A Sick Malcador

Malcador woke feeling horrible. He knew he had been getting sick, but he had been trying to work through it. That wasn't going to work today, Malcador hated taking sick days. It always made him feel like a failure.
+My lord, can you handle the day without me?+ Malcador asked the Emperor, the effort of making the psychic connection was proving strain enough.
+I believe so+ the Emperor said. +Is something wrong?+
+I need a sick day+ Malcador admitted, sounding glum. +My apologies.+
+Your apologies are unneccessary+ the Emperor said. +I'll send the Primarchs to keep you company today.+ The Primarchs had the day off from Nova, though they normally would have stayed in their own residence.
+Alright+ Malcador said. He hoped they wouldn't be too restless, he wouldn't be able to control them today.
"You will be spending the day with Malcador," the Emperor announced aloud. The Primarchs all looked over to their father. "He's not feeling well, so you must all behave for him."
"We will, Father," Horus said. Magnus nodded his head, casting a quick glance towards Malcador's tower. Mortarion looked a little excited, though he knew it wasn't good for Malcador to be sick. The Primarchs followed their father out of the residence and headed up to Malcador's tower. Magnus knocked on the door before they entered.
"Uncle Malcador?" Magnus called when they didn't see him in his living room. There was a grunt from the direction of the bedroom. Magnus headed that way, the others stayed in the living room.
"Hello, Magnus," Malcador said in a thin voice. Magnus approached, looking very concerned.
"Are you going to be alright?" Magnus asked.
"Eventually," Malcador said. "I think this is the crux of this illness. I've actually been sick for a few days."
"Really?" Magnus asked, surprise registering in his voice.
"Yes," Malcador said. "I thought it was something more mild than this. I've been trying to power through it."
"But you should have been resting," Magnus said. "That would have gotten you better faster."
"True enough," Malcador said smiling weakly. "However, I am quite stubborn and hate taking sick days."
"Why?" Magnus asked, it made no sense to him.
"It makes me feel like I'm failing your father," Malcador admitted. "That is worse than being sick."
"I think Mortarion might agree with that," Magnus said with a slight giggle.
"Probably," Malcador agreed. "Is everyone else in the living room?"
"Yes," Magnus said. "Father told us that you're sick, and that we need to behave for you."
"That's good," Malcador said. "Though I'm not going to be very entertaining today."
"That's alright," Magnus said. "You're sick, it's us who should be entertaining you."
Malcador sat up in his bed, "Tell everyone else I'll be out in a minute. And no one's to get in my chair."
"Right," Magnus said and departed. Malcador had a very old chair that he kept in his living room. Whatever color it had once been was long since faded away to gray. Malcador claimed that it was the most comfortable chair in the Palace. He said that it had been one of the Emperor's chairs when the two had first met. His version of the story had him stealing the chair from the Emperor. The Emperor's version had him leaving the chair out for Malcador to take. Both agreed that a part of their friendship was based on this chair.
Magnus found that everyone was avoiding Malcador's chair. Angron was about as far from the chair as he could get. This was because Angron had once damaged it. Part of his punishment was carrying the chair down the tower so that the Emperor and Perturabo could repair it. He was then also forced to help sneak it back into Malcador's residence when it was fixed.
"He'll be out in a minute," Magnus said. The others nodded from their various locations around the room. Malcador came out as promised, and headed straight for his chair. Once seated, he reached down and pulled on a lever at the side of the chair. This caused the front of the chair to raise up, forming a foot rest, and allowing for the chair to be reclined back. The Emperor had explained that it was one of the last recliners on Terra.
"Do you want anything to eat, Malcador?" Corvus asked once Malcador was settled. The thought of food made his stomach churn unpleasantly. He shook his head.
"Not right now, Corvus," Malcador said. "Though perhaps some tea would be good."
