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they could react to his presence。 Next time； he knew he might not be so lucky。 He rounded two
corners in quick succession； and heard a great crash behind him as the Chaos Space Marine lost
control and slammed into a wall。 For the first time； Blonsky had a few seconds’ grace； and he knew
he couldn’t wait for a better chance。 He chose a door at random； and found himself in a banqueting
hall； decorated in rich shades of brown and red with tapestries hanging from the walls。
He had intended to find a hiding place； and hope that the Chaos Space Marine went past。 He had
known that this was a long shot； but it was the best he had had。 He got lucky； again。 There were
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more doors out of the room； on opposite walls at its far end。 He hurried to one of them； and was
turning the handle as the main door was smashed open； quivering on its hinges。
The Chaos Space Marine leapt into the room； propelling himself over the table。 Blonsky didn’t
wait for him to land。 He raced through a small kitchen and out into another passageway； worried
that he was starting to lose his bearings； that he might not be able to find his way out。 As if that was
the worst of his problems。
He had gained some distance on the Chaos Marine； but it was still behind him。 He could still
hear its footsteps。 It just kept on coming。
There were fewer heretics on their heels than Palinev had feared。
He didn’t stop to ask why； he just counted his blessings。 He suspected that the explosion he had
heard a moment ago； the distinctive burst of a frag grenade； might have had something to do with it。
He didn’t stop to wonder what had happened to Pozhar； why he hadn’t followed his comrades out of
the courtyard； because he guessed he would not like the answer。
Anyway； there were still some heretics out here — cultists and a few Traitor Guardsmen who
had escaped before the Ice Warriors had； who were starting to regain their senses； to gather and to
talk； and to look for the threat in their midst。
And they found it。
“It’s him！” a cultist screamed； pointing at Steele； her finger trembling。 Then her eyes turned to
Confessor Wollkenden； still unconscious； slung over Grayle’s shoulder。 “It’s both of them。 The
sacrifices！ They’re escaping with the sacrifices！ They—”
Palinev shot her through the head； but it was too late。 More cultists were coming at them with
knives； while others hung back； shouldering lasguns。 They must have looked like easy pickings；
Steele still leaning on Palinev’s shoulder； Grayle encumbered by Wollkenden。 But Steele was not as
helpless as he seemed。 He seized two incoming cultists by their robes； smashed their heads together；
thrust them into the path of the first las…beams。
Taking advantage of their temporary human shields； the Ice Warriors ducked into a side
passageway — but it came to a dead end； a few metres along。
Steele snatched Grayle’s lasgun from him and ordered him to keep back； to keep Wollkenden
out of the line of fire。 Palinev was already strafing the corridor behind them； discouraging the
heretics from approaching； forcing them to run for cover。 As his power pack ran dry； Steele took his
place and continued the barrage。 Palinev reloaded and was able to relieve the colonel in turn。
“We can’t keep this up；” Steele grumbled。 “The longer we’re pinned down here； the more
attention we’ll draw。 And once that Chaos Space Marine gets wind of our location…” He didn’t
have to complete the sentence。
“Can we burn through the walls？” asked Palinev。
“I doubt it；” said Grayle。 “We could try； but remember the glacier； remember how it re…formed
around the Termite。”
Palinev was firing into an empty passageway。 He eased his finger off the trigger； thinking to
conserve power — and immediately； four Traitor Guardsmen rushed his position。 He fired in
concert with Steele； counting them down； one； two； three… but the last of them refused to fall。 It
just kept on advancing。
The fourth traitor had hung back； using his fellows as cover so that only when he was almost
upon the Ice Warriors did they have a clear shot at him。 Their beams glanced off his flak jacket；
failing to score that critical hit — and Palinev could see behind the traitor the shapes of more of his
kind beginning to rise； to crane forward； ready to advance as soon as he engaged the enemy。
They were to be disappointed。 The traitor staggered up to the corner； raised his gun； collapsed
and died at Palinev’s feet。
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Steele strafed the corridor for another few seconds； then turned to his two troopers。 “This is what
we’re going to do；” he said。 “How many frag grenades do you have left between you？ We’re going
to pitch the whole damn lot of them out there； at the heretics； bring down the roof if we can。 And
then we’re going to run like hell in the other direction。 Palinev； you must know where we’re going；
you take point。 Grayle； behind him； with Wollkenden。 I’ll bring up the rear； lay down covering fire；
make sure that anyone who survives the explosion doesn’t dare so much as glance after us。”
“I should take the rear； sir；” said Grayle。 “It’s too dangerous for—”
“Those are my orders； trooper；” interrupted Steele。
“At least take my greatcoat。 Yours is in shreds。 One bull’s…eye from a lasgun and—”
Steele shook his head。 'You have the most important job of any of us。 I’m not strong enough yet
to carry the confessor。 You have to protect him。 We move on my mark。 Three； two； one… Palinev；
do you hear that？”
Palinev did hear it； although his ears were a second behind the colonel’s。 “Gunfire； sir。 To the
right of us。 It must be the others。 They had to come this way too。 They must have come up behind
the heretics； taken them by surprise。”
Steele considered that news for a moment； then a tight smile pulled at his lips and he hefted
Grayle’s lasgun。 “In that case；” he said； “change of plan。”
Anakora had known it wouldn’t be easy。 No matter how much confusion； how many distractions；
the Ice Warriors could cause； no matter how good their disguises nor how skilled they were； she had
not expected to get out of the Ice Palace without a fight。
