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Black Iron

Graeme Lyon

‘What brings you before me, son of Olympia?’

Abaddon the Despoiler loomed over Kallus. The Iron Warriors warsmith knelt on the cold stone floor, his eyes downturned. He was unarmoured, clad only in a robe of black. No warrior of another Legion was allowed to bring armour or weapons into the Warmaster’s presence, he had been told, though he suspected that this treatment was simply to show him his place.

He was used to that. Anyone who had served Perturabo these past millennia was familiar with contempt. That was why Kallus was here before the lord of the Black Legion.

‘My lord, I–’

‘Look at me when you address me, warsmith,’ Abaddon boomed. ‘And stand. There is no need to kneel before me. We are brothers, are we not?’

Kallus hesitated. The question was double-edged. He opted to face the potential danger head-on.

‘My lord, we may be brothers in spirit, but in deed you are greater by far than I. You are Warmaster, the one who will bring ruin to the Imperium of Lies. I am but a humble custodian of the Lord of Iron’s domain.’

His breathing quickened as he continued to stare at the ground, expecting at any moment to be impaled upon the ancient blades of the Talon of Horus. He did not expect Abaddon to laugh.

‘Very good, Kallus. Like an Iron Warrior, you thrust a blade straight to the heart of the matter. Practical. I like it. Please rise.’

Kallus looked up. Abaddon met his eyes for several long moments. He nodded, as if confirming something, and strode over to the other side of the chamber. He gazed out of the immense windows set into one wall. The Iron Warrior rose and hesitated.

‘Come, warsmith. Look, and tell me what you see.’

Kallus stepped over to the window and looked out upon a world of metal.

‘I see… a forge world, Lord Abaddon,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ replied the Warmaster. ‘A forge world in the heart of the Eye of Terror. A forge world of the Dark Mechanicum. A forge world where, by the very nature of the space it inhabits, all that is built is a blend of metal and daemon.’ Abaddon turned away and paced the chamber. ‘Nothing can be built here that is not corrupted by the touch of Chaos, Kallus. You know this, I think. You have spent a long time on Medrengard, yes?’

Kallus nodded. ‘Yes, my lord.’

‘And your primarch, in his wisdom, has you acting as a watchdog over a lone fortress within his domain. A castellan.’ Abaddon turned and his piercing gaze penetrated Kallus, seeing right into and through him. ‘It is a fitting role for you. But you believe you are capable of much more, do you not? And that is why you are here.’

‘Yes, Lord Abaddon,’ the warsmith replied, holding the Warmaster’s gaze, though he longed to look away.

Abaddon smiled. ‘Yes, I agree, Kallus. You can – will – achieve more. Much more.’ He turned away again. ‘Do you wish to serve me, son of Olympia? Do you wish to join my Black Legion?’

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Published in 2015 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd, Willow Road, Nottingham, NG7 2WS, UK.

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ISBN: 978-1-78572-023-9

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