{{Ambiguousredirect|subject=Betrayer|other uses of the Horus Heresy novelterm|Betrayer (disambiguation=Betrayer)}}

|Author =[[{{Auth|Aaron Dembski-Bowden]]<br>Performed by [[}}|Performer ={{Actor|Jonathan Keeble]]}}

|Followed by =[[Mark of Calth (Anthology)|Mark of Calth]]

2012 audiobook<br>ISBN 9780857876423

'''''Betrayer''''' is the twentieth 24th novel in the [[Horus Heresy Series]], written by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]]. The hardcover edition was published in December 2012, with the trade paperback scheduled to be published in March 2013.^{{Fn|1}} It was later included in "The Novels: Volume 5" eBook collection.

== Cover Description ==The [[Shadow Crusade]] has begun. While the [[Ultramarines]] reel from [[Kor Phaeron]]'s [[Battle of Calth|surprise attack ]] on [[Calth]], [[Lorgar]] leads and the rest of the [[Word Bearers]] strike deep into the realm of [[Ultramar]]. Their unlikely allies, [[Angron]] and the [[World Eaters]], seem blind to the true goals of the mission, preferring instead continue to ravage each new civilisation [[system]] they come across – but where Lorgar might once have chastised his wayward brother- upon the garrison planet of [[Armatura]], now he seems only this relentless savagery may finally prove to encourage the frenzied bloodlettingbe their undoing. Worlds will burn, [[Space Marine Legion|LegionLegions]]s will clash and a [[primarch]] will fall... and the fate of the entire [[galaxy]] hangs in the balance.{{Fn|1}}

