'I am a little late,' said Russ. Across his shoulders he carried the Spear of the Emperor, bearing the sacred if little-liked weapon crosswise, his wrists hooked over the shaft, like the son of a hersir heading to his first skirmish. He was too mighty for a mortal room to fully contain, and though physically the hall was vast enough to accommodate a thousand Vlka, it seemed that the primarch's essence overfilled it, like a fjord spilling torrents into the sea as the tide goes out. Around him buzzed the promise of slaughter. His arrival excited the Einherjar. Images of blood and battle flitted through their minds, twisting their lips into involuntary snarls.

Russ stalked to the centre of the Annulus, and stood upon the rondel bearing his name badge, the symbol of the Legion, a red wolf's head on a field of grey, his boots either side of the wolf's muzzle.

Silently he acknowledged each of his warriors. He spoke no words to them, but his ice-blue eyes said that he saw them, and that he valued them. The hearts of the Wolves filled with pride at this honour.

'The time for feasting is over,' said Leman Russ. 'I have learned what I came here to learn. I hear the caw of rumour's raven echoing around the halls.' He looked to Grimnr. During the ritual the huscarl and his men heard nothing, and they were alarmed to see Russ' wounds when he returned to them. Russ had told no one what occurred.

'I will tell you,' he continued. 'The eight gothi I took with me to the Krakgard, including Kva, my adviser and friend, are dead. They perished sending me into the Underverse, where even I, a primarch of the Emperor, may not easily go. Within the world of wights and ghosts, I was given the host-challenge by a thing not of this universe. Let it be known that I succeeded. While I quested in that realm our gothi were assailed by the wights of the enemy, and paid for the knowledge I gained with their lives.' He swung the spear from his shoulder and slammed the haft into the floor. The crack of metal on stone echoed from the walls.

'This is what I learned. With this weapon that my father gave me, I shall bring the traitor to his knees, and although I may not kill him, and we may all perish in the attempt, I will bring him pain that shall undo him in the days to come.' Again he looked at all his sons. His gaze was so fierce not one could hold it.

'My warriors. My Einherjar, this might be the last hunt of the Vlka Fenryka. Through many wars I have commanded you, and you have never failed me. Many strange and terrible foes I have ordered you to face, and you have done so without question or hesitation.'