MoreSpaceWolvesfromBlackLibrary

SPACEWOLVESALegendsoftheDarkMillenniumSpaceWolvesnovel

Book1:BLOODOFASAHEIMBook2:STORMCALLERWOLVESOFFENRIS

ASpaceWolvesshortstoryanthologyWAROFTHEFANG

ASpaceMarineBattlesbook,containingthenovellaTheHuntforMagnusandthenovelBattleoftheFang

SAGASOFTHEWOLFAnaudiodramaomnibuscontainingtheaudiodramasThunderFromFenris,Doomseekerand

Deathwolf.BLOODONTHEMOUNTAIN

ASpaceWolvesnovellaICECLAW

ASpaceWolvesaudiodrama

Itisthe41stmillennium.FormorethanahundredcenturiestheEmperorhassatimmobileontheGoldenThroneofEarth.Heisthemasterofmankindbythewillofthegods,andmasterof

amillionworldsbythemightofhisinexhaustiblearmies.HeisarottingcarcasswrithinginvisiblywithpowerfromtheDarkAgeofTechnology.HeistheCarrionLordoftheImperium

forwhomathousandsoulsaresacrificedeveryday,sothathemaynevertrulydie.

Yeteveninhisdeathlessstate,theEmperorcontinueshiseternalvigilance.Mightybattlefleetscrossthedaemon-infestedmiasmaofthewarp,theonlyroutebetweendistantstars,theirwaylitbytheAstronomican,thepsychicmanifestationoftheEmperor’swill.Vastarmiesgivebattleinhisnameonuncountedworlds.GreatestamongstHissoldiersaretheAdeptusAstartes,theSpaceMarines,bio-engineeredsuper-warriors.Theircomradesinarmsarelegion:theAstraMilitarumandcountlessplanetarydefenceforces,theever-vigilant

Inquisitionandthetech-priestsoftheAdeptusMechanicustonameonlyafew.Butforalltheirmultitudes,theyarebarelyenoughtoholdofftheever-presentthreatfromaliens,heretics,

mutants–andworse.

Tobeamaninsuchtimesistobeoneamongstuntoldbillions.Itistoliveinthecruellestandmostbloodyregimeimaginable.Thesearethetalesofthosetimes.Forgetthepowerof

technologyandscience,forsomuchhasbeenforgotten,nevertobere-learned.Forgetthepromiseofprogressandunderstanding,forinthegrimdarkfuturethereisonlywar.Thereisnopeaceamongstthestars,onlyaneternityofcarnageandslaughter,andthelaughterof

thirstinggods.

PROLOGUE

Theymetinthedarkof themountain’sroots.Herethenightofstonewasendless.Itwasnotsilent,forthingsoffurandfangandsteelprowled,growlingwarningstoeachother.Itwasnotempty,forwithinitlay the tombs of legends. The tombs were unquiet. The legends they enclosed were granted only aprovisionaldeath.Thesesagashadnotended.Onewastenthousandyearsold,anditsthreadcarriedon.Threewarriorsmetinthedark,inthetombs.Whentheysaweachother,theywerestartled.Whentheysawwheretheyhadcometo,theyweredisturbed.Thewarriorwhosemaneandbeardwereascoarseandgreyasawolf’spelt spoke first. ‘Brothers,’HaraldDeathwolfsaid,‘youarewellmet.Ididnotexpectyourcompany.’‘NorI,’saidKromDragongaze.Eveninthegloom,hiseyesglitteredwithdarklight.‘NorI,’UlriktheSlayerechoed.TheancientoftheChaptershookhishead.Hishairwasaswhiteashisgazewasdark.Hiseyeswereshadowsthatwatchedandjudged.Hepointedatthevaultdoorbywhichtheystood.‘Thereisapurposeinthis,’hesaid.‘Thepurposeisnotmine,’saidHarald.‘Ididnotintendtocomehere.’Helookedatthenameinscribedoverthedoor,andwasuneasy.‘Youdidnotchoosetocometothevaults?’theSlayerasked.‘Idid,’saidHarald.‘Butwithnocleardesign.Thatis…’hehesitated.‘Youwalkedasifinatrance,’Dragongazesaid.‘Yes.’‘Sowealldid,’saidtheSlayer.‘Butnotaswebelieved.’‘No.’ Harald tried to see the last few hours clearly, but it was as if he had only just awakened, asensationitselfalmostunknowntohiminhiscenturiesasaSpaceMarine.Hehadbeenconscious,yethisperceptionhadnarrowed tonothingexcepthisnext footstep.Hehadmoved through tunnelsandshafts,downanddownanddown,deeperanddeeperintothedark,intothenightofstone.‘Ihadadestination,’hesaid.‘ThoughIdidnotknowwhyIwent.Theneedtobetherewasabsolute.’Hecouldnotlookaway

fromtheinscription.‘Mydestinationwasnothere.’‘YouthoughttostandbeforeBjorntheFell-Handed,’Dragongazesaid.‘Idid.’‘Andyetwearehere,’saidtheSlayer.TheWolfPriestrestedagauntletagainstthevaultdoor,gently,asif not towake the legend inside. ‘Wemarched toonegoal, and arrived at another.This is a powerfulomen,brothers.Wemusttakeheed.’‘Anomenofwhat?’saidDragongaze.‘I will think upon it,’ the Slayer said. ‘This much is clear. Something is coming. The force of ourcompulsionspeakstoitsmagnitude.Andwhentheeventarrives,wethreemustbemindfuloftheroleswewillhavetoplay.’‘Itisawarning,’Haraldsaid.‘Anomenofdoom.Howcanitbeotherwise?WesoughtBjorn,butwecamehere.’Theothertwosaidnothing.Theyallgazedattheinscription.Theystaredattherunesofwarningandthenameofthemadlegend,andfeltashadowdeeperyetthanthenightofstonefallovertheirsouls.Beyondmeliesarestlesssleep,saidthedoor.Beyondmeliesthemadnessofwrath.Murderfang.Thefuturestalkedtowardsthem,jawsagape.

PART1:THERETURN

CHAPTER1

TheDoomsonNurades

‘Theskyisbluetoday,governor.’AndrasElsener,LordGovernorofNurades,lookedupfromtheseaofparchmentanddata-slatesonthevastirontablebeforehim.Everythingwasapriority,andeverythinghadtobedecidednow.Andthiswasmerelywhathehadtowadethroughforthenexthour.Itwasearlyinthedayyet.Theinterruptionwaswelcome,thoughheknewhewouldpayforthebreakinhisconcentrationlater.Klein,hismajor-domo,stoodatthechamberwindow.Elsener’squarterswerehighinthespireofHiveGenos.Theviewfromhisofficelookedoutacrossthespiresofthehivefromapointthatwasfrequently,although not always, a little below cloud cover. SometimesElsener could seemany kilometres of thesprawlofthehive.Sometimeshesawnothingbutachoking,industrialgrey-brown.Twiceinhislifehehadwitnessedtheweakdiscofthesunvisiblethroughunusuallythinclouds.Hehadneverseenabluesky.Elsenerapproachedthewindowinwaryawe.Kleinseemedjustasuneasy.HewasabouttoopenthedoortothebalconybutElsenerstoppedhim.‘No,’saidthegovernor.‘Wait.’The skywas clear.The bluewas startling. Itwas searing.AsElsenerwatched, the last of the cloudcoverpeeledawaylikeburningpaper.Thebluebecamebrighterandbrighter,thoughElsenercouldnotseethesun.Thecolourbecamepainful.Elsenersquinted.Kleinshieldedhiseyes.Andthen,thoughthecolourstillgrewmoreintense,italsobecamedarker.Bluebecameviolet.‘TheEmperorsaveus,’Elsenermuttered.Violetturnedtoadark,grimycrimson.ThecolourofrottingbloodstabbedatthebackofElsener’seyes.Hecouldnotlookaway.Attheheightofthesearing,theskyignited.Flamesburstacrossthefirmament.Theywerehuge,arcing,roiling,asifNuradeshadbeenpitchedintoamoltencauldron.Theskyburnedallthecoloursofthespectrumatonce,destroyingthemwithfury.Astheydied,thecoloursgavebirthtootherthings,thingsthatexistedinsteadofcolours,thingsthatbledtheeyesandtoreatthemind.

Thegroundheaved.ThecentralspireofGenosswayedbackandforth.Narrowertowerscollapsed.Butnew spires rose, piercing up through the layers of the hive, thrusting towards the sky like monstrousdaggers,andtheyweretowersofbone.Elsenersawdotsappear in thesky.Theyfell–dark, tumbling,blazingorbs.Closer,andhesawtheywere skulls. They were a laughing, screaming hail. Jaws agape, they smashed onto the roofs andwalkwaysand roads.TheyshatteredonElsener’sbalcony.Whereeach landed, its fire spread. Itgrewtaller.Ittookonashape.Nowithadarms,legs.Nowahead.Horns.Muscleandsinewandblood-redflesh.Itcarriedasword.Elsenercriedoutandhurledhimselfawayfromthewindow.Hemustnotlook.Hemustnotsee.Alreadyhecouldfeelhisbrainsquirmingasifitwouldchangeintoananimalinsidehisskull.Kleinshrieked.Heclawedathis facehardenough to tearopenhischeeks.Heclutchedathis raggedflapsofskin,thenranatthegovernor,howlinganddrooling.Elsenerdrewhispersonallaspistolandshotthemajor-domothroughtheneck.Then he ran.He did not look back, not evenwhen thewindow smashed, and a snarling abominationcalledouttohiminavoiceofrattlingbone.Heknewwhatwouldhappenifhelooked.Perhapshewoulddieinthenextfewseconds,butifhedidnotlook,hemightyetretainhissoul.HeprayedtotheEmperorashechargedthroughthedooranddownthehallsofhisresidence.Heprayedthe Father ofMankindwould grant that he reached the astropathic choir in time. He prayed someonewouldhearNurades’cryforhelp.ThenexttimeLordGovernorAndrasElsenerdaredtolookatthesky,itwasweekslater,andhesawthecryanswered.Hesawsalvationslashthroughskywithbloodyclaws.

InthestrategiumoverlookingthebridgeofthestrikecruiserAlphaFang,thegreatpredatorleanedoverahololithicmapofNurades.Amantleoftrollhidewasdrapedoverhisarmour,atrophymadeofthepreyitself.Hisgesturessuggestedcontainedforce.Atanymoment,theycouldturnintothestrikeofahunter.Andmomentbymoment,hechoserestraint.Hiscalmwasthatofawolfthathadalreadychosenwhenandhowtoattack.HaraldDeathwolfpointedtothesigilforHivePredomitus.‘We begin there,’ he said. The hive was located at the base of a high mountain chain dividing theLacertusPeninsulafromtherestofthecontinent.‘Webreakthedaemons’hold.’Hemovedhishandsouth-west,passingoverHiveGenos.‘Andpushthemintothesea.’CanisWolfborn looked from themap to theoculus. It showed thevoid rivenby themad flaresof thewarp storm, and the planet turning in agony. The atmosphere quivered like maggots. The Deathwolfchampiongrunted.‘Savingthat?’ThehugewarriorwasmorerestlessthanHarald.Hismaneandbeardwerealightershadeandlonger,moreunruly.IfHaraldwasthewolfassuredofclosingitsjawsonitsprey,theFeralKnightwasthebeastbarelyheldback.Thebridgewasnothisnaturaldomain.Hebelongedinthefield,unleashedandroaring.‘Mistressofthevox,’Haraldcalledwithoutlookingupfromthemap.‘Anytrafficplanetside?’‘Some, lord,’ Giske Ager replied. ‘Fragments only. There are brief bursts of coherent data. Ordersperhaps.Therearemanycries.’Haraldnodded.HeaddressedtheassembledWolfGuard,notjustCanis.TheDeathwolfhuscarlsvariedwidelyinage.ButwhethertheycountedthemselvesamongtheRidersofMorkai,theThunder clawsortheRedhowl Hunters, they were all riders of wolves, and there was a kinship in their countenance – anarrowed,farseeing,predatorygaze.

‘Wehaveansweredapleaforhelp,’Haraldsaid.‘WehavenotcometoenactExterminatus.Thisplanetwillnotbelost.IwillseeitreturnedtotheembraceoftheAllfather.’‘Ahuntthen,’saidVygarHelmfang.‘Agreatone.’‘Good.’Canisgrowledinsatisfactionandanticipation.Hisquestion,Haraldunderstood,hadnotbeenanexpressionofdoubt in themission.Caniswanted reassurance thathewouldnotbecheatedofpreybycyclonictorpedoes.The assembled Wolf Guard also sounded pleased with Harald’s deployment strategy. The LacertusPeninsulawas themost densely populated and industrially active region ofNurades.When the SpaceWolvestookit,theywouldholdthekeytotherestoftheworld.Harald wondered if it might also unlock something else. The encounter before Murderfang’s vaulttroubledhim.Hewaswaitingforwhatevereventitheraldedtomakeitselfmanifest.HedidnotknowiftheplightofNuradesmeantmorethanitappeared,buttherewereunusualcircumstances.FromwhathadbeengatheredfromtheastropathicshriekthathadreachedFenris,thecomingofthewarpstormhadbeenextremelysudden.Amatterofseconds.Therewassomethingaboutthatarrivalthatdidnotseemliketheresultofthevagariesofthewarpandachanceweaknessinthematerium.Haraldsensedalargergamebehindtheincursion.Hecouldnotguesswhatitwas,norwhat,ifanything,itportendedfortheSpaceWolves.Nomatter,hetriedtotellhimself.HisGreatCompanywouldstampoutthedaemonictaint,andendthegamebeforeitbegan.

The Deathwolves fell upon the daemonic hordes much as the warpspawn had attacked the people ofNurades–withsudden,lightningviolence.Thedroppodscamefirst,streakingthroughthetormentedskyinaclustertowardstheplainbetweenthemountainsand thegatesofHivePredomitus.TheStormwolfgunships followed in theircontrails.Theyhammeredthelandingsitewithtwin-linkedlascannonandheavybolterfire,annihilatingdaemonkindinthevicinity.The flanksof thepodsslammeddownand theSpaceWolvesstormedout.GreyHuntershowled theireagernessforwar.Theirhelmsbore totemicskullsandtails.Somewerefashionedintosnarlinglupineform.Theythunderedaway,inpackafterpack.Theyhurledfraggrenadesaheadofthem,thenfolloweduptheblastswithastreamofbolter fire.Monstrositiesdisintegrated.TheDeathwolvespushed theenemyfurtherback,allowingthegunshipstoland.Caughtintheheatoffirstblood,theGreyHunterswouldhavefollowedtheirinstinctstochargeoniftheirpackleadershadnotheldthembacklongenoughfortherestoftheirbrotherstodisembark.The wait was a short one. Harald’s full company launched a blistering assault on the enemywithinsecondsofhavingtheirbootsontheground.BeforethegatesofPredomitus,amassofhorned,scarlet-scaledabominationsrioted.‘SwordlingsofKhorne.’Canisspathiscontempt.Hisbreathcameinlowgrowls.‘Theyhavenotbeenidle,’Haraldsaid.In the midst of the daemons rose tall hills of blackened skulls. Millions of Nuradeans had beensacrificedtoKhorne,butthehungerofthegodandhisservantswasunending.Fromtheopengatesofthecity,thedaemonsdraggedthousandsuponthousandsofhowlingvictims.‘Icanseethehillsgrowing,’Canissaid.Hisfacewasdarkwithhorrifiedfury.‘Sovastaslaughter,’Haraldgrowled.‘Letouranswerbemoreterriblestill.’The Stormwolf squadrons took to the air, pounding the warpspawn with guns. Lasbeams and shells

burneddaemonsandblewthemapart.Theycutaseared,smokingfurrowthroughthemassofwyrdflesh.‘Thehuntison,brothers!’Haraldcalled.Hisroarwasaclarioncalltowar,andGreyHuntersandWolfGuardansweredwitharoaroftheirown.Thebattlecrythunderedfromthethroatsofmenandbeasts,andthethunderwolfcavalryledthechargeintothefurrow.HaraldwasatthefrontatopIcetooth,withCanisathisshoulder,astheimmenseFangirshooktheearthashelopedforward.AlongsidethecavalryspedtheHuntbrothersandtheFrostrunners,Fenrisianwolves,somepureanimal,otherscybernetichybrids,allofthemmonsters,fleshwithstrengthofsteelandsteelwiththewrathofflesh.The cavalry slammed into their lineswith the forceof a nova cannon.Tensof thousandsof daemonsmassed on the plain. They were hatred embodied. But they fell back, trampled into oblivion by thewolves,blastedapartbybolterfire.Haraldfelttheexultantferocityofwarfloodhisveins.Thevastnessof theenemyarmymeantnothingexceptanear-inexhaustible supplyofprey.Hisview turned from thehills of bodies and the burning towers of Predomitus to the horrors that surged, grasping for him.Heswung his right arm out. The storm shield on his forearm smashed horns and skulls. He relished theimpact.Thejarwassolid,crunching.Hefiredhisboltpistolasheswung.Wyrdflesheruptedbeforehim.Withhislefthand,hewieldedthefrostaxeGlacius.Itshuge,wedge-shapedbladewasasinglecrystalshard. It glinted theblueof razoredcold.Theedgewas as longasHarald’s arm.Daemonic flesh andmuscleandbonerupturedatitsstrike.Moments into the charge, Harald’s senseswere filledwith the stench of roiling smoke and sprayingichor.Daemonshowledwithunnaturalvoices.Theairshookwiththeclashofrages.Theswordlings tried tosurroundthechargeandbringthecavalrydownina tideofblood.Nomatterhowmanyof themrushed in, theycouldnot stop theDeathwolves’momentum,although theyexactedatoll.HaraldheardtheagonisedsnarlsofathunderwolfandthegrowlsofRangvald,itsrider.HeheardthecrashasWolfGuardandbeasthitthegroundunderamassofclawing,slashingdaemons.Therewasanexplosionofbolterfireasthebrothersnearbysoughttoblasttheswordlingsawayfromthefallenrider.‘Rideon,brothers,’Rangvaldshouted,fightingtothelast.Andtheydid.Thechargecouldnotslowforanyone.Itssuccessagainstsuchavasthordedependedonrelentless violence and speed. With each fallen brother, the wrath of the Space Wolves and thethunderwolvesgrew,andtheysmashedthedaemonswithever-greaterferocity.Haraldsawonlyred–theredof theabominatedflesh, theredofflame,andtheredofhisanger.Icetoothcrusheddaemonsinhisjaws.Hesmashedthemtonothingbeneathhisenormousclaws.AtHarald’s shoulder,Canis’ snarlswere expressions ofwrath and laughter.He swept his hugewolfclaws back and forth, embracing the enemy with destruction. Every blade was as long as a gladius.HaraldglancedtotherightintimetoseeCanisslashadaemon’sspineintosectionswithasingleswipe.‘Agoodkill,brother!’Haraldcalled.Thechampiongrinned,hisyelloweyesblazing.Heshoutedsomethingback,butallHaraldheardwasaninarticulatesnarl.Caniswasalreadydeepintoprimalferocity.Hewasintherealmofthebeastnow.Itwouldbeeasytojoinhim.AlreadyHaraldgrowledwithtriumphateachofIcetooth’skills.Theywereasonealphapredatorinthefieldofbattle.Thebloodychargewasexhilarating.Thesmokywindblewback Harald’s hair and beard. The beat of his hearts matched the pounding of Icetooth’s paws. Thethunderingangerofbolters,wolvesandmencarriedhimforward.Eventhestenchofichor,amiasmabothclutchingandjagged,wasagoad.Thecallofabsolutefrenzywasstrong.Heheldback,though.Notmuch,butjustenoughtoholdontohisawarenessofthewiderfieldofbattle.TheDeathwolves battered their way forward to victory and slaughter. The thunderwolf charge blewapartthelinesoftheKhornateabominations.Itreducedhundredsofthemtoathicksludgeofichor.The

powerof thewyrdcrackledover them,and the foul liquiddidnotdissipate. Icetooth’spawssplashedthrough a deepening mire. Their anger could not summon the strength to meet the challenge of theDeathwolves.Without pause,withoutmercy,Harald cut through the daemons and reached thewall ofPredomitus.Hedidnotleadthechargethroughthegates.Instead,heturnedrightalongtheramparts,thenturnedagaintosmashbackdownthroughthehorde.Athisback,hefelttheblastingwindoftwogunships.Theymadelowpasses before thegates, hammering thegroundwithheavybolters and lascannons.Thegap in thewallbecamean inferno.Harald lookedback to seevolcanicdestruction, the earth andbodiesheavingskyward. Daemons burned as they flew. The horde within the city could not break out. The otherStormwolves flew in from the rear of the lines to meet the advancing cavalry, scything a swath ofannihilationastheycame.AdaemonleapthighoverIcetooth’sjaws.ItcamedowndirectlyatHarald,itssworddescendingtocuthisheadintwo.Hebroughtuptheshieldandsmasheditaside.Hefinisheditoffwithaboltshelltotheskull.Icetoothseizedanotherabominationbytheneckandbitthroughwithasingleclampofhisjaws.Haraldseizedthemomenttolookleft.Inthewakeofthecavalrycharge,theinfantrywasadvancing,thespeedmoredeliberatebutthedestructionnolesstotal.TheGreyHunterswerestillmovingtowardsthegates,cuttinganevenwiderswath.Haraldheardtheirmassedwarshoutsoverthecriesofthedaemons.Behind the gunships and infantry came the tanks. Predators, Vindicators and Land Raiders in tightformationbecameagiantgrinder,anunstoppablemassofmetalandcannonfire.Icetoothrantowardstheexplosions.Purifyingflamepushedbackthewyrd-light.‘Ridingclose!’Canisyelled,coherentagain,hisvoicestillguttural.Heimpaledaswordlingthroughthethroatandhurledthecreatureawaytotheright,intothebladesofitskin.‘Straighttotheblasts?’heasked.HaraldcouldalmostbelieveCaniswasreadytopursuetheslaughterrightintothetankfire.‘Notquite,’hesaid.Buthegrinnedathischampion.‘Closethough.’He waited until the smoke was choking, shattered stone was raining down on the field, and theconcussionsweredeafening thenswervedoff to theright,clearing thewayfor the tanks.Theclanking,boomingvehiclesmovedpastthecavalry,rollingoverthedaemonsthathadbeeninpursuit.Canisgrowledindisappointment.ThefieldbeforetheThunderwolveswasalmostemptyofdaemons.‘Wearen’tdone,brother,’Haraldsaid.‘We’realongwayfromdone.’HeturnedIcetoothbacktowardsthewall,andtheyrodeashortdistancetotheflankofthearmour.Theycamearoundahillofskulls,andfelluponanotherhorde.The abominations were in disarray. They could not mount a counter attack. Their numbers workedagainstthemastheytriedtorespondtothesuddenchangesintheDeathwolves’vectorofdestruction.Allthe thousands in the plain became fodder for the claws of the SpaceWolves. The daemons could notattackatonce.Theyhinderedeachother’smovementsasHaraldtriggeredconflictingcurrentsofattack.Intheirrageandfrustration,thecreaturesfelltofightingeachother.Thecavalrychargewasunrelenting.Hoursintothebattle,theDeathwolvesracedwiththesamespeedandfuryastheirinitialassault.AndwhenatlastHaraldcalledahalt,thenatureoftheplainhadchanged.Theskyoverheadremainedastormofdark,madflame.Smokerosefromthehillsofskulls,andbloodpooledattheirbases.Butthecrackedearthwasbarren.Theenemywasgone.Slaughter andvictory.Sooften, theywere the same thing.On this day theywere.While thegunshipscontinuedtopoundthegatesofPredomitus,Haraldregardedthedeadlandwithsatisfaction.ThismuchofNuradeswaspurged.Besidehim,Canissaid,‘Agoodstart.’Hewashungryformore.Weallare,Haraldthought.Hisbloodwasup.Theannihilationoftheenemyinthisfirstencounter,and

the imperative tokeepup thepressurepushed theconcernsof thewar’ssignificance to thebackofhismind.The plan of a foewasmeaningless if the foewas exterminated.AndHarald felt the strength ofextermination in his hands.Hewas a predator unleashed, and therewas prey on the other side of thewalls.‘Yes,’hesaidtoCanis.‘Agoodstarttothehunt.Letuscontinue.’

