Loken's face tightened. Russ was proud, they said. He looked from the corners of his eyes at the wolf lords around him. Proud barbarians with an over-developed sense of honour were easy to insult. But they also said Russ was no fool.

Loken made his choice. 'No,' he said. 'You cannot beat him. Not like he is now. I do not think anyone can, save perhaps the Emperor Himself.'

The Wolf King's lips curved in thought and his eyes unfocused. He stroked idly at the pelt affixed to his shoulder. The bluff expression fell away and for a moment Loken was witness to the man the Wolf King hid.

An instant later, the thoughtful man was gone, replaced by the smiling savage.

'I thank you, Garviel Loken, for your honest counsel, but I assure you I will beat the Warmaster. I am going to have to.'

The audience was over. Russ stood. His wolves yawned, one after the other, the second wider than the first as they competed to see who could gape furthest.

'Tell Malcador I shall be borrowing Bror here for a while. Don't worry, I'll bring him back, so long as his thread remains uncut,' said Russ.

'Yes, my lord. I shall report to the regent, then return. When do we leave?'

Russ frowned. 'When do we leave? We do not leave, Garviel Loken.' Russ pointed a grubby finger at him. 'You are staying here.'

'My lord, I beg of you,' said Loken. He had a consuming desire to confront his father again. He wished to face him one more time, with no doubt in his heart. 'Let me come. I have sworn an oath to defy the Warmaster to my dying breath. I want to be a part of this.'

Leman of the Russ shook his head. His copper-blond topknot swayed in the ship's foul air.

'Not you, you remain!' he said sternly. Then he added softly, 'I say to you from one wolf to another, this is not your fight. It is unwise to intrude into the feuds of brothers, as we say on Fenris. They are the bloodiest of all.'

Once more Russ' smile dropped. 'Do not be sad. You will have plentiful opportunity to face your gene-father,' he said. 'If you are right, and I cannot beat him, he will kill me then he will be coming here. Fight him then.'

Two

Two

Runemarked

Loken was shown out by Bror. Without needing to be told, the lower-ranking Space Wolves and their mortal servants began to depart, leaving Russ alone with the Einherjar. Outside of this august group only Bror Tyrfingr and Bjorn the One-Handed remained. Bror's inclusion was understandable to the Einherjar. He had been on Horus' ship. He served Malcador, the Emperor's right hand.