Space War: City of Light.

ter

ault, Arx Ang

r than man. Its cavernous size was impossible by any normal laws of physics. Far larger than the wider Librarium that contained it and it was dominated by a statue of Sanguinius that would have dwarfed a cathedrum. Solar lights burned from the statues chest, filling the hall with shifts of glittering dust motes and flashing on three faceted monoliths that hovered above the angel's outstretched hand. Up on entering the vault, Mariah shrugged off the constraints of gravity a

riah as they glided towards the three gemstones.

from the Great Rift, but if this particular horror had been around fo

g the two Librarians onto a mosaicked, rut-strewn floor. Blood thralls rushed towards them but Mephiston waved them away, striding through the antechambers into a larger, octagonal room. Its walls were lined with bookcases that reached hundreds of feet up to a distant, vaulted ceiling. There was a pleasing hum

ing across age-worn rugs to an alc

the alcove and Mephiston dismissed the group of blood thralls gathered at its shelves. He waved Mariah to a table, indicating that she shoul

and opening a book. "But it does not mean what the Octocalvariae says. Wha

word quietly, but Mariah felt the psychic kick that projected it across the hall. Mephiston nodded to

on had given her books on comparative religion. She shrugged and did as instruct

h. She quickly spotted a recurring theme. In every culture that worshipped or feared Dromlach, there was a belief that it was a living

ng the metal salver. Mephiston took the Ephemeris and placed it on the floor n

on poring over the books and occasionally using

ial records that mention

Mephiston why he needed help recalling facts

sensing her question through the Nexus Link.

to the Chief Librarian. "There was an explorator fleet led by a Mag

in

ant pages. She pointed to a line of text. "The fleet went missing. It vani

since before the days of the Imperium. Rhacelus would cuff

know as the Cronium Gulf." Mariah shrugged. "

stared a

d?" sai

through her. His gaunt, severe features had slackened and for a momen

riah. "I see," he said, his voice slipping back into the heavy accen

e w

ble. He pointed out several of the glyphs on its surface. "There are only a

f the Librarium with Mariah racing after him. Mephiston

tion of the Croni

rial fleets had mentioned the Cronium Gulf several times

t reappear," said Mephiston, sco

the birth of the imperium," repl

udy. "A xenos fleet vanished in the same location and they

ilisation near the Cronium Golf lived in fear of a c

The monster names are a smokescreen. There is something important there that causes fleets to vanish." He lent back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table. "We have our

omlach so it must have meant for you to find out about this gulf." she shook her head. "

as no idea who I truly am. I, on the other hand, know exactly what the Octocalvariae is. I have discerned every one of its deceits and rues. I know why it has given me this c

Mariah. This time the full weight of hi