The battle for Predomitus took days. Days of unending massacre. In the stages of the purging, theDeathwolvesbrokethoughacrushofdaemonsatthegates,thenmoveduptheprimarythoroughfaresofthehive.Thewarwasaninterioronenow.Onlyrarelydidthecompanyemergeintoopenair,thoughthepilots of the gunships kept as close to the position of their brothers as possible, strafing the exposedpositions of the hive.They blew up towerswhere the concentration of daemonswas so great that thebuildingsthemselveshadbeguntodistort,rockcretewallsturningintoscalyflesh.In the hive, the daemons answered the challenge of theDeathwolves. They poured in fromhalls andchambers.Theycrashedthroughskylightsandventilationshafts.Theyeruptedfromthefloorsoftheroute.TheGreatCompanycutthemdown.Haraldkeptupthespeedoftheattack,movingalmostasquicklyasthe initialcharge.Therewasnochanceofsurprisewhen thebattlewascontinuous,asunbrokenas theflowofaburningriverofblood.TheDeathwolvesmovedfast,with thesavageryof thebeasts theyrode.ButHaraldchose thepathoftheirassaultwithcare.Aboard theAlphaFang, hehad studiedhololithic schematicsofNurades’hivecities.Thefrenzyofhishuntwastemperedbystrategy.Heembracedthewolf.Hefoughtasifhewereone.Asifhewereone.Therewasadifference.Nevertobeforgotten.Oncethegatewastaken,HaraldbeganthesecondstageoftheassaultonPredomitus.Hesplithisforcestotakethecavalryandinfantrydownthenarrowerpassages,whilethetanksmovedimplacablydownthemain arteries. The smaller routeswere large enough to permit rapid deployment, but not sowide thedaemons couldmass sufficient numbers together to slow the advance.The daemons took the bait, andHaraldexterminatedthem.‘This is the long charge, brothers,’ Harald voxed the Great Company as the Wolf Guard and GreyHuntersslaughtereddaemons,rejoinedthetanksonthegreatavenues,thensplitofftorepeatthepattern.‘This is howwewill take backPredomitus.Our victory rests onmomentumand speed.Depend uponthat.’Canistoreaswordlinginhalfthengesturedatthevistaoftoweringwallsandbranchingavenueslyingahead.‘Thisisavasthunt,’hesaid.Harald switched to a private channel. ‘We do not seek a complete purge,’ he said. That would beimpossible.‘Itwillbeenoughtobreakthedaemons’grip.’Hepointedupandtotheleft,wheretheupperstoreysofaspireflashedwithlasbeamfire.‘Nuradesstillhasuncorrupteddefenceforces.Wewillgivethemthemeanstomounttheirwarofreclamation,thenmovetothenexttarget.’Hethoughttheprospectofanunending,savageadvancewouldpleaseCanis.Hewasright.ThechampionhowledasheandFangirhurledthemselvesatthenextgroupofdaemons.

ThecourseofthewartooktheDeathwolvesdeepintotheunderhive.Theretheconcentrationofdaemonswas immense. And in the Industrium Sub-terranal, the abominations mounted a challenge to Harald’sadvance.TheIndustriumwasatangleofpassages.Machinerywaspileduponmachineryinagloomlitbyfieryoutgassing, and centuries of construction and decay had created jumbled layers of manufactoria. ThemillionsofserfswhoworkedtheIndustriumweregone,transformedordead.Manyregionsofthesteelmazewereruins,andthedeadmetalwaschangingintohungryflesh.Butmuchofthemachinerywasstill

active,gearsturning,jawsgrindingore,forgespouringoutmoltenmetalwiththemindlesspersistenceoftitanicservitors.Thepassagesherewereshort,broken,unpredictable.Machinicwallsrumbledtowardseachother,thenparted.Anglesweresharp,andspeedwasdangerous,difficult,andstillnecessary.Andhere,therewereotherdaemons.Untilnow,theDeathwolveshadfoughtonlyKhornateabominations,howlingembodimentsofrage.IntheIndustrium, they encountered daemons of Tzeentch. Instead of roars, mad laughter echoed down thepassageways.Voicesintonedsentencesthathoveredontheedgeofhumanmeaning.ThewordsscratchedatthebackofHarald’seyes.‘Silence the tongues of the wyrd!’ he yelled, his voice ringing off the iron walls. The leadThunderwolves trampled the daemonic,misshapen horrors of glistening pinkmuscle. They came apartbeneath claws and chainswords. Flesh parted, darkened to the blue of contusions and reformed. Thedaemonsmultipliedintheirdestruction,butwerehammeredintooblivionbythebolterfireoftheGreyHunters.Sudden, inhumanshriekssplit theairapart.Airbornedaemons, thingsthatwerelittlemorethanwingsandhornsandwhiplash tails, camescreamingaround the sharp turns, and flewout frombetweendarkcrevasses in themachinery.Theyweremindlessbut agile.They fell upon theDeathwolves, lunging inwiththeirhornsorslashingpastwiththeirspikedtails.Theycamefromalldirections,attackedandflewoff,thencameback.HaraldtrustedtothepredatoryinstinctsofIcetoothtodealwiththedaemonsthatscamperedforwardsontheflooroftheIndustrium.Hekepthisfocusontheair,drillingboltshellsintothescreamingdaemonsthatswoopedhisway,raisingGlaciustocleavetheirundersidesopeniftheygotbyhisbarrage.ThestrugglewascomposedofmomentsasdisjointedasthespaceoftheIndustrium.Awarofrecklessspeed.Thepistoning,clanking,smoke-spewingmassesofmachineryrisinghundredsofmetresoneitherside.TheceilingjustaboveHarald’sheadonemoment,invisibleinthedarkheightsthenext.Nowaytoprepareforeachjaggedintersection–nothingforitbuttoracedeepintothewhirringsawbladesofwar.TheDeathwolvesandthescreamersstreakingpastandthrougheachother,ichorandbloodathicksprayin the gloom. The shrieks of the abominations entwined with chants and laughter. The howls of thethunderwolvesandsnarlsoftheirriderscutthoughthefoulbraidingofChaoswiththepurityofsavagery.Warturnedintoablurofslashinglethality.InthedepthsoftheIndustrium’smaze,Haraldbecameawareofastrongerpresence.Theattacksofthescreamersweretoopreciseformindlessdaemons.Theyweredirectedbyapowerfulwill.Itswhispertravelledthroughtheclamourofbattle,slitheringworm-likethroughtheintersticesofcackleandgrowlandroar.ItspoketotheDeathwolves.Itwouldnotbeignored.Anotherattack,moreinsidious,moredangerous.Slithertwystwelcomesyou.Slithertwysthasbeenwaiting.Youhavebeenlongincoming.Willyoumakethepathinteresting?Chainsandropes,manaclesandwebs,suchrattlingandstrugglingandtwistingandtwistingandtwisting.Doyousee?Youdonotsee.Hurry,playthings.Hurryandsee.Hissingwithsecrets,darkwithknowledge.‘Shutoutthelies!’Haraldcalledtohisriders.Butinhisheart,hedreadedthatsomewhereinthedaemon’sblandishmentswasatruthmorecorrosivethananylie.ShutoutSlithertwyst?SilenceSlithertwyst?Willyousilencefate?Willyoushutoutyourdaysandwaystocome?On the right, dying metal shrieked. A chain of collapses smothered explosions and a stream ofincandescentgasflashedoverhead.Haraldhunchedbeneathit.Oninstinctheturnedtowardsthefalling

wall.MillionsoftonnesofmetaltoppledtowardstheDeathwolves.Disintegratingmachinerythrewoutspinning shrapnel. The collapse stretched ahead and behind the cavalry. There was no evading theavalanche – Harald raced towards the certainty of crushing oblivion and it parted before him, aconglomerationwiththemassofahundredStormwolvestearingtoeithersidelikeashreddedcurtain.HaraldandCanisrodehead-onatthedaemonthatwhisperedintheirsouls.Slithertwyststoodastrideascreamer. The herald of Tzeentchwas a being of limbs and horns and teeth, a huge pink abominationdrapedinrobesofshifting,oilyblue.Thingssproutedfromitsbodythatchangedfromtentaclestohornsfrommomenttomoment.Itraisedatwistedblade,laughingandwhisperingatthesametime,threemorearmsspreadingwideinwelcometotheSpaceWolves.HaraldurgedIcetoothintoaleap.Thethunderwolfsailedupwardsandcamedownontheheadofthewinged daemon, slamming it to the ground. The herald leapt from its wounded steed and flailed atHarald’s stormshieldwithclawsand tentacles.Thepowerof thewyrdwas in its strength. It hitwithserpentinespeedand the forceofabattering ram, forcingHaraldandIcetoothback.Theotherdaemonrosetotheaidofitsmaster,andCanisandFangirfelluponit.Canisslashedthewingedmonsterwithhiswolf claws, his attack as ferocious asFangir’s,whileHaraldblockedSlithertwyst’s blade thrustwithGlaciusandfiredasustainedvolleywithhisboltpistolintothedaemon’sface.Themass-reactiveshellsexplodedinsideitsskull.Theheraldwasnotathingoftrueflesh,buthereonNuradesithadaphysicalreality,andtheblastsblewitsheadintotwohalves.Theyhung,deflatedsacksofflesh,toeithersideofthebody.TheclawsscrabbledblindlyforHarald,andIcetoothsnarledinpainand rage as they dug furrows into his hide. The thunderwolf leapt again, away from the screamer asSlithertwyst’sshreddedbodycrashedinto thewreckageofburningmachinery.Thecavalryattackedthethrashing daemon with chainswords and bolt pistols, shattering its body even further. Eldritch flameeruptedfromwhereSlithertwysthadfallen.Therewasasuddenblast,andafoulwind,strongasahurri -canehowledthroughtheruinstobattertheDeathwolves.Astheyrodethroughthecollapsetothenextopenpassage,Canissaid,‘Easyprey.’Thechampionwasright.TheyhadhitSlithertwysthard,butHaraldhadnotexpectedthebattletobesobrief.‘Tooeasy,doyouthink?’heasked.‘No,’Canisgrinned.‘Justpoorprey.Atleasttheyaremany.’Haraldglancedback.Theglowofthedaemonicfirewasfading,thewinddropping.Hesawnohintofaresurrection.Thewhispershadstopped.Butforamoment,inthecurlsofthewind,hethoughtheheardserpentinelaughter.Caniswassatisfiedtoviewthedaemonsasoutmatched,butHaraldwasnot.‘Yetthewyrdisstrongonthisworld,’hesaid.Canisdidn’tanswer.Hewasridingtowardshisnextkill,shoutingwithferaleagerness.DoubtgnawedattheedgesofHarald’swarlust.ThereissomethingIamnotseeing.Ahead, a swarm of the pink daemons squeezed through a narrow passage. There was no time tocontemplatethenatureoftheherald’sdemise.Theslaughtercalled,andcouldnotbeignored.Onwards, then, and onwards, the Deathwolves forever charging, forever cutting through daemonicbodies,endinglaughterandchants,purifyingeverycornertheypassedintheIndustrium’smaze.TakingbackPredomitus.

Atlast,theDeathwolvescamethroughthehive.Theirassault,asinglerunlastingmanydays,leftbehindaswathofscouredruins.Thewarforthehivewasnotover,butthebalancehadtippedtowardsthemortaldefenders.TheabominationandthehereticwerebeingburnedfromPredomitus,andtheworkwouldgo

onuntilnoneremained,evenifeveryspireofthecitywastoppledintheprocess.Thetidehadturned.Harald’scavalry,joinedbytheheavyarmourandthegunships,movedon.Beforethem, the landbetweenPredomitusandGenosseethedwithdaemons.Theycamedownfromthehigherground,afrothingwaveofmonstrosity.‘Allkindsoffilth,’saidCanis.Haraldnodded.Theallianceofdaemonshadbeenhiddenbytheinitialencounterwiththeswordlings.ThepresenceoftheTzeentchiandaemonsintheIndustriumSub-terranalhadbeenanillomen.Nowitwasconfirmed.WrathandchangeandplagueandexcessrampagedoverthetorturedearthofNurades.AlltheshadesoftheRuinousPowerswereunited.‘Thisdoesnothappenwithoutgreatcause,’Haraldsaid.‘Theywantthisworldbadly,’Canissaid.‘Dothey?’Haraldwondered.HethoughtabouttherelativeeaseofSlithertwyst’sdefeatagain.Heshookoffthespeculation.WhateverthepurposeofChaos,theSpaceWolveswereheretoendit.Thoughheandhisbrothershadjustcomethroughanexhaustingcampaign,heroseonIcetooth’sbackasiffreshtothebattlefield,Glaciusheldhigh.‘Brothers!’hecalled.‘Letushuntagain!’TheEmperor’spredatorstoreoverthelandtoslaketheirthirstforwar.

Weeks, then. After Predomitus, weeks of battle across the length of the Lacertus Peninsula. Alwaysforwards,never retreating,cutting throughdaemons,andpushing them towards the sea, takingback theworldtheyhadstolen.Thegrindofbattleinthehivenowexpandedtoanentireregion,withkilometresgainedeachday,butsomanymoretogo,andanentireworldinfested.Harald did not look towards an end of the campaign. He concerned himself with the victory of themoment,andofthestepsnecessarytoreachtheend.Inseekingtocounterhisstrategy,thedaemonsaidedhim.Theybroughtmoreandmoreof their forces tobearagainst theDeathwolves, andso theyhurriedtheirextermination.FortydaysafterthesiegeofPredomitus,theDeathwolvescrestedaridgeandcaughttheirfirstglimpseofthesea,stillhundredsofkilometresaway.Below,thelanddroppedawaygraduallyintoanarid,rollingplain. It was a cauldron of daemons. Harald paused. He looked upon a heaving mass of beings, anightmaredrawnforthedarkestsagas.‘Afinehunt,’Canissaid.Hisfaceandbeardweremattedwithichor,andhisarmourwasscoredwithburns and themarks of otherworldly blades. ‘Glorious.’He looked towards the daemonic legions, hishungerforbattleasstrongasever.‘Canahuntbetooglorious?’Haraldsaid.Canis turned tohim indisbelief.After a longmoment, he laughed, as if decidingHaraldwas joking.‘Never,’Canissaid.At the moment the champion’s laughter ended, Harald thought he heard the echo of another, sibilantvoice.Haraldglancedaround.Slithertwyst’sfinalmockeryhauntedhim.Everydayofthecampaign,hewatchedforthedaemon’sreturn.Inthecornerofhislefteye,hesawadarkpinkmovement.Helooked.Therewasnothingthere.‘Whatdidyouhear?’Canisasked.‘IthoughtIheardthedaemonwhotauntedusinPredomitus.’Canislookedpuzzledoncemore.‘Thatcannotbe.Webanishedit.Toreitapart.’Yetitlaughed.‘AndwhyNurades?’hesaid,finallyaskingthequestionoutloud.‘Whatisthemeaningofthisincursion?’‘Itsmeaning?’Canissaid.‘Whatdoesitmatter?Thedaemons’purposedieswiththem.’

Doesit?Itmust.Yetitlaughed.He shook his head. ‘You’re right,Wolfborn,’ he said, trying to convince himself. ‘Deathwolves!’ hevoxedtothecompany.‘Wepushtothesea!Leaveonlydeathinourwake!’Theypoureddowntheslope.Astormofclawsandgunsdescendedonthedaemons.Haraldwasunabletosavourthetasteofthevictoriesastheycame.Thequestionsgavehimnopeace.Eveninthethickofbattle,asheroaredandslew,theylingered,asinsistentastheywerehalf-formed.Onward.Forwards.Weeksofwar.Weeksofslaughter.Thebeastsforeverunleashed,clawsandfangsrippingtheunholyfoeapart.Theinfinityoftheenemymerelyaninfinityofprey.Canisexulted.Haralddoubted.Onandon.Endless.Untiltherewasanend.

TheLacertusPeninsulacame toanabrupthalt.The restless seahurled itselfagainst sheerbasaltcliffshundredsofmetres high.Caught in the tormented energyof thewarpstorm, thewaves rose tohalf thatheight, battering the cliffswith such force the spray drenched the land above. Thewind howledwithvoices.ItragedagainsttheSpaceWolvesastheycorneredthedaemonichordes.TheabominationsoftheRuinousPowersshriekedandgibbered,theirvoicesentwiningwiththewindandwaves.Theyfoughtinvain.ThetruetempestcamefromFenris.Haraldturnedhisdoubtsintorageasheandhisbrotherscrashedintothefinalhordes.Onallsides,theDeathwolves howled with triumph. After weeks of incessant battle, they attacked as if fresh to thebattlefield.Theirpreyhadnowheretoturn.Theytoreintothedaemonswithfuriousjoy.IchorandspraydrenchedHaraldasheandIcetoothsavagedthem,andGlaciusseemedtosinginhishand.Hebarelyfeltthe impactofhisblows.Hecut through skulls andchopped torsos inhalf.Hecrushed spineswithhisstormshield.Hefiredintoexplosionsofdisintegratingwyrdflesh.Canislaughedwithmercilessferocity.Haraldjoinedhim.Sodidtheentirecavalry,andthentheinfantry.Thecliffsresoundedwiththeterriblelaughterofalphapredators.HaraldandIcetoothplungedforwards,andforwardsagain,untiltherewasnoforwardsanylonger.Theshattereddaemonarmyplungedovertheedgeof thecliffs.Monstrousformsstruggledthroughtheair.Waveslikemountainsrosetoswallowthem,Nuradesinitsangertakingitstormentorsintotheviolentdepthsofthesea.TheDeathwolves’laughterrodethethunderofthesurf.

LordGovernorElsenermetwithHaraldDeathwolfandCanisWolfborninoneofthedefencespiresofHiveGenos. Elsener’s quarters had been destroyed early in the incursion.He had barely escaped thetower’sfall.Noneoftheastropathslowerdownhadbeenasfortunate.Theircryforhelphadbeentheirlastact,andithadopenedthemfatallytothepowerofthewarp.Elsenerhadwitnessedtheirdaemonictransformation.Hehadwitnessedmuchsincethestartofthewar.HehadseenthousandsofhivemilitiaandallbutahandfulofhisTempestushonourguardgivetheirlivesinthedefenceofachapelredoubtinthe centre of the hive. He caught sight of his reflection in a glassteel window as he approached thechamber.Whathehadseenwasbrandedonhis face.Hiseyesweresunkenandhisskinwasgreyandlinedwiththedeepscarsofasoul’strauma.Hesawthefaceofamanwhowouldnotlivelongpasttheendofthewar.TheEmperorgrantIseetheliberationofNurades,hethought.Heenteredtheroom,leaningonaroughcanehehadfashionedfromtheshaftofanornamentalpike.The

chamberwas a turret emplacementmidway up the tower. Itwas large enough to serve as a commandcentre,anditwasintact.Heavyboltersstoodinthevaultedaperturesfacingnorth,south,eastandwest.They guarded the approaches over the rooftops of the lower hab complexes. Or the ruins of thosecomplexes.MuchofGenoswasasmoulderingruin.Butithadbeencleansed.Theskywasdarkwiththesmokefromthefires.Itwasfreeofthelunaticbrillianceofthewarpstorm.AsthewarsweptupwardsfromtheLacertusPeninsulaontheinhabitednorthernlandmassofNurades,thestrengthofthestormfaded.IthadbeenmanydaysnowsinceGenosandPredomitushadbeenfreeoftheterrorsofthatlightanditsrains.Waiting for the lord governor was the liberation of Nurades. Elsener’s breath caught. Two colossalwarriorsfacedhim.Theirarmourcarriedthestenchofwar.Therewastheacridstingoffyceline,andthedisturbingtraceofslaughteredabominationsinthestreaksofichor.Andtheauraofdangerousanimals.Theywere human, yet their featureswere so rough-hewn, their hair sowild, that Elsener felt he hadsteppedintothepresenceofmassivebeasts.Hefearedthemalmostasmuchasthethingshehadbeenfightingforweeks.Elsenerbowed,eyesaverted.‘Mylords,’hesaid.‘Nuradesthanksyouforthesalvationyoubring.’Deathwolfgrunted.‘Yoursurvivaldoesyoucredit,LordElsener.’Heturnedtothehololithtablethathadbeenbroughttothechamber.‘Wehavesomequestionsforyou.’ThetabledisplayedamapofNurades’polarregions.‘Thewargrowsfiercerthefurthernorthwego,’Deathwolfsaid.Withaneffort,ElsenerforcedhimselfnottoimagineaplagueofhorrorsevenworsethanthatwhichhadattackedGenos.‘The abominations are more numerous, and more resolved to prevent our advance,’ Deathwolfcontinued.Hetappedthemapwhererunesindicatedsomeformofcomplex.‘Whatisthis?Ihavefoundnorecordsaboutit.’‘Borassus,’ Elsener said. He swallowed and leaned more heavily on his cane. ‘We expunged therecords,butwehaveyettoeraseitsmemoryfromourculture.Itisafortification.Itiscursed.’Wolfbornsnorted.‘WhatonNuradesisnot?’‘Borassushasbeenaplaceof shadows forcenturies. Ithasbeenshunnedsince longbefore thewarpstormcame.’‘Soitwillbealltheworsenow,youbelieve,’Deathwolfsaid.‘Howcanitnotbe?’Deathwolfnodded. ‘We takenoteofyourwarning.NosonofFenris takes thewordcurse lightly.SoBorassusiswherewemustgo.IftheRuinousPowersseektopreventusfromreachingit,itsimportanceis clear.’ He spread his hand over the polar regions. ‘There are no settlements for over a thousandkilometres in anydirection.Noprey for thedaemons.Borassus is their anchorpointon this continent.Fromwhatyousay,itmayalsobeagatewayforthem.Weshalltakeit,andcleansethisworld.’

TheskieswereclearoverBorassusastheStormwolvesarrived.Therewasnosmogofheavyindustryinthisempty region, a landofbarren rockanddeepcold.Norwere there theunholy flamesof thewarpstorm.Evenas theDeathwolveshadprepared their assaulton the fortifications, theconvulsionaroundNurades had subsided. The storm had passed. The materium was reasserting itself. The night of theNurades’polewasacleanblackandthestarswerejaggedsilver.TwicethesizeofLuna,Nurades’mooncastalightheavywithsilenceoverBorassus.A hundred kilometres to the south, the heavy armour of the Deathwolves battled amassive surge ofdaemonsinthemountainpassthatwastheprimaryaccesspointtotheBorassusregionacrossland.WiththeattentionoftheforcesofChaosdrawntothatstruggle,Haraldorderedanairinsertionintothetarget

zone.NowtheSpaceWolvescameinwavesofgunships,disembarkingonawideplainbeforethemaingateofthefortifications.Ashiscavalryandinfantryassembled,Haraldeyedthebattlements,outlinedinblackbythevastsphereof themoon.The complexof bunkers, towers and rampartsmadehim thinkof broken tusks and fangs.Borassushulked,quietandblack,waiting.Themaingatewasaruin.Thewayinwasclear.Hesawnomovement.Standingbesidehim,Canis said, ‘Thisplace isnotdead.’His fangswerebared. IcetoothandFangirgrowled.Theirhackleswereraised.‘Itwaitsforus,’Haraldagreed.ThecavalryoftheDeathwolvesadvancedwithcaution.Haraldcouldnotleadachargewithnoenemyinsight.The SpaceWolves passed through the ruined gate. Beyondwas a large staging ground. Some of thebarrackssurroundingithadfalleninonthemselves.Rockcretewallshadtumbledasifsmashedbyahugefist.Bunkersweresquatshapes,atregularintervalsinthespacebetweenthewallsandthegreathulkofthe central keep.Cold light and deep shadowwashedover them.Their doorways and turret aperturesgaped,idiotmouthsandblindglares.Haraldsentsquadsaheadtocheckthenearestbuildings.Theyfoundonlydarknessinside.TheDeathwolvesmoveddeeper intoBorassus.Windwhisperedover theground,coldwith loss.Thetread of thunderwolf paws and ceramite boots echoed against thewalls, and desolation embraced thecompany.Thedoortothekeephadfallentoo.Haraldslowedwhenhesawtheentrancewasblockedwithrubble.Theinteriorofthekeepappearedtohavecollapsed.Hescannedtheupperlevelsofsquattowers.Rowsofaperturesstaredbackathim;moredark,emptyeyes.Theeyesblinkedandsnarlinglightburstfromthem.Itlittherampartsofthekeep.Ontheroofsofthebunkers,asifaconcealingcurtainhadbeenrippedaway,flamedaemonsofTzeentchnowwhirledtheirmaddanceandhurleddaemonicfireatthecompany.They’vebeenthereallalong,Haraldrealised.Somegreatsorceryhadkeptthemhidden.Theblastshit everywhereacross theDeathwolves’ formation.A fireballof coruscatingblue streakedpastHarald’sshoulder.IthitAluar,envelopingtheGreyHunter.Powerarmour,flesh,boneandmusclemutatedandfusedwithsuchexplosiveenergythathepassedfromathingofbleedinganglesandhowlingmouthstoashinafractionofasecond.Onallsides,realitycracked.Anarmyappearedinmid-charge,tearingthroughthebrittleveilofthereal.The staging ground was empty and then it was full. A stampede of juggernauts barrelled into theDeathwolves’flanks.Theyweremassivebeastsofcrimsonhideandcrimsonarmourwithhornsthatwereaslongastheirjaws.Somehornswerespikes,whilesomewereintheshapeofserratedaxeblades,andbehindeachwastheforceofaspeedingtank.Theypiercedceramite.Theychoppedthroughribs.Theyimpaledthunder wolvesthroughthethroat.Riding high on theirmonstrous steeds, Khornate swordlings swung their blades down onto damagedarmour.Theyexultedwitheachskulltheysevered,holdinghightheircrimsonofferingstoKhorne.Slowerandmorenumerousthanthebehemothcavalry,thousandsofdaemonsofNurgleclosedin.Theywere a seaofdroning, chantingpestilence.Weeping sores covered their bodies andmaggotsdropped,squirming,fromtheirblades.TheycametosmothertheDeathwolvesintheembraceofthegrandfatherofdisease.‘Form up!’ Harald voxed. ‘Push them back!’ Icetooth and Fangir lunged towards the stampedingKhornatedaemons.