"Alright," Corvus said and headed off to Malcador's kitchen. He came back several minutes later with a steaming mug. He carefully handed the mug over to Malcador.
"Thank you," Malcador said, he kept himself upright enough so that he wouldn't spill the tea on himself. He drank the tea and then handed the mug back to Corvus. The Primarchs had all brought things to do with them. They tended to anything Malcador needed, leaving whatever they were doing in order to do so. Jaghatai got Malcador a blanket when he had started to shiver. Mortarion had claimed the right of draping the blanket on him. Feeling drowsy, Malcador fixed Konrad with a look.
"I do not want to wake up from any naps to find that my face has been drawn on," Malcador said.
"Why would I do such a thing?" Konrad asked with a very innocent look on his face. "I have no reason to draw on your face."
"Good," Malcador said. He was asleep within moments. The Primarchs continued with their other activites as quietly as they could. There was a knock on the door, and all the Primarchs froze. Malcador hadn't woken up, so Roboute headed over and opened the door. A female functionary was standing there, she seemed quite surprised by Roboute's prescence there.
"I'm looking for Lord Malcador, lord," she said in a timid voice.
"Malcador is not well today," Roboute said. The Emperor had told his sons to keep any form of work away from Malcador for the day. "If there is something that cannot wait, please take it to my father."
"It can wait, lord," the functionary said. "I'll inform others about this. Please give Lord Malcador my regards, and tell him that I hope he gets better soon."
"I will, mamzel," Roboute said. "Thank you for telling telling other functionaries."
The woman bowed and headed back to the stairs that would take her down. She met another functionary on the way, this one was a man who looked quite agitated. Roboute stepped fully out of the room, leaving the door open only a crack. He didn't want to wake Malcador.
"I need to talk to Lord Malcador," the man said when he reached Roboute. He had pushed past the female functionary instead of hearing what she had to stay.
"Malcador is ill," Roboute said. "No one is to see him today, such were my father's orders."
"This is something that needs to be handled now," the man said in a stern voice. He seemed only dimly aware of who Roboute was, and who his father was.
"If it cannot wait for Malcador to recover, then take it to Father," Roboute said in as stern a voice as he could muster. "I will not let you pass."
"I can push you aside, child," the man said, clearly indicating he had no idea who he was dealing with.
"You cannot get through all of us," Roboute said. "All of my brothers will be between you and Malcador before you get through the door."
"Step aside," the man growled. Roboute heard the quiet squeaking of the foot rest being lowered on Malcador's chair. There was a pause and the door behind Roboute opened further. Malcador placed a hand heavily on Roboute's shoulder.
"i believe that Roboute made himself clear," Malcador said, he sounded worse than he had before his nap. The man quickly realized that he had made a grave mistake.
"I can take it to the Emperor," the man said, hurriedly backing away. Roboute turned, somewhat hoping that it wasn't actually Malcador, but Magnus playing the part. However, Malcador's chair was empty, and he could see Magnus.
"I was trying to let you sleep," Roboute said, glancing up at Malcador apologetically.
"It's hard to keep a conversation quiet when only one side wants to be quiet," Malcador said, he made it back over to his chair and sat back down. Sanguinius had picked up the blanket, and put it back on Malcador.
"We should make lunch," Vulkan said. "Do you want anything, Malcador?"
"Soup might be alright," Malcador said. His stomach was still unsettled, but he knew that food was necessary.
"I can try and make soup," Fulgrim offered.
"Do or do not, there is no try," Malcador grumbled.
"Yoda said that," Ferrus said.
"Did you think that you were the only ones your father showed those movies to?" Malcador said, a flicker of a smile on his face.
"Is that a warning to not blow up your kitchen?" Fulgrim asked.
"Heh. Don't blow up my kitchen," Malcador said.
"Alright," Fulgrim said. "Ferrus can help make sure I don't do that."
