Sulun Ro took in the lantern-lit town of Gasakai from his hilltop perch and was content. He had fled, screaming into the void of space after the fire of Horus’ treachery took away all he had ever hoped for. Terra was a ruinous place, and Deliverance would never feel like home again. These people had never known the Imperium and had certainly never met an Astartes. It was a peaceful place that had avoided the worst of Old Night. Cowardice had brought him here, but Ro felt no shame.
Let the Imperium and the traitors have each other; I am never going back.
If only he could convince himself that was true.
His reverie was interrupted by a woman’s voice, accented but understandable.
‘Lord Ro, I thought I would find you here! The celebration is about to begin, and I know it would mean the world to Little Kuri if you came too.’
Ro smiled, something that he was still getting used to doing.
‘Of course, Tavi, I’m sure the little bird will want me to help her fly.’
He walked back down the path with the young woman. He took it on good authority that she was a beauty among the villagers, though he had little experience with such things. The way she eyed him as they walked made one of his hearts twitch a bit.
I must be falling ill; perhaps I should see the village apothecary.
The festival was gorgeous, and the people smiled and laughed in a way they had not on Deliverance. There were paper animals, sweet pastries, and woodwind music. Sulun had to admit that he did not fully grasp what the festival was for, but he did his best to mingle. The former Astares knew that a comet was passing overhead tonight and that there was some significance to its presence. He nodded greetings to the people he knew and accepted refreshments. Tavi stepped away for a moment and came back with a young girl clinging to her skirt.
‘I think she’s ready to fly, Lord Ro,’ Tavi said with a giggle. ‘She’s been asking all day.’
‘Fly! Fly!’ Kuri’s voice was so soothing to Sulun’s ears.
‘As you command, little captain,’ Sulun grinned as he hefted her up and began to swirl the child through the air. ‘Fly like the mighty raven, little captain! Up higher and higher!’
Kuri screamed with joy as Sulun spiralled her down and gave her a firm but gentle embrace. The child hugged him tightly and then whispered conspiratorially, ‘Uncle Ro, when are you going to propose to Sister Tavi? I think she likes you!’
Sulun Ro, former captain of the Raven Guard 67th company, found himself at a loss for words. He glanced at Tavi and found that her face was shining red while his own hearts were tingling again.
‘I-’ he began, but his voice was cut off by a sudden commotion in the crowd.
‘Look!’ Someone called out. ‘The Star falls!’
A few hundred heads all craned up into the clear night sky to watch a brilliantly blue comet carve a dazzling path through the heavens. Sulun held Kuri aloft with one hand and, without noticing, pulled Tavi around him with another. The three watched with amazement as the sky sparkled in the comet’s passing.
Then, Sulun’s joy turned to dread as another light caught his attention. A second comet, this one fiery and orange, burned an almost profane trail through the night sky. The people around him exploded in cheer and claimed that a second comet must be a sign of great fortune for the people of Gasakai. Sulun Ro knew better. He had spent a century riding in drop pods just like that one.
Kuri and Tavi wept at the mouth of the cave as Sulun Ro donned his armour. He had stored it there in the hopes he would never have to take up arms again.
How naive, these people made me soft.
‘Go back to the village,’ he told them firmly. ‘Hide where you can. If I do not return in a day, then flee to the highlands. I will do what I can.’
‘You can’t leave us like this!’ Kuri wailed, ‘It isn’t fair.’
‘I know, little captain, I know. But I do this for you.’
He finished strapping on the last of his armour and lowered his helmet over his head. Sulun walked towards the mouth of the cave, bolter in hand, when Tavi stepped in his way. They stared at each other wordlessly until Tavi stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed the end of Sulun’s beak-like helmet. There was nothing else to say.
The three Imperial Fists who had landed were shocked by Sulun’s appearance and more so by his treason.
‘Have you gone mad, brother?’ The one who called himself Durig called out.
‘You heard me. I am done, I am never going back.’
‘Traitor!’
‘Perhaps I betrayed the Imperium, but I will not betray these people.’
‘These people could be part of the Imperium,’ Durig shouted. ‘They could be educated and enlightened by us while they produce food for the Imperium. Is that not a noble and fair trade, brother?’
‘You would paint a target on them. The traitors are still out there. I will not have these people burned in the fires of Imperial civil war.’
‘Then you leave us no choice, brother.’
Four chainswords roared to life at once. As the sun set over the hills, there was nothing but the whispering of the wind and the cawing of hungry ravens.