==Related PublicationsPlot Summary=={{Spoiler|source=Betrayer (Novel)}}[[Isstvan III]], 005.[[M31]]. [[Destroyer Marine|Destroyer]] [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]] [[Skane]] of the [[World Eaters]]' Eighth Company signals [[Apothecary]] [[Kargos]] that he has found their his [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[Khârn]], holding on to life [[Galaxy in Flames (Novel)|impaled]] by a [[Land Raider]]'s dozer blade.{{fn|3b}} ===Part One: Armatura, the War-World===[[File:Evocati.jpg|200px|left|thumb|The World Eaters assault the Evocati shield wall{{fn|3aa}}]]~007.M31. Aboard the ''[[Fidelitas Lex]]'', [[Lorgar Aurelian]] and [[Magnus|Magnus the Red]] discuss the latter's possible joining of [[Horus Lupercal]]'s rebellion, and [[Angron]]'s increasingly deteriorating state. As the ship and its armada exits the [[Warp]] close to the [[Ultramar]] war world [[Armatura]], Lorgar reveals the two [[Abyss Class Battleship]]s he had commissioned along the ''[[Furious Abyss]]''.{{fn|3c}}On the ''[[Conqueror (Ship)|Conqueror]]'', Khârn and [[Argel Tal]] discuss their respective Legiones' characters and the upcoming assault against Armatura. Angron comes in to prepare for planetfall and goads Argel Tal into attacking him, insulting the memory of [[Cyrene Valantion]]. Khârn and the [[Word Bearers|Word Bearer]] have one last exchange: Angron is broken, and none of his World Eaters feels kinship with their [[Primarch|primarch]].{{fn|3d}} While Khârn handles the breakdown of cohesion on Armatura due to the [[Butcher's Nails]], [[Imperial_Navy_Hierarchy#Senior_Officers|Flag-Captain]] [[Lotara Sarrin]] shares his concern over Angron's worsening condition. Lorgar decides to make planetfall as well, sensing that Angron needs help.{{fn|3e}}Indeed, he has been buried under rubble and only manages to orient himself towards the surface thanks to the Communion, a psychic gestalt of the XII's few remaining [[Librarian]]s. As Lorgar teleports in and starts digging his brother out, loyalist [[Titan]]s approach.{{fn|3f}}Lorgar is brought down by the [[Warhound]] ''[[Ardentor]]'''s plasma weapon but is saved from being crushed under its feet by Angron, who just emerged from the soil to halt the Titan's step.{{fn|3g}}The primarchs are rescued by the [[Legio Audax]] Warhound ''[[Syrgalah]]'', and Khârn orders a [[tech-priest]] to recover the remains of the [[chainaxe]] [[Gorechild]], discarded by Angron.{{fn|3h}} The ''Conqueror'' chases the fleeing ''[[Praetorian Truth]]'', forcing it to give a last stand. The [[Ultramarines]] ship sends boarders as it dies, but the World Eaters flagship's contingent of Astartes defenders has made unauthorized planetfall. Khârn is forced to lead a charge into a XIII Legio shieldwall.{{fn|3i}}Horus contacts Lorgar, who informs him of the Shadow Crusade’s progress.{{fn|3j}}The [[Dreadnought]] [[Lhorke]] is awakened along with other veterans of the War Hounds to lead the defense of the ''Conqueror''. ''Syrgalah'' is brought down, her princeps slain, and its remaining crew is saved from loyalist troops by Argel Tal.{{fn|3k}}The boarders are dispatched, but not before slaughtering most of the command crew on the Conqueror's bridge. Khârn duels Captain [[Orfeo]], whom Angron decides to finish off.{{fn|3l}} As [[Princeps]] [[Audun Lyrac]] takes ''Syrgalah'''s [[Moderati]] away for debriefing, Sarrin challenges [[Delvarus]] of the Triarii for abandoning his post. Skane and [[Codicier]] [[Esca]] prevents things from turning into a bloodbath, and Delvarus is consigned to his quarters. [[Erebus]] warps aboard the ''Fidelitas Lex''.{{fn|3m}}The primarchs decide to split their fleet to keep laying waste to Ultramar, after bombarding Armatura into a lifeless rock.{{fn|3n}} ===Part Two: Nuceria, the Homeworld===[[File:Angron Betrayer.jpg|300px|thumb|Angron mourns his fallen brothers and sisters{{fn|3aa}}]]Three days later. As Argel Tal pays his respects to Cyrene's tomb, Erebus comes to warn him that Khârn will be betrayed and only his friend can save him.{{fn|3o}}During transit, Sarrin receives confirmation from [[Vel-Kheredar]] that the Nails are killing Angron.{{fn|3p}}Khârn assists Argel Tal in retrieving Cyrene's corpse from the fanatic followers deep in the bowels of the ''Fidelitas Lex''. In the fighting pits, Delvarus is reminded of the paramount importance of brotherly trust among the XII.{{fn|3q}}At Argel Tal's request, Erebus brings Cyrene back to life, restoring her sight in the process.{{fn|3r}}Lorgar tells Angron they are headed for [[Nuceria]], and explains that [[Leman Russ (Primarch)|Leman Russ]] was the true victor of their [[Night of the Wolf|confrontation]] of [[Ghenna]]. After another 24 days of fitful warp transit, the traitors reach the Nuceria system.{{fn|3s}} [[File:Audax Betrayer.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The ''Corinthian'' is shackled by the Warhounds of Legio Audax{{fn|3aa}}]]As Nucerians struggle to find the proper way to respond to an unknown force's arrival, Angron visits the battlefield where his fellow rebel slaves were slaughtered. He then goes to [[Desh'ea]], where he learns that the slavers claimed he had fled the last battle, and orders the planet's population to be eradicated.{{fn|3t}}Six days later, as only the city of [[Meahor]] still stands, an Ultramarines armada reaches the system's edge. The World Eaters charge towards the city while Sarrin attempts to prevent the loyalists from making planetfall. Aboard the ''Fidelitas Lex'', Cyrene is approached by the [[Perpetual]] [[Damon Prytanis]], who wants to recruit her into the [[Cabal]] but is burned alive by her [[Vakrah Jal|bodyguard]].{{fn|3u}}As the ''Fidelitas Lex'' is being finished by the XIII, Prytanis reappears and the ''Conqueror'' is being boarded. On Nuceria, the first loyalist troops drop into Meahor: the [[Legio Oberon]] with its [[Imperator Titan]] ''[[Corinthian]]'', and the Ultramarines with their primarch [[Roboute Guilliman]].