‘Cowards,dependingonsurprise,’Canissnarled.Itworked,Haraldthought.‘Thenwe’llrendertheirtacticfutile,’hevowed.Thetraphadbeensprung.HewouldtaketheDeathwolvesoutofitnow.Thebeastinhisheartsworethis,thoughthecoldtacticianreckonedtheoddsandknewhowthisnightwouldend.ThescarletbehemothsattackedtheSpaceWolvesflanks.Therewasnowayforward.Theruinedkeepwasacliffwall.Theonlychancewastobreakthebruntoftheassaultandreclaimmobility.‘Wemustpushtotherear,’HaraldsaidtoCanis.Hepouredboltshellsintotheskullofaleviathanuntilitsheadburst.Itfellheavily,carvingafurrowinthestonyground,rollingoverandcrushingitsrider.‘A retreat?’Canis asked.Fangir dodged a charge anddughis claws into themonster’s scales.Canisdecapitatedtheswordlingwithaswipeofhisrighthandandimpaledthebehemoth’sneckwiththewolfclawsonhisleft.‘Amanoeuvre,’Haraldsaid.‘Withachangeofprey.’‘Brothers!’ he shouted into the vox. ‘Rend the daemons of plague apart!’ He began to turn Icetootharound.Ajuggernautlauncheditselfatthethunderwolf.Icetoothtwistedaround,broughthisheaddownandlatchedhisjawsontothebeast’sthroat.Hebitwithsteel-crunchingforce.Daemonicichorpouredtothegroundas the juggernautbellowedandtried toshakefree.Haraldbattedaside thesworddaemon’sweaponwithhisboltpistolandslammedGlaciusintotheabomination’smidsection,cuttingitinhalf.Itdissolvedintosteaming,scarletfoulness.Icetoothtightenedhisgriponthejuggernaut.Hisclawssmashedthroughitsarmour.Haraldturnedhisaxeattheexposedflesh,hackingdeepintothebodyofthemonster.Itrearedbackwardswithastrengthbornofitsimpendingdoom.Icetoothroseonhishindquarterswithit.Thejuggernauttriedtorolloverandcrushitstormentors,butitwasevenlymatchedwiththethunderwolf.Asifhewasasfuriouswiththeambushashismaster,Icetoothrefusedtoreleasehisprey.ThejuggernautfellbackonallfoursandIcetoothtoreitsthroatout.Itslumpeddown,andHaraldcutoffitshead.Thehugedaemon’sbodycollapsedinonitself.Itsscalesrusted,thenflakedtodust,anditsfleshmeltedintoa foulmuck.As itsmassdisappeared,Haraldhad the room tomanoeuvre.Besidehim,CanisandFangir finished the other behemoth. Fangir clawed all the way through the flank, loosing a flood ofsnapping,shrieking,burningviscera.Caniscutdeeperwithhisownbladesuntilheseveredtheskull.Thedaemon’sroarofpainandragechokedoffandthemonstervanishedinanexplosionofichor.Movingtothe left and right flanks,WolfLord and championbarrelleddown the lineof theDeathwolves, addingtheirmighttothatofeachbrotherlockedinastruggle,bluntingtheassaultofthedaemoncavalry.‘Backtothewalls!Backtotheplain!’Haraldordered.‘Therewewillruntheabominationsdown!’TheGreatCompanychanged itsdirection.TheDeathwolves fought through the jawsandcrushof theKhornatemonsters.Theyfoughtthroughthebarrageofwarpflamethatfellintheirmidst,destroyingtheirbrothersthroughlethalmetamorphosis.Andtheymovedagainsttheplaguebearers.Overhead,theStormwolvesstrafedtherampartswithhelfrostandlas.Stormfanggunshipspunishedthedaemonsontheground.Greatbeamscreatedswathsofabsolutezerotemperatures.Someofthedaemonscaught in the firemanaged tomove, theirunnaturalbeingperforming the impossible,yet theycrumbledapartastheyadvanced,reducedtodustbeforetheycouldbefree.TheTzeetchianflamedaemonsretaliatedinforce.Acrossthefortifications,halfofthemredirectedtheirfireatthegunshipsandassaultcraft.Warpfireengulfedengines.Itturnedwingsintofangs.BeforeHaraldcould reach the rear lines, multiple volleys of the unholy flame gripped the fuselage of a Stormfang,transformingitintosomethingscaledandflexible.Enginesscreamedandthegunshipwhirled.Itssuddenflesh changed again. It became glass. The forces of its violentmovement shattered it. Ship and crewvanishedinanexplosionthatlitthedarkwithlightnaturalandunnatural.HaraldandCanisrejoinedeachotherastheDeathwolvesstruckhardagainsttheplaguedaemons.The

abominationsatthefrontdisappearedinmidchant,annihilatedbythemassedrageoftheSpaceWolves.Thecoldpolarairbecamedankandhumidwithrot.Evenastheydisintegrated,thedaemonsfoughtback,releasingawallofnoxiousvapouraheadofthem.TheDeathwolvesadvanced into theseaofdisease.Though thebehemothscontinued theirattack, theyhadlosttheadvantageofspeed.Theywereboggeddownastheywadedthroughtheplaguedaemons.TheGreatCompanydrewclosertothegate,andthefreedomofmovementbeyond.WarpflamesurroundedtheStormwolfGuardofFrostheim.Ascoreofflamedaemonshititatthesametime.Itsframesubjecteditselftoconflictingforcesofsuchpoweritfrozeinmid-flight.Madnesshelditsuspended over the gateway. It bulged and contracted. It writhed. Eyes tore open and bled along thefuselage.Theunderbellysplitwide.Itsteethgnashed,andthenitscreamed.‘Back!’Haraldroared.Thecompany’smovementstalled.Amasssogreatcouldnot reversecourse that suddenly.TheSpaceWolvesreactedwithperfectdiscipline,yetforfatefulsecondstheyneitheradvancednorretreated.GuardofFrostheimfell.Acombustingassemblageofmetalandfleshcrashedintothegroundbeforethegate.TheincineratingblastwashedovertheDeathwolves.TherecouldbenoturningforHarald,andheleaned into the explosion, fastening his grip on his mantle as Icetooth crouched low, howling at thedestruction.ThecowlingofanenginecartwheeledoverHarald’shead.ItcamedownintheGreyHuntersbehindhim,bothbladeandmeteor.Awindofignitedplasmaandburningimmateriumragedaroundhim.Itsoughttodevourhim.Itfailed,repelledbyhiscloak.Madefromthehideoftheicetrollkinghehadslain,itdefiedallflame.Thesoundoftheexplosionwassohugethatitdrownedoutthecriesofthedying,yetHaraldknewhisbrotherswerebeingconsumed.Hecouldfeel the loss inhissoul. Ingriefandrage,herosebefore thegaleofGuardofFrostheim’sdeathhadfullyabated.Icetooth’shidesmouldered.Patchesoffurandfleshhadbeenburneddowntomuscle.Matchinghisrider’sfury,heansweredHarald’scommandandlungedupward.‘Withme,brothers!’Haraldvoxed.‘Gatherandfacethefoetogether.Lettheabominationsbreakagainsttherockofourstrength!Cavalry,preparetorushtheenemytowardsthekeep!Infantry,breakwithusandscalethewalls.’Thegatewasrubble.TherewasnoegressfromBorassus.Scoresofdaemonshadvanishedinthecrash,forallthedifferencethatmade.Thetideofplaguebearersstillranhigh.ThebeastinHaraldcouldnotsilencethetactician.Thebreakoutattempthadfailed.ThelastchancetoescapethetraphadfallenwithGuardofFrostheim.Onelastcharge,then.Onelastbellowofrageagainsttheenemy.Ifthecavalrydrewthegreaterpartofthedaemonsawayfromhisbrothersonfoot,perhapstheDeathwolf infantrywouldsurvive to rejoin theheavyarmour to thesouth. If thesagaof thecompany’sthunderwolvesendedhere,letitbeafittingconclusion,asongechoingwiththedeathofcountlessunholyfoes.Sensing vulnerability, the daemon horde redoubled its attack.The roaring beasts shook the ground intheirraginghunger.Aclamouroftollingbellsurgedtheplaguedaemonson.BladesofdiseaseandbladesofwrathhackedattheSpaceWolves.Harald’swarriorsgatheredaroundhimformingawallofsnarlingbeastsandceramite-cladgiants.Theconstantbarrageofwarpflamestruckmoredownwitheverysecond.ThedaemonsofKhorneandNurglepressedin,theclosingofavice.CanisWolfbornhadcome through theexplosionwithhis faceasinglemassiveburn.Hisarmourwasscorchedblack.Hiseyesshonewithproudanger.‘Predatorstothelast,’hesaidtoHarald.Haraldnodded.Caniswasreadyfortheinevitable,eagerforthekillshewouldyetbegrantedthisnight.Thiswasgood,itwasright.HaraldraisedGlaciusinhislastdefiance.

‘ForRuss!’hecalled.‘FortheWolftime!’thecompanyanswered.Forus,ithascome,Haraldthought.Hefelt thehaironhisarmsrise.Hewassurroundedbyfoulness thatwoulddrivemortals insane,butsomethingelseinthenightmadehimreactasiftoanunknownthreat.Aflickerrippledoverthedaemons.Itlookedlikeuncertainty.Shadowsstreakedacross the rooftopsbeforehugesilhouettesstruck the flamedaemonsand tore themapart.Thewarpfirebarragecametoasuddenend.Initswakecameadelugefromtheair.Itwasichor.Somanydaemonsweredestroyedinamatterofsecondsthattheirendwasarainuponthebattlefield.Haraldblinked.The shapesweremonstrous,butnot as strangeas they shouldbe.Heheardgrowls,deepandferocious,andhisbloodstirredwithrecognition.Hisolfactorysensesrespondedtothescentofkinship.‘Brothers…’Canissaidwithstunnedawe.‘How?’saidHarald.Thisisn’tpossible,hethought.Theshapesweretoobig.Toomisshapen.Andyet…Hewouldwonderlater.OneveryroofofBorassus,thedaemonswerebeingexterminated.Harald signalled the charge, and already itwas no longer desperate. TheDeathwolves howled theirchallengeastheyattacked.Thefiguresontheroofshowledback.No,Haraldthoughtagain.Hecrackedtheskullofabehemothwideopen,stitchedaswordlingfromheadtobellywithboltshells,andagainhethoughtno,tornbyhopeanduneasebeforetheimpossible.NowtherampartsofBorassuswerefreeofdaemons.Thefiguresthatcouldnotbefamiliarleapttotheground.Theyattackedtherearranksofthedaemons,butcheringtheirwaytowardstheDeathwolves.Theyusednofirearms.Somehadpunch-daggers.Theyattackedwiththepuresavageryoftheanimal,shreddingtheenemywiththeirhands.Theirclawedhands.Agreatermonstrosityoverwhelmedthedaemons.TheDeathwolvesfoughtwiththeboilingrageofneardefeat.Theireveryhowlwasansweredbythegiantsapproachingthem.Nowthemomentumwaswiththethunderwolves.Nowitwasthedaemonswhoweresurrounded.Nowitwasthedaemonswhoweredoomed.Theendwasinevitable.Itcamequickly.Andwhenthelastdaemonicremainsweredissolvingintheirfoulness,Haraldfacedthecreatureswhocouldnotbethere.Theheavymoonlight reignedoverBorassusagain. Itsquietwasbrokenby thepredatorybreathingofgiants.Themonsterswerehunchedasifreadytospring.Theydidnot.Theyheldback–forthemoment.Caniswasgrowlinginunisonwiththethunderwolves.Haraldlookedathim.‘Youcalledthembrothers,’hesaid.Canisnodded,shookhishead.Hegrimaced inconfusion. ‘Theyare,but…theirscent is strange. It isold.’His fistsopenedandclosed.Hewascaughtbetween thesignalsofkinand threat.Hewason thethresholdofattacking.‘Hold fast, brother,’ Harald said. His weapons held low but at the ready, he advanced towards thecreatureswhohadsavedhiswarriors.Witheverydetailhetookin,thevertigoofunrealitygrewstronger.Theywerehuge.Verytallandmassivelybroad,theydwarfedHarald.Theywerebeasts.Theywerewolves.Theyhunched forwardsas if runningonall fourscamenaturally to them,and indeed their armswerelong.Theirfacestoowereelongatedandhirsute.Theirfangswerehuge,andtheirmawssolupineHarald

wondered if theycouldspeak.Therewerestillaspectsof thehuman in themonsters though;hesawinthosefacesthethinghehadtriedtodenybutcouldnolonger.Hesawthefamiliar.Hesawkinship.Hesmelledittoo,beneaththetangofcombatstimulantsandthickbestialmusk.Thewolvesworearmour.Howdidthefirmamentnotcrackwideopentoseesucharmourinthisplaceandinthistime?Itwasbattered,patchwork,barelyheldtogetherbyroughwelds,damagedalmostbeyondrecognition.Almost. Itwasa fadedslategrey, thecolourofancienthistory.The insigniawerevisible,thoughclosetovanishingbeneathbattlescars.TheywereFenrisian.TheywereknowntoHarald.TheywereknowntoeverySpaceWolf.Theirmemoryhadbeenfaithfullypreserved.Theyhadnotbeenseenfortenthousandyears.‘Thiscannotbe!’aWolfGuardshouted.Foramoment,Haraldthoughtthewordswereinhishead.No,hethought.Thiscannotbe.The13thGreatCompany.LosttothewarpinpursuitofMagnusafterthefallofProspero.Theimmensewarriorsgroupedaroundthelargestofthemall.Thenightrumbledwithlow,warygrowls.Haraldmaglockedhisweapons.Heheld his hands open and away fromhis sides.He approached thealpha. The great beast watched him with amber eyes. He was so huge that his mooncast shadowswallowedtheDeathwolf.Haraldheldthegazeofthoseeyes,evenashehadtocranehisheadback.Idonotcometoattack,hethought,butIdocometocommand.Heknewthiswasnecessary.Yethewasclosinginonamyth.Itwasanefforttokeeptheawehefeltfromhisface.Hewasonlyafewstepsawaynow.Hesawthebeast’sfeaturesinmoredetail.Thetracesofthehumanwereclearer.Theshapeoftheeyes,ofthebrows–moreandmorehesawthelineamentsheknewinhisbrothers,andinhisownreflection.Heacceptedthetruthofwhathesaw.ThemurmursandwarninggrowlsoftheDeathwolvesbehindhimwereanassurancehewasnothallucinating.Harald stopped before the alpha. He stood straight, his gaze unwavering. The great beast’s chestexpandedasittookabreath.Thealpharumbled.Haraldbraced.Thebeast loweredhisheadanddropped tooneknee.Sodidall theothers.The threatof themomentpassedastheyacknowledgedanewalpha.Thoughhedreadedwhattheserevenantsportended,Haraldwasmindfulofthedebtheowedthemtoo.Heplacedhishandonthegiant’sshoulderandbidhimrise.‘Whoareyou?’heasked.Themonster’sjawstruggledtoshapeaname.‘Yngvir,’hesaid.‘Areyouloyaltotheprimarch?’Haraldasked.‘We…are…brother.’Theraspwasentirelyanimal.Onlythewordswerehuman.‘We…are…Wulfen.’WhyNurades?Haraldthoughtagain.Nowyouknow.HelookedattheranksoftheWulfen,andfelthewasgazingintoafutureseizedandmadebloodybythejawsofthepast.

CHAPTER2

TheCouncilofWolves

DarkAngelsCompanyMasterAraphilcametoBorassustohuntfortruth.Awarhadcomeandgone,andithadleftbehindshadows.SummonedbyScouts,hiscompanyhadpiercedthewarpstormandenteredorbitoverthepolarcircleofNurades.Atthatmoment,theworldhadstillbeenoverrunwithdaemons.Bythetimethelandingwascomplete,thedaemonsweregone.How?The marks of battle were everywhere amid the ruined fortifications. The struggle here had beenferocious. The buildings and the groundwere scorched and blasted. Thewallswere pockedwith thedistinctiveimpactcratersofboltershells.OtherSpaceMarineshadbeenhere.Who?Untilafewmomentsago,themosturgentquestionhadbeenwhereSergeantArhadandhisScoutshadgone. They had vanished from all vox and auspex readings before Araphil’s company had arrived atNurades.NowAraphilhadpartialanswers,althoughdarkones.Theshadowsweredeep,buthewouldhuntoutwhattheyconcealed.Hestoodinabunker,surroundedbytheremainsoftheScouts.Thebunkerhadbecomeanabattoir.Thebodiesweredismembered,headstorninhalf.Viscerahadbeenthrownagainstthewallsandhungovertheledgesofgunapertures.EveninthecoldofthisregionofNurades,theatmosphereofthechamberwasclammywiththestenchofblood.TheScouts’armourhadlong,parallelrents.Thesignofclaws.Whohasdonethis?Thatwastheurgentquestion.Theobviousanswerwasdaemons.Araphilmistrustedit. For all the savagery, for all the butchery, the kills were too clean. Where were the signaturedesecrationsoftheRuinousPowers?ItwasconceivablethatthesheerbrutalitywasaformofKhornaterage.Araphilwasunsatisfiedwiththatanswertoo.Hesniffed.Hisneuroglottisdetectedthefainttraceofanimalmuskbeneath theoverwhelmingodoursofvitae andofbodies turned insideout.Araphil couldbelieve animals had been at work here but he could think of none native to Nurades capable ofovercomingevenasingleScout.Outsidethebunker,squadsmovedthroughthewreckageofBorassus,seekingtruthandsecrets.Afterhehadbeencalledhere,hehadcommandedthescenebelefttohimalone.Hewishedtocommunewiththe

spaceandthedeadonhisown.Hemoveddeeperintothebunker,takingineachcorpse,recordingeachnamewithaprayerandapromiseofvengeance,eyeingthewoundsandthemannerofdeath.Hekepthisemotionsincheck.Observe.Judgelater.Observenow.Lettheshadowsspeak.Letthedeadgivetheiranswers.Tohisright,therewasamoundofbodyparts.Weretherethreevictimsthere,orfive?Perhapsportionsofmore. Something inside themoundmoved.Themotionwas slight, aweak spasm. Itwas enough todislodgeahand.Araphilknelt.Heclearedawaythefragmentsofcorpseuntilhefoundthewholebodybeneath.ItwasBrotherDolutas.Hewasdifficulttorecognise:hisfacehadbeenclawedtothebone.Hisarmourwaspeeledbackover his ravaged chest andbroken ribs.Araphil looked closely, andDolutastookabreath.Itwasweak,shallow.Itcouldhavebeenasighbeforedying.Thenitcameagain.‘Youhavebeenstrong,brother,’Araphilsaidsoftly.‘Apothecary!’hevoxed.TotheScouthesaid,‘Becontent.Weareheretogiveyoustrengthnow.’A blinking lightmidway downDolutas’ right flank drewAraphil’s gaze. A servo-skull lay there. Itslowerhalfwassmashedanditsgraviticimpellerswerewrecked,butoneeyeblinkedred,red,red.Thememorylight.Theservo-skullhadpreservedarecording.Red,red,red,theeyeblinked.Answers,answers,answers.

‘Thereareotherwyrdstorms,’LoganGrimnarannounced.‘StormswiththesameempiricsignaturesastheoneoverNurades.Theastropathsareemphatic.Somediedastheyconfirmedthenatureofthestorms,andtheirfleshwasmarkedbythesamewyrdflameburnsineachcase.Thestormsarescattered,yettheyareunmistakable.’Silence fell over theWolf Lords of Fenris as the implications of those words sank in. Around theperiphery of the Hall of the GreatWolf, heroes of the Chapter stirred. Serfs froze, sensing a rise intension.Itwas,Haraldthought,asifagreatwindweregustingthroughtheHall.Thetotemsandpeltsonthewallsdidnotstir,butthethunderwolvescrouchedattheirmasters’feetraisedtheirhackles.AraventooktotheairaboveUlriktheSlayer.Itscawechoedacrossthehall.In thecentreof thevast spacewas theGrandAnnulus.Set into the floorwere thirteenwedge-shapedstoneslabs,eachmarkedwiththerunesandinsigniaofaGreatCompany.TheWolfLordsstoodupontheterritorialmarkersoftheirauthority.Oneoftheslabswasobsidian.Itborenomarkings.ItwasthepainfulabsenceontheAnnulus,thebreakinthecircle.Itwastheplacebelongingtothelost13thCompany,andsoitrepresentedallthelost.Onlynowthelosthadbeenfound.Harald’sgazekeptreturningtoit.SodidtheeyesoftheotherWolfLords.KromDragongazebrokethesilence,speakingthequestiononeverymind.‘Whatdothestormsportend?’heasked.Grimnar turned toUlrik theSlayer, standingathis side.Henodded.TheWolfPriest advanced to thecentreoftheAnnulus.‘I have spokenwithYngvir,’ he saidwith a voice ancient yet strong like grating stone. ‘Though hisspeechisdifficult,hewasclearthattherearemoreofhisbrotherscoming.Onthewingsofstorm.Thosearehiswords.’‘And this return,’Dragongaze saidbefore anyoneelse could respond, ‘if theseWulfenare indeed theThirteenth,whynow?Howhasithappened?Whatdoesitmean?’TheSlayerwaitedseveralbeatsbeforeanswering.NowthesilenceintheHallwastotal.‘TheomenoftheWulfenisclear,’hesaid.‘Iftheyhavecomeback,canRussbefarbehind?’TheHalloftheGreatWolferupted.

‘Howcanwebesure?’GunnarRedMoondemanded.‘Whereistheproof?HowdoweevenknowtheWulfenarewhattheyclaimtobe?’‘Their existence speaks for them,’ SvenBloodhowl answered. ‘As do their deeds. They saved LordDeathwolf.’HelookedatHarald.‘YouwhoarebrothertomorewolvesinyourcompanythananyofusmustfeelthetruthofourkinshipwiththeThirteenth.’HaroldgaveBloodhowlalonglook.TheotherWolfLordwasmuchyoungerthanhewas.Hishairandbeardwerearichbrown,andcutshort.Hissymmetrical,rock-jawedfeatureswereindeedmuchfurtherfromthelupinethanHarald’s.Hewouldfeelthecomplexitiesandrisksofthewarrior’srelationshipwiththebeastslessacutely.‘Wearekintowolves,’Haraldsaid.‘Weareaswolves.Wearenotwolves.Youcanseewhattheyhavebecome.’Hekepthistonemoderate,buthiswordsenflamedtempersevenmore.TheWolfLordsmovedtowardsthecentreoftheAnnulusastheyshoutedateachother.Haraldheldback.Hehadexpressedhisdoubts,said what he had to say. The monstrosity of the Wulfen gave him pause, and there were too manyunanswered questions about what had happened on Nurades. He could not easily accept the Slayer’spronouncement,thoughhecouldnotdismissiteither.TheotherWolfLordswerefarmorevehement.‘LordDeathwolf is right!’KjarlGrimblood said. ‘Lookwhat theyhavebecome!Anomen indeed!Adarkone!’‘HowdoweknowtheyarereallyWulfenkind?’saidEgilIronWolf.‘Whynotmutations?Aftersolonginthewarp,theirCanisHelixcouldhavesufferedterribledamage.’ErikMorkaisnorted.‘Monstersornot,whatdoesitmatter?Theyfightwell.They’regoodweapons.’‘Nothingmore?’BranRedmawroundedonMorkai.‘Isthatthedepthofyourthoughtandhonour?Andmywarpacks,arewethesametoyou?Savagestobeusedupasneeded?’‘Youhot-bloodedfool,didIsaythat?’‘Youasgoodasdid,’RedmawtoldMorkai.‘IfthatisallyoucanseeintheWulfen,youaremoreblindthanIeverimagined!’The voices rose in anger. Harald looked to the Slayer. TheWolf Priest was regarding him silently.Harald thoughtof themeeting in thevaults.Thatwas the firstomen.Howdid theSlayer interpret thatnight?HowdidhebelieveitlinkedtothereturnoftheWulfen?Haraldwasconvincedthelinkwasthere.Hecouldnotdivineitsmeaning,norcouldheshakehisunease.‘The Fell-Handed!’Kromwas saying.He said it again, cutting through the shouts. ‘Wemust consultBjorntheFell-Handed.HeknewtheThirteenth.Hewastherebeforethecompanyvanished.’AlleyesturnedtoUlriktheSlayer.Heshookhishead.‘Bjornwillnotawaken,’hesaid.‘Goodomenorill,’saidRagnarBlackmane,‘wemustfindtheothers.’Noonedisagreed.Grimnarstrodeforward.TheWolfLordsstoodstill.TheywaitedfortheGreatWolftospeak.‘Ourtaskisclear,’hesaid.‘WewillseekoutandreturnourbrotherstoFenris.Whethertheyarecursed,orwhethertheirarrivalmeansRusswillsoonbeatoursideagain,’henoddedoncetoUlrik,‘wewillknowintheend.Andknowwemust.’Haraldnoddedatthis.‘Brothers,makeready.WesailtheSeaofStarswiththeWulfentogathertheThirteenthGreatCompany!’AstheWolfLordslefttheHall,DragongazedrewHaraldaside.‘You’reworried,’hesaid.‘IbelievetheSlayerandIseeverydifferentomensintheWulfen.Heseeswhatwelost,andwhatwehopetohaveagain.’