Already they appeared to have lost Blonsky； having abandoned their sniping positions up above；
she and Gavotski had planned to meet him at the base of a flight of stairs。 They had waited as long
as they could。
They had set off running at first； but slowed down as they had begun to run into heretics from
the courtyard。 They had tried to look less like they had an urgent purpose； less like they were trying
to get out。 Anakora’s stomach had tightened as a squad of Traitor Guardsmen had rushed out of a
side passageway into their path； but they had drawn their cultists’ robes around themselves； bowed
their heads and kept their cool； and the traitors had hurried right on by。
Not long after that； their path had converged with those of Barreski and Mikhaelev； and Anakora
was glad that two comrades at least had made it this far。
And then they had heard las…fire； and she had feared the worst。
A score of heretics had gathered at a four…way junction； and more were rushing up to join them
from all directions。 No one had questioned the arrival of what they took to be four more
reinforcements to their cause。 The heretics were laying siege to an opening in the wall a few metres
away； being kept at bay only by a volley of las…fire from said opening。 Anakora had guessed who
was wielding the guns； even before she had caught a glimpse of Colonel Steele’s face。
A dark…skinned Traitor Guardsman with narrow eyes and pinched nostrils had taken command。
He was barking out orders： “Hold your fire！ Let the Emperor…lovers discharge their power packs；
then they’ll be defenceless。”
Gavotski moved up behind him； tapped him on the shoulder — and the traitor turned to find
himself staring down a gun barrel。 A las…beam stabbed into his right eye and fried his brain。 The
other three Ice Warriors took this as their cue to act。 Anakora took another traitor by surprise and slit
his throat with her knife。 Barreski tried to do likewise； but his chosen victim had faster reflexes and
was able to throw off his hold。 And Mikhaelev was firing his lasgun on full auto； apparently
indiscriminately； creating the maximum amount of panic。
As in the courtyard； the cultists were confused； terrified by this sudden threat in their midst； by
the loss of their leader。 Some of them fled。 But others chose to fight back。
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At first； the Ice Warriors had the advantage。 The cultists still weren’t quite sure who their
enemies were； which of the robed figures around them they could trust； to whom they could turn
their backs。 It made them fight with one eye over their shoulders； which proved to be the downfall
of many of them。 Anakora bludgeoned two to the ground with her fists； and gutted a third with her
blade。 She smiled to herself as a disoriented cultist plunged a knife into a friend’s ribs。 His fellows
interpreted his mistake as an act of treachery and fell upon him。
The Traitor Guardsmen； however — the few that remained — were more perceptive； zeroing in
on their true foes。 Anakora found herself in a knife fight with one； straining to get her blade past his
defences； aware that every second he could keep her occupied was a second longer for his allies to
rally。
Sure enough； she felt hands grasping at her from behind； an arm around her throat； and she was
held by two cultists。 If they had been armed； she would have been dead already。 But the Traitor
Guardsman did have a knife； and Anakora’s arms were pinned so that all she could do to defend
herself was to kick out at him； at the same time pushing backwards； trying to slam her captors into
the wall； to make them release their grips。 Out of the corner of her eye； she saw that Mikhaelev was
in trouble too； forced onto his knees。
And then； once again； the tide of battle turned — as Colonel Steele and Palinev broke cover and
came racing onto the scene with guns blazing。
They were running again。
Somehow they always seemed to be running — and Gavotski’s lungs were burning； his legs
aching； and he began to wonder if he was finally getting too old for this。
They had disengaged from the melee as soon as they were able； knowing that they couldn’t win
that fight； that their enemies’ numbers would just keep on growing。 There were Traitor Guardsmen
at their heels； sending las…beams after them。 The Ice Warriors were returning fire as best they could。
Barreski and Grayle； both of whom seemed to have lost their guns； were carrying Wollkenden。
And as they hurried past a junction； Gavotski saw a robed figure barrelling down the connecting
corridor towards them。 He whirled； brought up his lasgun… and the figure skidded to a halt； threw
up his hands and whipped back his hood； to reveal the flushed face of Trooper Blonsky。
“He… he’s behind me！” the new arrival panted； gesturing over his shoulder。
And there he was now： the Chaos Space Marine； stumbling into view just a couple of hundred
metres behind Blonsky； raising a bolt pistol。 Gavotski grabbed his exhausted comrade； bundled him
around the corner； and pushed him off after the others。 He hurled a frag grenade at the Chaos Marine
in the hope of at least slowing him down； and then he followed at full pelt。
They returned； at last； to the stone cellar through which they had entered the Ice Palace an hour
ago。 Anakora and Mikhaelev took up positions in the doorway； firing out into the corridor； as the
others negotiated the slippery steps and began to squeeze themselves； one by one； through the hole
in the wall。
This rearguard action would buy them time； but not much。 Gavotski knew that once the Chaos
Space Marine caught up with them； his two comrades would have no choice but to fall back。
He helped Grayle feed Wollkenden through the hole headfirst； to Barreski and Palinev on the far
side； below。 Then he wriggled through himself； and dropped down into the sewer tunnel。 Colonel
Steele hadn’t seen this side of Iota Hive before； and he was inspecting his surroundings in the glow
of his comrades’ lamp…packs。
Palinev set off along the narrow brick ledge； Barreski and Grayle hauling Wollkenden along
after him。 Steele shouted at them to wait。 “We need to head for the sp