Fulgrim and Ferrus went into the kitchen and there was a loud clanging sound and a few smaller clanging sounds. Ferrus came back out of the kitchen, approaching Malcador.
"Why do you have a soup tureen?" Ferrus asked.
"I have a somewhat hazzy memory of washing a baby Mortarion in that soup tureen once," Malcador said. "I can't quite remember what he had gotten into, but it was quite the mess."
There was the sound of Fulgrim dry-heaving from the kitchen. Malcador began to chuckle, turning into full on laughter.
"I was joking, Fulgrim," Malcador gasped between bouts of laughter. "I have it for times like this, when I have all of you."
"Not funny, Malcador!" Fulgrim called from the kitchen. This caused more laughter from Malcador.
"I certainly don't remember being bathed in a soup tureen," Mortarion said, he was also chuckling.
"That was a good one, Malcador," Konrad said. He liked pulling Fulgrim's leg.
"Thank you, Konrad," Malcador said, his laughter dying down. "It's always fun getting Fulgrim. He's a very easy mark."
"That's true," Konrad said with a smile.
It took a few moments for Ferrus to convince Fulgrim to not spend the next several minutes completely sterilizing the tureen. Once he got started, Fulgrim was quite happy to have Ferrus with him. Malcador had a servitor in the kitchen, just like they did in their own residence. However, Fulgrim was determined to make soup for everyone. Ferrus was very helpful in that he was able to find things that Fulgrim needed in Malcador's kitchen. 
"I think it's almost done," Fulgrim said as he checked the noodles. "We need bowls for everyone."
"Do you think that Father will join us?" Ferrus asked. He wanted to know if he needed twenty bowls or only nineteen.
"I don't know," Fulgrim said. "If you find twenty bowls we can put soup in one for Father and leave it here. If he shows up he can have it, and if not, someone can have seconds."
"That works," Ferrus said, just as he opened a cupboard and found twenty bowls. "I found bowls."
"How are we going to get them out?" Fulgrim mused.
"We can use the servitor," Ferrus said. "I found a tray earlier that should hold all of the bowls."
"Good idea," Fulgrim said. Ferrus retrieved the tray and activated the servitor while Fulgrim ladelled out the soup.
There was a knock on the door. Roboute went to head towards it, intent on telling some other functionary or administrator that Malcador wasn't working today. Malcador waved a hand towards Roboute, stopping the Primarch.
"It's your father," Malcador said. He would have to be dead to not sense the Emperor's prescence on the other side of a door. Roboute relaxed and the Emperor entered. Ferrus grabbed the extra bowl and set it on the tray before following the servitor out of the kitchen.
"How are you feeling?" the Emperor asked Malcador.
"I believe the saying was, 'dragged through a knothole backwards'," Malcador said.
"You were well enough to joke about washing me in a soup tureen," Mortarion asserted.
"I couldn't possibly pass on that opportunity," Malcador said. "Besides, laughter is good for the ailing."
"Malcador's right," the Emperor said. "Laughter is good for the ill."
"I made soup for everyone," Fulgrim said. "It's said that's good for sick people too."
"Correct," the Emperor said. "It's easy to eat, and tends to sit well." Ferrus had given the servitor a special instruction to go to Malcador first. Normally it would have gone to the Emperor first as he was considered of higher priority. It went to the Emperor second, resorting to its standard protocols.
"I intend to return to my duties tomorrow," Malcador said. The Emperor fixed him with a stern look.
"You will come back when you are better," the Emperor said. "If you need to take another day, take it."
"As you say," Malcador said, carefully taking a spoonful of soup. "This is good, Fulgrim."
"Thanks!" Fulgrim said, clearly pleased. The Emperor carefully steered the conversation so that the work of running the Imperium was kept out. He headed towards the door after finishing his soup.
"I'll be back to pick up the Primarchs at the end of the day," the Emperor said. Malcador gave a nod, and the Emperor left. The Primarchs cleared away the rest of the soup bowls and got them back into the kitchen. The servitor set about washing the dishes.