‘Andwhatdoyousee?’‘Whatwemightbecomeifwearenotvigilant.Iseewhatwemightlose.’‘YouthinktheWulfenareharbingersofdisaster?’‘I’msuretheyareharbingers.Idon’tknowofwhat.Thatismyconcern.’‘OurmeetingbeforetheMurderfang…’Dragongazebegan.‘Yes,’saidHarald. ‘Iwas thinkingof that too. It is linked toNurades.Buthow?Whatdrewus there.Krom,adaemonlaughedatusaswevanquishedit.’Dragongazewassilentforamoment.‘Yetyoupurgedthedaemons,’hesaid.‘YoudefeatedtheRuinousPowers.’‘Evenso,thedaemonlaughed.’‘Daemonicmalice?’Dragongazesuggested.‘Itsoughttosowdoubt.’‘Yes,’saidHarald.HemetDragongaze’seyessquarely,anddidnothidethedepthsofhisconcern.‘Itsucceeded.’

Atwarintheworldbeneathsleep,abovedeath.Thestruggleeternal.Tenthousandyearsnow,fightingfromplanetoplane,anunendingmarch.Itarryuntilyoucomeagain,father.Thelossofthebodyisnolossofself.Theagilityofyouthforgotteninthegreathulkthatfightsinthekingdomabovesleep.Buthere,inthelandbetween,thereisspeedagain.Thefuryofspiritmatchedtotheechoofform.Theechoofasarcophagus,acoffinoffalsedeathandinfinitewar.Allechoeshere.Shadowsofformandthought,castbytheweightofthingsintheotherrealm,theoneabovesleep.Therootsrundeep.Thewarrunsdeeper.Solongwithoutsurcease,butwhatneedforresthere,inthekingdombeneath?None.Onlybattle.Ontheechorampartsoftheechofortress,fightinganenemywhoarenotechoes,whosefleshisthestuffofechoes.Imustwake.Imustspeaktomybrothers.Afloodofdaemons,asealappingatthehexagrammicshadow.Therecanbenowakingyet.Theseaisrising.Thedaemonsmustbefought.

Thepreytriedtofightback.LasgunfirestrucktheWulfen.Thebeastsrandirectlyintothefire,roaring.Theyweretwicethesizeofthepunyhumanfigures,andmuchfaster.Theyrippedarmsfromtorsosandheadsfromnecks.Bloodfountainedacrossthesceneofthemassacreandpavingstonesshookunderonemonster’s feetashe rushedanopponent.Hewieldedan immense frostaxe.Hesliced thebody inhalfwithastrokesopowerfulthebladeburieditselfinthewallbehindthenfreeditandhelditaloftwithbothhands.Theslaughterwascomplete.TheWulfenpackhowledasone.TheylookeduptothegallerywhereLoganGrimnarstoodwiththeIronPriestHrothgarSwordfang.TheWulfenpanted,theirbreathsteaming,bloodcoatingtheirmuzzlesandarmour.Theyweresurroundedbythetornfleshandscatteredvisceraofthetrainingservitors.Theyweretheimageofmindlesssavagery.Thebeastsloweredtheirheadsandtookaknee,bowingtothesupremealpha.‘Good,’Grimnarsaid.Thatwasenough.TheWulfenroseandlopedfromthetrainingarena.‘Theirnewarmourlookswell,’GrimnarsaidtoSwordfang.‘Thankyou,GreatWolf,’theIronPriestsaid.‘TheirMarkIIrelicswerebeyondrepair.Wecompleted

theMarkVIIIsizemodificationsfourdaysago.Theywerereluctanttopartwiththeirremnants,buttheyhaveadapted.’‘Hascommunicationimproved?’Swordfang’sservo-armsmovedbackandforthequivocally.‘Alittle,’hesaid.‘Serkir,theonewiththefrost axe, is interesting. He is volatile. He can be almost articulate in short bursts. At other times,languageescapeshimcompletely.Heunderstandsmorethanmostoftheothers,Ithink.’‘Aleader?’‘HeissubordinatetoYngvir.Hemightdowellwithhisownpack,though.’Treadedservitorsenteredthearenafromlowaccessdoors.Theirarmshadbeenreplacedwithfloor-scrapingblades.Blank-eyed,unemotional,theybeganthedisposalofthebloodyremains.‘TheweaponstheWulfenwereusing,’Grimnarsaid.‘Isawnofirearms.’‘No,’saidSwordfang.‘Theyappeartohavenoaptitudeortasteforthem.’‘Thoseswordsandaxes,theylookfamiliar.ButIdon’trecognisethemfromourarsenals.’Theyweretoohuge.Theywereimpracticalforanywarriorwhowasn’tasoutsizedastheWulfen.‘Theyarefromourwalls,GreatWolf.’Grimnarblinked,surprised,asherealisedwhatSwordfangmeant.ImmenserelicweaponshadhungonthewallsoftheFangformillennia.Grimnarhadregardedthemashedidtheheroictapestries.Theywereheraldry,ornamentation,ancientobjectstobehonoured.‘Whatinspiredyoutotakethemdown?’heasked.‘Serkirseizedtheaxehimselfaswecrossedahalltothetraininggrounds,’Swordfangsaid.‘Hecutastatue inhalfwith it.Heseemedfamiliarwith itsbalance.Sodid theotherWulfenwhenIorderedthegatheringofothersuchweapons.Theywieldtheweaponsasif thebladeswereforgedforthisexpresspurpose.’‘Whatareyousuggesting?Thattheywerealreadyintheircurrentformtenthousandyearsago?’‘Idonot thinkso.The remnantsof thepowerarmour theyworeshowsignsof stress, suggesting theyburstthroughitwhentheychanged.’Grimnarfrowned.‘Idonotunderstand.’‘NordoI.Thentherearethegrenades.IinstigatedafullsearchforallrelicsscaledtotheproportionsoftheWulfen.Wefoundmanyswordsandaxes.Enoughfortheentirecompany,shouldallthebrothersbefound. The grenades, however, are not just suited to the hands of theWulfen. They are suited to theirbrains.’‘Whatdoyoumean?’‘I was not sure the Wulfen would be capable of using explosives. Firearms are too complex.Nevertheless,weincludedthegrenadesinthetrials.Wediscoveredtheyarenotontimers.’‘Impactfuses?’‘No.Animpulsetrigger.’‘Thoseareveryrare,’Grimnarsaid.‘Thesearerarerstill.Iattemptedtooperateone.Icannot.ButtheWulfencandosowithoutdifficulty.ThetriggersassociatedwiththesegrenadesareattunedtothespecificneuralpatternsoftheWulfen.’Grimnardigestedthisinsilenceforalongmoment.‘Whatdoyouconclude?’heaskedSwordfang.‘I cannot conclude anything,’ Hrothgar answered. ‘We are faced with two possibilities. Either thephenomenonoftheWulfenexistedinourdeeppast,thoughtherearenorecordsortalesoftheirexistence,inoroutoftheThirteenthCompany…’‘Or?’‘OrtheseweaponswereforgedinanticipationofthecomingoftheWulfen.’

ThethoughtstoleGrimnar’sbreath.Hadthismomentbeenbuildingfortenthousandyears?‘Theywereforetold?’heasked.‘Iknowofnosuchprophecy.’‘NordoI.’Thatdidnotmeannoneexisted.Somuchhadbeenforgottenoverahundredcenturies.IfinsomewaytheWulfenwerenotjustreturnedbutlongawaited,thenUlriktheSlayer’sinterpretationoftheomensmustbecorrect.GrimnardidnotwanttocontemplatetheimplicationsiftheWolfPriestwerewrong.

ThelaunchbaysoftheFangvibratedwiththeroarofgunshipengines.Squadaftersquadembarkedintheassaultcraft.ThebayswereopenandthewindofFenrisshriekedinside,freezingtheskin,bitingdeep,stirringthebloodtothehuntandtowar.Theskybeyondwasstreakedbythecontrailsofthegunshipsthathadalreadyleft,ascendingtothestrikecruiserswaitingatlowanchor.OneGreatCompanyafteranotherdepartedFenristosetsailonthismostportentousofhunts.AllbuttheTenth.TheDrakeslayerswouldremain.KromDragongazestoodonanobservationplatformabovethebay,unblinkinginthebackwashofmotorsandthemercilessfangsofthewind.Hestaredintothebay.Hedidnotturnhisheaduntil,inthecornerofhiseye,hesawGrimnarapproach.ThenhefacedtheGreatWolf.‘TheFangisyours,’Grimnarsaid.‘WhilealltheotherWolfLordsdepartonthismostvitalofmissions.’‘Fenriscannotbeleftundefended.’Kromloweredhisheadinacknowledgement.ThereisnoneedforaWolfLordtoremainascastellan,hethought.Orforanentirecompanytobesidelined.Asifreadinghismind,Grimnarsaid,‘IgavethistasktoyouandtheTenthforareason.’Kromwaited,sayingnothing.‘YouwererecklessonAlaricPrime,’Grimnarsaid.SothisispunishmentfortheSanctusReach,Kromthought.‘Ineedtoknowyouwillkeepfaithinyouroaths,’saidGrimnar.Krom bristled. He struggled to remain silent. He succeeded. Just. Grimnar continued, ‘There is noquestionofloyaltyorability.Theissueisdiscipline.’The urge to protestwas strong.Krom’s frustrationwasmotivated bymore than slighted honour. ThemeetingattheMurderfang’svaulthauntedhim;theportentsweremultiplying.ThoughtheSlayer’stalkofRuss’ returnwas compelling, it did not satisfyKrom.Harald’s part in the unfolding sagawas alreadyfateful.Kromhadnodoubt thatmorewas tocome.Heand theSlayerhadyet to learn their roles.TheWolfPriestwouldfindthethreadofhisdestinyintheSeaofStarswhileKromwouldremainhereandwait.Therewassomethinghemustdo.Therewasareasonhehadbeenamongthethreetobeledtothatencounter. Itmust have something todowith theWulfen.Howcouldhedowhat fate requiredof him,whateverthatwas,ifhewascantonedonFenris?Nomatter.Therewasnochoice.TheGreatWolfhadspokenandKrom’spathwasclear.Hequashedhisprotestationsandnoddedonce,hisfaceimmobileasstone.‘ImakemyoaththatFenriswillbesecure,’hesaid.‘TheDrakeslayersstandfast.’Hewascalledtothistask,andhewouldfulfilit.Glorywasasnothingcomparedtoanoathandredemption.‘I am pleased to hear it,’ said Grimnar. ‘A pack of the Wulfen will remain with you. Iron PriestSwordfangwillcontinuehisexaminationofthem.Therearemanyquestionsthatneedtobeanswered.WewillnotlearnallofthemontheSeaofStars.’Kromnoddedoncemore.HewonderedhowheshouldinterpretthenewsthatnotalltheWulfenwould

depart. He watched Grimnar walk away. A minute later the Great Wolf appeared in the bay below,surroundedbyUlriktheSlayer,theHighRunePriestNjalStormcaller,andthechampionArjacRockfist.ThelegendsmarcheduptheassaultrampintotheThunderhawkthatwouldtransport themtothebattle-bargeAllfather’sHonour.Theroarofthetransport’senginesbuilttodeafeninglevels,thenitshotoutofthelaunchbay.The fiery wind of its departure was the last one. Krom remained as he was, watching the finalStormwolves climbwhile the baydoors rumbled together, shutting out the gale ofFenris. Premonitioncrawledoverhisflesh.Hishacklesrose.Whenthedoorsclanged,theringofironagainstironwasthedolefulslamofasarcophaguslid.Heknewthenthatfatewouldstillfindhim.

PART2:THEHUNT

CHAPTER3

Whitestalker

The mechanism had not moved in centuries. It was inert, an assemblage of cold shadow and utterimmobility.Nonetheless,itsdailycarewasobservedasadutysacredandvital.Armaturesandspheresofbrassandsilverandgoldgleamedinsepulchralperfection.Itsgearswereanointedwithholyoil.Inallthemillenniaofitsexistence,therehadneverbeenasinglemomentwhenithadbeenleftunobserved.Onthisday,theSpeculumInfernusmoved.A data-servant called out in alarm at the first sight of action. A single cogwheel, a few centimetresacross,stirred.Withinseconds,itsrevolutionswereablur.Largerandlargernestedwheelsbegantoturn.From the eight corners of the great device, tall sceptres crackled with eldritch lightning. Inside theperiphery,spheresrotatedandtravelledalongcomplex,elliptical,intersectingrevolutions.Flutedbronzepipesreleasedscaldingsteam,givingvoicetoahissingchoir.Analchemyofmovement,anomenofmetal.On the north side of the Speculum, gargoyles of gold perched on a cluster of silver pedestals.Mechanical wings unfurled and jaws opened wide in expressions of blind hunger. Data-parchmentstreamedfrombetweenthefangs.Theservantsgatheredtheparchment,avertingtheirgazefromitsrunesandsigils.Thedoomsinscribedthereonwerenotforthemtounderstand.Thiswasamercy.IntheCitadelofTitan,thePrognosticarsoftheGreyKnightsgatheredtoreadthedooms.ThesanctifiedmechanismoftheSpeculumInfernusshookandscribed,steamedandprophesied.Ittoldofwarpstorms.Itrevealedconnections.TheGreyKnightsbeheldtheterribleconfluenceofevents.Theywereformingasingleimmenseshape,itsmeaningasunspeakableasitwasinescapable.Andthen,evenastheGreatCompaniesoftheSpaceWolvesspreadoutacrossthegalaxytogathertheirlost kin, theBrotherhoods of theGreyKnights departedTitan on quests just as grave and urgent. TheSpaceWolvestravelledthelinesofapattern.TheGreyKnightssoughttoarrestitsmanifestation.

Elsewhere,darknesslaughed.

Fimnir.SparthaIV.Dragos.Thesitesofthehunt.Worldafterworldengulfedbythesuddenwarpstorms,theirempyreansignaturessodistinctandsoidenticalthattheyseemedtobethefloweringsofasingletempest.HadesReach.Atrapan.TheGreatCompaniesfelluponworldstorturedbytherevelsofdaemons.Oneveryplanet,billionsofsubjectsoftheImperiumhadnohopeuntilferalsalvationdroppedoutoftheskies,andriotingmadnessgavewaytowar.Suldabrax.Emberghul.Grimnarassignedstrikeforcenamestothecompanies.Sagablade.Whitestalker.IronHunt.Kingsguard.Thesewerenotindividualcrusades.Theywerethesteppingstonesofasinglemissiononascalerarelymountedin thehistoryof theChapter.Thestruggleoneachworldwasenoughto inspire legendsin thelocalculturesthatwouldlastuntiltheWolftime.ThevictorieswerethestuffofsagasonFenris,buttheywereimportantonlyinthemeasureofthetotalityofthehunt’ssuccess.TheSpaceWolvescametofindtheWulfen.ThecrushingoftheRuinousPowerswasameanstoanend.The surviving populations who found themselves returned to the Emperor’s Light were fortunatebystanders.Hadthestormsthatblightedtheirplanetsbeenofadifferentnature,theirhelpwouldhavehadtocomefromothersources,ifitcameatall.Ononeworld after another, theSpaceWolvespushedback the armiesofChaos.The splintered13thGreatCompanywas gathered up.TheWulfenwere transported to the rallying point in theAnvarheimsystem.Aboard the strike cruiserColdfang, under the command ofBattle LeaderHjalvard, the beastswere prepared to re-enter battle, integrated into the other Companies. The 13th, for now, could notfunctionasaunifiedcompany.News of each success reached the other companies quickly. TheWolf Lords learned of the growingnumbersofWulfenintheranksoftheirbrothercommanders.ThevictoriesurgedWolfLordstogreaterfeats.OntheAlphaFang,asStrikeForceWhitestalkerpreparedforitscampaign,Haraldreceivedthereportsof the hunt.Hewatched the tally ofWulfenwarriors climb,more of them all the time, their presencegrowinginthemartialbodyoftheSpaceWolves.Hisuneasegrew.‘WewillfindeveryWulfenbrotherbeforeanyotherImperialforce,’Grimnarhaddeclared.‘Thisweswear,’alltheWolfLordshadanswered.Ifwesucceed,Haraldwondered,whatthen?Hedidnotspeakthequestionaloud.Hehadtakenhisoath.Hecameclosetovoicingthequestiononce.DuringtheAlphaFang’stransitthroughtheimmaterium,heaskedCanis,‘WhatdoyoumakeoftheWulfen?’‘Strongwarriors,’saidtheChampion.Caniswas themost feralof theDeathwolves.Hewasperhaps theclosestofHarald’sbrothers to theWulfen.HaraldwantedtoknowifCanisfeltmoredistanceorkinshiptothemonsters.‘Anythingmore?’heasked.‘Thebeastisstronginthem.’‘Toostrong?’Canis did not answer right away, his heavy features deep in thought. That he had to think beforeanswering,thatheseemeduncertain,wasdisconcerting.

‘Theycontroltheirfrenzy,’hesaidatlast.‘Aye,theydo,’Haraldsaid.Theconversationwentnofurther,then.ButasHaraldwasheadingtothebridgetomakereadyforthedropbackintothematerium,VygarHelmfangcaughtuptohimandraisedthequestionhimself.‘LordDeathwolf,’saidtheWolfGuard,‘IunderstandthereisnoquestionoftheWulfen’sloyalty.’Fornow,hoveredunspokenintheairbetweenthem.‘Buttheirnature…’Hegropedforwords.‘Theirformandtheiractionsdonotalwayscoincide.’Vygargrimaced,displeasedwithhisownformulation.Haraldunderstoodwhathemeant.AnybrotherhehadknownwhohadevencomeclosetoresemblingtheWulfen’s physical formhadbeen completely consumedbybattle frenzy.He could thinkof no casewhereaSpaceWolfhadbeencapableofanythingapproachingcalmwhileinthatstate.Theycontroltheirfrenzy.Canis’commenttookongreaterweight.Vygarwasoneof theoldestof theWolfGuard.Inthefield,hefoughtwithtenaciousferocity.Hewasalsooneofthebeststrategistsinthecompany.Centuriesofbattlehadtemperedhimintoawarriorwhounderstoodthevalueofforethought.HisexperienceandhiscautionwerethequalitiesHaraldprizedinhisstrikeforce.AndVygar’sconcernsweredovetailingwithHarald’sown.‘Youbelievetheirnatureismuchmorecomplexthansomemightthink,’Haraldsaid.‘Ibelieveweknowverylittleaboutit,yetareactingasifwedo.’‘Wearebeingwatchful,brother.Allofus.’Hehadfaiththatthiswasso.EvenUlrik,inhisenthusiasm,wasvigilant.HeclappedVygarontheshoulderplate.‘Wewillbevigilanttogether.’Vygarnoddedthathehadunderstood.Haraldwasagreeingwiththeneedforgreatcare.

And so theAlpha Fang came to Svardeghul, a world of ore, an industrial cinder transformed into amalignanttumour.The strike cruiser and its escorts translated from the immaterium into the midst of the warp stormsurroundingtheworld.Thecrewsofthevesselswerebraced.Evenso,theshockstruckhard.Thetempestshriekedthroughthewoundsofreality.ItstrainedtheGellerfieldstobreakingpoint.Madnessfounditswaythroughfissuresinthedefences.Itshookthehullsandlaugheddowncorridors.Twofrigateswerelost.One, theGladius-classRoarofAsaheim,passedbefore theAlphaFang’soculus. It had turned toglass.Theentirevesselwasacrystallinesculpturethousandsofmetreslong.Itreflectedandrefractedtheconvulsinglightofthestorm.Hullandweapons,decksandcrew,allweretranslucent.Theenginesweresilent.Thevesselmovedforwardswiththemomentumofitsdeath.Harald’slipcurledinangerashetookinthemalignbeautyofthelostfrigate.Thedoomwasinsidiousinitsart.Hecouldnotbutseeanillomeninthespectacle.Thentheenergyofthestormtooktheship.TheRoarofAsaheimshattered,vanishinginaglisteningshardcloud.OnthebridgeoftheAlphaFang,consolesmelted.Aweapons-systemservitor’sheadexplodedintoamassofwrithingtendrils.Feingar,packleaderoftheColdeyeScouts,stoodoverahololithmapwithhiscounterpart Lokyar Longblade. The tendrils reached for Feingar, tangling around his arm. Cursing, herippedthemfromhisarmourandcrushedthemtowhitepulpbeneathhisboots.Damagereportsfromthefleetfloodedin.Staticandthesoundsofclawsagainstbonedisruptedthevoxtransmissions.It was several minutes before there was enough order restored on the vessel for auspex scans ofSvardeghultobepossible.‘Anything?’Haraldaskedthemistressofthevox.‘Nothingcoherentatall,’saidAger.Shestoodstraightandtoattention,butherfacewasgrey.Shealonehadheardwhatcamefromtheplanet.Shehadnotrelayedanytrafficthroughthevox-speakers,shielding

thebridgefromfurthermadness.She confirmedwhat Harald already knew from the view in the oculus. Svardeghul’s only remainingocean, remade into sludge bymillennia ofmanufactoria effluence,was now flesh.Maws thousands ofkilometreslongopenedandclosed.ThisworldwaslosttotheImperiumforever.Butsomewherebelow,therewerebrotherstorescue.HaraldwatchedSvardeghul’sagony,doubtingthewisdomofhismission,buthegavetheordersforittobegin.Beforethestorm,Svardeghul’scitieshadwalked.Theywererigsthesizeofmountains.Supportedbyeight immensepistons, theywalked theplanetwith seismic steps, transporting their tensofmillionsofworkers.Theymovedfromoneoredeposittoanother,suckingtheplanetdryofitsresourcesandsendingthemoff-worldtofeedtheunendinghungeroftheImperium’smachineryofwar.Someofthecitiesstillwalked.Augur scans revealed theyhadcome to life.Their inhabitantshadbeencrushed into thevitaecirculatingthroughthearteriesofblind,howlingmonsters.Othersweretotteringruins,makingtheirslowmarch across the blasted land while the last of their shrieking populations were consumed by thedaemons.Wherever theaugurspickedupevenasemblanceofconflict,HaraldsentelementsofWhitestalker tosearchfortheWulfen.Hehadassembledthestrikeforcefromhismostexperiencedwarriors.EventheBloodClawband,theDeathhowls,wereveteranscomparedtotheirbrothersofthesamerank.ItwouldnotbelongbeforetheyascendedtobecomeGreyHunters.‘OurtargetisRigDelta,’HaraldtoldtheRidersofMorkai,theWolfGuardwhowouldaccompanyhim.‘Itisthecapital,andithasfallensilent.’‘Noothershavedoneso?’Vygarasked.‘No.’Hishuntinginstinctswereprickedbytheanomaly.‘Iwouldknowwhy.’

