‘I have nothing but the greatest respect for our lord, but he lacks flexibility,’ said Kalael dourly. ‘He only created our formation to get around his ban on the founding of a new Legion. It is clear to me he can no longer continue to defy his own edicts.’

‘Brother, you go too far,’ snarled Bjarni.

‘I do not criticise him,’ said Kalael emphatically. He had a narrow face, with a resting expression that radiated suspicion. He was always prying behind the seeming of things, looking for the secret truths beneath. ‘What I am saying is that Roboute Guilliman is a general with a penchant for imposing rules, who then has to break them when he finds himself trapped by his own regulations. He is a great hero, but as he is at pains to remind us all, he is no god and is imperfect. That is all I am saying.’ He tapped his ear. ‘Listen to my words, brother Bjarni, or does the growling of beasts drown out reason?’

Bjarni ignored the slight, and rocked his head. ‘He is no Russ, that is sure. Russ had no care for rules.’

‘You should not talk that way about the primarch,’ said Felix.

‘He is not my primarch,’ said Kalael.

‘He is the primarch,’ said Felix. Kalael had always antagonised him. Unlike Bjarni, he could not overlook the son of the Lion’s attitude. ‘You will show him respect.’

‘Just because you do not like what I say does not make it untrue. Is it untrue, Felix? You should know.’

Felix had no rejoinder to that. ‘Legion or not, the Greyshields shall fight together no more.’

Justinian looked at his hands. ‘We all knew this day would come, but I cannot believe it.’

‘Is it not true that our numbers have dwindled as the fight has gone on?’ said Kalael. ‘Most of us have new brotherhoods. Those of us remaining in the fleet are, in the main, of Guilliman’s line. The gene-lines of the other primarchs are in the minority. There are enough Primaris Adeptus Astartes to replenish the Ultra­marines ten times over.’ Kalael picked up a chainsword tooth and scrutinised it carefully. ‘Perhaps he does not wish to disband his power base, but moves to openly proclaim a new Legion. Ten new Chapters of his own gene-line – I wonder where they might possibly be stationed?’

‘The Ultramarines will remain as they have been since the Second Founding,’ Felix said firmly. ‘One thousand battle-brothers. There are already numerous Chapters derived from his gene-line. Many of the Primaris Space Marines will be dispatched to those. They all need rebuilding.’

‘That’s all well for you and yours,’ said Bjarni, slapping his hands against a table. ‘Roboute Guilliman was the architect of the Codex Astartes. My gene-father was against it. So far as I know, the Vlka Fenryka still are. Most of my brothers have gone home to Fenris, but I have not. What fate awaits me?’