‘Because in all honesty, my son, I anticipated this, and realised it would be easier to handle your anger in this situation, rather than having you arrive with the slave. I calculated that you might attempt to destroy it, there and then, at terrible risk to yourself, in order to save me from making a mistake.’

‘You are making a mistake.’

‘That is not impossible. If it calms you, the slave’s destruction is only deferred. It will die.’

‘But not before you use it. It is a thing of the enemy, my lord. Inquisitor Tjejren went too far. He is a dangerous radical who has betrayed his office.’

‘His actions enrage you, and yet he eluded you,’ said Guilliman. Felix felt the sting of criticism.

‘I regret to say he is still at large,’ he admitted, ashamed.

‘No matter,’ said Guilliman. ‘Tjejren was a servant of the Emperor once. He still believes he is. He may yet serve.’

‘I fear he is beyond hope. Everything touched by the warp is corrupted.’

Guilliman looked down at him. ‘Then we are all corrupt, for in the existence of our souls, a fragment of the warp is lodged in us all.’ He shifted. The Armour of Fate growled.

‘Have you seen the slave?’ said Felix harshly. ‘Have you seen what Tjejren did to this interrogator yet?’

‘No, I admit I have not,’ said the primarch. ‘I have many matters to occupy me.’

‘Then you may speak differently once you have, my lord. Remo and his parasite will bring you nothing but evil,’ said Felix.

‘You underestimate the strength of will of the Emperor’s servants. I have been told Interrogator Remo clings on. He is in thrall to the thing occupying him, but he desires to perform one last service, and I trust that will see the creature remain truthful while it is interrogated. It is an opportunity, Felix. Understand that I do not undertake this course of action lightly. Only a thing of the warp can tell us what occurs on Iax. It teeters on the brink. One push may see it turned to a daemon world, or sucked into the empyr­ean entirely, and it may take many other worlds with it, no matter how much damage we have done to Mortarion’s plans. This is an opportunity that I cannot pass up. It will save lives by the million. It may save my life. I cannot win this war if I am dead.’

Felix was silent a moment.

‘You swear you will kill him afterwards?’ said Felix. ‘My lord, forgive my presumption, but if you witnessed what it did to the kill-team sent to apprehend Tjejren…’ Felix let his sentence trail off. He had no heart to put his memories into words.