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| Author | James Swallow |
| Performer | John Banks, Toby Longworth, Ramon Tikaram |
| Publisher | Black Library |
| Series | Horus Heresy Series |
| Preceded by | Grey Angel |
| Followed by | Garro: Sword of Truth |
| Released | October 2012 (mp3) April 30, 2013 (audio CD) |
| Collected in | Garro |
| Editions | 2013 audio CD: ISBN 9781849703604 |
Burden of Duty is an original audio drama in the Horus Heresy Series by James Swallow. It was released as a MP3 download in October 2012, and is scheduled for release on audio CD, together with Grey Angel (Audio Book) on April 30, 2013.
Cover Description
As the renegade forces of the Warmaster storm across the galaxy, a very different kind of war rages in the shadows of the Imperium – the Knights-Errant, chosen of Malcador himself, move quietly in the dark places where others cannot. Battle-Captain Nathaniel Garro makes his way to the Imperial Fists' mighty starfort Phalanx, seeking out another kindred soul for his elite band of warriors.
Plot Summary
Nathaniel Garro infiltrates the Phalanx in secret, armed only with his power sword, and makes his way to the Seclusium, a sealed chamber within the star fort where the Librarians of the Imperial Fists Legion have been sealed ever since the Edict of Nikaea.
Garro disables the guard-servitors and opens the chamber, confronting a group of six former Librarians, who have had no contact with their battle-brothers or their primarch in years - incredibly, they are unaware that the Great Crusade from which they were withdrawn has turned into the Horus Heresy. However, one of them, Yored Massak, has had troubling dreams of the war outside, and the terrible battle to come.
Garro asks them to come with him and re-join the war, but they refuse to abandon their orders from Rogal Dorn. Before Garro can persuade them, Dorn himself appears, Garro's presence having been detected.
Dorn demands an explanation, but Garro says he is under strict orders from Malcador not to reveal his mission to anyone except Massak. Dorn reluctantly accepts this, and allows Garro and Massak a room to themselves. Garro reveals the outbreak of the Heresy, the presence of daemons among the traitor forces, and the founding of the Knights-Errant. Garro says they are the beginnings of a new order that will be devoted to banishing such monsters from the galaxy, and Massak is the next recruit selected by Malcador.
To Garro's surprise, Massak refuses to leave with him. He and his brothers have their orders from Dorn, and they will not break them, even if they must stay secluded for the rest of their lives. Massak has faith that they will be called upon, when the time is right. Garro accepts this.
As Garro prepares to depart the Phalanx, alone, Dorn warns him, and through him, Malcador, not to test Dorn's forbearance again. He already carries the awesome responsibility of guarding Terra from Horus's agents, and has no wish to have to keep watch on his "allies" as well. Dorn also tells Garro that Malcador has misunderstood his actions: Dorn knows full well what a potent weapon the Librarius is against the forces Horus is preparing; he is not keeping the Librarians prisoner out of blind obedience to the Edict, but is keeping them secure until the day they are needed.
Garro worries that Dorn is asking a great deal from his sons; Dorn retorts that the times are asking a great deal of them all.
Cast
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