Mortis
Book 1 – THE SOLAR WAR
Book 2 - THE LOST AND THE DAMNED
Book 3 - THE FIRST WALL
Book 4 - SATURNINE
SONS OF THE SELENAR (Novella)
FURY OF MAGNUS (Novella)
Book 1 – HORUS RISING
Book 2 – FALSE GODS
Book 3 – GALAXY IN FLAMES
Book 4 – THE FLIGHT OF THE EISENSTEIN
Book 5 – FULGRIM
Book 6 – DESCENT OF ANGELS
Book 7 – LEGION
Book 8 – BATTLE FOR THE ABYSS
Book 9 – MECHANICUM
Book 10 – TALES OF HERESY
Book 11 – FALLEN ANGELS
Book 12 – A THOUSAND SONS
Book 13 – NEMESIS
Book 14 – THE FIRST HERETIC
Book 15 – PROSPERO BURNS
Book 16 – AGE OF DARKNESS
Book 17 – THE OUTCAST DEAD
Book 18 – DELIVERANCE LOST
Book 19 – KNOW NO FEAR
Book 20 – THE PRIMARCHS
Book 21 – FEAR TO TREAD
Book 22 – SHADOWS OF TREACHERY
Book 23 – ANGEL EXTERMINATUS
Book 24 – BETRAYER
Book 25 – MARK OF CALTH
Book 26 – VULKAN LIVES
Book 27 – THE UNREMEMBERED EMPIRE
Book 28 – SCARS
Book 29 – VENGEFUL SPIRIT
Book 30 – THE DAMNATION OF PYTHOS
Book 31 – LEGACIES OF BETRAYAL
Book 32 – DEATHFIRE
Book 33 – WAR WITHOUT END
Book 34 – PHAROS
Book 35 – EYE OF TERRA
Book 36 – THE PATH OF HEAVEN
Book 37 – THE SILENT WAR
Book 38 – ANGELS OF CALIBAN
Book 39 – PRAETORIAN OF DORN
Book 40 – CORAX
Book 41 – THE MASTER OF MANKIND
Book 42 – GARRO
Book 43 – SHATTERED LEGIONS
Book 44 – THE CRIMSON KING
Book 45 – TALLARN
Book 46 – RUINSTORM
Book 47 – OLD EARTH
Book 48 – THE BURDEN OF LOYALTY
Book 49 – WOLFSBANE
Book 50 – BORN OF FLAME
Book 51 – SLAVES TO DARKNESS
Book 52 – HERALDS OF THE SIEGE
Book 53 – TITANDEATH
Book 54 – THE BURIED DAGGER
More tales from the Horus Heresy...
PROMETHEAN SUN
AURELIAN
BROTHERHOOD OF THE STORM
THE CRIMSON FIST
CORAX: SOULFORGE
PRINCE OF CROWS
DEATH AND DEFIANCE
TALLARN: EXECUTIONER
SCORCHED EARTH
THE PURGE
THE HONOURED
THE UNBURDENED
BLADES OF THE TRAITOR
TALLARN: IRONCLAD
RAVENLORD
THE SEVENTH SERPENT
WOLF KING
CYBERNETICA
SONS OF THE FORGE
Many of these titles are also available as abridged and unabridged audiobooks. Order the full range of Horus Heresy novels and audiobooks from blacklibrary.com
Also available
MACRAGGE’S HONOUR
Dan Abnett and Neil Roberts
Audio Dramas
THE DARK KING & THE LIGHTNING TOWER
RAVEN’S FLIGHT
GARRO: OATH OF MOMENT
GARRO: LEGION OF ONE
BUTCHER’S NAILS
GREY ANGEL
GARRO: BURDEN OF DUTY
GARRO: SWORD OF TRUTH
THE SIGILLITE
HONOUR TO THE DEAD
CENSURE
WOLF HUNT
HUNTER’S MOON
THIEF OF REVELATIONS
TEMPLAR
ECHOES OF RUIN
MASTER OF THE FIRST
THE LONG NIGHT
THE EAGLE’S TALON
IRON CORPSES
RAPTOR
GREY TALON
THE EITHER
THE HEART OF THE PHAROS / CHILDREN OF SICARUS
RED-MARKED
ECHOES OF IMPERIUM
ECHOES OF REVELATION
THE THIRTEENTH WOLF
VIRTUES OF THE SONS/SINS OF THE FATHER
THE BINARY SUCCESSION
DARK COMPLIANCE
BLACKSHIELDS: THE FALSE WAR
BLACKSHIELDS: THE RED FIEF
HUBRIS OF MONARCHIA
NIGHTFANE
BLACKSHIELDS: THE BROKEN CHAIN
Download the full range of Horus Heresy audio dramas from blacklibrary.com
Contents
Cover
Backlist
Title Page
The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra
Dramatis Personae
Part One
The Warp
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Part Two
The Warp
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Part Three
The Warp
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
The Warp
Afterword
About the Author
An Extract from ‘Blood of the Emperor’
A Black Library Publication
eBook license
It is a time of legend.
