While Cawl and Axion were discussing the Breath of the Gods before the mural, an unexpected group of xenos arrivals appeared aboard the nearby Dawn of Fire.
Standing behind his desk, Roboute Guilliman slowly lowered his arm. Though he did not know exactly when the intruder had slipped into his sanctum, the Primarch maintained a measured degree of trust in the Aeldari standing before him.
"Yvraine."
The female Aeldari stepping from the shadows possessed a beauty that rivaled even a Daemonette of Slaanesh. However, her panoply of war radiated a palpable sense of martial prowess.
Yvraine was a member of the Ynnari; it was she who had once helped shepherd Guilliman back from the threshold of death. The Primarch had shared lengthy dialogues with her in the past, and though the Aeldari lady and her warriors had vanished from the Macragge's Honour during the voyage to Terra, it did not diminish the foundation of trust he placed in her.
Regarding the Webway that spanned the galaxy and the Aeldari's baffling infiltration capabilities, Guilliman showed little surprise.
"This may not be an opportune moment for a meeting, Primarch. I have little time," Yvraine spoke. "A few of my warriors have lured away the Golden Sentinels at your door. I have come to warn you: stay away from the danger before you."
"Though the damage to your soul was repaired by the grace of Ynnead, and bolstered by power from other unknown sources, should that place of void ever touch your spiritual essence, you may find yourself entering an eternal slumber."
"The Oghyr are using a Caoineag to siphon vast energies from multiple space-time vectors, attempting to banish the Sea of Souls entirely. The strength of the Ynnari is spread thin across too many fronts; I require your assistance to repay the debt owed to Ynnead's grace."
"The stars are dimming, and distant shadows seek to shroud the entire firmament. The enemy you face is far vaster and more complex than you imagine."
As is the way of the Aeldari, her speech was thick with cryptic prophecies and archaic terminology. Guilliman found it impossible to extract actionable intelligence from Yvraine's riddles.
THOOM!
The doors to the study burst open as two Custodians rushed inside.
Yvraine leaped into the air, her long blade spinning in her grip as she delivered a diagonal slash toward Guilliman. Instinctively, the Primarch raised his gauntlet, parrying both the Eldar and her weapon away.
Using the momentum of Guilliman's parry, Yvraine vaulted over the heads of the two Custodians. With a series of acrobatic flips, she vanished into the external corridors before the guards could react.
One Custodian gave chase, spear leveled, while the other remained to signal Guilliman.
"Lord Guilliman, Aeldari xenos have boarded the ship. Their objective is unknown."
"We attempted to intercept, but the enemy refused engagement. We judge it a diversion and returned immediately. It is our failure that these xenos were allowed to appear before you, my Lord."
His voice was thick with self-reproach and simmering fury.
Their mandate was to protect, and, where necessary, monitor, the Primarch. Should the resurrected son show any sign of treachery, these Custodian guards would be the first to turn their weapons upon him. Yet, failing that, if any xenos or traitor were to harm Guilliman before the Custodians fell in battle, it would be a mark of absolute dereliction and eternal shame.
Guilliman understood these warriors of his Father's creation well.
During his visit to the inner depths of the Imperial Palace upon his revival, he had encountered the specialized Custodians known as the Eyes of the Emperor. They remembered every failure, etching the dishonor into their very hearts. Their black armor, stripped of its golden luster, served as a grim testament to their history.
They had once guarded the Emperor, yet the Emperor had been mortally wounded. This reality tore at the survivors' sense of purpose. Since the Emperor ascended the Golden Throne, they had donned black plate to walk the Imperium, gathering intelligence for the Magisterium of Terra, returning to the Throneworld only on the rarest of occasions.
In the face of such absolute loyalty, Guilliman could say little. He could only offer absolution, lest these Custodians become more radicalized than they already were.
He dared not imagine the consequences if these guards discovered the true purpose of the Aeldari's visit. The spears currently held in his defense might very well be thrust into his skull. While Guilliman did not fear the Custodes, he knew they acted only for the Imperium and the Emperor's will; though extreme, they were not in the wrong.
Pacified by Guilliman's reassurance, the Custodian slowly raised his head. He scrutinized the Primarch, relaxing only after confirming no xenos harm had come to him. Inwardly, he made a silent vow: regardless of what the future held, he would find an opportunity to deliver the Emperor's righteous justice to these duplicitous xenos.
…
Once the Custodians had vacated the chamber, Guilliman sat at his desk. Embedded in the tabletop was a peculiar small crystal. Its material and intricate patterns made it immediately clear that Yvraine had left it behind.
Though Guilliman consistently denied his own psychic potential and the Warp-tainted nature of his essence, it was undeniable that the psychic resonance within him had grown formidable.
By simply focusing his mind upon the tiny crystal, the Warp stirred in response to his will. A psychic message flooded into his mind. Even so, Guilliman maintained the internal friction that this was merely a marvel of Aeldari engineering rather than a manifestation of his own psychic traits—to believe otherwise would violate the Imperial Truth.
Within his thoughts, the message was easily decoded: a star chart with only a few specific reference points. One planet was specially marked, with a long transit line leading directly to a world within the Xendu System.
Clearly, the marked planet was the rendezvous point, and the world in the Xendu System was the site of the Necron construct Yvraine had mentioned.
Guilliman understood that the Aeldari term "Oghyr" referred to the Necrons, but what was a "Caoineag"?
Urgent for answers, Guilliman sought counsel. The most accessible source of aid was Archmagos Cawl, currently aboard the nearby Ark Mechanicus. It was, after all, the combined efforts of Cawl and Yvraine that had restored him to life.
Guilliman was confident that even if Cawl could not provide the necessary answers, the Archmagos would never reveal that this xenos incursion was merely Yvraine delivering a warning. Furthermore, he needed the vast hoards of data within the Adeptus Mechanicus; perhaps their archaeological records contained information on the Caoineag.
Only then would he truly know the nature of the peril he faced. These Aeldari "riddlers" were truly an exercise in frustration.
Having made his decision, Guilliman did not hesitate. Ordering his Custodian detail to remain behind, he departed for the docked Ark Mechanicus. Though the Custodians voiced their protests, Guilliman was resolute.
This matter involved the Aeldari; vox-communication was too great a security risk. If he summoned Cawl to the Dawn of Fire, and the Custodians happened to overhear the nature of their discussion, it would lead to a catastrophe he could not afford.