save this wretch from the pit of his own inadequacy. He rescued him.' Grulgor snorted. 'How noble.'
Kaleb found a spark of defiance. 'It is my privilege to serve,' he said.
'Is it?' growled the Astartes. "You dare to parade your own deficiencies around us, the chosen men of
Mortarion? You are an insult. You ape us, hang upon the tails of our cloaks while we fight for the future of our species, polishing guns and pretending you are worthy to be in our company?' He pressed Kaleb's cart towards the wall. You skulk in the shadows. You are Garro's petty spy. You are nothing]' Grulgor's annoyance flared in his eyes. 'If I were captain of the First, the pointless ritual that granted your existence would be ended in a second.'
'So, then,' said another voice, 'is the commander of the Second dissatisfied with his honoured role?'
'Apothecary Voyen.' Grulgor greeted the new arrival with a wary nod. 'Sadly there are many things that I find myself dissatisfied with.' He stepped away from the trembling housecarl.
'Life is always a challenge in that regard,' Voyen said with forced lightness, throwing Kaleb a sideways look.
'Indeed,' said the commander. 'Is there something you wanted, brother?'
'Only an explanation as to why you saw fit to waylay my captain's equerry during the course of his duties. The battle-captain will be returning shortly and he will wish to know why his orders have not been carried out.'
Kaleb clearly saw a nerve twitch in Grulgor's jaw in reaction to the temerity of Voyen's reply, and for a moment he expected the senior Astartes to bark out an angry retort to the junior Apothecary, but then the instant was gone as some moment of understanding he was not a party to passed between them.
With exaggerated care, Grulgor stepped out of Kaleb's path. The helot may go about his business,' he said, and with that, the commander dismissed them both and strode away with Mokyr at his side.
Kaleb watched them go and once again saw the glitter of the strange brass token as the Astartes tucked the coin-like object into an ammunition pouch on his belt.
He sucked in a shaky breath and bowed to Voyen. Thank you, lord. I must confess, I do not understand why the commander detests me so.'
Voyen walked with him as the housecarl continued on his way. 'Ignatius Gralgor hates everything with equal measure, Kaleb. You shouldn't take it personally.'
'And yet, the things he says... sometimes those thoughts are mine as well.'
'Really? Answer me this, then. Do you think that Captain Garro, the leader of the Seventh Great Company, considers you an insult? Would a man of honour like him even contemplate such a thing?'
Kaleb shook his head.
Voyen placed his huge hand on the housecarl's shoulder. 'You will never be one of us, that is true, but you still serve the Legion despite that.'
'But Grulgor was right,' Kaleb mumbled. At times, I am a spy. I go about the ship, invisible in plain sight, and I see and hear. I keep my lord captain conversant with the mood of the Legion.'
The Apothecary's expression remained neutral. A good commander should always be well informed. This is not plotting and scheming of which we speak. It is merely the report of talk and temper. You should feel no conflict in this.'
They arrived at the arsenal dais where the armament-servitors were waiting, and the housecarl presented them with the captain's bolter. Kaleb felt a churn of tension coming loose inside him, the need to speak pressing on his lips. Voyen seemed to sense it too, and guided him to an isolated corner near a viewport.
'It is more than that. I have seen things' Kaleb's words were hushed and secretive. 'Sometimes in quarters of the ships, where the crewmen do not often venture. Hooded gatherings, lord. Clandestine meetings of what can only be your battle-brothers'
Voyen was very still. You speak of the lodges, yes?'
Kaleb was taken aback to hear the Apothecary talk openly to him of
Kaleb found a spark of defiance. 'It is my privilege to serve,' he said.
'Is it?' growled the Astartes. "You dare to parade your own deficiencies around us, the chosen men of
Mortarion? You are an insult. You ape us, hang upon the tails of our cloaks while we fight for the future of our species, polishing guns and pretending you are worthy to be in our company?' He pressed Kaleb's cart towards the wall. You skulk in the shadows. You are Garro's petty spy. You are nothing]' Grulgor's annoyance flared in his eyes. 'If I were captain of the First, the pointless ritual that granted your existence would be ended in a second.'
'So, then,' said another voice, 'is the commander of the Second dissatisfied with his honoured role?'
'Apothecary Voyen.' Grulgor greeted the new arrival with a wary nod. 'Sadly there are many things that I find myself dissatisfied with.' He stepped away from the trembling housecarl.
'Life is always a challenge in that regard,' Voyen said with forced lightness, throwing Kaleb a sideways look.
'Indeed,' said the commander. 'Is there something you wanted, brother?'
'Only an explanation as to why you saw fit to waylay my captain's equerry during the course of his duties. The battle-captain will be returning shortly and he will wish to know why his orders have not been carried out.'
Kaleb clearly saw a nerve twitch in Grulgor's jaw in reaction to the temerity of Voyen's reply, and for a moment he expected the senior Astartes to bark out an angry retort to the junior Apothecary, but then the instant was gone as some moment of understanding he was not a party to passed between them.
With exaggerated care, Grulgor stepped out of Kaleb's path. The helot may go about his business,' he said, and with that, the commander dismissed them both and strode away with Mokyr at his side.
Kaleb watched them go and once again saw the glitter of the strange brass token as the Astartes tucked the coin-like object into an ammunition pouch on his belt.
He sucked in a shaky breath and bowed to Voyen. Thank you, lord. I must confess, I do not understand why the commander detests me so.'
Voyen walked with him as the housecarl continued on his way. 'Ignatius Gralgor hates everything with equal measure, Kaleb. You shouldn't take it personally.'
'And yet, the things he says... sometimes those thoughts are mine as well.'
'Really? Answer me this, then. Do you think that Captain Garro, the leader of the Seventh Great Company, considers you an insult? Would a man of honour like him even contemplate such a thing?'
Kaleb shook his head.
Voyen placed his huge hand on the housecarl's shoulder. 'You will never be one of us, that is true, but you still serve the Legion despite that.'
'But Grulgor was right,' Kaleb mumbled. At times, I am a spy. I go about the ship, invisible in plain sight, and I see and hear. I keep my lord captain conversant with the mood of the Legion.'
The Apothecary's expression remained neutral. A good commander should always be well informed. This is not plotting and scheming of which we speak. It is merely the report of talk and temper. You should feel no conflict in this.'
They arrived at the arsenal dais where the armament-servitors were waiting, and the housecarl presented them with the captain's bolter. Kaleb felt a churn of tension coming loose inside him, the need to speak pressing on his lips. Voyen seemed to sense it too, and guided him to an isolated corner near a viewport.
'It is more than that. I have seen things' Kaleb's words were hushed and secretive. 'Sometimes in quarters of the ships, where the crewmen do not often venture. Hooded gatherings, lord. Clandestine meetings of what can only be your battle-brothers'
Voyen was very still. You speak of the lodges, yes?'
Kaleb was taken aback to hear the Apothecary talk openly to him of
Similar Books