The galaxy is in flames. The Emperor’s glorious vision for humanity is in ruins. His favoured son, Horus, has turned from his father’s light and embraced Chaos.
His armies, the mighty and redoubtable Space Marines, are locked in a brutal civil war. Once, these ultimate warriors fought side by side as brothers, protecting the galaxy and bringing mankind back into the Emperor’s light. Now they are divided.
Some remain loyal to the Emperor, whilst others have sided with the Warmaster. Pre-eminent amongst them, the leaders of their thousands-strong Legions, are the primarchs. Magnificent, superhuman beings, they are the crowning achievement of the Emperor’s genetic science. Thrust into battle against one another, victory is uncertain for either side.
Worlds are burning. At Isstvan V, Horus dealt a vicious blow and three loyal Legions were all but destroyed. War was begun, a conflict that will engulf all mankind in fire. Treachery and betrayal have usurped honour and nobility. Assassins lurk in every shadow. Armies are gathering. All must choose a side or die.
Horus musters his armada, Terra itself the object of his wrath. Seated upon the Golden Throne, the Emperor waits for his wayward son to return. But his true enemy is Chaos, a primordial force that seeks to enslave mankind to its capricious whims.
The screams of the innocent, the pleas of the righteous resound to the cruel laughter of Dark Gods. Suffering and damnation await all should the Emperor fail and the war be lost.
The end is here. The skies darken, colossal armies gather.
For the fate of the Throneworld, for the
fate of mankind itself...
The Siege of Terra has begun.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
The Emperor, Master of Mankind, Last and First Lord of the Imperium
Horus, Warmaster, Primarch of the XVI Legion, Ascendant Vessel of Chaos
The Primarchs
Perturabo, ‘The Lord of Iron’, Primarch of the IV Legion
Jaghatai Khan, ‘The Warhawk of Chogoris’, Primarch of the V Legion
Rogal Dorn, Lord Solar, Praetorian of Terra, Primarch of the VII Legion
Sanguinius, ‘The Great Angel’, Primarch of the IX Legion
The I Legion ‘Dark Angels’
Corswain, Seneschal
Adophel, Void Commander, Chapter Master
Vassago, Librarian
Tragan, Captain of the Ninth Order
The IV Legion ‘Iron Warriors’
Kydomor Forrix, ‘The Breaker’, First Captain, Triarch
The V Legion ‘White Scars’
Shiban Khan, ‘Tachseer’
The VII Legion ‘Imperial Fists’
Archamus, Master of the Huscarls
The IX Legion ‘Blood Angels’
Baeron, Line adjutant – Marmax South, Hold Point 78
Oceano, Commander of Curdir Bastion, Dreadnought
The XVI Legion ‘Sons of Horus’
Argonis, ‘The Unscarred’, Equerry to the Warmaster
Legio Ignatum ‘Fire Wasps’
Cydon, Princeps Maximus, Imperious Prima, Principal of First Maniple
Bazzanius, Princeps Senioris, Magnificum Incendius, Principal of Second Maniple
Clementia, Princeps Senioris, Exemplis, Principal of Fourth Maniple
Tetracauron, Princeps Senioris, Reginae Furorem, Principal of Sixth Maniple
Divisia, Moderatus, Reginae Furorem
Cartho, Moderatus, Reginae Furorem
Xeta-Beta-1, Enginseer, Reginae Furorem
Arthusa, Princeps, Helios, Principal of SeventhManiple
Sentario, Legio Strategic Liaison
Legio Ordo Sinister
Aurum, First Prefect of the Chamber Orientalis
Cadamia, Prefect, Orientalis-Echion