{{fn|3v}} Guilliman duels Lorgar, and Argel Tal struggles to keep Khârn alive. Angron joins the primarchs' duel, leading to Guilliman crushing one of the rebel slaves' skulls.{{fn|3w}}''Syrgalah'' and her pack incapacitate ''Corinthian'', enabling ground troops to besiege it. Blood begins to rain on the battlefield and Angron is racked by energies of the Warp. The Communion is extinguished trying to thwart Lorgar, and Lhorke engages the XVII primarch in combat.{{fn|3x}}With ''Corinthian'' now in the traitors' hands, Erebus kills Argel Tal because he would have prevented Khârn from falling to Chaos. Still in the throes of [[Daemon Prince|metamorphosis]], Angron saves Lorgar from Lhorke. The XIII retreat, leaving a nearly wrecked ''Conqueror'' behind.{{fn|3y}} The [[Ruinstorm]] now cuts the galaxy in twain, and Lorgar tells Khârn who killed Argel Tal. The World Eater faces Erebus in the pit and nearly kills him, but the chaplain warps away. Deep in Angron's confinement chamber, Khârn is ordered to build him a [[Khorne|throne of skulls]].{{fn|3z}} ==Dramatis Personae==[[File:Kharn betrayer.jpg|200px|thumb|Khârn, Eighth Captain of the World Eaters{{fn|3aa}}]] [[Primarch]]s*[[Warmaster]] [[Horus Lupercal]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Sons of Horus]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Angron]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[World Eaters]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Lorgar Aurelian]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Word Bearers]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Magnus the Red]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Thousand Sons]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Roboute Guilliman]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Ultramarines]].{{fn|3a}} [[World Eaters]]*[[Vorias]] — [[Chief Librarian|Lectio Primus]], [[Librarian|Librarius Division]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Esca]] — [[Codicier]], [[Librarian|Librarius Division]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Khârn]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[8th Company (World Eaters)|Eighth Company]] and [[Equerry]] to [[Angron]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Kargos]] — [[Apothecary]], [[8th Company (World Eaters)|Eighth Company]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Jeddek]] — [[Standard bearer]], [[8th Company (World Eaters)|Eighth Company]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Skane (World Eaters)|Skane]] — [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]], [[Skane Destroyer squad]], [[8th Company (World Eaters)|Eighth Company]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Gharte]] — [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]], [[Marakan]] [[Tactical squad]], [[8th Company (World Eaters)|Eighth Company]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Delvarus]] — [[Centurion (Rank)|Centurion]], [[Delvarus]] [[Triarii|Triarii squad]], [[44th Company (World Eaters)|44th Company]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Lhorke]] — [[Dreadnought]], [[Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought|Contemptor-pattern]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Neras]] — [[Dreadnought]].{{fn|3a}} [[Word Bearers]]*[[Argel Tal]] — [[Gal Vorbak]], [[Commander]] of the [[Vakrah Jal]].{{fn|3a}}*[[Erebus]] — [[First Chaplain]], [[Dark Apostle]] of the Word.{{fn|3a}}*[[Eshramar]] — [[Vakrah Jal]], [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]], [[Eshramar]] [[Immolation squad]].{{fn|3a}} [[Ultramarines]]*[[Orfeo Cassandar]] — [[Lord Commander (Legiones Astartes)|Legatus]] of [[Armatura]].{{fn|3a}} [[Imperialis Armada|Fleet Personnel]]*[[Lotara Sarrin]] — [[Flag-Captain]] of the [[Battleship|XII Legion warship]] ''[[Conqueror (Ship)|Conqueror]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Ivar Tobin]] — [[Officer|First Officer]] of the [[Battleship|XII Legion warship]] ''[[Conqueror (Ship)|Conqueror]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Feyd Hallerthan]] — [[Officer]] of the [[Battleship|XII Legion warship]] ''[[Conqueror (Ship)|Conqueror]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Lehralla]] — [[Scrymistress]] of the [[Battleship|XII Legion warship]] ''[[Conqueror (Ship)|Conqueror]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Kejic]] — [[Vox-caster|Vox-master]] of the [[Battleship|XII Legion warship]] ''[[Conqueror (Ship)|Conqueror]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Cyrene Valantion|The Blessed Lady]] — [[Confessor]] of the Word.{{fn|3a}} [[Adeptus Mechanicus|The Martian Mechanicum]]*[[Vel-Kheredar]] — [[Magos|Archmagos Veneratus]], representative of [[Kelbor-Hal]].{{fn|3a}} [[Legio Audax|The Legio Audax]]*[[Venric Solostine]] — [[Princeps|Princeps Ultima]], and [[Princeps]] of the Command [[Titan]] ''[[Syrgalah]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Toth Kol]] — [[Moderati Primus]], [[Titan|Command Titan]] ''[[Syrgalah]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Keeda Bly]] — [[Moderati Secundus]], [[Titan|Command Titan]] ''[[Syrgalah]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[The Ninth]] — [[Adept|Mechanicum Adept]], [[Titan|Command Titan]] ''[[Syrgalah]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Audun Lyrac]] — [[Princeps|Princeps Penultima]]{{fn|3a}} [[Legio Lysanda|The Legio Lysanda]]*[[Maxamillien Delantyr]] — [[Princeps]], [[Titan]] ''[[Ardentor]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Ellas Hyle]] — [[Moderati Primus]], [[Titan]] ''[[Ardentor]]''.{{fn|3a}}*[[Kei Adaras]] — [[Moderati Secundus]], [[Titan]] ''[[Ardentor]]''.{{fn|3a}} '''Others'''*[[Tybaral Thal'kr]] — [[Praxuary]], [[Imperial Magnate]] of [[Nuceria]]{{fn|3a}}*[[Oshamay Evrel'Korshay]] — [[General]] of the [[Thal'kr Kin-Guard]]{{fn|3a}}*[[Damon Prytanis]] — [[Perpetual]]{{fn|3a}} ==Images==[[File:Betrayer final.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Cover art by [[Neil Roberts]]{{fn|2}}]] ==See also==

