'You are our primarch!' said Ogvai Ogvai Helmschrot. 'We would follow you into Hel if you asked.'

Russ looked sternly at Helmschrot. 'Yes, I am your primarch, I am your lord. I am your gene-father. From my body the gifts my father bestowed upon you were taken. For this, though you each had a mortal sire, I claim the right to call you my sons.'

'We are your sons!' said Baldr Vidunsson. 'I have no other father.' He spat on the floor. His comment elicited growls of agreement from the others.

'I love you as my sons,' said Russ. 'But above my affection for you, beyond what I am, and who I am, I am your king, and I am your king because you chose me to be so. Forget for a moment that we are Legiones Astartes. Remember instead that we are the lords of Fenris.' He pointed at Hvarl Red-Blade. 'You, Hvarl, are the match of the great heroes of all the sagas.' He turned to Lufven Close-Handed. 'You, Lufven, are a more generous ring-giver than any of the finest kings of history. Ogvai is thoughtful, Baldr is bold. You are a company of warriors that no lord could dream of. You outmatch in spirit and in mettle the best of all my brothers' Legions, and I am proud to be your lord. I should bend my knee to you.' He took a deep breath. 'I have a purpose. For a long time I assumed that purpose on your behalf, sending you into battle with little thought for the blood spilled, and both eyes on the glory that would come.'

'And we were glad to obey!' shouted form BIoodhowl 'Aye!' called the others. They hammered their fists on their chest-plates and howled.

'Yes!' said Russ. A feral light burned in his eyes. 'Yes, you were. But did I have the right to demand you lay down your lives for me?'

'My lord,' said Amlodhi Skarssen Skarssensson, 'as you say, you are our king.'

'A king' said Russ thoughtfully. 'A king. What is a king but a man who rules over other men by their consent? According to our custom, no king of any tribe has the right to command his warriors into a battle they cannot win. No king can force obedience from his subjects if they no longer have his trust. It is our way in the fire and the ice to elect our leaders, and depose them when they fail. I never forget that I was a stranger to this world. I am a foundling lord, imposed on you.'

The Wolves shook their heads.

'We chose you,' a Rune Priest said.