Legio Solaria ‘Imperial Hunters’
Esha Ani Mohana Vi, Grand Master, the Great Mother of the Imperial Hunters, Princeps of Luxor Invictoria
Abhani Lus Mohana, Princeps, Bestia Est
House Vyronii
Caradoc, Scion, pilot of Cerastus Knight-Castigator Meliae
Acastia, Bondsman, pilot of Knight Armiger Elatus
Dolloran, Bondsman, pilot of Knight Armiger Cyllarus
Pluton, Bondsman, pilot of Knight Armiger Thaumas
The Adeptus Mechanicus
Vethorel, Ambassador, proxy of the Fabricator General
Kazzim-Aleph-1, Magos emissary to Rogal Dorn
Gerontius-Chi-Lambda, Magos emissary to Legio Ignatum
The Neverborn
Vassukella, The Chorus of the Denied, Song of Endless Rapture, Daemon Prince of the Ruinstorm
Imperial Army
Niora Su-Kassen, Solar Command Staff, former Admiral of the Jovian Fleets
Nasuba, General, Inferallti Hussars, Commander of Shard Bastion
Sulkova, Major General, Shard Bastion Command Cadre
Kurral, Colonel-Elite, Shard Bastion Command Cadre
Cole, Second Lieutenant, Massian Fifth
Katsuhiro, Trooper
Steena, Trooper
Imperial Personae
Malcador the Sigillite, Regent of the Imperium
Hellick Mauer, Boetharch of the Command Prefectus
Ahlborn, Conroi-Captain, Hort Palatine, Command Prefectus
Solsha, Lieutenant of the Command Prefectus Militia
Kyril Sindermann, Historian, Head of the Order of Interrogators
Andromeda-17, Personified-scion of the Selenar
Euphrati Keeler, The Saint, former Remembrancer
Vaskale, Warden, Blackstone
Slaves to Darkness
Ugent Sye, The Orchardist
Others
Actae
Basilio Fo, An inmate of Blackstone
John Grammaticus, Logokine
Oll Persson
Leetu, Legionary
Dogent Krank, (Numinus 61st, fmr)
Bale Rane, (Numinus 61st, fmr)
Graft, Servitor menial
Hebet Zybes
Katt
‘To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.’
– attributed to the dramaturge Shakespire, fl. M2
∞
Heat shimmers from earth to sky. There is no sun here, but the light is blinding. The heavens are a dome of brilliant white, clamped over the dry ground. The earth is cracked, skimmed with dust and crusted with salt. The image of the world is flat, an endless plain running to a lost horizon. The air is still, throbbing, an echo of the absent sun’s hammer. It is not a true place, for nothing in the Realm Beyond is true, but this place of thirst and heat has always been and always will be.
The tree stands at the centre of the desolation. It is a cedar tree, bare of needles, lightning-struck and blackened. From a distance it would look like an ebon crack running through the sky, an inverted bolt of black lightning. The only shadows in this place lie under the tree. They are thin, tangled in the dust. A trickle of water seeps from the ground at the tree’s root, vanishes as soon as it bubbles up. A man sits with His back against the trunk. His limbs are thin, the dark skin drawn taut over bones, cracked around dried lips. The blue shift wound loosely around Him is frayed and sun-bleached. He is as still as the burnt tree at his back; His eyes are closed.
Slowly, as though to do more would cost too much, the man’s eyes open a crack to the blazing land. His left hand moves to a hollow He has scraped in the ground by the roots of the tree. A little water has gathered there, and He scoops it up in His palm and brings it to His mouth. Thick with silt, it is barely a sip.
