'Many times I struck him. His body parted like smoke before the spear. I did not harm him. Once, I cleaved down between his heads with the blade.' He chopped the edge of his hand into his opposite palm. 'He reformed and renewed his attack. I could not wound him.'

'He is not flesh. He is the essence of death. He cannot be killed,' said Kva. 'So how did you win?'

'I did not say that I did,' said Russ.

'There is only one way to face Morkai and survive,' said Kva, 'and that is to beat him.'

'I did not beat him. We were still fighting when I awoke, covered in sweat, my hearts beating as loudly as the forges of the Hammerhold. I was not alone. Horus had come to speak with me about my next campaign. Perhaps his arrival had awoken me. Perhaps I would be dead now if he had not come when he did. He thought it amusing he had found me asleep. And then he said something that was entirely understandable, but in the wake of the dream it seemed a little strange.'

'What did he say?' said Kva.

'Horus looked at the Emperor's gift and said, 'That is a good spear''

'I see,' said Kva.

'I don't think he ever liked me, not like some of the others,' said Russ. 'He always respected me, he always knew how to get the best out of me, but he was jealous from the start. I was the second found, and when I returned I took the light of father from him. '

'A problem all eldest sons experience.'

'True,' said Russ. 'When we found our third brother—'

The ship ran through another squall left over from the Ruinstorm's dissipation. The shaking it experienced sent the sparse furniture sliding across the stone. The ewer danced to the very edge of the table. Russ' words were drowned out. '—and we know how tragic that tale was. And then there was Perms, then the rest. I think Horus mastered his emotions after me. He never behaved with the others that same way he did in those first months after my return. It is strange. Horus and I had this connection that was unique to our relationship. I changed his world.' He shook his head. 'He always was too proud. I never cared. I am one of Twenty. The others were always going to come,' said Russ. 'Maybe if I had been the first, like him, then I would have known this jealousy. Perhaps not. I was never envious of his position as the most favoured son. When he was made Warmaster, I was not one of those who complained. I was made for a task. I perform it.

'I found Horus' jealousy petty.'

'You are not Horus,' said Kva.

Russ smiled bitterly. The Hrafnkel grumbled in sympathy.