Kingsblade (Warhammer 40,000) by Andy Clark
Author:Andy Clark [Clark, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-11-21T16:57:45+00:00
Lukâs heart lurched at the sight of Alicia. Gerraintâs consort had borne Luk into this world, and though the Code forbade him from calling a consort from a disgraced house his mother, she was precisely that. Now, in his apparent madness, it seemed that his father was prepared to throw Aliciaâs life away as casually as his sonâs.
âWhat on earth is this?â said Markos in a tone of disgust. âThese traitors must really be getting desperate.â
Alicia looked terrified. She was shouting something as she clung perilously to the Knightâs finger, but Luk couldnât make out her words.
âWe have to, Da,â he urged. âI canât lose them both on this damn world.â
âKnights,â said Danial. âShroud your weapons and hold fire. Advance quarter pace, draw up fifty yards distance. Gustev, no bravado from your men please, sire. Markos, hold ten Knights back at the breach and watch for enemy stragglers.â
âBe careful, lad,â warned Markos. âDonât let those traitors get the drop on us just because theyâve a hostage in hand.â
âWe will not risk the death of an innocent woman, sire,â replied Danial, and despite the panic that gripped him, Luk heard a note of steel in his friendâs voice that hadnât been there before.
Luk twitched his haptic gauntlets and blink-clicked a sequence of runes in his retinal display. Sword of Heroes purred around him as it gradually bled power from its weapon systems, drawing it back into reserve capacitors somewhere in its mechanical heart.
Youâre Freeblade now, lad came a bitter whisper from his throne, the voice of his old great uncle Osraek. Youâve no reason to obey the orders of the dracon whelp. Other voices spilled over and around Osraekâs, some urging caution, others action. Luk gritted his teeth and shut them all out.
âI wonât do anything to endanger her,â he muttered to himself, and to his ghosts. âBut the moment those bastards release herâ¦â Energy bloomed through his thermal cannon again for a moment, a sympathetic response to his anger, and Luk hurriedly bled it away. His heart thumped sickeningly in his chest as he walked his Knight forward and brought it to a stop on Danialâs left. Sire Sylvest drew up to Lukâs right, and one by one the other Knights took their places in the line. Soon, a long, curved battle-line of loyalist Knights stood facing the three Chimaeros steeds across the rain-lashed compound. Pennants snapped in the wind. Lightning flickered fitfully overhead.
âKnights of House Chimaeros,â began Danial through his vox-amplifiers. âI declare you traitors to the Emperor of Mankind, and to Adrastapol. Surrender now. Do not tarnish your honour further by harming a defenceless woman.â
Static hissed across the vox. Luk tried to control his pounding heart.
âNo,â came the amplified reply from the Knight Gallantâs pilot. Sire Hectour, Luk thought distractedly. Heâd drunk mead with this man, played regicide. Now, the Freeblade barely recognised his voice. Hectour had never sounded so cruel. âYou are no High King, draconspawn. Neither was your coward father. The crown belongs to Gerraint Tan Chimaeros.
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