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’Quick, strong and clever,’ Thu to the tho had banded together

’Yes, they show signs of pro inside his helht on, even though he has seen theh, there was no point in allowing the bloodletting to continue He raised his hand above his head, and after astopped

’External address,’ Boreas turned to Hebris ’Bring those three to the testing cha back into the cave, followed by the other Space Marines

He walked through the relic-strewn shrine to an open­ing at the back of the cave covered by a heavy curtain of woven leaves Brushing aside the flih the archway into the cavern beyond It was a small chah and stained with the reddish-brown of old blood It reels

It struck him as ironic that this place of recruitment - of hope for the future - should bear such a rese the shaht, and wondered why it was that he had been troubled so ation For several weeks now during prayer and in quieter hts had strayed back to that encounter with Astelan It had been nearly fifteen years ago, and he had perforations since, but still that first battle of wills with one of the Fallen was etched into his mind

He put it down to the isolation froarrisoned here in the Piscina system with the others of his command, and in that time had not been in contact with any of his superiors or other members of the Inner Circle The time preyed on his mind, and even his extended prayer sessions had done little to ease the doubts that had grown over recenthis fists, Boreas exerted control over his wandering thoughts, bringing himself back to the matter in hand

They waited for a few minutes until the curtain swayed and the three hopefuls entered, eyes ith awe and fear They saw the slab and stopped, darting nervous glances at the giant Space Marines who now surrounded them

’Which of you shall be first?’ asked Nestor, stepping towards the group

They looked at each other and the eldest and tallest of them stepped forward Boreas reckoned hie - perfect for the Dark Angels purposes He was lean and wiry, with a thick shock of black hair that draped down over his deeply set eyes He smiled wolfishly and took a pace towards the Apothecary

’I am Varsin, I shall be the first,’ the boy said proudly

’Lie on the slab,’ Nestor told hi table and lay down, hands across his chest Nestor loomed over him, a series of blades and needles extended froht forearm

’Put your ar a hand on the boy’s forehead The Apothecary’s ers that could snap bones performed a cursory examination of the boy’s body ’This will cause you considerable pain,’ he warned as he plunged the narthecium into the boys stomach

Varsin’s shrieks rebounded shrilly off the walls as blades incised their way through skin and h the wound Nestor placed a hand on the boy’s chest and held hi wildly with agony Blood bubbled up fro across Nestor’s white arave horrified gasps and began to back towards the curtained doorway, but their route was blocked by Thumiel, who carefully laid a hand on each of their heads and stopped the,’ he said, and they nodded duhast at the bloody scene in front of them

As Varsin writhed, Nestor stood there calmly while the narthecium took what it needed Auto, extracted blood, bile and other fluids, measured blood pressure and pulse rate, injected anti-toxicants and cauterised wounds The glowing aht on the back of the device turned red and Nestor withdrew his fist With a quick movement, a web of needles extended and stitched the wound shut in a matter of seconds Varsin lay there covered with sweat, tears running down his face, his chest heaving under Nestor’s palm

’Do not move for a moment, or your woundshis hand and stepping away The boy glanced at the others that had taken part in the trial by coaze then passed to Boreas and the Chaplain gave a reassuring nod to the youth Nestor fiddled with the displays of the narthecius of the sanal chis?’ Boreas asked

’Ninety-eight per cent tissue match for suitability,’ the Apothecary told hireen display on his arm ’No endemic illnesses or inherited disorders Accept­able tolerance levels of toxic influences, average life signals and pain response The boy is perfect, physically speaking’

’Good,’ Boreas said, looking at the shivering boy ’Exter­nal address Cos off the slab and lowered hi his stomach, he padded across the stone and stood in front of Boreas, looking up nervously

’Tell me of yourself,’ Boreas asked him

’I am the fifth son of Hebris, the chieftain, as the second son of Geblin who took the cloak of thorns fro up ’My father’s older brother was chosen to be a warrior for the Star E, you coood stock,’ said Boreas ’What can you do to prove your loyalty to the Emperor beyond the cloud?’

’I don’t understand, lord,’ Varsin admitted

’Would you kill your father if I commanded it?’ Boreas asked

’Kill my father?’ the boy replied hesitantly ’I would if you coh it would sadden me’

’And ould it sadden you?’ Boreas said, leaning down to look Varsin in the eye The boy’s face was reflected in the red lenses of his helmet

’I would be saddened thatthe Emperor beyond the cloud and his star warriors,’ the boy replied iine any other reason why you should wish him dead He has served his people well’

’And are you, a e of that?’ asked Boreas, the skull of his hel at Varsin

’No, lord, I would follow your coe than I,’ Varsin said with a slight shake of his head

’Good,’ said Boreas, straightening up ’Go outside and tell your father you shall be leaving with us tonight,’

’I arin split his face He took a few hurried steps towards the door and then stopped and doubled up in pain

’I said rest those wounds!’ Nestor barked

’I arih the curtain

Boreas turned to the two rees­tured towards the slab They exchanged worried glances and then one of the step forward

’I I a at the fresh blood on the examination table ’No! I cant do it!’

He fell to his knees weeping and buried his face in his hands Boreas walked over and crouched beside hi loudly as he did so The boy looked up at hi down his face, and shook his head