‘Sogreatafall,’saidLokyar,awed.Haraldwouldhavemarkedtherareoccurrenceifhehadnotfeltachillsilenceinhissoul.Hehadseenvistas of destruction beyond counting. He had seen few where vastness and suddenness were soconjoined.TheDeathwolveshadmadetheirlandingbeforetheruinsofRigDelta,andfoundthatittoohadmadealanding.Againstthenorthendofthewreckage,averticalprecipicethreethousandmetreshighroseabovetherockyplain.Lokyargazedbackandforthfromthetopoftheclifftothetitanicwreck.Thecitywassohuge,evenitsbrokencorpsewasalmostashighasthefallithadtaken.‘Allthecontrollersofthecity’smarchmusthavebeenkilled,’Lokyarsaid.‘Therewasnoonetostopitfromwalkingovertheedge.’‘Or it was made to do so,’ Harald said. What daemon would not have rejoiced at causing such acatastrophe?Portionsofthegreatpistonsstilljuttedskyward,driventhroughthebaseoftherigbytheimpact.Brokenintojaggedshafts,theyfellawayfromeachother,funerarycolumnsofruined,industrialmajesty.Miningdrills,refineries,manufactoriaandhabsweresmashedintoanindistinguishablemass,ahilloftwisted,compactedmetal.Thecityslumpedawayfromthecliff,aleviathanspillingitsmachinicbodyacrosstheplain.Promethiumburned,filthypyreslightingthecontoursoftherig,poolingatthebottomoftheruinsintoalake.Blacksmokeroiledupwardstowardsaskyinthegripofthewarpstorm.Crimsonandvioletcloudsformedintodaemonicvisages,theirlaughtertaintingtheairwithasick,clammythunder.Bloodmixedwiththepromethium.Itfellincascadesfromthesharpanglesofthecityandflowedacrosstheplain. Itsstenchwasgreater thanthefire.TheSpaceWolves’nostrilswerefilledwith thedeathof

millions.Bodieswereeverywhere,burnedandcrushed.TheyspreadoutformanythousandsofmetresonallsidesofRigDelta,agreatscatteringofleaveshurledtothewindswhenthefallcametoitsterribleend.Therewasthestinkofthedaemontoo.Ichordrippedfromcollapsedframeworks.Itcoatedthesidesofmachinesturnedintoabstractionsofironandplasteel.Therewasnowarhere,though.Theeventhadcome,andthefateofSvardeghulhadmovedon.TheDeathwolfdroppodshadcomedownonthewestsideofDeltaRig,threequartersofthewaydownthe length of the ruin.While theDeathwolvesmustered, theWulfenmoved a short distance away andgazedoff to thesouth.Thewindblew inever-shiftinggusts,pushing the flames firstoneway, then theother.Whenitbegantocomefromthesouth,theWulfensetupahowl.Theyhunchedfurtherforward,asifpreparingtorunpreytoground.YngvirlopedbacktoHarald.HestoppedarespectfuldistancefromtheWolfLord.Heloweredhishead,agestureofdeferencetohissuperior,butstillHaraldhadtolookuptomeethiseyes.‘Brothers…’Ygnvirsaid,pointingsouth.‘Youhavetheirscent?’Haraldsaid.Ygnvirgrunted.‘Anddaemons…War.’‘Leadus,then.Wewillfollow.’Harald,CanisandtheRidersofMorkaimountedthesaddlesoftheirthunderwolves.Lokyar’sStalkersheadedoffclosebehindtheWulfen,alethalandsilentadvanceguardtoscouttheterrainaheadandreportback by vox. ToNorvald Iceflame, sergeant of theDeathhowls, he said, ‘TakeRuneclaw. I want theBloodClawsheldinreserve.’Norvald’seyebrowsrose.‘Asyouwill,LordDeathwolf.’Heglancedtowardshisband,waitingashortdistanceaway.‘Theycanrestassuredthatthey’llgettheirfillofenemyblood,’Haraldsaidinanswertotheunspokenquestion.‘ButIwantcoolerheadsatthetipofthespear.Some…difficultdecisionsmaylieahead.’‘They’llunderstand,’Norvaldsaid.‘Thepromiseofbattleisenough.’‘Good.Andvoxtheotherhuntingparties.Havethemconvergeonourposition.’‘Aye, Lord Deathwolf.’ Norvald marched towards the Stormwolf, gesturing for the Deathhowls tofollow.The core of Strike ForceWhitestalker began its advance. Behind the Riders ofMorkaimarched theNightwolvesandMorkai’sHunters–Harald’smostbattle-hardenedGreyHunters.Behind themandonthe flanks, giving themselves a clear line of fire, were the Icefangs. They were Long Fangs of theDeathwolves.Veteransandmarksmen,thoughthespiritofthewolfwasstrongintheirsouls,sotoowastheiceofFenrisintheirblood.Theirjudgementwasassharpastheirlackofmercy.TheWolfkinranalongtheentireflankofthecompany.SomepacksofFenrisianwolvesrangedfurtheraheadwithLokyar’sStalkers.Whetheraugmentedwithcyberneticlimbsandjaws,orstillintheirnaturalstate,theywereallmonstrouspredators.TheywerethetruebeastsofWhitestalker,brotherstotheSpaceWolvesbutstillaspeciesapart.WhenHaraldlookedaheadtothebayingWulfen,hesawthelineblurred,andittroubledhim.The Deathwolves left the ruins of Rig Delta behind. They travelled fast over the barren landscape.Nothinggrew.Therewasonly the rockyplane, brokenby juttingoutcroppings.Above, the air twistedwith warplight, and sigils formed, conjuring madness. They dissolved into howling faces. All weremonstrous,distorted,yettheyalsoboretraitsthatwerefamiliar,asifthesoulsoffallencomradesweretrappedinthesickenedskiesofSvardeghul.TheDeathwolves ignored the faces. They ignored the attack. Theywere on the hunt. Nothingwoulddiverttheircourse.

‘Thescentsosoon,’Canissaidastheyrode.‘Agoodstartagain.’Thechampiondidnotofteninitiateconversations.‘Tooeasy,youthink?’Haraldasked.Canisshrugged,buthiseyeswereshrouded,uncertain.Tooeasy,Haraldthoughtagain.Anentireworldtosearch,andtheDeathwolveswereonthetrailoftheirquarryonthefirstattempt,almostassoonastheyhadlanded.Hehadfollowedhisintuition,guided,hewantedtobelieve,bysomesoundreasoning.Evenso,hedidnotrejoiceinthesignofquicksuccess.Hedistrustedit.Whyhavewefoundthescentsoeasily?Hewassuspiciousofhisownintuition.ThehunthadtravelledfewerthantenkilometreswhenLokyarvoxedHaraldthatthequarrywasinsight,lockedincombatwithadaemonichost.‘TheWulfenareeagertoaidtheirbrothers.’‘Theymust hold until I give the order,’Harald said.He urged Icetooth to greater speed. The rest ofWhitestalkerkeptpace.Soontheyreachedthetopofaridge,wheretheScoutshadmanagedtoholdtheWulfenbackfromengaging.HaraldlookeddowntheslopetotheregiondesignatedontheSvardeghulmapsastheShatterfields.ThelandtheDeathwolveshadjustcrossedwasdesolate,butitwasaregionthathadyettobescouredofitsore.Nowtheyhadreachedtheborderofavastareathathadbeenworkedtodeath.TheShatterfieldshadoncebeenplainsbutnowthesurfacewasbrokenbyacracked-glassnetworkofravines.Betweenthese,slagheapsrearedtheirblackenedheads.Isolatedfromoneanother,anarmyofsullenhillsstretchedtothehorizon.Theridgeslopeddowntoalargeplainflankedbyheapstotheeastandsouth,andazig-zagginglineofravinestothewest.Thegroundresembledthecracked,disintegratingskinofanenormousreptile.Itwashere theDeathwolvesfoundthewar.AlargebandofWulfenfoughtanarmyofdaemons.Outnumberedmanytimesover,theWulfenhadretreatedtothebaseofaslagheapinthesouth.Theywerepartwayupthe slope, surrounded by jaggedmonoliths of discarded rock. Their positionwas strong; the daemonscould not rush them in amass. TheWulfen held them at bay. Hordes of pink Tzeentchian nightmaresclamberedovereachotherandtherocksonlytobetornapart,eachbrokendaemonreformingintotwoblue abominations. The Wulfen hurled the new, wailing creatures into their kin, knocking them backfurther.‘LikeNurades,’Canissaid.‘Indeed,’saidHarald.Thedaemonichordewasasvariedasitwasvast.‘Idonotlikethisunity.’Moving up through the pink horrors were daemonettes and creatures of Slaanesh. The daemonettes’strides were long and graceful, while the fiends leapt and galloped. As agile as the Tzeentchianabominationswereclumsy, theSlaaneshidaemonscrossed thebattlefield in a feral joyofdance, theirsongturningslaughterintodarkpleasure.Theywerefast,andtheobstaclesoftheruinedearthcouldnotslow them. They pounced on theWulfen, trilling their chorus of exquisitemurder. Their pincer limbsstruck at the throats of the 13th Company. The fiends jumped over the stones, their long stinger tailsstabbingthroughancient,disintegratingarmour.TheWulfenhitbackwithclawandblade,withfrenzyandrage,dismemberingandcuttingdaemonettesinhalf.Ichorcoatedthestonesasbrokenmonstersdroppedbackdowntheslope,dissolving.Yettheykeptcoming,moreandmorejoiningtheattack,andtheyweretakingtheirtoll.SeveredWulfenheadsarcedthroughtheair,rainingblood.Attacksfromtheairwerejustbeginning.BurningchariotsofTzeentchswoopedoverthehills.Pulledbyshriekingwingedabominations,mountedbyhugeflamedaemons,theiredgesscorchedandsliced,whiletheflamedaemonspouredwyrdfireovertheWulfen,seekingtoincineratetheirreality.‘Ourbrothersstandstrong,’Canissaid.HelookedatHaraldexpectantly.‘Theydo,’saidHarald.Hesawinthe13thCompanytheindomitablespiritoftrueSpaceWolves.And

hesawtheunrestrainedsavageryofmonsters.‘Ifwedonotact…’Canisbegan.‘Iknow,’Haraldsaid.‘Theywillfall.’TheWulfencouldnotwithstandthesustainedassaultfromlandandairmuchlonger.Yngvirandhisbrotherswerestrainingtoteardowntheslope.Haralddidnotgivetheorder.Hehesitated.Hewastornbetweentwoduties–tohisoaths,andtohisChapter.HehadsworntorescuetheWulfen.Butthemorehesawofthem,themorehedreadedwhat theirultimateimpactontheSpaceWolves would be. And again, there was the ease with which they had been found. The victories onNuradessatlessandlesswellwithhim.Atthebackofhismind,thelaughterofSlithertwystechoedstill.HaraldfeltCanis’eyesonhim.HeglancedattheChampion.Therewasnojudgementthere.CaniswaswaitingtoseethepaththeDeathwolveswouldtake.AllHaraldhadtodowasnothing,andthissplinterofthe13thCompanywouldceasetobe.IftheWulfenwereathreat,itwoulddiminishnowbythismuch.Hisinstinctwastoturnaway.Againstallhispractice,againstallhishistoryofwar,againsteverythinghehadbeencommandedtodo,thiswaswhathisspiriturgedhimtodo.ThenHaraldlookedatYngvir,andthoughtofthedebthiscompanyownedtheWulfen.Hisoathsweresacred.TheGreatWolfhadspoken.ThiswasthepathuponwhichtheSpaceWolveshadembarked.Itcouldnotbechangedat this juncture.Haraldwouldtravel itwithallhisbrothers,anddowhathemust.HeraisedGlacius.Hesaidnothing,andhissilenceitselfwasacommand.EventheWulfenunderstood,andtheirgrowlsquieted.Thenheslasheddownwiththefrostaxe.Strike ForceWhitestalker charged down the slope with the Riders ofMorkai in the lead. The onlysounds came from the pounding of ceramite boots andwolf paws, and theywere drowned out by thesingingandchantingofthedaemons.Thehordewasunawareofthedestructionthatstreakedacrossthebroken landscape towards it.Fiftymetres fromthedaemonic ranks, theenemywasawallofunnaturalbodies–heaving,writhing,ululating.Thesingingfilledhismindwithimagesofexcessanddisease.Thestenchofopenwounds, rottenmeatandsickeningbloomsfilledhis senses.Haraldsnarled,hurling thefoulnessfromhislungs.Heraisedhisboltpistol.Another signal. All along the lines of the wedge-shaped phalanx, gun barrels pointed in the samedirection.Haraldfired.SodidallofWhitestalker.TheairaroundHaraldwentdark,thedreadlightofthewarpstormsuddenlycutoffbythe immensehailofboltershells.Thehammeringconcussionof thousandsofbarrelreportsoverwhelmedthedaemonicchoir.Theshellsslammedintothemassofpinkdaemonsandthey exploded into smaller blue twins.Thebarrage tore these apart just as quickly.Themass-reactiveshellspunchedthroughtheslenderformsofthedaemonettesandfiends,explodingtheirsilhouettes.The Space Wolves stormed into the fray. Moments after the gun fire, the jaws of wolves and thechainbladesofSpaceWolvesshreddedtheabominations.TheWulfenbayedtheirchallenge,anditwasansweredbytheirbrothersundersiege.Yngvir’spackstruckwiththeancientweaponsgatheredfromtheFang.Swordsas longasspearsandaxeswithbladesaswideasamortalhumancutanichor-sprayingswath throughthedaemons.Haraldsawtheenemydestroyedas thoroughlyas if theweaponshadbeensanctifiedpowerblades.Yngvirevisceratedabraceofpinkdaemonswithslashesofhistwinfrostclaws.Hewieldedtherelicbladeswithaperfectsavagery.Ichorfountainedoverhim.Hisjawswereagapeinbestialdelight.TheWulfenslaughteredtheforcesoftheRuinousPowerswithaforcethatstirredHaraldtoawe.Thelight of explosions and energy bursts flashed off their new armour. They embodied a terrible glory.

Howevermonstroustheywerenow,theyhadfoughtalongsideRuss.Warriorsfromtenmillenniapasthadreturnedtothebattlefield.TheirmerepresencewasanechooftheImperiumatitsheight.Andoftheheightofitsagony.Whitestalkertookthedaemonsbysurprise.Haraldroaredwithbrutalsatisfactionashesawtheenemyreact with disarray to the attack. Creatures of nightmare confronted a nightmare of their own. TheDeathwolvesbarrelledthroughtherearlines,spreadingtheirdestructionoutwards,strikingoutfromtheflankswhilethefrontofthewedgepusheddeeperanddeeperintothedaemonicranks.Advancingmoreslowly, the Icefangs kept up the punishing barrage of heavy weapons fire. Lascannons incineratedabominations in blasts of searingwhite, leaving nothing behind but foul ash and dissipating sparks ofwyrd energy. Heavy bolters punched through the pink daemons with such explosive force that theshatteredbodiescouldnotreformintotheirbluecounterparts.As if theWorldWolf itself had seized the enemy host within its jaws,Whitestalker cut the daemonnumbers in half in amatter of seconds. All the Deathwolves joined theWulfen in howls of war andtriumph.Thedaemonsresponded.Whiletheirgroundforcesfellanddwindled,theaerialassaultintensified.Theskies filledwithburningchariots anda swarmof screamers.Thechariots flewalong the flanksof theSpaceWolfphalanx,hugeflamedaemonsunleashingstreamsofwyrdfire.TheDeathwolfadvanceslowedasthewarriorsjinkedfromsidetoside,seekingtoavoidtheblasts.Somedidnot.AsHaraldandIcetoothracedbetween twoparallel explosionsof flesh-corrupting fire,hehearda shoutof soul-torn rage,andwasengulfedbyasuddencloudofgreyash.Theparticlesthathadoncebeenbrotherwarriorssettledonhisarmourandinhisbeard.Icetoothhowledindistress,shakingitoff.Haraldbeathisfistonceagainstthetotemsonhischest,willingthesoulsofhislostbrothersaswiftjourneytothelandofthedead,andpromisingthemvengeance.Thewinged, screamingabominations cutbackand forth across theSpaceWolf lines.They flew low,hunting together.As if luredby thegreat spiritual strengthof eachwarrior, they clustered their attacksaroundasinglevictim.Theirshriekspiercedearsandsouls,hornsstabbedintotheseamsofarmourandspikedtailswhippedinwithseveringforce.Arterialbloodshotskyward,mixingwithashandcorruptingflame.Heroicsagassnappedtoanendasheadsbouncedoffshoulderstobeignominiouslytrampledtomulchontheground.‘Now,Norvald!’Haraldvoxed.‘Tearthisfoulnessfromtheair!’RuneclawroaredintotheShatterfields.Itflewlow,itsenginesshakingthebattlefield.LascannonsandheavyboltersstreakedfireanddestructionovertheheadsoftheSpaceWolvesandastormofenergyandexplosions shredded the flying daemons. The gunship’s embarkation ramp dropped open and theDeathhowlshurledthemselvesdownintothebattlefield.Theybayedtheireagernesstobeattheenemy’sthroat and hit the ground running, tearing along the flanks. Half the pack savaged the daemons on thegroundwhiletheotherhalfturnedtheirfireonthechariotsandscreamers.TheywerejoinedintheeffortbytheIcefangs.TheDeathhowls’skillwiththeirboltpistolswaslethal,buttheimpactoftheshellswasdwarfed by the cataclysm of plasma and lascannons. The air over the Shatterfields burned. It hurleddaemonstotheground,theirbodiesblownapart,theirmaterialityevaporating.Haraldwasdeepinamaelstromofannihilation.HeandhisDeathwolvesweretheangerofthestorm.Abominations swarmed over each other in the effort to halt the advance. They rushed to theirextermination.ThebluecrystalofGlacius’bladeflashedthroughscaleandflesh.Everyswingwasmoresavagethanthe last,andHaraldpouredhisfury into theweapon.Every impactandslicingcrunchwasvengeance and justice. He destroyed with every blow.Whatever his doubts about the wisdom of themission, his hunger to destroy the daemon was as furious as ever. His charge was destruction made

absolute. As he witnessed the supernova rage of theWulfen, he drew upon it, and his own ferocityclimbedtonewheights.Thedaemonsfell,andfell,andfell.Theywerenothingbutmeatinthejawsofthewolvesofwar.Theirnumbersdwindled.TheDeathwolves approached thebaseof the slagheap.ThebesiegedWulfenwerestilltakingcasualties,buttheyfoughtwiththespiritofimminentvictory.Manyofthedaemonsattackingthemturnedbackdowntheslopeinanattempttostopthecrushing,devouringstorm.Theyweretryingtostopfateitself.Theyfailed.Apairofflamedaemons,caughtupinapairedwhirlwinddance,roseinaspinningleapfromtherockyslabsbelowtheWulfen’sposition.TheirjumptookthemoverHarald,andjustbelowthelethalbarrageofRuneclawandtheIcefangs.TheycamedownoneithersideofVygarHelmfang.Hetriedtoretaliate,butas he lashedoutwithhiswolf claws, bellowingdefiance, his armour andhis fleshdeliquesced.Theydrippedfromhisbonestogether,amassofpinkandblue-greyandfrothingblood.‘LordDeathwolf!’hecried.‘PreserveourChapter!’Hisvoicedisappearedintothegarglingcoughsofadrowning man. His beard and face flowed together and poured off his skull. His skeleton burst intoterriblegrowth.Serpentineclustersofbonespursstruckoutofhisframewiththespeedofascorpion’stail.Theyplungedtheirbarbedendsintotheneckandspineofhisthunderwolf.Thebeasthowledwithitsmaster.Theycollapsedtotheground,rollingandfusingintoamassofbrittle,self-constrictingtentaclesandorganicsludge.Thecriesofagonywentonmuchlongerthanshouldhavebeenpossible.Vygarwasavengedbeforehe trulydied.TheotherRidersofMorkai fellon the flamers, theirbladeshackingthedaemonsapartinseconds.Furyunslaked,theDeathwolvesattackedtherestofthedaemonichordewithgrieftransmutedtodevastation.Thedaemonicarmydwindledevenfurther.A solitary screamer flewhighabove the fray,dodging the fireofRuneclaw, dropping loweronly forbriefmoments.OnitstoodaheraldofTzeentch.Haraldonlyhadmomentaryglimpsesofit.Thedaemoncontrolledtheactionsofthearmybelowwithgesturesandcallswhosesyllablesthunderedandhissedatonce. Thewords coiled at the edge ofHarald’s consciousness, and he could not decide if theywerefamiliarornot.HedidnotwanttobelievethiswasSlithertwystagain.TheDeathwolveshaddestroyedthematerialformofthatdaemonfully.Andyet…Andyet…Itdidnotmatter,Haraldthought.Nothereandnow.Allthatmatteredwasthedestructionoftheenemy.Theairaround theheraldclearedagain,and thedaemonreachedout to theeast, itsclawssplayed. Itpulled at the air as if hauling in chains.From theother sideof the slagheaps cameahuge clankingofgears,andthepoundingofgreatmasses.Overthepeakscamefourtoweringdaemonicengines.Arachnidlimbs of iron punched craters into the earth with each step. Their upper bodies were behemoths oftwisted, bulgingmuscle, devastationmade flesh; theyweremachines ofwar and theywere beings ofhatred.Their colossal limbswielded claws that could crush a tank, and swords the height of aSpaceMarine. They stuck to the high ground, looping around to the south, then descended, spreading out tosurround theWulfen. The engines stepped over the broken monoliths without noticing their presence.Swordscrackledeldritchenergyastheycamedown,cuttingthroughrockandfleshwithequalease.Thedaemonsmovedwiththemajestyofdeath.Therewasnorushtotheirattacks.Theywereponderousbutinevitable.Thesiegewasover.Theenemywaslargerthanthefortress.ButtheWulfenwerefast.Theyranatthemonsters,dodgingtheblows,althoughsomewerecrushedtopulpbetweenclaws.Oneofthepossessedwalkerswasarmedwithamonstrouscannon. It fired,and theconcussionalmostknockedHarald fromIcetooth’sback.Hugeshellsthuddedintotheground,eruptingwithfirethatburnedthemateriumandthewyrd.Wulfenanddaemonalikevanishedintheexplosions.

