Heart of the Conqueror

The Horus Heresy #Short Story

by Aaron Dembski-Bowden

The Navigator Nisha Andrasta has served the XIIth Legion for over a century. She saw the War Hounds reunited with their progenitor, Lord Angron. She witnessed the rebirth of the Legion as the World Eaters. She looked on in confusion and horror as the primarch joined Horus’s rebellion, and now she has seen him betrayed by Lorgar Aurelian, becoming the maddened monster he was always destined to be. Now, as the character of the XIIth changes along with their father, what course of action yet remains to this loyal daughter of Terra?

In the core of a traitor ship, a heart still beats for the Emperor. In this story, we get a rare Navigator’s perspective of the corruption of the Horus Heresy, and how far one pilot will go to stay loyal.

Narrated by Penelope Rawlins
Running time 12 minutes
Produced by Black Library

Heart of the Conquerer is also available as an eBook and as part of the Legacies of Betrayal Anthology.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Audiobook

Paperback

First published May 17, 2014

Reviews

[Seb · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too short to allow any real immersion.

It does not add any essential information to the telling of the Horus Heresy.

It is an interesting point of view, of loyalists trapped among the rebellious forces, which one can imagine was a recurring occurrence among their fleets.

Treat it as an epilogue to Betrayer.

[Tyberius · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ol snacking on a pistol trick, eh?

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A damn good short, that really should have been much longer! Here we get to see the Navigator of The Conqueror as they tear through the Warp following the events of Betrayer, another fantastic piece of fiction by Aaron Dembksi-Bowden. The short was great, as we get to see how powerful one loyal individual can be in a whole armada of traitors. I don't know if this story is a prelude to ADB's upcoming Master of Mankind, or if it was just a one piece short showing what the World Eaters and Word Bearers are doing, but it was great. Not to hop on the fanboy train, but ADB does some great stuff!
I look forward to more of the WE and WB in the HH in the future. Hopefully the wait isn't too long!

Huge thanks to Lee Rawnsley for providing me the opportunity to read this one! My copy is in Ireland, while I am located in Dallas, Texas!
Thanks man!

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently released as a 99p ‘quick read’, Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s Heart of the Conqueror was first printed in the 2014 Horus Heresy Weekender programme where it sat alongside game rules for Heresy-era Navigators. That was surely no coincidence, focusing as it does on Nisha Andrasta, the Navigator responsible for Angron’s flagship The Conqueror.

Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: At the bottom of this review as it is a spoiler

March 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus X Shadow Crusade III Chosen of Chaos (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.

Well that was short and bittersweet!

Originally a Horus Heresy Weekender 2014 exclusive, this brief story is that of Nisha Andrasta, Navigator chosen for service aboard the Adamant Reason, proud flagship of the Warhound Legion's fleet and loyal to the Emperor whose service she was bound. Now, she finds herself on a ship and with a Legion that bear no resemblance to the paragons of might, the Conquerer of the World Eaters, a Legion of traitors and a vessel becoming corrupted a warped around the monstrous thing bound in its lower decks...

It's great to see the focus shift to some of the other members of the ship's crew and to see the predicament of those loyal to the Imperium who find themselves stuck in service to traitors.

It's also awesome to get the rare treat of a femme narrator for a Horus Heresy story and Patricia Rawlins does a fantastic job.

I do love a little bonbon of a story that adds a little depth and flabour to the wider narrative, especially when it relates to some of my favourite characters, or in this instance the ship on which they serve.

Completely non-essential as far as I'm aware, but an enjoyable aside.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 19.41 Horus Heresy novels, 11 novellas, 53 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 9 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

CW: Suicide

[Heather Milton]

Okay vignette. It works as a piece of world-building, but the protagonist isn't very compelling or sympathetic. She's not the heart of anything, let alone a ship full of characters that actually have a pulse. No pun intended but I'm just gonna leave that there.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

ADB does it again. This story is a gripping 10 minutes of character study leading to an inevitable conclusion.

[Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collected in legacies of betrayal book.

[Thomas Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective from the officers of the void ship.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shortly after the events of "Betrayer" Navigator Nisha Andrasta, Mistress of the Conqueror feels the changes in the ship-spirit. There is a thing buried deep in the bowels of the ship, locked away. It is angry, and it's dury is infecting the bones of the ship, changing it into something brutal and cruel.

Very brief story but very atmospheric and captures the horror chaos has brought to the galaxy.

[Scooter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story was a good short story.

[nooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome short story which fully tells the story.