They moved with a speed that was not human, and struck each blow with a force that was not human. In a matter of minutes, they had carved the heart out of the echvehnurth attack. Their boltguns roared and pumped like thunder, blowing pink silk and silver into blood-caked pieces.
‘Astartes,’ Soneka gasped.
‘Stay with me, het, stay with me,’ Lon whispered.
‘They’re Astartes,’ Soneka said.
‘You’ve lost a lot of blood. Don’t go to sleep on me!’
‘I won’t,’ Soneka promised. ‘Those men… those things… they’re Astartes.’
Lon didn’t answer. He was staring at the horizon. ‘Holy Terra,’ he whispered. Tel Utan had caught fire.
THE HORUS HERESY
LEGION
Secrets and lies