ThedevastationcouldnotstoptheWulfen.Theirbrothersdied,butasthedaemonwalkersfocusedontheirvictims,therestofthepackshotbetweenthelegsandleaptuptoslashthetorsosandarmsofthedaemons.Thecannon-wieldingbehemothrearedback.Itclawedatthebeingswhodaredattackit.Itbellowedlikea wounded bull pulling one of theWulfen from its chest. Ichor poured to the ground in a flood. Thepossessedwalkersanktalonshalfametrelongintothetorsoofthewarrior.Itaimeditsgunatthelupineblurontheground,disdainingthetwoWulfenstabbingpunchdaggersintothemetalofthebarrel.Theyjumpedawaythemomentbeforeitfired.Multipleshellssurgedthroughabarrelpuncturedandnolongertrue.Thedaemonstalker’smaterialrealityturnedagainstit.Theshellsexplodedatonceandthedaemon’sarmandheadvanishedintheblast.Thebodyweavedbackandforthuntilitcollapsedagainstthemonolithsatthebaseoftheheap.TheDeathwolvesbrokethroughthelastofthedaemonsbetweenthemandtheWulfen.Pinkhorrorsanddaemonettes and flamers were still on the attack, but there was little they could do now. The SpaceWolvesdominatedthefield,andnowtheyroaredoverthewallofdebrisandjoinedthefightagainstthedaemonengines.HaraldandtheRidersofMorkaiattackedthelegsofthenearestcolossus.ThunderhammerschoppedandbatteredthelimbswhileHaraldandIcetoothsmashedatarightforeleg.ThelimbrosehighoverHarald’sheadthenstabbeddown.Icetoothleaptasideasthelegpulverizedrock.HaraldswungGlacius,andtheforceoftheblowreverberatedthroughhisarmanddownhisspine.Thefrostaxebitdeep.Metalbuckled.Themonsterstampedandcircled,sweepingitsclawsaftertheWolfGuard.Ironshrieked,andoneofthelegstoreaway.Thedaemonstumbledtothesideanditsaimwentwide.Itsheadleanedforward,ahuge,skinned beast shrieking its outrage.Haraldmet its eyes.He answered its roar and emptied his bolt -pistol’sclipintothemonstrousface.Theshellspunchedthroughthedaemon’sskull.Geysersoffleshshotoutthebackofitsthroatandneck.Itsroarsturnedintogurglesofagony.Theimpactsjerkeditbackward.BattleonallsidesofHaraldexplodedatonce.Theworldwasfracturedby thepoundingpillar-sizedlimbsand theboomingof sorcerouscannons.Yngvir’sWulfenswarmedoveranotherdaemonicenginewith their relicweapons,overwhelming itwith their furyandopeningmoltenwounds in itsbodywiththeirgreatblades.ThelargestofthenewWulfenpack,standingontheshouldersofapossessedwalker,tore thedaemon’shead from its body.Twoof thegreat daemons fell.Anger, grief andbaying triumphsurgedasonethroughHarald’sspirit.Theeventsattheperipheryofhisawarenessweresuddenandvastenoughtopullasmallportionofhisattentionawayfromtheleviathanhefought.Onlyafraction.Heneverturnedfromtheabomination’swrathfuleyes.Itwasenough.Theclawcameinfromhisleft,ablurheturnedtoolatetoface.Itclosedaroundhimandjerkedhimaloft,offthebackofIcetooth.Hisarmsweretrappedinthedaemon’sgrip.Hecouldnotmove.The daemon walker lifted him high. Now its eyes shone with malevolent triumph. Its shattered jawstreamed ichor and its mutilated visage contorted in a snarl as it rejoiced over the downfall of itstormentor.Itbegantosqueeze.Itspoke,somehowformingwordsdespitethecanyonsofitsinjuries.‘Youwillnotbeholdthegame’send,HaraldDeathwolf.’Mountains pressed in onHarald’s chest.His armour cracked. It split. Blades of broken ceramite cutthoughhiscarapaceandintohisflesh.Hisfusedribplatessplintered.Hecouldnotbreathe.Painwasablacknessspreadingfromhiscore,seizinghisconsciousness,splinteringhisthoughts.‘Youwillneverlearnyourpurpose.’Thefull lengthofhisframecracked.Hefeltamoreterriblecrushingtakeplaceashis internalorgans

began to rupture.Theblackness crept overhis vision and theworld recededbehind a thickeningveil.Onlytheterriblefireofthedaemonwalker’sgazepenetratedit.Theslow,inexorableconstrictionpaused.Itrelaxedbyafraction.Withasupremeeffortofwill,Haraldpushed the blindness away.One of theWulfen had leapt up and seized the end of the daemon’s claw.Throughsheerbodilystrengthandmass,hewasholding thearmdownandpulling the tipsof theclawapart.Thedaemonwalkergrowledindisbelief.TheWulfen’sancient,ruinedarmourwaslittlemorethanscrapsnow.Themusclesofhisarmsbulgedwithstrainandhisfangsgnashed.Hewasbeastfarmorethanhuman,yetheactedwithselflessheroism.Bitbybit,thehalvesoftheclawbegantopart.Denial,angeranddisbelieftwistedthroughthehollowthunderofthedaemon’swords.With a sudden jerk, theWulfen opened the clawswide.Harald fell to the ground.On his knees, hisvisionstreakingwithredandgrey,hisbreathwhistlingashedraggedoxygeninoverfloatingribs,hesawtheWulfentwisttheclawclockwise.Metalgroaned,thenscreamed,andsodidthepossessedwalker.TheWulfen kept turning the claw. The daemon tried to pull away but sparks and ichor cascaded over theWulfenand,withthegratingoffleshandtherippingofmetal,theentireforearmcameaway.Thedaemonstalker howled, its black essence jetting out of its stump. TheWulfen turned, spinning, gathered hugemomentum,andflungtheclawwiththeforceofameteorintothedaemon’shead.Theedgeoftheclawssmashedtheskullbetweentheeyes.Amindlesscryrosefromthecolossus.Asulphurousstench,thedeathrattleofavolcano,waftedacrossthebattlefield.Thedaemonsmashedthestonesbeneathitwiththeforceofitsfall.Haraldstruggledtohisfeet.Hespatblood.Hisarmswerenumb,buthehadnotlosthisgriponhisboltpistolandGlacius.Hestraightened,ignoringtheflashingagonythroughouthisbody.TheWulfenwarriorhowledoverthebodyofhistitanicfoe.HeturnedtofaceHarald.Henodded,acknowledginghisdebtandhisgratitude,andtheWulfenlopedawayinsearchofmoreprey.Haraldfollowed.Hecouldstillraisehisfrostaxe,andasIcetoothcametohisside,hewadedintothelast of the battle. Therewas little prey now to find.With the great daemons destroyed, the remainingdaemonswerebadlyoutnumbered,theirstrugglehopeless.Theyfoughton,asiftheirpurposehadbeentodieatthehandsoftheSpaceWolvesallalong.Harald looked up. The air battle had ended. Therewere nomore flying daemons and no sign of theherald.Harald listened intently, trying to hear past the clamour of final slaughter for the echo of darklaughter.Hecouldnotfindit.Perhapstherewasnonetohear.Hewasnotconvinced.ThesilenceofbloodypeaceatlastcametotheShatterfields.HaraldwatchedtheWulfenofWhitestalkerreunitedwiththeirbrothers.Twicenow,hethought,theWulfenhavesavedyourlifetwice.Thedebtisaheavyone,andyouthoughtaboutleavingthemtothedaemons.Yethefeltnoshame.Hemistrustedtheimpulsetogratitude.Twice.Suchagreatdebt.Canthisbefate?Coincidence?More andmore traces of a pattern.He could see fragments, but he could not link them. The patternrefusedtoshapeitselfintomeaning.Haraldlookeduponthesceneofvictory,feelingthecancerofuneasegnawathissoul.

Atwar,beneathsleep,abovedeath.Imustwake.Butno.Thedaemonsclimbingthewall.Leadingthem,agiant,avastnessofrageandwings.LandingblowsinthepsychicwalloftheFang.Imustwake.

But not now. Turn the fury against the daemons. The shadow of an assault cannon firing, firing,firing.Thedream-echoesofdaemonsexplodingtonothingunderitspower.Thegiantclimbingagainstthehexagrammicshells.Thereisnowakingyet.Onlythebattlebeneathsleep,abovedeath.

Thepictscreenwasblack.Voxtraffichadfallenintoasilencedeepasthevoid.ItwasasifKromwastryingtocommunicatewithatomb.Heputtheearpiecedownandlookeddownatthehuscarl.‘How long?’heasked.Aroundhim, the activityof theFang’s augur andvoxcomplexhadacquiredatroubled intensity. Kaerls struggled in groups at their stations.While one fought with controls, otherswavedtotemsandmadesignsofwarding,seekingtobanishthedisruptivespirits.‘We lost contactwithFrostheim tenminutes ago,’ saidAlbjornFogel.Theoverall supervisionof thefacilitywashisresponsibility.Hewasanoldman,andtheskinofhisfacewaslikethickleather.Itbarelymoved.Buthisforeheadwascreasednowwithconcern.‘Beforethat, itwasSvellgard.Itfluctuatedinandoutofcontactforanhour.’‘Theproblemshavebeensystem-wide?’‘Yes,lord.Theyweresomomentaryandscatteredatfirstwedidnotthinkthiswasanythingmorethanaethericflawsinthevox.’Krompointedtothepictscreen.‘Notjustthevoxnow,’hesaid.‘Thatisso.Inthelasthour,wehavebeguntoexperienceoutagesofallauspexreadingsaswell.’‘Isthereapattern?’‘Nonebeyondincreasingfrequencyandduration.Whentheblackoutsend,thevoxoperatorsattheotherendreportnomalfunctionswiththeirequipment.Theybelievewearetheonesshutdown.’‘Noreportsofpossibleenemyactivity?’‘Noneatall,lord.’Kromworked tokeep the frustration fromhisvoice. ‘Verywell,’hesaid. ‘Youwillupdatemeeveryhourofthesituation.’Hethoughtforamoment.‘YousayFrostheim’ssilencehasbeenthelongestyet?’‘Thatisso.’‘Iwishtobeinformedtheinstantvoxisrestored.’‘Yes,lord.’Kromleftthechamber.HewasnearthepeakoftheFang,andhefollowedagallerythatledtoaturretplatform.Hepulledbacktheirondoor,thensteppedintothehowlingwind.Helookedupthroughrarefiedairintothenightsky.Thestarsweredaggerpointsofcoldlight.Thecoldnumbedhisexposedskinbutcouldnotnumbhisfrustration.DutyheldhimonFenris,andthelinks to the otherworlds of the systemwere fraying.The rise in the incidents had the earmarks of anattack,butitwasonehecouldnotcounter.Therewasnoprovenanceandnoenemy.AslongastheworldsandmoonsoftheFenrissystemcamebackintocontact,signallingnothingamiss,hishandsweretied.Evenifthenewsfromthesystemwasbad,hisoathheldhimtotheFang.ShouldFrostheimorMidgardiaoranyotherFenrisianworldgodark,shouldtheyfalltoenemyhands,theattackwouldalmostcertainlybeadiversion.Fenriswouldalwaysbethereal target.Tobreakhisoathandtakethebait, leavingtheSpaceWolfhomeworlddefenceless,wasacrimetoomonstroustocontemplate.Andyet.Hestaredintotheunforgivingblackofthevoidabove,andknewthatsomethingworsethanhismostdire speculationswasapproaching.His fists tightened in frustration.A lowgrowl rumbled inhischest.

Hestoodontheturretplatformforafullhour.Thentwo.Frostheimremainedsilent.

CHAPTER4

ASymmetryofBloodandStorm

The battle-barge Allfather’s Honour was at low anchor over Vikurus. It had translated from theimmateriumthreehoursbefore,holdingastationaryorbitoverthecityofAbsolom.Aboard,preparationsforinvasionreachedcompletion.TheKingsguardwereabouttodescend.Ulrik entered the bridge’s strategium, where Grimnar sat in a throne carved from a single block ofFenrisiangranite.‘AnastropathicmessagefromSvenBloodhowl,’Ulriksaid.‘StrikeForceSagabladewassuccessfulonTranquilatus?’Grimnarasked.‘Theywere.TheyalsoencounteredDarkAngels.’Grimnarmutteredacurse.‘Many?’‘Acompany’sworth.TheywerealreadyatwarwiththedaemonswhenSagabladearrived.’‘SotheysawtheWulfen.’Ulriknodded.‘Thefateshavebeenkindtoourhuntthusfar,’saidGrimnar.‘ButtheDarkAngels…Thatisunfortunate.Therewascontact?’‘Yes.WiththeRavenwing.BloodhowlreportstheDarkAngelsdemandedourWulfenbrothersbeturnedovertothem.Daemonsattackedbeforeshotswereexchanged.SagabladeextractedtheWulfenduringthebattle.’Grimnar’s slow intake of breath was as close as he came to wincing. ‘To depart in the midst of astruggleishard.Bloodhowlactedwisely.’‘TheDarkAngelswouldnotagree,’saidUlrik.‘No,theywouldnot,’saidGrimnar.‘Wewilldealwiththoseconsequencesinduecourse.’Hepaused,thoughtful.HelookedatUlrik,hiseyestroubled.‘Awell-timeddaemonicattack,’hesaid.‘IknowwhatLordDeathwolfwouldsayaboutthat.’‘Andthatis?’Ulrikasked.‘Thatitcouldbeinterpretedasdaemonicinterventiononourbehalf.’

Ulrikshookhishead.‘Thatinterpretationwouldbemistaken.’‘SoIwouldprefertobelieve,Slayer.Convinceme.Wasthefortunateeventchance?’‘Itwasthechancecreatedbyinevitablefate.’Grimnar’s eyes burned in the shadows of the chamber.He leaned forward. ‘Say on, old one.’ For amoment,hewasonceagaintheyoungwarrioreagerfortheveteran’sinsights.‘TheThirteenthCompanyhasreturnedtothematerium.Thateventitselfissogreat,ithasconvulsedthewarp.Itissogreat,itcannottranspirewithoutleadingtoeventsjustasgreat.TheWulfencometousinadvanceofRuss.TheywillreclaimtheirrightfulplaceontheGrandAnnulus.Nothingcanstandin thewayofthisresolution,andcertainlynottheDarkAngels.Ifagentsattempttostopfate,chanceitselfwillbeforcedtointervene.Doyousee?’UlrikaskedGrimnar.‘Ifithadnotbeenthedaemons,itwouldhavebeensomethingelse.Fatecannotbedenied.TheabominationswerepawnsofdestinyonTranquilatus.’‘Itistrueourcourseisclearheretoo,’Grimnarsaid.‘Aye.TheStormcallerwasunequivocal.’TheHighRunePriest’sscryingshadallowednouncertainty.TheWulfenwouldbefoundintheshrinecityofAbsolom.Noneoftheotherstrikeforceshadhadtargetsso precise revealed to them. One after the other, they had triumphed, and Wulfen packs were beingtransportedtotheAnvarheimsystemandthewaitingColdfang.TheKingsguardstrikeforcehadhadfartotravel,andwasamongthelasttoarriveonstation.Thestringofsuccessesbeforeimmenseoddswerestillmoreevidence,asfarasUlrikwasconcerned,thathewascorrectinhisinterpretationoftheportents.Grimnarstood.‘Tobattle,then,WolfPriest.’Hebaredhisfangsinaneager,predatorygrin.‘Tobattle.’

‘Areyou sure about this?’Sammael asked.Standing in the antechamber to the astropathic choir of thestrikecruiserSilentOath,theGrandMasterofRavenwingstaredattheparchmentinhishand.‘Wearecertainofitsrecipient,yes.’MasterAstropathAsconditusraisedacautioushand.Theoldmanwasbowed,hisgaunt,sallowfacedeeplyshadowedbyhiscowl.‘Notastoitsmeaning.Themessageisopentomultipleinterpretations.’‘Thismessageisambiguous,’Sammaelsaid.‘Itcanbeinterpretedmanyways.’‘None,withyourpardon,aregood,’Asconditussaid.Sammaeldidnotreply.Helookedatthemessageagain.Transcription,alreadysubjecttothevagariesofthewarpandastropathicinterpretation,wasrenderedevenmoredoubtfulbythemessage’sfragmentarynature.‘Leavenosign,’heread.Asconditusspokeupagain.‘Aquestion?Astatement?Anorder?Allaredamning,GrandMaster.Thereareonlyshadowshere.’‘Andthereisnodoubtabouttheprovenance?’‘None.Itwassentbythebattle-bargeAllfather’sHonour.’TheSpaceWolves’flagshipwascommunicatingwiththeWolfLordSvenBloodhowlontheBloodfire.Sammael was not inclined to think well of the Space Wolves. For that reason, he was wary of hisinstincts.Hehadtobesureofthetruthbeforeacting.ButafterTranquilatus,hewasfindingitdifficulttodisagreewithAsconditus.Theantechamberwasdark,itsvaultinvisibleintheshadows.Evenso,SammaelsawlightdawningonthesituationthathadbeendevelopingsinceNurades.Thelightwascold.Whatitrevealedwasunclean.The bestial slaughter of the Scouts who had been stationed to protect the Dark Angels’ interests onNurades.Thepictfromtherecoveredservo-skullrevealingamassiveshapewiththeFenrisianinsigniaon its armour.Thepresenceof themutatedbeastsonTranquilatus.Thecravenbehaviourof theSpaceWolves,escapingwiththeirmonstersduringadaemonicattack.

‘Webearwitnesstoanaccumulationofdamnation,’Asconditussaid,asifreadingSammael’sthoughts.‘Wemustbecautious,’saidSammael.‘ButiftheSpaceWolveshavemutated…’Sammaelshookhishead.‘Wemustbesure.’Asconditus’voicedroppedtoawhisper.‘Withrespect,GrandMaster,aren’twe?’Sammaeldidnotwishtobe.WhateverhethoughtoftheSpaceWolves,theyhadbeenfiercewarriorsfortheImperium.Iftheyhadbecomeunclean,thelosswouldbeterrible.ThecostofdealingwiththefallenChapterwouldbeevenworse.‘Whatnews from theRock?’heasked.Perhapsnew truthshadbeenunearthed,ones thatwouldpointawayfromthisdarkpath.‘HasScoutDolutasbeenlocated?’ThesurvivorofNuradeshaddisappearedbeforeregainingconsciousness.‘Notaccordingtothelastreport.’‘Hemustbefound!’Sammaelsaid.ItwasimpossiblethataDarkAngelcouldvanishontheRock.Notbyaccident.Andifitwerenotanaccident,thentherewasanenemywhohadpenetratedthecitadel,andthatfactledtoitsownsetofterribleimplications.‘ThereissomethingelseImustask,’Asconditussaid.‘Whatisit?’‘I have heard that on Tranquilatus, daemons attacked at just the right moment to benefit the SpaceWolves.’Sammaelhesitated,butAsconditus’trainofthoughtwasgrowingharderandhardertoresist.‘Ineffect,thatisso,’hesaid.‘Iconsiderthatacoincidence.’Asconditusbowedhishead.Hissilencewassceptical.Sammaellefttheantechamberandmadeforthebridge.TheSilentOathwasalreadymakingallhastefortheRock.Thethoughtateathimthatdarkershadowshadalreadyreachedit.AndthathisworstsurmisesabouttheSpaceWolvesstillfellshortofthetruth.

TheKingsguardcametoAbsolom.LoganGrimnar’sstrikeforcedescendedinsquadronsofStormwolvesandThunderhawks.Asthegunshipsapproachedtheshrinecity,theysplitup,theflightsheadingfortheirdesignatedtargetzones.Eachwarrior-bandhaditscontingentofWulfentohelptracktheirkin.UlrikwatchedAbsolomgrowlargerthroughaviewingblockoftheThunderhawkHelwinterJudgement.Despitethesmokebillowingupwardfromhundredsofblazes,atfirstthecityseemedalmostintact.Thegloryofitsarchitecturehadnotbeendestroyed.Absolomwasashrinecity;theplacementofeverystonehad a religious purpose. The veneration of the Allfather was made manifest in cathedrums built forhundredsofthousands,inmile-wideprocessionalavenuesofgleamingmarble,andincolossalstatuary.ManytimeslargerthananImperatorTitan,thestatueswerebothmonumentsandhabs.Theywerehumanin form, some robed, others armoured. Theywere the qualities of the Emperor given solid form. TheGuardianoftheImperium,theMasterofMankind, theDestroyeroftheHereticandtheXenos, theAll-Seeing, the Exterminating Sword. Before the warp storm, their limbs and torsos had housed tens ofthousands.Theirskullswerethechapelswhereworshipperswouldlookoutwiththeeyesofagod,andcontemplateayetgreaterone.Theupturnedpalmswerelandingpads,whichnowreceivedonesquadronofStormwolves.HelwinterJudgement led its flightofgunshipsbetween theshouldersof thecolossi.Closerup,Ulrikcouldseethedamage.Thefaceofonestatuehadbeenutterlydestroyed,anditsskullwasnowaneerie,hollowdarkness.Flameslickedfromtheeyesofanother.AsHelwinterflewpast,hehadabriefglimpseofongoingslaughterinsidethegreathabs.Mortalswerehurledfromshatteredwindows.Thingsofhorn

andclawriotedthroughthefires.‘The daemons have not overthrown the towers,’ Njal Stormcaller said. He sat next to Ulrik in theStormwolf’stroophold.TheHighRunePriestglaredatthevistaofthetormentedcity.Intherumbling,shakinghold,theaircrackledwithozone.PressurebuiltaroundtheStormcaller.Hisragewasbuilding.‘Itpleasesthedaemonstokeepthemintact,’Ulriksaid.Hegesturedatmagnificenceturnedmalignant.‘Theplaceofhighestworshipturnedtounholypurposes.’‘Aye.Thedesecrationisallthemorecomplete.’‘Foulnessfromwithinthesacred,’Ulriksaid.Stormcallernodded,asifcomingtoanewunderstanding.‘AndtheWulfenareourgreathopefightingwithinthefoul,’hesaid.‘Astrikingsymmetry.’Ulrikwaited.‘The omensmultiply,’ said Stormcaller. Though his anger at the daemons did not diminish, his eyesshonewithanticipation.‘SurelyRussiscoming,’hesaid.Good,Ulrikthought.ItwascleartheHighRunePriestsawthetruthoftheWulfen.‘Theyshallrisefromthedaemonicmaelstromastheytoreawayfromthegripoftheimmaterium,’Ulriksaid.‘Thereisrepetitionhere.TheWulfenburstingthroughonethresholdafteranother.’Lower now, roaring throughmore densely interlaced structures.Arched bridges traced delicate pathsthrough the air between cathedrum towers and free-standing prayer galleries. Ulrik caught moreimpressionsofAbsolom’spain.Thecity’sdefendershadlost,butsomestilllived,andfoughton.Atthepeakofonenarrowarch,a trioofSistersofBattlewassurroundedbyplaguebearers.ThedaemonsofNurgleslowlytrudgedupfrombothendsofthebridge.Therewerehundreds.TheSisterscutthemdownwithbolterandflamerastheycamenear.Therewasspacefornomorethantwoorthreeofthedaemonsatonce.TheheroinesoftheImperiumcouldholdoutaslongastheyhadammunition,butthestreamofplague bearerswasunending.HelwinterJudgementstrafedtheeastsideofthearchwithitslascannons.Itburnedawayahugeswathoftheabominations.Thenitleftthebridgeandthestrugglebehind.‘Thatboughtthemalittletime,’saidStormcaller.‘Aye,’saidUlrik.‘Nomorethanthat,though.’Lowerstill.NowtheStormwolvesslowedastheymadetheirfinaldescent intotheGrandAssemblis.Thesquarewasafewthousandmetresoneachside,theparvisoffourgrandcathedrums.Statuesofthesaintswerescatteredaboutit,theirplacementandorientationgiventheappearanceofchance,asiftheywerelivingpilgrimsmakingtheirwaytowardsthehousesofworship.Theywereanillusionofcalminthemidstofnightmare.BlooddaemonsofKhornerampagedthroughthesquare,cuttingdowndesperatesquadsofmilitia.Themortalsfought,buttherewasnohopeforthem.Theywerenowonlypreyfortheswordlings,slainforsport.There were many mortals present in the Assemblis, however, many tens of thousands. They lay inmoundsascoreofmetreshigh.Someoftheheapswereonfire,bodiesslowlyturningtoashandsmoke.Otherssquirmedandheaved.Thedeadflailedtheirlimbsasifstrugglingagainstanewpain,oneworsethananytheyhadknownalive.Wyrdfireskitteredoverthemound,runninglikewater,destroyingthelinesbetweenrotandmetamorphosis.Aroundtheperipheryofthesquarewerepictscreens.Oncetheywouldhave broadcast images turning officiating ecclesiarchs into heroes twenty metres high. Now theyscreamedmadness.Thegunshipscamedownintothesquare.Theirlascannonsandtwin-linkedheavyboltersscorchedtheAssemblis, blasting the landing area clear of the swordlings. Assault ramps dropped, unleashing theKingsguardbeforetakingoffoncemoretocontinuetheirpurgingassault.