******************************

Malcador tried his best to spread his requests out among the Primarchs. All of them seemed intent on waiting on him, even Leman. He fell asleep again after Magnus brought him his book. Rogal marked Malcador's place as best he could before setting it on the table next to the chair. He frowned as he took the book, after setting it aside he gently placed his hand on Malcador's forehead. His frown deepened.

"What is it?" Perturabo asked.

"He feels warmer than he should," Rogal said. "Should we take the blanket away?"

"Blankets can be for comfort as much as warmth," Horus said. "Maybe just move it so it's not covering him as much?"

"That's probably a better idea," Perturabo said. He adjusted the blanket so it was mostly off to one side of Malcador, not truly covering him. "Let's see if that helps."

The Primarchs all went back to their other tasks. They mostly ignored Malcador, letting him get the rest he needed to get better. That changed abruptly when he let out a groan in his sleep. Seventeen and a half pairs of eyes were focused on him. Malcador was shifting in his sleep, and his face was contorted with discomfort. 

"Malcador?" Horus said in a tenative voice. 

"Wake up, Malcador," Corvus said. 

"Is he picking up something through the astropaths?" Lorgar asked.

"No," Magnus said after a moment. "There's no one trying to reach his mind, just me."

"Wake up," Vulkan said in a loud voice. Malcador looked rather pained, but he did not wake.

"Should we get Father?" Alpharius asked.

"I'd rather not," Horus said. "He's got double the work load today."

"If Magnus can help me, I can mimic Father's voice," the Lion offered. He was the best mimic of the Primarchs, and could do a flawless imitation of their father's voice. The only issue was that he couldn't provide the psychic presence that went with the Emperor's speech. 

"I think I can do that," Magnus said. His own psychic presence was distinct from the Emperor's, but he was hoping that Malcador would over-look it as he was sick, and sleeping.

"Wake up, Malcador," the Lion said in the Emperor's voice. Malcador's eyes snapped opened, and began scanning the room. He realized that the Emperor wasn't there, and his gaze landed on the Lion. 

"It looked like you were having a bad dream." the Lion said. "We were trying to wake you without getting Father."

"I was having a strange dream," Malcador said, he didn't sound at all rested. If anything, he sounded worse than he had that morning.

"Should we get a medicae for you?" Magnus asked. He didn't like that Malcador seemecd to be getting worse. He wasn't sure if the fever was new, so he wasn't sure that Malcador was getting worse, or just sounding worse.

"Not yet," Malcador said. "Give me a bit."

"Alright," Magnus said, though he sounded worried.

"Just a few moments," Malcador said. "I might just need to wake up a bit."

"What were you dreaming about?" Leman asked. He put a lot of stock in dreams, more so than other Primarchs.

"Strange humanoid xenos," Malcador said. "They were vaguely fish-like. They made mech suits that they used to wage war. Always fighting from a distance."

"That's a pretty strange dream," Konrad said. 

"I've read that fevers can cause strange dreams," Mortarion said. "Some of them can get really vivid."

"True," Malcador said. He had had some strange fever dreams on other occasions. "This was probably one of those fever dreams."

"That's good," Angron said. "The things you were describing seemed to have little honor."

"The Knight Houses don't have honor?" Fulgrim asked.

"They do," Angron said. "The Knight Houses are normal humans who pilot the Knights to do more than what a normal human could do. They can also engage in close combat, these didn't seem to do that."

"It doesn't really matter," Ferrus said. "They were just a strange figment of Malcador's imagination. Something that his fevered mind dragged up."

"Ferrus is right," Roboute said. "They aren't real."

"Even less honor then," Angron said with smile. Malcador managed a chuckle at the exchange. Magnus clearly didn't like how Malcador sounded, but he waited for Malcador to tell him he could get the medicae. 

"Alright, Magnus," Malcador said after a few more moments. "You can get the medicae. I was hoping that i was just feeling the effects of sleeping in the chair."

