Bjorn was another matter. Russ knew it was a mystery to his Wolf Lords why Bjorn was so often at his side. Russ wasn't entirely sure himself. At Alaxxes the runes had hinted at some important role for the one-armed warrior. The runes did not lie, and so Russ kept Bjorn around.

Russ had brought his entire Legion to punish Magnus. With few exceptions they had remained as one force ever since Prospero's burning. Therefore they were all there, the Wolf Lords who had survived. There was Ogvai Ogvai Helmschrot, Jarl of Tra, Lufven Close-Handed of For, Amlodhi Skarssen Skarssensson of Fyf, Skunnr of Sesc, Hvarl Red-Blade, Lord of Sepp, Baldr Vidunsson of For-Twa, Sturgard Joriksson of Tra-Tra, Laughing Jaurtnag of Tolv, recently returned to the Legion from the Watch Pack sent to Dorn, and Scarred Oki who had taken up the burden of Tolvs command while Jaurmag was absent. Russ still had not decided what to do with Jaurmag and Oki. Jaurmag had defied him; but was a better leader than Oki. There was a problematic decision there It could wait Lastly there was Jorin Bloodhowl, who led Dekk-Tra.

The rest, the Great Companies of Onn, Twa, Dekk and Elva, had no leaders. Holmi Longganger of Twa had been killed at Prospero. Vili of Elva slain at Daverant. Elva, Russ reflected, had been struck by a fell-wyrd, running through four Wolf Lords in as many years. Dekk's lord Hemtal was dead at Alaxxes, along with Russ' greatest loss, Gunnar Gunnhilt, Jarl of Onn.

Russ and Lord Gunn had not seen eye to eye at the end. Russ resented him for his insubordination still, but Gunn's death had been a good one. They could settle their differences in the Golden Halls of the Oververse when Russ' own time came. If the Golden Halls was where Russ would go.

The clash between the two sides of Russ was at its most tempestuous when it came to religious belief. He preferred not to dwell on those questions. When he spoke with his priests, he believed the old tales. When he spoke with his father, he believed the Imperial Truth. That was sufficient for living in the now.

He had lost several of his lords, and the state of the Legion at large was even worse than that suggested. The perils of gathering your hersirs together, thought Russ ruefully, is that they can all fall through the ice at once. Prospero had thinned their ranks. Alaxxes had come close to catastrophe. Vanaheim and Daverant had culled more. The VI had thrown itself into Terra's defence and the forays beyond with all its characteristic energy, but they were weaker than they had been for years.