Ulrik charged into the square, part of the collective howl of rage. Grimnar led the charge aboardStormrider.ThethunderwolvesTyrnakandFenrirpulledthewarchariot,aseagertolaywastetothefoulenemyas theirmaster.With a roar, beasts andwarrior fell upon theblooddaemons. InGrimnar’s lefthandwashisstormbolter.Heattackedwithsuchferocity that itseemedtheenemyexplodedintobodypartsandadelugeofichoronallsidesofStormrider.Thepaving stones shatteredbeneath the treadof theVenerableDreadnoughtsHaargenDeathbane andSvendar Ironarm. Daemonic forms vanished in the heat of Haargen’s multi-melta. Svendar lumberedforward,amountainofwalkingdeath,hisgreataxeandblizzardshieldstrikingdownthedaemonswiththeforceofarockslide.Wherehewalked,heleftawakeofcrushed,disintegratingbodies.Thecrushedformsoftheabominationssankslowlyintothepoolsoftheirliquefyingessence.AndtherewasMurderfang.TheStormfangDrakesbaneshadowedtheadvanceoftheKings guard.Itsheavybolterschewedthroughthe mobs of swordlings, but they were incidental targets. Its helfrost destructor was trained onMurderfang,readytofireifneeded.TheDreadnought’sragewasabsolute,athingofshreddingmadness.The warrior was as unpredictable as a rabid wolf. There was always the danger that the path of itsrampagewouldtakeitthroughthebodiesofitsbrothers.Onthisday,Ulrikdidnotbelievethatdangerexisted.HefollowedclosebehindMurderfang.Hesawapurposenow inhismeeting in thevaultswithDragongaze andDeathwolf.The feralDreadnoughtwashimselfanomenof theReturn,andherehe led thecharge to recovermoreof the13th.Even theGreatWolffollowedMurderfanginthischarge.Ulrikbroughthiscroziusarcanumdownwithexterminatingforce,banishingtheuncleanwiththesymbolofFenris’ spiritual strength. Ichor splashedagainsthis totems.Swordlings snarled,but the snarlof theWolfHelmofRusswasgreaterthantheirs,andtheirangerturnedtoagonybeforetheyfell.Ulrikfoughtwithwrath, in the nameofwhatwas to come.He had lived so long, and perhaps it had always beendecreedthathewouldlivetoseethesegreatmomentsarrivefortheSpaceWolves.Thereturnofthe13thCompany.ThereturnofRuss.Eventswere aligning.Theportentswere clear.The futurewasunfolding as it should, as itmust, andUlrikrejoicedtobearwitnesstoit.ThevoxspeakersofthesarcophagusdistortedMurderfang’showl.TheragerattledandshriekedacrosstheGrandAssemblis.TheDreadnoughtpoundedforward,his terriblegauntletsreachingfor thesword-wieldingKhornatedaemons.Theabominationsattacked,swordsclangingagainstthesarcophagus.Theywere rushing to their doom, but they were the essence of rage given bodily form, and they could donothingelse.Thebeastmetthemwithhismurderclaws.Bladesthecrystallineblueofxenosicecrackledastheyslashedthroughdaemonicflesh.ThedaemonscameatMurder fangbythescorebuthetorethemapartwithout pausing in his battering run.He turned towherever he saw the greatest concentration ofabominations.Hismomentumwasrelentless.Hewasamachineofperpetualslaughter.TherewerethousandsoftheswordlingsintheAssembliswhentheKingsguarddescended.Shortly,onlystragglers remained. Then there were none. Daemons shrieked from the galleries and spires of thecathedrums,butthesquarewaspurged.Thefewsurvivingmortalsclusteredtogether,staringattheSpaceWolveswithaweandcaution.EventheruinousshriekscomingfromthepictscreenscouldnotteartheirattentionfromMurderfang.Theyregardedhimwithterror.Theycouldbarelywalk,yetitwascleartheywouldattempttofleeiftheycamewithintheDreadnought’sgaze.Deprivedof foes,Murderfangpaused.TheWulfenof theKingsguardgatherednearhim,as if sensingkinship. Ulrik moved to the front of the Dreadnought. The face visible within the sarcophagus wascontorted by a rictus of eternal rage.The eyeswerewide, glassy, bloodshot, agonised.Therewas no

personalitythere,yetforthefirsttimeinhismemory,UlriksawMurderfangblink.Hesniffedtheair.SodidtheWulfen.StormcallerjoinedUlrik.TheHighRunePriest’spsyber-familiar,Nightwing,landedonhisshoulder.Itshookitsfeathersfreeofgoreandcockeditshead,trainingitsbioniceyeonMurderfang.‘HesensesmoreWulfen,’Stormcallersaid.‘Asyoupredicted,’saidUlrik.‘Ihaveneverknownhimtostopofhisownaccordbefore.’‘NorhaveI.’A change came upon Murderfang’s eyes. Something more than bloodthirst entered them. There wasrecognition.Ulrik’ssoulwaselatedatthatsignofconsciousness.Everythingaligns,hethought.Thechaptersofthegreatsagaunfoldbeforeus.MurderfangandtheWulfenturnedtofacesouth,thenthunderedtowardsthecathedrumnamedtheDomeofPenitents.Ulrik raisedhiscroziusandhowled in triumph.Ashortdistanceaway,Stormrider followed the feralpack.TyrnakandFenrirwereeagertofollowthebayingoftheWulfen.Overthetriumphofthewolves,Grimmar’svoicecalledtotheKingsguard.‘Ourkinawaitus,brothers!’HepointedforwardwiththeAxeMorkai.‘Forward!Weshallbereunitedamidthedestructionofthedaemonicfoe!’ThestrikeforcefollowedinthewakeofMurderfang.TheSpaceWolvespassedbetweenthescreamingpict screens, then beneath the towering arch thatmarked the processional ramp to the cathedrum. Thegunships broke away as they approached the entrance.Drakesbane and the Stormwolves flew higher.Theystrafedtheopenplatformsandstainedglasswindowsofthedomewhereverdaemonsdaredtoshowthemselves.Therampwaswide.Thegoldendoorswerecolossal,monumentsintheirownright,sothathundredsofpenitentsatoncecouldpassthroughthem.TherewouldberoomenoughforMorkai’sHowlandFireofFenris.TheLandRaiderandRedeemerrumbledupbehindtheKingsguard,tanksoflegendaddingtheirferocitytothehunt.Murderfangslammedintothedoors.Theimpact threwthemback.TheSpaceWolvesstormedintotheDomeofPenitents.Justbeforehecrossedthethreshold,aflintofsilverhighintheaircaughtUlrik’sattention.Hepausedandlookedup.Thegunshipassaultssentdustandsmokeburstingfromthedome.Theskywasobscured.Hefacedaheadoncemore.Hecouldnotshaketheimpressionofhavingcaughtaglimpseofsomethingdangerousyetsacred.Insidethedome,thelegionsoftheRuinousPowersawaitedtheSpaceWolves.Aspaceofglitteringsanctityhadbecomeacauldronofviolence,massacre,sacrilegeandmadness.Thefloorofthecavernousauditoriumwasheapedwiththebodiesofworshippers,ecclesiarchsandSororitas.Shrineslayoverturnedandshattered.Thefrescoesofthedomehadbeendefacedwithblood,entrailsandfire. Cherubim had become disembowelled corpses. Stars were now the blazing eyes of warp-bornbehemoths.Beneaththecentreofthedome,agoldenfigureoftheEmperor,overtwentymetrestall,stillstood,swordraisedasifindefianceofthestormofabominationsthatriotedthroughthecathedrum.The sounds of two greetings washed over the SpaceWolves. Daemons roared, hissed and gabbled.Plague, wrath, excess and change fused into a choir of evil, a noise damp yet burning, powerful yetdiseased. The second greeting was no less triumphant. Howls of war came from high above, in theCelestiumGalleries.At thelevelof theEmperor’ssword,walkwayscutacross thewidthof thedome,gossamer-thin in the immensityof the space.Suspendedon those iron threadsand leapingbetween thearchways of the galleries, Wulfen battled daemons. They moved constantly, speed and slashing fury

keepingthemfrombeingoverwhelmedbythefloodofabominations.In theauditorium, thedaemons surged forward.Murderfangwasalreadydeep into the rising tide.Hetrampled scampering daemons of Nurgle and the pink creatures of Tzeentch. His claws dismemberedsworddaemonsofKhorne and the fiendsofSlaanesh.Thewave foamedaroundandpastMurderfang,surroundingtheKings guardasthestrikeforcechargeddeeperintothecathedrum.AvastshapelandedbeforethestatueoftheEmperorwithcrateringforceandfilledtheairwithmarbleshrapnelanddust.Thewallsofthecathedrumshookwiththeimpact.Thehorneddaemonstretchedtoitsfull, towering height. It spread its wings. It raised an axe large enough to cut through a tank and amonstrousserpentofawhip.Theaxebladedrippedblood.Bitsoffleshclungtothebarbsthelengthofthewhip.Thecolossusofragebellowed,anditsroarwasthesoundofworldsdrowninginthebloodofmindlesshate.IthadalreadyreducedmuchoftheCelestiumGalleriestoruin.Columnsandwalkwayswereshattered.ThebodiesofWulfenlayinthewreckageandbloodraineddownupontheEmperor,streakinghisvisagewithredtears.The huge daemon strode towards the SpaceWolves. Its footsteps boomed. The lesser abominationsintensified their attacks.Creatures of the fourRuinous Powers revelled in the approach of the greaterdaemon, the Khornate abominationsmost of all. Their infernal cannons fired from the far side of thedome.Burning, laughing, flaming skulls bombarded theSpaceWolves.Thebones exploded, spreadingstreaming fireover thehullsof theadvancingLandRaiders.FireofFenris’ twin-linked heavy bolterschurnedtheairwithexplodingstoneandfountainsofichor.Morkai’sHowlattackedwithitsownflames,sendingastreamofpurifyingfireoverscoresofdaemons.Ulrikgatheredasenseofthefullbattleinquick,frozenglimpses.Thedaemonwavewasmassive.Therewasnopossibilityofgrandstrategy,onlythestruggleagainstthenearestfoe,survivalmeasuredfromonesecond to the next. He buried the crozius in the skull of a blood daemon at the same moment as heincineratedthetorsoofafiendofSlaaneshwithhisplasmapistol.Awallofevilpressedin,reachingforhimwithclawsandtalons.Tonguesofwyrdfirefellonhim,buthewasstronginfaithandanger.Hiswolfamuletblazedandanauraofpulsingredandbluesurroundedhim.Theblowsofthedaemonscouldnotlandonhim.Hewadeddeeperintothehorrors,layingwastetothecreaturesofthewarp.ThebayingandsnarlsoftheWulfenfiredhisblood.HekilledwiththefuriousabandonofaBloodClaw,yetheremainedconsciousof theweightofhistoryoneverymomentof thestruggle.Thousandsuponthousandsofyearshadworkedtowardsthisbattle,itselfonemoresteptowardsthefulfilmentofagreaterdestiny.‘Strikethedaemonsdown,championsofFenris!’Ulrikshouted.‘ForRuss!Forhisreturn!’Hehowled,and his cry was taken up by the rest of the Kingsguard. The Space Wolves surged forward, feral,annihilating.DidthedaemonsbeforehimhesitatebeforeUlrik’ssavagejoy?Didtheywonderatthebonesnarlofhishelmandthepowerofhisshout?Hethoughttheydid,andwelltheyshould.Hebutcheredhiswayforward,determinedtoreachGrimnar’ssideandfacethehugedaemontogether.Thegiantcamecloser,itseyesfixedonLoganGrimnar.Itsnarledinanticipation.Caughtupinthebattlefrenzy, theWolf GuardDrengir charged the daemon.Without taking its gaze from theGreatWolf, theKhornatehorrorsmashedDrengirasidewithitsaxe.TheWolfGuardflewbackwards,collidingwiththestatue of the Emperor. Marble, armour and bone broke together. Drengir landed on the flagstones,motionless,anddisappearedbeneaththeclawsandhoovesofthelesserdaemons.Bellowing vengeance, Grimnar leapt from Stormrider, the AxeMorkai raised high, a challenge andanswer to the daemon’sweapon.The instantGrimnar’s boots hit the flagstones, other daemons rushed

him.ArjacRockfistandtheWolfGuardspunishedthemforthetemerityoftheirinterference.Theycutaswaththroughtheabominations,clearingthepathforGrimnar.AnewpageinthesagaoftheGreatWolfwasabouttobewritten.LightningexplodedbetweenUlrikandthesceneoftheapproachingduel.NjalStormcallerwasmovingforwardstoo,summoninganelectricalstorm,burningthedaemonstoash.A shriek came at Ulrik from above and behind, the high pitch carving the sound from the deeper,deafeningclamourofthewar.Hisreflexesrespondedbeforehisconsciousmindunderstoodthenatureofthe threat.He turned in time to see a burning, airborne chariot pulled by two of the shriekingwingeddaemons.ATzeentchianheraldrodethechariot.Thepink-huedabominationwasrobed.Initslefthand,itclutchedablacktomethatburnedwithbluewyrdfire.Itsrighthandheldastaffwhoseheadwasanedged,twistedcrescent,thesymbolofitsdarkgod.Fromtheherald’schestcameathirdhand,whichpointedmockinglyatUlrik.Thedaemon laughedathim. It lowered its staff as the screamersangled in for their attack. Itshoutedinitsunholytongue.Ulrikrejectedthewords,refusedtoletthemtakeonmeaning.Heunderstoodwell enough why the herald laughed, though. It was pointing the staff at his crozius. In its form, theTzeentchiandaemonwasahideousparodyofhisownsacredrole.Ulrikmadereadytosilencethatlaughter.Behindhim,Grimnarandthegreatdaemontradedblows,AxeMorkaiandaxeinfernalclashingwithsuchforcetheyunleashedblindingflashesofeldritchpower.Thewingedhorrorsdived.Acoruscatingnimbusformedaroundthepinkdaemon’sthirdhand.Ulrikwaiteduntilthechariot’sinfernalsteedswerecommittedtotheirangleofattackbeforehemoved.Atthelastsecond,heduckedlowandranforward,firingaplasmasalvoupward.Hepassedunderthewingedcreaturesashisburstsmeltedthroughtheirunder bellies.Theirshrieksbecamestutteringwails.Theycrashedtothefloor,draggingthechariotdownwiththem.TherapidthunderofGrimnar’sstormbolterboomedfromthecentreofthecathedrum.ShellsexplodedagainsttheKhornatedaemon’sbreastplate.Thecolossusstaggeredbackastep.Thedaemonwasraisingitsaxetocounterattackwhentheupperportionofthedomeexploded.Tonnesofrubblefell,smashingwalkways.Galleriescollapsed.Wulfenanddaemonsfellwiththem.Twogunshipsinsilver-grey roared into thecathedrum,heavyboltersandassaultcannonspounding theabominations,anddescendedtowhereGrimnarandhisfoereeledundertherockcreteavalanche.TheywereStormravens.TheGreyKnightshadcometoAbsolom.Ulrikfelthiseyeswiden.Theeruptionof thesonsofTitanintothebattlehadthequalityofafeveredvision.Inthefractionofasecond,hisreactionpassedfromstunnedsurprisetowariness.DotheyknowabouttheWulfen?TheheraldandthetitanicdaemonlookedupastheStormravensdescended.Thegiantsnarled,buttheTzeentchian abomination laughed.TheChapter of theAdeptusAstartesmost fanaticallydevoted to theexterminationofdaemonshadjoinedthebattle,andtheheraldlaughed.ThechillfingerofpremonitionreachedintoUlrik’shearts.Darkportentsweretakingshapebeforehim.Hecouldnotseethepatterntheyformed.Hecouldonlytellitwaspresent.Inthismoment,allhecoulddowasseektodisruptitbyendingtheherald’scelebration.Grimnaractedon thegreatdaemon’smomentofdistraction.Ulriksawhimrun forwardandbring theAxeMorkaidownagainsttheabomination’swhiparm.Thebladeflashedtheblueofpurestcold.Itcutallthewaythroughthelimb.Ichorjettedfromthedaemon’sstump.Thegiantroaredmoreinwraththaninpain.Ulrik reached the herald as it clambered from the fallen, screaming chariot. The daemon hissed inoutrage.Itsmiddlehand,glowingwithwarpenergy,struckhiminthechest.Daemonicpowerencountered

thewardofhiswolfamulet.Therewasaflashofsearinglyblacklightning,andtheblaststaggeredUlrikand the pink horror. The daemon retaliated with a second, more powerful blast from its staff.ConcentratedwyrdenergyhitUlrikatthesamemomentasthegiantdaemonstruckGrimnarinthechestwithamassiveclovenhoof,smashingtheGreatWolfdown.A fist of madness wrapped itself around Ulrik and took him to the ground too, assaulting hisconsciousness with visions of the impossible and monstrous. He fought the sights. Other pinkabominationsjumpedonhim.Thedaemonicmassheldhiminplacewhileclawsbatteredathim.Witchenergysoughttotransformhisarmourintosomethingweak.Ulrikheardtheshoutsofhisbrothersonallsides.Theycalledhisname.Theytrainedbolterfireonhisattackers.Thedaemonsweretoonumerous.TheycameathimfasterthantheotherSpaceWolvescoulddestroythem.Ulrik felt as if the fell beingswould shove him through the ground to themolten core of thisworld.‘Fenris!’ he shouted, calling upon its icy ferocity. He raised his right arm, hurling back a scrabblingdaemonandsmashingtheskullofanotherwiththecrozius.Thepressureonhischestlessened.Hefiredasingle shot of the plasma pistol. At point blank range, the burst washed over him. Its terribleincandescenceburnedintohisarmour.Damagerunesscreamedredandblinkedout.Thepurityofthefiredisrupted thewyrdflame. Agony cut through the visions. The spell of transformation dissipated. Ulriksmashed the crozius back and forth, crushing daemon flesh and form. He rose from the midst of thenightmares,howlingahunter’sfury.Ahead, beyond the herald of Tzeentch, the Grey Knights had dropped from the Stormravens. TheysurroundedthehugedaemonandGrimnar.‘LordGrimnar!’theircaptainshouted.Oneofhispaladinsblockedthedaemon’skillingaxeblowwithhissword.‘IamSternoftheGreyKnights!Idemandyourimmediatesurrender!’BeforeUlrik,theheraldlaughed.‘Youarewrongtoexult,abomination,’Ulriksnarled.‘Youarealreadydefeated.’GrimnaransweredSternby leaping tohis feetevenas thedaemonkilled threepaladinswithasinglestrikeofitswyrd-imbuedaxe.Sternattackedthedaemonhimself,forcingitbackanotherstepwithblowsfromaswordwhosepowerlitthespaceofthecathedrumwithsilverlightning.TheGreatWolfchargedintothefrayandburiedtheAxeMorkaiinthegreatdaemon’schest,whereichorfromtheearlierwoundstilldripped.Thedaemon’sbreastplatecollapsed.Themonsterstaggered.The Tzeentchian herald blockedUlrik’s chargewith its staff. Itwielded theweaponwith two handswhilethethirdheldthebookaloft.Thedaemonbegantochant.Theairsnapped.Eldritchenergybuiltup.The colours of the cathedrum smeared. It seemed as though the entire Dome of Penitents was turningaround Ulrik, faster and faster, losing all consistency, becoming a maelstrom of stone and glass. Thecoloursinterwove,growingbrighter,morebrittle.Cracksappearedintheair,spreadingandconnecting.Thinicewasabouttoshatter.Afoulwindblewfromthecracks,howlingdirectlyintoUlrik’ssoul.Thepinkdaemonwasopeningaportaltothewarp.Fromagreatdistance,heheardthebayingoftheWulfen.Hesnarled,becomingonewiththeirsavagery.Hisbeastleaptatthethroatsofhisenemy.Hebroughtthecroziusdownonthecentreofthestaffatthesamemomentashefiredtheplasmapistolatthebook.Thestaffsnapped.Theherald’schantingceased.Itscreamed. The air screamed. Thematerium screamed. Themaelstrom spin ceased and the colours ofmadnessbecameanexplosionofblood.Thecracksintherealbecamemerescalesofillusion,andtheyflakedawayinastormofash.TheDomeofPenitentswassolidaroundUlrikoncemore.Roaring,hesmashedthecroziusagainsttheherald’sskull.Thedaemon’sbodypartedwithahideous,tearingcrunch.Ulriksentaplasmablastintothe

gapbetweenthehalves.Theherald’sululatingbabbleturnedintoaduetofpainasthebodysplitalltheway, becoming two blue horrors. One jumped at Ulrik andwrapped its limbs around his neck.Wyrdenergylasheddownhisframe.TheotherabominationwailedasitstwingrappledwithUlrik.Itstretchedoutitsarms,seekingreunion.Ulrikpulledhisrightarmback,andsmashedthecroziusintothespongyfleshofthebluehorror’shead.It rearedback,butkept itsgriparoundhisneck. Itdidnot see thepleadingof theotherdaemon.Ulriktrainedhisplasmapistolonthecreature’smawandfiredarapidburst.Theheatofasunexplodedinsideitanditsbeingevaporated.Theremainingbluehorrordroppeditsarms.ItregardedUlrik,itsoldeyesknowingwhatwouldcomenext.Hehaddestroyed theheralds.Thisremnantcoulddonothingagainsthim.Thedaemonopened itsjawwideashebroughtthecroziusinforthefinalstrokeofannihilation.Heraisedhisotherhandtoblockthebluecreature’sattack,butitdidnottrytoseizehisfistandthecroziusinitsmaw.Itlaughedinstead.Hesmote theabominationwitha single,devastatinghit, thecroziuscracklingwith lightning, theveryangerofFenrispurgingthemateriumoftheuncleanthing.Andthedaemonlaughed.Itburstapart,sprayingliquefyingfleshinalldirections.Thelaughterechoedforseveralsecondsafterthedaemonwasgone.HaraldsaidthefiendcalledSlithertwysthadlaughedtoo.Thethoughtwastroubling.Itwasadarkecho.‘This is our saga!’ Grimnar was shouting. He severed the other arm of the daemon. The monstercollapsed.‘Ourfight,’Grimnarsaid,andsentthegiganticheadrolling.‘Ourbusiness.’UlrikmarchedthroughtheruinofthechariottostandwithGrimnarasheconfrontedtheGreyKnights.Thestruggleagainstthedaemonswasending.Withthedestructionofthecolossusandtheherald,therestoftheabominationswerevanishingunderthefirepowerofthetanksandKingsguardelementsfurtheroutfromthe thestatueof theEmperor.Thedaemonsweredisappearingmorequickly thantheywerebeingdestroyed,Ulrikthought.Theywereabandoningthefield.Theyknewtheyweredefeated.Orelsetheirworkisdone.TheRuinousPowersunited.TheforcesoftheImperiumdivided.Ulriksawthecatastropheforming.HesawwhytheheraldofTzeentchmighthavelaughedintheend.SternwasspeakingofheresyandmutationasUlrikdrewnear.Suchanoldrefain.Suchatediousrefrain.Ulrik had encountered versions of the same accusations hurled at the Space Wolves throughout hiscenturiesofservice.Therewasnothingnewinthem.Whatwasnewwastheimpasse.‘Thesethingscamefromthewarp,andonlymybrothersandIarefittojudgeifthesekinofyoursarecorrupt.Theymustbehandedovertousimmediately,asmustanyothersyouhaverecovered.WewillseetoitthattheyreachTitansafely,’Sternsaid.‘Never,’Ulrikmutteredunderhisbreath.Hispulsebeatinhisears.Agrowlroseinhischest.HeeyedtheGreyKnights,andfacedtheinevitable.Theywerefanatics.Theycouldnotbeturnedfromtheirpath.TheyhadcometotaketheWulfen.Therewasonlyonewaytostopthem.‘Stern, I’m sure you think you’re being very reassuring, but there’s asmuch chance of you taking theWulfenasofmegivingmycrowntoablubber-seal.I’dseeourbrothersdeadbeforeIhandedthemovertobecutapartandstudied,’Grimnarsaid.‘Forcingyourcooperationatthisjuncturewouldprovecostly,’Sternwarned.EvenasUlrikkepthisarmslowered,headjustedhisgriponhispistolandthecrozius.GrimnarandSternwerestillspeaking.Thewordswerenothingmorenowthantheritualisticprologuetobattle.Around thecircle, the stancesof theSpaceWolveswere shifting. Inmoments, thebloodwouldflow.

‘Iwouldhavethought,’saidStern,‘consideringthecurrentsituationaroundFenris,youwouldwantallthefriendsyoucouldget,GreatWolf.’UlrikstaredattheGreyKnight.Hislimbswentnumbwithpremonition.‘Whatsituation?’askedGrimnar.Sternanswered,andtransformedUlrik’spremonitionintohorror.

CHAPTER5

Unveiling

ThedecksoftheColdfangvibratedfromthesnarls.Thewallsthrummedwithferalrage.Theroarsweregrowinglouder.Hjalvardpoundeddownthehallsofthestrikecruiser,convincedhewouldfinddisasterattheguardpost.Thethoughtmadehislipspullbackinanger.Hispulseswereadouble-beatofincipientbattle frenzy.His skin crawled.His jaws ached as his fangs pushed further out from his gums.As heroundedthefinalcorner,hewaschargingtoattack.Butthebarrierheld.Vintirwasathispost.Thedoorbehindhimwassealed.TheGreyHunterraisedhispowersword,buthedidnotruntomeetHjalvard’srush.‘Battleleader!’Vintirshouted.Stop!Hjalvardthought.Hisrationalmindwrestledwiththebeast.Stop!He turnedat the lastmomentandslammedhis fist into thewall,cracking thestonework.Hebreathedthroughhisnose,forcinghimselftomoveslowly,tobestill.Ifhisbodycalmed,perhapshisspiritwouldtoo.He had headed here merely on an inspection. He had almost precipitated the very disaster he haddreaded.Thecontagionisgrowing,hethought.Whenhefelthecouldspeakwithoutsnarling,hefacedVintir.‘Alliswell,’hesaid,handsupasifitwereVintirandnothewhohadneededplacating.‘Havetheytriedtocomethrough?’heasked.Aboveallelse,hehadtokeeptheWulfenoffthemaindecks.‘Theyareremainingbelow,’saidVintir.‘Ithinktherehavebeensomefightsfordominance,butIbelievethepackleadersarekeepingthemintheirquarters.’‘Fornow.Andyou,brother?Howareyoufaring?’Vintirgrunted.‘AslongasI’mnotchallenged…’Hjalvardnodded.‘I’veissuedstandingorders.NoaccesstotheWulfenquarters,andnoaccesstothiscorridor.Wewillkeepthesituationcontained.’Foraslongaspossible,healmostadded.Hecouldonlytrusthiscoolest-headedwarriorstobeoutsidetheirownquartersnow,letalonestandguardonthischoke

point.Hecouldbarelytrusthimselfnow.Hisvoxbeadcrackledforhisattention.‘What?’hesnapped.‘Thereareships translatinginto thesystem, lord,’ananxioushuscarlsaid. ‘TheAllfather’sHonour,theAlphaFang,theBloodfireandtheWolfborn.TheGreatWolfishailingus.’‘I’monmyway,’Hjalvardsaid.HelookedatVintir.‘Thefleetsarereturning.’‘Isthehuntfinished?’‘Praythatitis,brother.’The hold belowwasmore filled than the rest of the SpaceWolves knew. It heldmore than just theWulfennow.

