Horus looked silently at the seat where Mortarion had just sat. Mortarion's tall and thin figure seemed to still be there, looking at the chessboard.
Which step went wrong
Horus prided himself on knowing his brothers' personalities well, and even someone as stubborn as Dorn acknowledged Horus's outstanding talent in interpersonal communication, but why, why didn't it work this time
Horus reviewed every step he had taken and realized that Mortarion had made an anomaly in the area of "past mistakes".
Then came the sudden departure, avoidance and concealment.
Before this, everything was under the control of Horus, the rhythm was controlled by him, and Mortarion gradually released his kindness under his guidance.
So what happened
Horus knew that the planet where Mortarion had landed was an extremely harsh place. Could it be that his brother had made a mistake there that he could not face
Perhaps he had led a failed campaign, or perhaps he had caused the death of a friend due to negligence? Horus could only make simple guesses.
Perhaps he had been too hasty, Horus thought, and dealing with Mortarion might require a slower and gentler approach.
Then he would change his strategy towards Mortarion next time. Mortarion's rude behavior just now did not annoy Horus. Instead, it made Horus more eager to bring his brother back on the "normal" track. Of course, he was willing and must help his brothers.
This is Horus' kindness, but also his vanity. True feelings and selfishness are mixed together, but the actions remain unchanged.
Horus, who had figured it out, called Ezekiel and Seganus into the house, and asked the servitor to clear away the unpleasant poisonous gas that was echoing in the reception room. It seemed that these chairs and tables contaminated with poisonous gas needed to be replaced with new ones. Horus thought with some displeasure that these were the furniture he had selected personally after all.
Why would his brother add poison gas to his own breathing mask? Horus felt that he was even more curious about Mortarion.
Abaddon and Seganus walked in, and Horus casually asked them about the information on the Death Guard that they had gathered from Hades.
Unlike Mortarion, the Death Guard was quite talkative through the mouths of the two Moon Wolves, and Horus couldn't help but think that it would be nice if Mortarion was like that, which would at least make their communication just now smoother.
The deck of the Endurance.
Horus stood on the grey deck of the Death Guard, looking at his brother with some embarrassment.
Mortarion was standing not far from Horus. On the deck, there were countless Death Guards lined up to welcome him. But Horus' intuition told him that Mortarion had deployed some other beings in a hidden corner of the Death Guard deck.
"My brother, what are you doing?"
The reconnaissance team from Druun had brought the latest intelligence, but Horus insisted on discussing tactics with his brother face to face. Mortarion naturally rejected this proposal again and again, but after all, he could not convince Horus, so Mortarion had to reluctantly agree to this request.
But the prerequisite is that he must be on the Endurance. Mortarion does not want to go on the Blade of Vengeance. Even though Hades has repeatedly assured him that there is no problem with the current Moon Wolf, Mortarion still does not relax his bottom line.
At least not now. Mortarion couldn't chat and laugh with others on a ship that could fall at any time and that he couldn't control.
So Horus stood abruptly on the deck of the Death Guard, sandwiched between a group of Death Guards who seemed to be welcoming but were actually on guard. Mortarion did not invite him into the Death Guard's strategy room, and the two just looked at each other from a distance.
The wind was strong on deck.
Normally in this situation, even the kindest wolf god would be furious and feel offended by Mortarion, but Horus knew that Mortarion had been quite friendly towards him before he asked that question.
In a sense, it was a mistake in Horus's rhetoric strategy that led to Mortarion treating him like this, so Horus endured it.
Then Horus saw Mortarion coming towards him reluctantly.
"Sorry, my brother, I did get a little anxious last time."
Mortarion said it reluctantly, but he said it anyway. From now on, he would have to engage in necessary hypocrisy.
Mortarion doesn't like this. He doesn't like the feeling of being deceived, and he usually chooses to refuse communication directly.
The mumbling admonitions from Hades in the private channel finally stopped.
But Horus didn't know this. Mortarion's apology was a good start for the Wolf God. Horus smiled heartily and stepped forward to give him a welcome hug.
"No."
Mortarion took a step back, his right hand slightly moving towards the Dark Lantern at his waist, but the Primarch stopped this subconscious action in time.
"No need, I know you mean well, brother, I know."
Horus awkwardly put his hands outward in a helpless gesture. Mortarion seemed to realize that his refusal just now was inappropriate, so Mortarion stretched out his left hand.
"Welcome to the Endurance."
Horus smiled knowingly and reached out his hand to shake Mortarion's. Just like the Primarch himself, Mortarion's hands were cold and prickly.
Compared to Horus who thought it was a casual welcome, Mortarion took it very seriously.
"Welcome my brother."
Mortarion looked at Horus. The wolf-god was still "good" and could be trusted.
But only for now, Mortarion cannot let the present overdraft the future.
[The defense leading to the strategy room has been set up. ]
Hades' voice sounded in the communication channel. Mortarion took a few breaths silently and decided to take Horus aboard his mothership.
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(End of this chapter)