Kor Phaeron

Lorgar was having a hard time falling asleep. He had an important meeting with a man from Colchis the next day. The man's name was Kor Phaeron, and he wanted to join the Word Bearers. This wouldn't have been a problem if he hadn't been too old to receive the gene-seed. The Word Bearers weren't the keenest on having augmented humans in their ranks. Someone in Kor Phaeron's position needed to have approval from Lorgar before they could join the Legion as an augmented human.
Kor Phaeron was the first to actually make the trip from Colchis to Terra for the approval. There were a few other augmented humans in the ranks of the Word Bearers, but they had used astropathic messages to get their approval. However, that didn't seem to be good enough for Kor Phaeron. It sat oddly with Lorgar. His word was his word, it shouldn't matter what method was used to get it.
The Emperor had a tradition of checking on his sons when he went to bed later than them, which was often. He would start in the back, with Ferrus, and move towards his room. Lorgar was still awake when the Emperor got to his room. He blinked owlishly when the Emperor slid the door open.
"Something on your mind, Lorgar?" the Emperor asked quietly.
"I've been thinking about this meeting with Kor Phaeron tomorrow," Lorgar said. "I think I'm nervous."
"It's alright to be nervous," the Emperor said. "This is an important meeting for both of you." Neither the Emperor nor Malcador were available to go with Lorgar due to other duties. The set up for this meeting also meant that Lorgar didn't have the time to debate the proper course of action with either.
"What if he's bad for the Legion?" Lorgar asked. "I don't have the foresight of some of the others."
"You don't need foresight to determine that," the Emperor said. "If you don't think he'll work, then don't allow him in. Your word is final in this."
"True, but what if I'm wrong?" Lorgar asked.
"There is that chance," the Emperor said. "However, you not allowing for his augmentation doesn't mean that he can't be a part of the Legion as a serf. If he has anything to offer the Word Bearers, that would be enough."
"Thanks, Father," Lorgar said. "You're the best."
"Good night, Lorgar," the Emperor said with a smile as he headed out, making sure to close the door behind him.

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

The morning came too quickly for Lorgar's liking. He got dressed in his formal Legion robes. They were fairly simple, grey robes with designs at the edges. Fulgrim thought (quite loudly) that they were too plain for a Primarch, but Lorgar liked them. 

He headed out to the room where he was to meet Kor Phaeron. Squaring his shoulders, he held his breath a moment before letting it out. As prepared as he was going to be, he entered the room. 

Kor Phaeron was there before him, that had been intentional on Lorgar's part. A small test of patience for someone who had come such a long way. It also allowed him to feel more in control of the situation. 

"When will the Primarch see me?" Kor Phaeron snapped at Lorgar.

"I am Lorgar Aurelian, Primarch of the Word Bearers," Lorgar said, trying to hide his surprise at Kor Phaeron's tone.

"Do not lie to me," Kor Phaeron said, clearly angry.

"I do not lie," Lorgar said. "It serves no purpose here."

Kor Phaeron slapped Lorgar. It didn't hurt, but it did startle him. He had never been struck in such a manner. The Custodians would only tap them during combat training, and the Emperor had never hit any of his sons. Kor Phaeron, however, had meant to hurt him with that strike.

"Get the Primarch, now," Kor Phaeron snarled. Lorgar backed towards the door, trying to hold back the tears he felt stinging the corners of his eyes. Tears were the last thing he wanted right then, they would show his weakness.

"Don't make me repeat myself, slave!" Kor Phaeron shouted. Lorgar turned and bolted from the room.

Lorgar ran, not paying attention to where he went; he just wanted to get away. He was finding it hard to see through the tears that were now streaming down his face. His flight was stopped abruptly when he ran into Malcador.

"S-s-s-sorry, M-m-mal-malcador," Lorgar sobbed, trying to dodge around the Sigillite and continue down the hallway. Malcador prevented that by pulling Lorgar into a hug. The Primarch broke and began to cry freely, leaning against Malcador.

"You're alright," Malcador said in a soothing voice. "What's wrong?"

"H-h-he hi-hit me," Lorgar sobbed.

"Who hit you?" Malcador asked, though he was suspicious as to who.

"K-kor Ph-phaeron," Lorgar said. His sobs were subsiding.

"The Colchisian that wants your approval to join the Word Bearers?" Malcador asked. Lorgar nodded, as fresh sobs struck him.

"Why did he hit you?" Malcador asked.

"He didn't b-believe th-that I-I-I'm the Primarch," Lorgar said. "H-he wa-wants m-me t-to get the P-primarch."

"You are the Primarch," Malcador said. "What does he want of you?"

"I d-don't know," Lorgar said.

"Where were you going?" Malcador asked. Now that he had the knew what was wrong, he decided to make Lorgar feel better.

"I don't know," Lorgar admitted.

"Then how do you know if you've gotten there?" Malcador asked. Lorgar gave Malcador an odd glance.

"I don't know," Lorgar repeated, with the barest hint of a grin.

"Well, what are you going to do about this Kor Phaeron?" Malcador asked.

"I'm not sure," Lorgar said. "It doesn't seem like a good thing if he can't recognize the Primarch he was wanting to see. On the other hand, he shows tenacity by coming this whole way, and it takes something to hit anyone even just claiming to be a Primarch."

"Those are points," Malcador said. "But not a conclusion."

"He's volatile," Lorgar continued. "That can be very useful if controlled."

"Can you, or the Word Bearers control him?" Malcador asked.

"Maybe," Lorgar said. "The Legion should be able to contain him."

“It sounds like you have reached a conclusion,” Malcador said.