^*{{Endn|1 http}}: [https://www.blacklibrary.com/the-horus-heresy/novels/betrayer-ebook.html Black Library] ''(last accessed 23rd January 2022)''*{{Endn|2}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230326222905/https://aarondembskibowden.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/betrayer-tradecover-for-real-paperbackthis-time/ Aaron Dembski-Bowden: Betrayer Cover (for real this time…)] ''(saved archived page, 26 March 2023, last accessed 31 July 2024, original link: https://aarondembskibowden.htmlwordpress.com/2012/03/28/betrayer-cover-for-real-this-time/)''*3: '''''Betrayer''''' (Novel)**{{endn|3a}}: ''Dramatis Personae''**{{endn|3b}}: ''Prologue''**{{endn|3c}}: ch. 1**{{endn|3d}}: ch. 2**{{endn|3e}}: ch. 3**{{endn|3f}}: ch. 4**{{endn|3g}}: ch. 5**{{endn|3h}}: ch. 6**{{endn|3i}}: ch. 7**{{endn|3j}}: ch. 8**{{endn|3k}}: ch. 9**{{endn|3l}}: ch. 10**{{endn|3m}}: ch. 11**{{endn|3n}}: ch. 12**{{endn|3o}}: ch. 13**{{endn|3p}}: ch. 14**{{endn|3q}}: ch. 15**{{endn|3r}}: ch. 16**{{endn|3s}}: ch. 17**{{endn|3t}}: ch. 18**{{endn|3u}}: ch. 19**{{endn|3v}}: ch. 20**{{endn|3w}}: ch. 21**{{endn|3x}}: ch. 22**{{endn|3y}}: ch. 23**{{endn|3z}}: ''Epilogue''**{{endn|3aa}}: Enhanced Edition Internal illustrations 

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