"I'll be right back, Uncle Malcador," Magnus said, putting a hand over Malcador's. He then departed to retrieve a medicae from the Apothicarion. Malcador sagged deeper into the chair, placing the back of one hand on his forehead.

"Jaghatai," Malcador sighed. "Can you wet a towel in the sink and bring it back here?"

"Yes," Jaghatai said and trotted off to the kitchen. He returned shortly with a damp towel he had found. "Here you go, Malcador."

"Thank you," Malcador said. "Fold it into fourths, please." Jaghatai did as requested, and presented the folded towel to Malcador, who took it and placed it low on his forehead, so that it hung over his eyes. 

"What are you doing?" Mortarion asked.

"I'm trying to cool off a bit before Magnus gets back with the medicae," Malcador said. "I'm also finding that the lights are a bit too bright for me right now."

"We can lower the lights," Konrad said. "Darkness doesn't bother us."

"The medicae will appreciate being able to see though," the Lion said. "We can turn the lights down, or off, after the medicae leaves."

"Lion is right," Malcador said. 

Magnus returned several minutes later with a medicae in tow. As she approached Malcador, Rogal snagged Malcador's book so that she could put her medikit on the table. Magnus took the book and put it back where he had found it. The medicae began her examination, the Primarchs gathered to one side, waiting for the verdict. 

"You are quite sick, my lord," she said gently. "I have nothing that will fix you quickly."

"You have something that will help him, right?" Magnus asked. The medicae nodded. 

"I do," she said. "It'll just take more than a day, my lord."

"Well, let's start the treatment then," Malcador said. "Do I have to drink anything? I don't think I can keep anything down right now."

"No, my lord," the medicae said. "I can give you an injection for now. There will be some pills that you will need to take, but you can start those when you feel a bit stronger."

"Very well," Malcador sighed. He shared the same fear of needles that most people had had for several thousand years. "Where will this injection be?"

"It'll be in your arm, lord," she said. "Could you either roll up your sleeve or take your arm out of it?"

"I think so," Malcador said. "If I can't quite, you have eighteen assistants who will be happy to help."

"It would seem so, lord," the medicae said with a titter of laughter. Malcador managed to free his arm from his sleeve without any difficulty. 

"If your legs are as pale as your arms, they are paler than me," Corvus said. Konrad had turned away, though mostly as a joke.

"They are," Malcador said, his chuckle was cut short as the medicae gave him the injection. "Ouch."

"Sorry, lord," she said. "It's said that it doesn't hurt as much when it's unanticipated."

"That makes sense," Lorgar said. "It's not a major break of the skin, so it should hurt less when the mind is engaged elsewhere. Sort of like how warriors in the field don't feel their injuries until after the fight is over."

"Indeed, lord," she said with a nod and a smile in Lorgar's direction. 

"It didn't work this time though," Malcador said, resisting the urge to rub at the injection site. He knew that wouldn't do any good. 

"That should take effect soon, lord," the medicae said. "I'll have the pills sent up to you in a bit. I will need to get an appropriate set up first."

"Very well," Malcador said, he sounded drowsy, the medicae gathered the things she had pulled from her medikit. He was asleep again before she was done. 

"The pills he is to take should be here within the next two hours," the medicae said. "Please make sure he starts taking them when he wakes, there will be dosing instructions with the medication."

"We will," Horus said. "Thank you for treating him."

"He'll get better, right?" Magnus asked.

"He will, lord," she said. "He's quite strong for someone his age."

"Yes, he is," Mortarion said. The medicae departed. They turned the lights down and removed the towel when it was dry. It was nearly two hours before there was another knock on the door. Sanguinius retrieved the medication from the messenger who had brought them from the Apothecarion. 

The Primarchs held a brief debate about waking Malcador when the medication arrived, but decided that they would let Malcador sleep until he woke on his own. 

"If we were adults, or even a bit older, we could carry him back to his bed," Corvus said. 

"The real issue isn't age, it's height," Vulkan said. "I'm tall enough to get him out of the chair, but it'll take more than just me to carry him."