“I think so too,” Lorgar said. The look of confidence froze and Lorgar’s nerves came back in force. “Now, I need to tell him my decision.”

“Is he going to dislike your decision?” Malcador asked.

“Not likely,” Lorgar said. “But he might not like me coming back in the room.”

“I can come with you now,” Malcador said. “He won’t strike you again if I’m in the room with you.”

“You can?” Lorgar asked, only half-way aware of the second part of Malcador’s statement.

“Yes,” Malcador said. “My meetings are over for now.”

“Please, come with me?” Lorgar asked, looking up hopefully.

“Of course,” Malcador said. “Let’s go tell this Kor Phaeron his fate.”

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

Kor Phaeron was pacing the room when the two entered the room. The Colchisian spun around when the door opened. His anger flared again quickly upon seeing Lorgar, and Malcador behind him.

“That is NOT the Primarch of the Word Bearers,” Kor Phaeron snapped. “That is the Sigillite, what do you take me for?” 

“I am Lorgar,” Lorgar said. “I am the Primarch you seek.”

“You try my patience sorely, child,” Kor Phaeron growled. He took a menacing step towards Lorgar. Lorgar shrank back and Malcador stepped forward.

“What do you think you are doing?” Malcador asked sharply.

“I am going to punish that foolish slave child for bothering you instead of getting the Primarch,” Kor Phaeron said in a manner of fact tone. He went to step around Malcador, only to be blocked by Malcador’s staff.

“What makes you think the child is a slave and not the Primarch he professes to be?” Malcador asked.

“Because the Primarchs are supposed to be eight years old,” Kor Phaeron said. “Not a child.”

“You forget yourself,” Malcador said. “The ages of the Primarchs are reckoned by the Terran standard year, as it is the standard dating system of the Imperium. That means they are still young children.”

“That is not what eight means on Colchis,” Kor Phaeron said obstinately.

“Then it is your fault for forgetting such a thing,” Malcador said. “You have struck the Primarch you wish to serve. What do you have to say for yourself in that light?"

Kor Phaeron looked at Lorgar with an expression that clearly said he wasn't convinced. Lorgar had straightened again, trying his best to look the part of the warrior leader. It was hard for him, because he wanted to be so much more than just a general. 

"If you weren't the Sigillite I would think you were lying to me," Kor Phaeron said after a long pause. "Not for the boy being a child, but because he doesn't look strong enough to be a Primarch."

"I was not hurt when you struck me," Lorgar said. "I was shocked, but nothing more. What of yourself?"

"My hand did pain me after I struck you," Kor Phaeron admitted. "But that does not mean that you are strong."

"I will grow into my strength," Lorgar asserted.

"None of that makes you a leader," Kor Phaeron insisted.

"I may not be the leader you want me to be yet," Lorgar said. "However, I am learning to be more than just a leader of soldiers. I plan to be the leader of people."

"That is all well and good," Kor Phaeron said. "However, you aren't there yet."

"True," Lorgar said. "But I will as I grow. As it is, I am enough of a leader to decide your fate."

"And what is your decision?" Kor Phaeron asked. He still had not addressed Lorgar in a respectful manner. Malcador didn't approve of that, but allowed for Lorgar to reveal Kor Phaeron's fate himself.

"I have decided to allow you into the Legion," Lorgar said. "You will need to learn to control your volatility in order to function with your new brothers in arms. They will help you if you will allow them to. However, this status can be revoked should you disrespect those set over you."

"Very well, lord," Kor Phaeron said stiffly. He then turned around and headed out.

"That was not the decision I was expecting," Malcador said, turning to Lorgar after the door shut behind Kor Phaeron. 

"It wasn't?" Lorgar asked. "In a bad way?"

"Not necessarily," Malcador said. "It's just not the conclusion I reached from the points you gave me. What made you decide to allow him in?"

"A saying that Magnus found once," Lorgar said. "'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.'"

"A good saying," Malcador said. "So, which is Kor Phaeron? I doubt friend as he hit you."

"Currently he's neither," Lorgar said. "However, he could be turned into one or the other. Either way he bears watching, and the Word Bearers are the best place for him to be closely monitored."

"That does make a lot of sense," Malcador said. Lorgar smiled at that, certain that it was praise.

"So you think I made the right choice?" Lorgar asked.

"The future isn't my area of expertise," Malcador said. "However, if you think it was the right choice, than it likely was."

"Thanks for coming back with me, Malcador," Lorgar said. "Even though you had to delay some of your meetings."

"Why do you think I did that?" Malcador asked, eyebrow raised.

"Because I know that you weren't really done with your meetings," Lorgar said. "You told me before today that you wouldn't be free until after the noon break."

"You are right," Malcador said with a chuckle. "However, you needed the moral support for this meeting."

"That's true," Lorgar said. "I hope Roboute doesn't find out about this. It's kind of embarrassing."

"Roboute doesn't need to know anything beyond whether you chose to let Kor Phaeron into the Word Bearers or not," Malcador said. "Besides, he shouldn't give you any problems over that."

"I guess not," Lorgar said. "Especially not with the way he reacts to spiders."

"Has Konrad gotten a new rubber spider?" Malcador asked, escorting Lorgar out of the meeting room. He had people waiting on him, but they could wait a bit longer.

"Not yet," Lorgar said. "Or at least not as far as I know. Hopefully he just goes for a rubber one, and doesn't get Cawl to make him one."

"That would be a very bad thing," Malcador said with a laugh. Lorgar chuckled as well, relaxing now that his business with Kor Phaeron was over.