Editing Meet the Primarchs (Warhammer High) (section)

==Meeting Horus==
Sam glanced up at the large mansion before him, and despite himself felt a chill of trepidation.  It stood at the top of the rise, its presence imposing, dominating. No one could move within miles without noticing it. It was large, almost unnaturally so. A large lawn with an entire small forest and surprisingly flowers as well surrounded it, which brightened the garden magnificently. The lawn was surrounded by a fortified wall, but the wall was not over the top as some of the other Primarch’s homes had, like Peturabo’s or Dorn’s. The wall had a row of decorative spikes along the top in the shape of crescent moons and slitted eyes. The house itself was pearl white with Cthonian glyphs carved into the walls, a black roof, and above the main entrance, the massive form of the Eye of Terra, the Eye of Horus, ever watching.

Its gaze was unnerving and reminded Sam that he had to get a move on, so he took a deep breath, walked through the front gates and approached the front door. Calming himself, he pushed the doorbell. After a few minutes, he heard footsteps, and then the door finally opened.

“You made it! Glad you are on time, my dad likes punctuality.” Isis said smiling and giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Inwardly, Sam winced. He had heard tales from his friends about what had happened when boys had met the Royal Daughter’s fathers. While some had been lucky, many had been scared badly and refused to talk about what happened.

That would not happen to him, Sam decided. He would stand up for himself, and he would impress the Warmaster. As he decided these, he followed Isis, not paying attention to where she was leading him.

Still lost in thought, he entered a doorway that Isis had just disappeared into, not paying attention even as she started talking to someone else. He snapped to attention however, when a deep and melodious voice addressed him by name.

“You must be Sam.” Horus said. His voice was like honey, like steel, like a whisper, like all of those things mixed as one.

“Sammael Askelon, my lord Warmaster.” He stammered. He wanted to bow, to abase himself before the demigod standing before him, but he found he could not. He doubted he could move a single muscle at that moment.

“Not so formal, please, Sam. Horus will suffice.” Horus chuckled. “Your last name is Calibanian. Are you from my Brother Jonson’s world?”

“Yes, my…Horus.” Sam was calmer, gratefully put at his ease by the Warmaster’s informality. “My great grand-parents were one of the noble houses who supported his campaign against the Great Beasts there before the arrival of the Emperor.”

“My brother has often spoken of those times, of how he could never have completed his campaign without the support of the noble houses. He could never thank anyone, so I will. Thank you Sam, for the service your ancestors provided.”

Sam nodded sheepishly. Horus smiled and changed the subject. “So, you’re the one Isis has been telling me about? She has high praise for you Sam. High praise indeed.” He looked over at his daughter, who smiled at Sam.

“I trust you know that by being with my beloved daughter, there are standards you will have to maintain.”

“I would expect nothing less, Horus.” Sam replied bravely. “I knew what I would be getting into by taking this step, but Isis is worth any trial or tribulation.”

“I like a man who’s proud enough to speak his mind to me.” Horus replied. Isis beside him was beaming, her inhuman orange eyes sparkling.
“Now, where are you two going?”

Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of tickets. “The Holos. There’s a film about Ollanius Pius we’re going to see.”
“No braver man.” Horus remarked. “His boy goes to school with you, does he not?”

“Yes father.” Isis replied. “But he doesn’t like me, not in the slightest. He’s the one who cheated me out of school president, getting Roberta the spot.” She frowned. “He’s with Faith. They make the perfect couple, never going anywhere. I’ve never even seen them kiss. Not like Sam and me.”

Horus smiled, but said, “Well, I trust it won’t go that far. Now enjoy yourselves, and remember to bring her back on time.”

“I will…Horus. You can count on me.”

“I can feel I’m warming to you already, Sam.” Horus boomed, grinning broadly as he watched the two of them departing. Once the sound of footsteps faded, he sat back down and after a pause, reached for the vox.

“Brother Jonson,” Horus said, “The Askelon family. They’re yours, I hear. How trustworthy are they?”

===Alternative Meeting Horus===
         
Julius looked up at awe at the massive façade of the wing of the Imperial Palace where Isis lived. Even now he wondered how he found himself here, and started reminiscing before he could stop himself. He was always a competitive and hard working person, a straight A student who invested almost everything in his work, a natural leader whose greatest hope was to become an officer in the Imperial Army. As his close friend T.G said, he ‘got shit done.’
     
