Debt of Blood (Short Story)
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This article is about the Flesh Tearer Short Story; for the similarly named Blood Angels Short Story, see Blood Debt (Short Story). |
| Author | Andy Smillie |
| Publisher | Black Library |
| Released | November 2014 |
| Pages | 23 |
| Collected in | Born of Rage |
Debt of Blood is a Flesh Tearers short story by Andy Smillie. It was published exclusively in the 2014 chapbook anthology Born of Rage.[1]
Overview
Receiving secret modifications to the Battle Barge Victus from a Magos, the Flesh Tearers Chapter must steal a relic of Ultramar as payment. Chaplain Zophal undertakes this covert mission, infiltrating the world of Nestoris to retrieve the The Shield of Didactos. His only real opposition comes in the form of an old Ultramarine ally, Brother Aggelos; Zophal bests the Space Marine, teleporting away with the relic and a now-unconscious Aggelos. Later learning of this event, the Ultramarine Primarch Guilliman confronts Amit, the Flesh Tearer Chapter Master, demanding the Brother responsible. Amit offers the enraged Brother Juratus as the culprit, but denies any knowledge of the relic's whereabouts; a displeased Guilliman accepts Juratus into his custody. With his wargear and weapon repaired, the healing Aggelos is later marooned by Zophal on a distant unknown world, in order to spread the light of the Emperor to it.[2]
Summary
Circa 021.M31, recently after the Second Founding[2a]
With the Battle Barge Victus undergoing vital (and secret) modifications thanks to Magos Adora of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Amit of the Flesh Tearers must repay her by stealing an Ultramarine relic, The Shield of Didactos, from the wayward world of Nestoris, on the fringes of Ultramar.[2b] To ensure the Chapter has a leader in case things go awry, Chaplain Zophal infiltrates Nestoris in Chapter Master Amit's stead, covertly depleting dozens of Imperial assets, carefully making it appear to be the work of a butcher.[2c] Before he can claim The Shield of Didactos, Zophal is ambushed by an old ally, the Ultramarine, Brother Aggelos; a desperate firefight ensues, with Zophal finally downing Aggelos, putting him into a Sus-an coma by shooting his primary heart. Taking the wounded Aggelos and appropriating the relic, Zophal teleports out of the Reliquery.[2d]
Some time later, Guilliman, the Ultramarine Primarch, confronts Chapter Master Amit about the theft on Nestoris, among other things. Bound and suffering the effects of the Red Thirst, the Flesh Tearer Brother Juratus is brought before Guilliman as Zophal's patsy. Angrily questioning whether this is some trickery, Guilliman is told that Juratus was recovered alone, with completely black armour and without the relic. As Guilliman inspects the prisoner, both Amit and Chaplain Andras inform the Primarch that others in the Chapter have exhibited symptoms akin to those of Juratus; with this and some careful cajoling, Guilliman and his Ultramarines leave with Juratus.[2e] Awaking in a cavern, a recovering Brother Aggelos is given his Gladius and wargear, which has been repaired and re-sanctified. Now openly hated by Aggelos, Zophal informs the Ultramarine he will now be marooned on a world whose populace is divided and does not yet know of the Emperor.[2f]
Sources
- 1: Black Library: Sons of Wrath (First Edition) (saved archive page, dated November 2014, last accessed 30th May 2019)
- 2: Debt of Blood (Short Story)
Further Reading
For more stories featuring Amit