"True," Corvus said. "That's more what I meant by being adults or older."

Malcador woke some time after the medication arrived. Magnus brought him a cup of water and the medication along with the instructions. Malcador took the medication, and leaned back again. It was nearing the end of the day, and he felt no better than he had that morning. This annoyed him, but he knew that the Emperor would be displeased with him if he tried to work the next day. 

The Emperor arrived at the end of the day as he promised. He found the Primarchs packing up the various activities they had brought. Malcador had set the recliner back into a chair, though he hadn't stood quite yet.

"Any better?" the Emperor asked, though he could tell that Malcador wasn't likely to be working the next day.

"No," Malcador grumbled. "Magnus had to get a medicae to see me. I'll likely be out again tomorrow."

"All to the better then," the Emperor said. "I want you better, not forcing yourself."

"Yes, lord," Malcador said, though he didn't look happy about it.

"Good night, Malcador," the Primarchs chorused as they departed.

"Who will be with Uncle Malcador tomorrow?" Magnus asked. The Primarchs had Nova the next day. 

"I'll find someone," the Emperor said. "I can talk with Valdor about it."

"Besides, whoever is with him tomorrow only has to stay until we get home," Horus said. "We can come back while Father finishes up his day."

"You will still need to do your homework," the Emperor said. "Otherwise, I do not see a reason for you to not visit Malcador."

***************************************

Malcador summoned his staff to him so that he could use it as leverage to stand from the chair. He then went to bed, hoping that he would feel better in the morning. He didn't notice much of a difference when he woke. 

He made it to his chair, and sat down. He felt like this day would be worse, mostly because he was going to be lonely. He had heard the Emperor say that he would have someone come up, but they were more likely to guard the door from the outside, making sure no one disturbed him. 

It shouldn't have bothered him, he knew. Much of his life had been spent alone, before he joined with the Emperor that was. However, he wasn't alone very often anymore, there was almost always people to meet and things to tend to. There were times when the entire day, dawn to dusk, would be stolen from him by the demands of the Imperium. That happened most frequently when the Emperor was off planet. 

There was a knock at the door, and Malcador hauled himself out of his chair to answer it. He had appreciated having the Primarchs to answer the door for him yesterday. He hoped it wasn't Baxter back again. Baxter had been the functionary that Roboute had had problems with the previous day. To Malcador's great relief, it wasn't. 

"Hello, lord," Lyn said. She was the female functionary that Roboute had spoken with before Baxter showed up. She had Freki and Geri on leashes. "I've been ordered to keep you company until the Lord Primarchs come back from tutorium. Lord Russ insisted that I bring Freki and Geri with me."

"Hopefully they will behave," Malcador said. He stepped back to allow Lyn in. Freki and Geri came in before her, sniffing about. They were housebroken, but there was only a small balcony for them to use. 

"I hope so too, lord," Lyn said as she stumbled inside. She dropped the leashes, allowing for Freki and Geri to roam freely about Malcador's residence. The two found the door that lead to the balcony, and then worked their way around, heading for the kitchen.

"Hey!" Lyn called in a sharp voice. "Stay out of there!" The wolf pups looked at her, and then noticed that Malcador was seated. Freki moved forward, and claimed first turn on Malcador.

"I didn't think you sat on anyone not Leman," Malcador said as Freki settled in. 

"Do you want me to get him off of you, lord?" Lyn asked, surprised by Freki's action.

"No," Malcador said. "He's fine, as long as he keeps his face out of mine. They both have the worst dog breath of any animals I have ever encountered."

Lyn wasn't sure if she should laugh at that, but she did smile. Malcador waved her to a seat. Freki nosed Malcador's idle hand, so he began to scratch the pup behind the ear.

"I hope you brought things to do," Malcador said. "I'm likely to sleep off and on throughout the day."

"I have tasks that I'm to do when you don't have anything for me to do, lord," she said. 