Isis was much the same, a leader and learner and the two had become at first friendly rivals, and then study buddies, pushing each other to their limits. Soon he went to all of her Sports Games, cheering her on. And now he was taking her on a date, a proper date. He tried not to think about who her Father was, that fact fell across everything like a deep dark shadow. But she had reassured him that he was almost always out dealing with matters of the Imperium. The way she said that left Julius with the distinct impression that she was somewhat bitter that her father was almost never there for her. He hoped that nothing would ever come of that kernel of bitterness, but deep down he worried...
         
He reached the front door, a massive steel bulkhead with gilded images of the Warmaster’s many triumphs etched into its surface. A doorbell was wired in nearby, and he gently thumbed it. For what seemed an age there was silence, until the door slid open and a shadow emerged from it.
     
Standing before him was a demi-god, a giant clad in green-gold armour that looked like it barely contained him, and would burst apart with a single move. A great cloak of fur sat over his shoulders, and one hand was encased in a massive claw as big as Julius’s entire body. Julius had a sudden sickening image of that claw throttling him.
 
The giant stared down at Julius and said with a voice of thunder: “Who are you, and what do you want?”
     
It was impossible not to prostrate yourself before the Warmaster, and not just because he was the second most powerful man in the entire Imperium after the Emperor Himself. Julius had read in an account by the Remembrancer Karkarsy that the Warmaster was like a force of nature trapped in humanoid form, and seeing that proven close up made it seem an affront not to bow down before him. Julius tried to find his voice, but it had deserted him. A voice came up from behind Horus.
         
“Father, is that Julius?”
         
Hearing Isis’s voice gave Julius back his tongue, and he managed to force out. “Mmmyyyy lord Warmaster, I I I want…”
     
The giant smiled down at him, a sudden shift that almost bowled over Julius. “So, you are the boy my Daughter told me about. Come now, rise.” A great hand reached down and lifted Julius to his feet.
     
Behind him was Isis, resplendent in a dress of shimmering white. She smiled at him, gesturing slightly at the giant before her. The resemblance was unmistakeable.
     
“My Daughter has told me so much about you.”
     
Even though he’d found his voice, he could barely raise it above a whisper. “Good things I hope.”
     
“She offers rare praise about you. Isis, can you leave us alone for a moment?”
     
Isis nodded and vanished into the building. Horus turned to Julius.

“I rarely get to spend time with my daughter. I am my Father’s right hand and a few fingers of his left as well.” He smiled at the joke. “And thus I am constantly moving from place to place, keeping everything together. This is my first visit home in nearly a year, and I have to go in a few hours to negotiate with the Interex. I trust you’ve heard of them?” He nodded. “I care for my daughter, more than anything. I have already read all your files, and I know you are a good person. You better take good care of her, or if you don’t, I might sic one of my brothers on you, and I assume you have heard what Angron or Kurze can be capable of. Understood?”
     
Julius gulped and nodded. Horus laughed and slapped him on the back, sending him sprawling.
         
“Sorry, forget my own strength sometimes. I have something for you.” He handed Julius a boxy object.
     
“A Teleport Homer. If anything happens, activate it and within ten seconds my First Captain and a Squad of Justaerin Terminators will be on your position. And if you see First Captain Abaddon, don’t speak to him. Ever since he lost his arms to that Daemon Prince he’s never been the same. Oh, and how’s your father doing?”
         
Julius winced. He tried to keep his father’s identity a secret, even Isis didn’t know who he was.
     
“He’s doing well. Misses the old days though.”
         
“Understandable. He’s got more medals than I have. Suicidally brave, that one.” Horus raised his voice. “Isis! He’s all yours!”
 
Isis re-emerged, and led him away to a waiting Stormhawk.

As they left, Isis said to him. “I hope Father didn’t overawe you. He can be a bit protective, though he does let me get away with a lot more than my cousins.”
 
As they left, Horus watched them go and then flipped open a personal communicator. “Ollanius Pius, you sly old dog. I just met your son.”