A breath of air stirs the fold of fabric covering His head. He looks up, lowering the hand that cupped the water that is already falling as dust from His fingers.
A whirling column is forming in the air, skidding across the land, pulling up the dry earth. The light blurs around it, shimmering, turning the distance into mirages that might be an army marching over the horizon, or a distant, broken city, or a lone figure striding from the empty land.
The man beneath the tree waits and watches.
The dust devil dances closer. The wind rises. The dry branches of the tree rattle. A figure coalesces at the centre of the dust column: broad, proud face; silver-scaled armour over white robes; sword sheathed at his waist. A golden crown sits on the newcomer’s brow, burning like flame with reflected sunlight. The wind unravels. The dust settles. The warrior in silver and white looks down at the man beneath the tree.
‘Father,’ says Horus.
The man beneath the tree does not look up.
‘There is no refuge, father, nowhere left for you to flee.’ Horus crouches, balancing on the balls of his feet so that his head is level with that of the man sitting in the shadow of the tree. Somewhere, out of sight, a crow caws into the shimmering air. A snake hisses and rattles, the sound that of sand blowing through dry bones. Horus reaches down and picks up a handful of earth. He is staring into the distance, his eyes brilliant mirrors to the baking heat. For an instant, his fingers seem claws, long and shining, the ground beneath them a star-strewn night. The earth crumbles between his fingers. ‘This was your secret land, father. The warp, the realm t
hat you denied us. Here is the source of all your power, all the paths to your gilded ambition. You are nothing without this place, just a man who stole what was not his and then kept it from others – a beggar-thief with stolen coins.’
There is pity in Horus’ eyes.
‘Look at you now – withering in a realm of thirst.’ Horus stands. ‘You must have known this was inevitable. You must have known that your deeds would have consequences. You said that this place, with all its power and possibility, was dangerous – that none should touch it, that none should know its true secrets. Magnus came close to realising you had lied, and you sent wolves to run him down. Lorgar, poor Lorgar, ever searching for a cause, saw the shadow of your ambition and thought it the mark of a god. Burned cities and shame was his reward. And me, father, was I close to knowing too much? For all those years after we found each other, how many times did I nearly realise what you were – a liar and a thief, clad in scraps of false glory? Is that why I was banished from your side? Did you fear this moment, father? If you did, you should have known that it was inevitable – that your deceived son would come for his birthright.’
The wind rises, blowing powdered salt and dust into the air. Silhouettes form in the heat shimmer, at once close and distant. Towering shapes, shapes out of myth and old stories: Cyclops, hunched reaper, flayed angel, serpent Adonis.
‘You made us with the fire you took from the realm you forbade us. How could you think we would never realise, would never wonder, would never come home to the place of our birth?’
Horus’ gaze moves over the four shapes writhing in the mirage.
‘They are here now,’ said Horus. ‘Your sons, my brothers, returned home. I am their king, not their father, and this realm is mine. The power you denied us is mine. All of it. There is nothing left for you. The night and the day, the dreaming and the waking, all move to my will.’
The man beneath the tree lets out a breath, stretches out His left hand and pulls a finger through the dry earth. The ground shakes. Dust explodes into the air to hang as a layer above the ground before slamming down. The leafless tree grows, stretches, its dead branches reaching shadows in a wide circle. Horus does not flinch, but in the heat-glare, things unseen hiss with the voices of snakes and hounds and dying birds.
The man’s hand stops moving. A line marks the dust, a finger’s width, but also a canyon, a wall, a mountain range. He withdraws His hand and looks up. His lips and skin are cracked, but His voice is strong as He speaks.
‘No,’ He says.
Horus steps forwards, but the ground beneath his feet crumbles and cracks, flowing down into the opening abyss beneath. For a moment the man beneath the tree does not look like a man, but a shadow within an inferno. He looks at Horus, and Horus returns the Emperor’s gaze. The brightness in the sky reverses to charcoal black, the shadows of the tree become flames.