The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Having passed through the bizarre statue passage, Bahram and his companions truly entered the interior of the Death Temple. Jacob had heard about the Penitents' traditions of death worship and skull worship, but he was still shocked upon entering. Every passage and room they walked through was filled with a large number of skulls, not just human ones, but also alien ones, or rather, more twisted ones. None of these skulls were artificially carved or shaped; they were all real bones, faded pale with the passage of time and covered in dust. Occasionally, a chanting dirge or a mournful memorial hymn would break the silence.

Finally, they arrived at the deepest part of the Death Temple, the Bone Corridor.

This corridor was even more of an eye-opener for Jacob. Surrounding the flagstone floor paved with hundreds of tombstones, the alcoves between the corridor's stone pillars were lined with skeletal warriors wielding swords. The entire arched ceiling was composed of connected skulls, their empty eye sockets seeming to stare down at those below. In front of each skull-filled alcove stood a warrior of the Penitents.

The Chapter Master of the Penitents Chapter, Mazhar, sat at the end of the dark Bone Corridor. His throne was constructed from the remains of the Chapter's heroes. The Chapter Master, clad in master-crafted Terminator armor, seemed even older. His dark skin was pitted and wrinkled like the surface of an asteroid. Strands of withered white hair were braided into locks, and a white beard hung from his chin to his waist. A gaunt, custom-made servo-skull with wings perched in the shadow of Mazhar's throne, its brass wires glinting at its joints. Its head occasionally turned, emitting a unique call, and its claws tapped the floor, making a pattering sound.

Warriors in dark Terminator armor stood on either side of Mazhar, their faces hidden behind death masks carved into flayed, screaming skulls. Each held a long, wide-bladed scythe. Chapter Priest Astado stood on the first step below the throne platform, mirrored by Chapter Banner Bearer Arthanas.

Bahram strode to a position twenty meters from the throne platform and stopped, bowing his head slightly.

"Brother-Captain Bahram of the Astral Knights Chapter, Tenth Company, greets Chapter Master Mazhar and extends greetings from Naysan IV. Chapter Master Sojyan personally instructed me to convey his respects to you."

Mazhar nodded slightly and said slowly:

"When you return to your Chapter, please convey my respects to Chapter Master Sojyan as well. The honor he received on Terra fills us all with pride."

"Of course."

Just as Bahram was considering how to begin, Mazhar brought up the matter himself.

"Brother-Captain Bahram, you have come regarding the Fire Claws Chapter, haven't you?"

Bahram nodded slightly.

"Yes, I recently had a face-to-face discussion with Chapter Master Artekkus, and he stated—"

But Mazhar raised his hand, interrupting Bahram.

"My opposition to their joining the League of the Afflicted is not based on past reasons. After all, if we were to investigate, the Flesh Tearers and the Lamenters have committed more serious offenses. My opposition is based on concerns for the future."

"The future?"

Mazhar raised his chin. At this moment, the Penitents' Chief Priest Astado spoke. The armor beneath the priest's robes was a unique blood red with gold trim. When he spoke, his voice was deep but penetrating.

"The Fire Claws will become traitors in the future. They will turn to that terrible Eye."

Bahram's expression faltered, and then he frowned.

"Why?"

"It is unknown, but perhaps their old wounds will reopen, and they will continue to pursue those chaotic, evil artifacts."

"How do you know all this?"

"I sought guidance from our revered ancestors, whose wisdom comes from beyond the veil of death, unfettered by the concerns of the living."

Bahram blinked, then realized that this was essentially two words—

Divination.

Immediately, he objected:

"No disrespect intended, Priest Astado, but if the Imperium uses the possible results of divination to determine who is guilty, it will be a disaster. We cannot condemn based on possibilities."

"The future does not mean the Fire Claws are guilty."

Mazhar answered in place of the priest.

"If we truly believed they were guilty, they would have been destroyed long ago. But at least we can avoid some trouble."

"Lord Mazhar, the initial purpose of the League of the Afflicted was to help each other. Since we know they may stray again, we cannot stand idly by, not only because they are Astartes, but more importantly, we cannot allow a new enemy of the Imperium to be born. Rather than having the Imperium pay a huge price to destroy them in the future, it is better to place them under the League's guardianship before anything happens. This is more cost-effective in the long run."

Mazhar fell silent, but his eyes stared at Bahram like torches.

After a long time, a smile appeared on his face.

"You are very much like your Chapter Master Sojyan, Brother-Captain Bahram. Hmm, even a Tenth Company Captain has such insights. The Astral Knights are truly full of talent, it is enviable."

Then he changed the subject.

"But you say to place them under the League's guardianship, how can a League without mandatory powers supervise a Chapter?"

"All their actions need to be reported to Victory's Scar in advance, and their Librarians need to go to Victory's Scar for review every once in a while. This is the condition for them to become observers of the League of the Afflicted."

Mazhar stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and exchanged glances with the turned-around Chief Priest, confirming each other's thoughts, and then nodded.

"If so, it seems feasible, but speaking of Librarians, from what you mean, Brother-Captain Bahram, do you think there may be problems with the Fire Claws' Librarians?"

"Their numbers are not normal. I'm not sure if it's because of their homeworld, but I found that some of their Librarians wear Terminator armor, which is obviously higher in status than Librarians in ordinary Chapters."

Mazhar thoughtfully remained silent for a while, then agreed:

"Indeed, if they come into contact with Chaos artifacts, the Librarians will be the first to react. So, as long as we see if there is a problem with them, we will know if there is a problem with the Fire Claws. Good, right to the point, Brother-Captain Bahram, your thinking is very sharp."

"Chapter Master Mazhar, you flatter me."

"Will they accept this condition?"

"I'm not sure, but if they don't accept it, let them go. We will have done our best, and no one else can say anything."

Mazhar clapped his hands gently.

"Okay, then it's decided."

"Also, Chapter Master Mazhar, regarding the Fire Claws Librarian review work, I would like to trouble the Librarians here from the Penitents, because there are no Librarians on Victory's Scar right now."