‘You’re an oversight, you barbarian,’ said Kalael with a sly smile.

‘We shall duel, Brother Kalael, and then we will see who is the oversight!’ barked Bjarni joyfully. It had always been thus. Kalael bated the wolf constantly; Bjarni pretended not to notice. Either would gladly die for the other. Felix was baffled why they did not kill each other.

Felix’s face set as gravely as a memorial stone. Bjarni’s face froze.

‘Brother?’

‘I…’ He held out a script of parchment with Bjarni’s name and number upon it. This was hard, but a leader could not shy away from the most difficult of tasks. ‘I am sorry, Bjarni. I know how much returning to Fenris meant to you.’

Bjarni’s skin had gone white. His faded tattoos stood out clearly on his cheek bones as he reached for the order scrip with shaking hands.

‘Very few of you will be going to your home worlds,’ said Felix. ‘I am sorry. I remember how we all spoke of serving with the founding Chapters.’

‘It is easy for you to say,’ said Bjarni. ‘Who by the ice jotun are the Wolfspear?’

‘They are a new Chapter, brother,’ said Felix. ‘The remainder of the sons of Russ are to remain here, at Raukos. You are to guard the Pit.’

Bjarni stared at the order paper.

‘There will be many battles here,’ said Felix. ‘You will be a great hero.’

The others were coming forward and taking their papers, discussing their new brotherhoods in hushed tones.

‘Most of you are bound for the Primogenitor Chapters,’ said Felix. ‘Do you not see how important those of the Unnumbered Sons who remained with the fleet are? You, my brothers, are the very best! Do not take these orders as a rebuke, but as the opposite. The Imperial Regent thinks far ahead. His aim with you Greyshields who remain was to create a warrior corps who, when divided, would foster good relations between the various gene-lines of the Adeptus Astartes. I have come to know the primarch well. He believes that the divisions between the Legions of his brothers contributed to Horus’ betrayal and dog the Imperium still. The arch traitor was able to divide the Legions and their primarchs by using their mistrust as a lever to separate one from the other. They fought together, but rarely understood one another. We have fought together, and we have bled together.’

‘Aye, and we have died together!’ shouted Bjarni. ‘And this is my payment.’

‘Many battles, remember that,’ said Kalael. ‘New sagas. New tales to be told.’ Hearing this from his friend calmed Bjarni somewhat.

‘We should be glad no matter our destination. A warrior’s function is to die well, in a good cause,’ said Aldred.