‘You mean you distrust us,’ Nekras said. She leaned forwards, as if daring the searing light to burn her. Guilliman had not identified himself. Even so, the size of his silhouette would leave the Navigators in no doubt as to who stood before them. They showed none of the awed terror that shook most mortals in the presence of a primarch. They were too much in ecstatic thrall to beings much more powerful.

‘No,’ Guilliman said. ‘I don’t trust you.’

‘We will take you to Anesidorax,’ said Nekras. ‘I swear it.’ Yathinius’ braying turned into a moaning howl of worship. ‘We will get you there in a single jump,’ Nekras continued. She smiled, caught up in a beatitude so foul, Guilliman saw the guards stir in disgust. ‘I see Thrinos already.’

‘I said nothing about Thrinos.’

‘No matter. That is where the gods decree our path must lead. You are going to Thrinos.’ She stretched the name of the world, as if the sentence were incomplete, as if she were going to add whether you wish to or not.

Guilliman exchanged a look with Prayto and left the cell again. Once on the other side of the door, he said, ‘Their stated eagerness coincides precisely with what the Lion asks of us.’

‘Worrisome,’ said Prayto. ‘I stand by the practical, though. Her words could easily be attempts at misdirection.’

‘I agree with the practical. But I don’t think she’s lying… Theoretical. A single leap through the warp will be far less costly than many.’

‘Theoretical. There will be unanticipated costs that will be far worse.’

Guilliman nodded, musing over what he had seen in the Navigators. So much fanaticism, and that was a form of honesty. ‘They were telling the truth,’ he said. ‘Their reasons are what they are, but they will find the way to Thrinos.’

‘We’re going to use them?’ Prayto sounded horrified.

‘We need to reach Thrinos. The Word Bearers wish to take us there. When your goals align with the enemy’s, let the enemy labour for you.’

The interrogation chamber doors opened for him one more time. ‘Prepare them for their task,’ he ordered the guards. He looked at the Navigators. ‘I will put your vows to the test,’ he said.

‘The gods will see you to your destiny,’ Nekras called out to him as he turned to go. ‘You walk your assigned path.’

The doors slammed shut, cutting off the hall from any sound in the chamber. Guilliman strode down the corridor with Prayto. The walls rang with the echoes of their boots, and not with Nekras’ last taunt. Her words were not following Guilliman. They were not becoming a refrain in his head.

For almost fifty yards, Guilliman managed to hold fast to this lie.

‘We’ve confirmed the foe is a ship,’ said Carminus.