"You may as well set about them," Malcador said. "I'll let you know if I need anything."

"Very well, lord," Lyn said and set about the tasks the Emperor had told her to do about Malcador's residence.

The day seemed to drag by for Malcador. Freki and Geri swapped while he was sleeping. He was only dimly aware of Lyn going throughout the residence, doing whatever tasks she had been told to do. He was almost happy when he heard the Primarchs through the door. Lyn was a functionary, and most of them were terrified of him, so her company was only slightly better than being alone.

"Hi, Uncle Malcador!" Magnus called when Lyn opened the door for them. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Some, I think," Malcador replied.

"You don't sound as bad," Vulkan said. "That's good, right?"

"It should be good," Mortarion said. 

"Is Geri sitting on you?" Leman asked, he seemed almost as suprised as Malcador had been at first.

"Yes, Freki was on me earlier," Malcador said. "I was surprised too."

"They sit on other people when you aren't around," Sanguinius said. "They sit on me when I'm home for molting. They just get off to greet you when they hear the Thunderhawk."

"Really?" Leman asked.

"Yeah," Sanguinius said. "You've never noticed the wolf hair on me before?"

"No," Leman admitted, he still seemed very surprised by this revelation. 

"I do have a task for you, when I'm better," Malcador said, looking at Leman. "You're going to get all the wolf hair out of my chair."

"Yes, Malcador," Leman said with a smile. "Did you like having them with you today?"

"Yes," Malcador admitted. "It was rather nice to have them with me." Lyn had departed when the Primarchs had all entered.

"Good wolves," Leman said. Freki came over, and sat on Leman. Magnus chuckled at the sight. Geri stayed on Malcador.  

"Did you already do your homework?" Malcador asked. 

"We brought our homework with us," the Lion said. "Father said it was alright as long as it gets done."

"You better be about it then," Malcador said, smiling. It was nice to have the Primarchs back again, even if it was only for a few hours. The Primarchs worked around Malcador, much as they had the previous day.

"Did anything exciting happen while you were at school?" Malcador asked.

"They announced that there's going to be a dance," Fulgrim said. He was quite excited about it. The Lion and Corvus didn't seem to share Fulgrim's enthusiasm. 

"Well, that will be different," Malcador said. He had a decent memory of a school dance that he went to when he was a boy. It had been quite awkward.

"Father says we are all going to go," Corvus said. 

"It's a good experience for you," Malcador said. Corvus didn't look terribly convinced, but he kept quiet.

"I'd rather skip it, too," the Lion said. "Though I think Nasturi will be here with Naydeea."

"That makes it worse," Corvus said. Malcador chuckled, he knew about how the two girls had crushes on the Lion and Corvus. The Primarchs turned back to their homework, and the room fell quiet. Malcador smiled to himself, happy to have the Primarchs around him. He hated being lonely, which reminded him of life before the Imperium. It was also nice to watch the Primarchs grow, and go through some of the things that he had gone through himself.

The Emperor entered a few hours later. The Primarchs had finished their homework, and had moved on to other activities. Freki and Geri had swapped places. The Emperor chuckled when he saw Malcador.

"How are you feeling today?" the Emperor asked Malcador.

"Better," Malcador said. "Thank you for sending Lyn to keep me company while the Primarchs were at school."

"There's no reason to thank me," the Emperor said. "They were the ones who were concerned about you being lonely."

"That's why I had Freki and Geri come up too," Leman said. "I don't always get along well with you, but I didn't want you to be alone."

"I do appreciate that, Leman," Malcador said with a smile. "You still need to clean the wolf hairs out of my chair."

"I wasn't trying to get out of it," Leman said. "I was explaining why they were here in the first place."

"You were trying to get out of it," Malcador said with a laugh. "You were just trying to be sneaky about it." Leman ducked his head.

"Come on, Freki," Leman called to the white pup. "It's time to go."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Malcador," the Emperor said as he lead his sons out.