In theAlphaFang’s hololith chamber, an encrypted channel opened to the five strike cruisers.HaraldDeathwolfandCanisWolfbornwatchedtheflickeringimageofHjalvarddescribethesituationaboardtheColdfang. The battle leader’s everywordwas dreaded confirmation.Harald grimaced.He had neverbeforefeltsuchpainatbeingprovencorrect.‘Weareovertakenbymadness,’Hjalvardsaid.‘AlreadysevenGreyHuntershavefallentothecurse.Thetransformationhastakenthem.TheyareWulfennow.’‘Themarkisuponusall,’Ulrikput in, theancientvoicehardandraspingasaglacier’scrawl. ‘Thechangecancometousatanytime.’‘Incombat!’Hjalvardprotested. ‘In theheatofbattle!Theonly struggleon theColdfang has beenbetweenbrothers!ThemoreWulfencomeaboard,theworseithasbecome.Tempersareexplosive.Thetrainingcagesarewetwithblood.Ihaverestrictedalmostmyentireforcetoquarters.Myshipisatinderbox.Itwilltakeverylittleforittoexplode.’Hjalvard’stoneswereharshwithstrain.Hisbreathkeptturningintoagrowl.Therewasasoftnesstosomeofhisconsonants,asifhewasfindingitdifficulttoclosehislipsoverhisfangs.‘ThisiswhatIfeared,’Haraldsaid.‘TheWulfenareacurse.’There.Hehadmadehisdeclaration.Itwasnolongerasupposition,nolongerawarning.ThedangertheWulfenpresentedwasclear.Whathadyettoberevealedwasthefullextentofthethreat.Athiswords,thehololithicfiguresburstintostatic,reformed,andburstagainastheWolfLordsshoutedover each other.Ulrik the Slayer’s image remained still, darkwith intensity. Egil IronWolf and SvenBloodhowl,bloodiedfromtheirstrugglesonMygdalAlphaandTranquilatus,sidedwithHarald.‘Aggressionisspikingonmyship,’IronWolfsaid.‘Andmine,’saidBloodhowl.Grimnar spoke, silencing the others. ‘The Stormcaller subjected our kin to every test he knows,Deathwolf.Iinsistedonit.ThereisnoChaostainthere.None!’hesaid.TheimageofUlriktheSlayernoddedonce,asifthatwasanendtothematter,butHaraldhadnoticedasliverofdoubtinGrimnar’svoice.‘Perhaps not,’ said Iron Wolf, ‘but there is something amiss. Some sickness, perhaps? My opticaugursreadbiochemicalhyperactivityinmywarriors.Theirbloodstirs…’‘Wemakewarp forFenris at once,’Grimnar thundered, cutting himoff. ‘And upon our arrival, theWulfen will fight at our side. The Space Wolves will defend our home world, and we will do sotogether!Doyoumarkthatshipthathasjoinedourformation?’‘Ido,’Haraldsaid.Thegreyhullofthebattle-bargereflectedthelightofAnvarheimwithableakpurity.‘OurfleetisaccompaniedbytheGreyKnights,’GrimnarcontinuedasifHaraldhadnotspoken.‘Willyoutrusttheencryptionofthischannelwhenthelikesofthemarepresent?Willyoucallourbrotherscursedwhentheymighthear?TheydemandweturntheWulfenovertotheirtendermercies.’

‘Thenweshoulddoso,andexcisethecursefromourranks,’saidHarald.HjalvardhadkeptoutofthedebateoftheWolfLords,buthegruntednowinagreement.‘No,’saidGrimnar,morequietlynow.‘Weneedthem.Fenrisneedsthem.EventheGreyKnightshaveagreedtosuspendtheirdemandsforthetimebeing.’‘Thenwhyaretheyhere?’LordIronWolfasked.‘Theyhaveofferedtheiraid.Ihaveaccepted.’‘Thethreatisgravethen,’Haraldsaid.Heknewitwas,sinceGrimnarhadsenttheordertoallvesselstoreturntoFenris.Harald,IronWolfandBloodhowlhadalreadybeenmakingforAnvarheimwhentheyreceived themessage. The rest of theWolf Lords had to cease their hunts and return. ForGrimnar toaccepttheGreyKnights’offerofaid,thecrisismustbeextreme.‘CaptainStern’sastropathsinterceptedamessagefromtheFang,’saidGrimnar.‘Theydid?’saidHarald.‘Onlytheycouldhave,’Grimnarreplied.‘Solittlewasleft.Listen.’The recording played over the vox feed. Themessagewas garbled and broken. The fragmentswereinsufficienttopermitatranscriptionintowrittenlanguage.Instead,thevoicesoftheastropathssummonedportents through sound.They conjured symbols through thephrasing and tone.Thatwas enough. Inhismind’seye,Haraldwitnessedvisionsofstormandcollapse,offireandofaninfinityofrioting,inhumanforms.‘AndwewouldbringtheWulfenbackwithus?’heprotested.‘Don’tyousee,GreatWolf,theroletheyhaveplayed in thisdisaster?Fenris isattackedwhilewehavebeenscatteredover theSeaofStars, inpursuitofbeingswhobringout themostuncontrollablesideofourselves.Willwecompoundourfollynow?’‘Theysavedyourlife,LordDeathwolf,’Ulriksaid.Yes,Haraldthought.Twice.Hewasmindfulofhisdebt.EachwordhespokeagainsttheWulfenfeltlikeafrostbladeplungingintohissenseofhonour.Thereisnodebttotheunclean,heremindedhimself.Thereis no debt to the cursed. Therewas no comfort in thosewords. Even so, his greater dutywas to thesurvivaloftheSpaceWolves,andhewouldnotflinchfromthepathhemustwalk.‘WhatbetterwaytobeintroducedtotheheartofourChapter?’hesaid.‘Youarewrong,’ saidUlrik. ‘Theyare thenecessarycounter to the threat. Ifweabandon them,weabandonRuss.Ifwefightwithoutthem,weinvitedisaster.’‘Enough,’Grimnarsaid.‘Thedecisionhasbeenmade.’Haraldshookhishead.HemutedhisvoxbeadandlookedatCanis.Thechampionshrugged.‘Theyfightwell,’Canissaid.‘Theydo,’Haraldagreed.Butforwhom?headdedsilently.‘Thereismore,’saidGrimnar.More?Haraldthought.Thisisn’tenough?‘Iamunencryptingthehololithtransmissions.Brother-CaptainSternwarnedmeofsomethingelseonVikurus.Preparetoreceivepictdatafromthebattle-barge.’Afewmomentslater,Sternsaid,‘Youhavebeenspeakingalongtimeunderencryption.’‘Wehave,’saidGrimnar.HistonedaredSterntoobject.‘TheattackonFenrisisnottheendgame,’Sternsaid,asifGrimnarhadnotspoken.The electro-missive from Stern arrived. The pict screen above the tacticarium table displayed aschematicofthegalaxy.‘Thewarpstormsassociatedwithyour…kin…arenotrandomoccurrences.’‘Weneverthoughttheywere,’Haraldsaid.

‘You misunderstand me. Their locations are not random. The afflicted worlds were chosen for areason.’Thewarpstormsappearedontheschematic,adiseaseofwhirlingsigils.‘Look,’Sternsaid.Moredatawasaddedtothemaps.Withtheexceptionofthewarp-struckworlds,thegalaxyfadedintothebackground.Lines appeared, connecting the storms.Harald squinted.Even in this form, thepatternwasanassault.AcoiloftendrilsloopedfromAtrapantoHadesReach,splittograspIrkallaandDragosinjaggedtalons,fusedoncemoretopierceSparthaIV.Onandonthelineswent,fromworldtoworld,afoulunveiling.Asymbolcameintobeingonthepictscreen.Theimageshook.Staticateintothegalaxy,thoughthelinesremainedstrong.Theyvibrated.Theybegantopullfreeofthescreenitself.Thenthedatafeedterminated.Thepictvanished.‘The complete symbol is dangerous evenas themost basic schematic,’ Stern said. ‘And it is beingdrawnoverthebreadthofthegalaxy.’‘Whatisit?’Haraldasked.‘Itisvengeance.’‘You’veencountereditbefore?’‘Recordsofit.NooneintheImperiumhasseenitfortenthousandyears.’Tenthousandyears.Thepastagain,foreverreachingout,foreverclawingthepresent.‘Andwhenwasitseenthen?’saidHarald.Thequestionwasceremonial.Inthedepthsofhissoul,heknewtheanswer.‘ItwasonlyeverusedbythesorcerersofProspero.’Haraldreachedouttotheblankscreen.Heslashedafingeracrossitasifhecoulddisruptthevanishedpattern. As if he could destroy the pattern coming into being across the Imperium, and even nowdevouringtheworldsofFenris.ThesymbolwasthesignatureoftheCrimsonKing.

PART3:THERITUAL

CHAPTER6

Planetfall

Frostheimanditsmoon,Svellgard.Midgardia.AndthenValdrmani,theWolfMoon.TheenemywasonthedoorstepofFenrisitself.Thesystemcriedoutforitssaviours.Kromheard.Heldbyhisoath,hecoulddonothing.Frostheimfellintoitsinfernalsilence,butSvellgardhowledbeforeitfollowed.ThevassalsgarrisoningtheWorldWolf’sLairsawtheseasvomitupmillionsofdaemons.TheyhadabriefmomenttocallouttoFenris,togivevoicetotheirhorror,beforetheywereswallowedup.Kromheard.Hecoulddonothing.MidgardiawastheinversetwinofFenris.WhereFenriswasglacial,Midgardiawasahothouse.Fenris’windsblewwithbone-scrapingpurity,whereasMidgardia’sairwasfoetidandthickwithspores.Fenrispermittedonlythehardiest,mostbrutaloflifeformstosurviveonitssurfacebutMidgardiawasalush,fungaljungle,anexplosionoflifeinsuchsuper-abundancethatitwasariotofall-consumingcompetition.ThepopulationofFenriswassparse.ThepeopleofMidgardiaweremany.Whenthewarpriftsopenedinthe air andbelow the ground, unleashing the daemonic hordes on the surface of the cities and in theirsubterraneanwarrens,themassacrewasnotoverinaninstant.TherewastimefortheRuinousPowerstosavourtheirwork.TherewastimeforMidgardia’smilitiatoattemptadefence,andsotherewastimetoexperiencethedeathofallhope.ThepopulationofMidgardiascreamedasitwasovercome.Thescreamwasthedeathcryofmillions.ItresoundedacrosstheFenrisSystem.ItwascompoundedofsuchhorrorandagonyandfearthatitseemedasifitshouldsendtheveryWolf’sEyeintoeclipse.Kromheard.Hecoulddonothing.And Valdrmani. Like Frostheim, it fell quiet. There was a different quality to its silence, however.Frostheimwentdownfirst,andwhentheriftsopenedacrossthesystem,itwascleartheiceworldhadbeenthestartoftheattack.ValdrmaniwentdownatthesametimeasSvellgardandMidgardia.Therewasonlythebriefestofcries,suddenlycutoff.Or,itseemed,contained.Communicationsweredeadbetween

FenrisandFrostheim.ButtheastropathicchoiroftheFangdetectedsomethingintheaetherofValdrmani.Thesilencewastense,stretchedtothebreakingpoint.Somethingwasbuildingup,andwhenthesilencecouldnolongercontainwhatgrew,thescreamwoulddwarfallothers.Verthandi,mistressoftheastropathicchoirofFenris,cametoKromandtoldhimwhatwassensed,andwhatwastocome.Kromheard.Hecoulddonothing.HepatrolledthedefencesoftheFang.TheDrakeslayersstoodonhighalert,readytodestroytheenemywhen it came toFenris.They longed to take thebattle to thedaemons,but towhere?Towhichworldfirst?No rifts had opened on Fenris. Krom saw, in the sparing of the Space Wolves’ home world, thelineamentsofatrap.Theagonyoftheotherworldstestedhim.Theneedtostormtotheiraidthreatenedtotearhiminhalf.ButhisfailureonAlaricPrimeheldhimtohisoath;hewouldnotabandonhispostandseeFenrisdevouredbythedaemonicastheriftsopened,mockinghisprideandhisarrogance.Hepushedtheastropathsbeyondtheirlimits.Itwastheonlyactionopentohim.GrimnarandtheotherWolfLordsmustknowwhathadbeenheardonFenris.Theyhad toberecalled.Thechoirsentout thecall. It was torn to shreds by the rifts. No aetheric communication could leave the system. Even voxtransmissionsnolongerworked,exceptoverlimiteddistances.Impossibilitywasapoorexcuse.Themessagemustbesent.Astropathsdied,thebloodoftheirmindspouringfromtheireyesandears.‘Wecannot,’Verthandi toldKrom.Shecouldbarelywalknow.Shewas supportedby serfsoneitherside.‘Youmust,’Kromtoldher.‘Youwill.’Whenhewasnotontheramparts,hestoodintheshadowsofthestonegalleryabovethechoir,bearingwitnesstotheirefforts.Hesawthecostofwhathedemanded.Hesawaformofheroismdifferentfromthebattlefieldgloryheandhisbrothersknew. Itwasno less real.Theastropathswere theonlyactivecombatantsonFenris.Hewatchedthemwithrespectandenvy.Therewasnowaytoknowifanyoftheireffortsweresuccessful.Therewerenomessagesthatarrivedfromoutsidethesystem.Therewasonlythewaitforthereturnofthehunters.Thehopetheywouldhear.Andtheendless,grindingfrustration.Kromwaited.He stood fast.Andwhile he kept faithwith his oath, theworlds of the Fenris Systemscreamed.

Thewolvesreturnedtothefoldinfury.TheindividualfleetshadpurgedworldafterworldinthehuntfortheWulfen.Nowtheyarrivedasone,descendingwithalltheirmightonasinglesystem.Theirownhome.ButtheFenrisSystemwasnolongertheirs.Theshipstranslatedfromthewarp,yetthewarpdidnotleavethem.Itwashere,intheriftsunleashinginfinitefoulnessontheirworlds.ThefleetemergedfromtheMandevillepointattheedgeofthesystem.Even with the ships in close proximity, vox communication was growing difficult. Attempts to makecontactwiththehomeworldfailed.Assemblingacoherentpictureofthesituationwasdifficult.Itwasnotimpossible,however.Theaethericdisturbancescausedbytheriftsovertheoccupiedworldsweresoseverethattherewasnodoubtwherethefuryofthewolveswouldbedirected.‘We shall make simultaneous strikes,’ Grimnar announced in the hololith chamber of theAllfather’sHonour.‘TheFirehowlerswillretakeSvellgard.TheDeathwolves,Frostheim.LordIronWolf,togetheryour company and the Kingsguard are bound for Midgardia.’ Every sentence the Great Wolf spokeresounded in thechamber like thebeatofahugewardrum.TheGreatWolf’s frameseemedtovibrate

fromthehorrorandragewithin.Ulrik shared the wrath. No words could encompass the crime that had occurred. No words coulddescribethepunishmentthatwascoming.TheGreatWolf paused.He exchanged a lookwithUlrik. TheHighWolf Priest knewwhatGrimnarwouldsaynext.AlltheWolfLordsdid.Theirhololithicimageswerestill.Theywaitedfortheblowtotheirpride.WhenGrimnarspokeagain,hisvoicewasnolessresonantthanithadbeenbefore.Ifhemustmakethisrequest,itwouldbedonewithpower.‘Brother-CaptainStern,’Grimnarsaid.‘WewouldbegratefulforyouraidinpurgingValdrmani.’‘Itshallbedone,’Sternvoxed.‘AndtheWulfen?’LordDeathwolfasked.‘Toeachstrikeforce,amurderpack.’‘Weriskhavingourcompaniesconsumedbyfrenzyfromwithin.’‘It isdone!’ Grimnar roared. ‘Wewill use everyweapon and everywarrior to reclaim ourworlds.Chaos seeks toweaken us.Wewill counter itwith unity.Wewill not deny any brother the honour offightingtoreclaimoursystem.’‘LordDeathwolf,’Ulriksaid.‘TheWulfenhavenotbeenbroughttousbyChaos.Theyhavereturnedtoustofightthisgreatestthreat.’‘Ihopeyouareright,Slayer,’Deathwolfreplied.‘Wewillknowverysoon.’

Beneathsleep,abovedeath,thegiantdaemonontheramparts.Itsswordhighinhungerandtriumph.No.Youcomenofurther.Aduelof thoughtanddreamsandlightning.Theswordstrikingthroughtheecho-sarcophagus.Theassault cannon shadow pounding nightmare flesh. The noble savagery of Fenris stronger than theabomination’swrath.Thefellhandseizingthedaemon’slimbs.Thecrushingofwrath’sform.Thedaemonbroken,thewavehurledback.Onlyforamoment.Thewaverisingagain,andwithitaterribleshadow.Anechoofascreamnotyetheard.Ithastheshapeofdoom.Thedaemonlaughingindefeat.Taunting.Revealingahorroralltheworseforitstruth.Thesilvertemplarswilldie.Theirdeathisyourend.Thedoomgatheringdefinition.Iseeit.Iseeit!Theymustbetold.Wake!Wake!Wake!

TwosummonscameforKromwithinsecondsofeachother.AlbjornFogelvoxedfromtheaugurcomplex.Thefleethadreturned.Multipleshipshad translated into thesystem.Contactwas impossible,but theirradiation signatures and warp displacements were unmistakable. Krom raced from the astropathicchoristrium.‘Onevesselisunknown,’Fogelwassaying.Beforehecouldcontinue,thesecondsummonsoverrodethefirst.ItcamefromdeepintherootsoftheFang.‘LordDragongaze,’HrothgarSwordfangvoxed,‘BjorntheFell-Handedisawake!’Kromfeltthewindsoffatehowlaroundhim.Aculminationwasathand.‘Onmyway,’hetoldSwordfang.ToFogelhesaid,‘Keeptryingthevox.’Hechangeddirection,heading

for a grav-lift. It dropped him thousands of metres, accelerating to near free-fall in seconds, thengraduallyslowinginthefinalminute,depositinghiminthecentreofthemountain’sancientlabyrinth.Intheonlyvault thatstillheldaDreadnought,he foundHrothgarSwordfangandother IronPriests,alongwithagroupofWolfPriests.‘Youfinallysucceeded,’hesaid.TheyhadbeentryingtowakeBjornsinceHaraldhadreturnedfromNurades.‘No,’saidHrothgar.‘Thisisnotourdoing.Hewokeofhisownaccord,andcalledforyou.’Kromapproachedtheenormouswarmachine.TheoldestherooftheSpaceWolvesdidnotmove.TherewasnosignofconsciousnessuntilKromwasafewmetresaway.Themonolithloweredslightly.Opticaugursregardedhim,relayinghisimagetothemindinside.‘KromDragongaze,’saidBjorn.ThevoiceseemedasoldanddeepastheFang.‘Youwaketoaidusinourhourofgreatneed,venerablebrother.’‘No.Isleepstill.’Bjornspokeslowly.Hiswordsseemedtocomefromameasurelessdistance.‘Imustsleep.ThereiswartherethatonlyIcanfight.Thethreatisdire.Westandonthebrinkofdestruction.YoumustgotoValdrmani.’‘Iamboundbymyoathtoremain,’saidKrom.‘TheGreatWolfandourbrothershavereturnedfromthehunt.Theywilldrivetheabominationsfromoursystem.’‘Theyhavenotcomealone.’‘Thatisso,’Kromsaid,startled.‘Abattle-bargewehavenotidentified.’‘Silver,’saidBjorn.‘GreyKnights.’Thepriestsstirredinsurpriseandanger.ThosewarriorswerenotwelcomeonFenris.‘Theymake forValdrmani,’Bjorn continued. ‘Theywill die onValdrmani.Their fatewill determineours.Youmustgo,Dragongaze.Warnthem.Savethem.Saveus.’‘Ihaveswornanoath,’saidKrom.‘Breakit,ordoomus,’Bjorntoldhim.‘Whatawaitsthem?’Kromasked.TheDreadnoughtwasstill.Kromsensedhisconsciousnessrecedetoaplacebeyondreach.Thevaultwasagainfilledwiththesilencethatlivedbetweensleepanddeath.Kromrealisedhedidn’tneedananswer.ItwasenoughtoknowtheGreyKnightswouldfallintoatrap.Theirfatewilldetermineours.

The fleets led by the Allfather’s Honour and the Wolfborn entered low orbit over Midgardia. Itsatmosphere was thick, forever clouded. The surface was invisible. To the eye, there was nothing toannounceitstaint.Thevoxwasmorerevealing–fainttracesofhumanscreamsmixedwiththemonstroushowlingofinhumantongues.Ulrikstaredatthecloudcoverthroughtheoculus.Angeratthedesecrationsuffusedhisblood.Hewaseagertobeontheground.Eagertoeradicatetheabomination.Eager,too,fortheWulfentoprovetheirworth, to at last assume their proper role amongst the Great Companies. They would be fighting forsomethingmuchmorethantherecoveryoftheirkin.TheywouldbefightingforthesalvationofFenrisandtheSpaceWolves.TheWolfLordswereincreasinglywaryoftheWulfen.Thespreadingaggressionwasachallenge.Whatthey did not understand,Ulrik thought,was the nature of the test. Furywas in the blood of the SpaceWolves.TheywerestrongerwiththereturnoftheWulfen.Sowasthefury.Wemustlearntochannelit,hethought.Wemustremakeourselves.ThenwewillbereadyforRusswhenhecomesagain.‘Augurs,’Grimnarsaid.‘Readingsconfirmtworifts,’thevassalofficeranswered.‘TheyarelocatedneartheMagmaGates.One

aboveground,onebelow.’‘Good.’Grimnartouchedthevoxconsolebesidethecommandthrone.‘IsStrikeForceFenrisready?’‘Weare,’saidEgilIronWolf.The last of the ship-to-ship transfers had taken place just before the battle-barge and strike cruiserreached their positions. Grimnar had sent his heavy armour to join the Ironwolves, while Egil’sTerminatorsandrecoveredWulfenhadcomeaboardtheAll father’sHonour.‘Good.’Grimnarstood.HejoinedUlrikattherailoverlookingthebridge.‘Letitbegin!’heroared.Hiswrathwasastorm.ItheldandexpressedtherageofeverySpaceWolf.‘StrikeForceFenris,youarethehammerthatshatterstheenemy’sskull.StrikeForceMorkai,wearethefrostbladebetweentheribs.Now,letthunderfall!’‘Welldone,lad,’Ulriksaidquietly.‘Welldone.’Theorbitalbombardmentbegan.Thelancebatteriesofbothshipsfiredintotheatmosphere.Thetargetzonewas before thewalls of theMagmaGates. The enormous fortress complexwouldwithstand theattack.Anythingoutsideonthewallsoronthegroundwithinseveralthousandmetreswouldnot.Spearsoflasersplungedthroughthecloudcover.Theairheatedtored.Afiercewoundappearedontheshifting,opaquefaceofMidgardiaandfurysearedtheplanet.Theattackwascontinuous.Theviewintheoculus shifted to display theWolfborn.Along the length of the hull, shafts of concentrated destructionlashedtheworldbelow.Wearebombardingourownworlds,Ulrikthought.Ithascomethisfar.Thepatternhasensnaredusthisfar.Butnolonger.With the purifying destruction of these strikes, the Space Wolves were breaking the snare. Darkmachinationshadcreatedthevulnerabilityofthehomesystem.ThewillsbehindthewarpstormshadusedtheWulfen to lure theGreatCompanies away.Ulrikwould grantHarald thatmuch.That lure, though,wouldbetheseedofthefoe’sdestruction.NoonecouldusethebrothersofFenrisagainsteachother.Thisisourtrial,hethought.Thereisyetanotherpatternatwork,agloriousone,andweapproachitsculmination.Wearebeingtested.WemustproveourselvesworthyofRussandofthesagaintowhichhewillleadus.He stared at the lance fire so fiercely, his vision contracted to the blaze of those vertical suns. Heblinked, jolted fromhis reverieof faithwhenhalf thebatteries ceased fire.TheWolfborn’s baydoorsopened.Stormwolveslaunched.Theyflewdowninformation, theirdivessosteeptheywerealmost inparalleltothelasers.Anewseriesofshortburstslitthehull.Thedroppodsplungedintotheatmosphere.Theytoowereabombardment,a livingone,andtheirreachwouldbefargreaterandmoredestructivethanthatofthebatteries.GrimnarclappedUlrik’sshoulder.‘Fenrishasbegunitswork,’hesaid.‘It’stimeMorkaiwasaboutitsown,’Ulrikgrowled.TheGreatWolfandtheHighWolfPriestleftthebridge.Theytookagravliftdownthroughthetoweringsuperstructure of the battle-barge.On the same level as the launch bays, they entered a huge chamberamidships.TheTerminatorsoftheKingsguardandtheIronwolvesstoodalongtheperipheryoftheteleportarium’splatform.The rest of theGreatCompany formedconcentric ringsofGreyHunters,LongFangs,BloodClawsandScouts.InsidethoseringsweretheLoneWolves.AttheverycentreweretheWulfenoftwocompanies,andintheirmidstwerethemassivesarcophagiofHaargenDeathbaneandSvendarIronarm.TheVenerableDreadnoughtsstoodguardoverMurderfang.HehadbeensubduedwithhelfrostafterthedeparturefromVikurus.Wrappedinadamantiumchains,hewasconsciousoncemore.ThepresenceoftheWulfen appeared to have the same effect as inAbsolom.Ulrik thoughtMurderfangwas calm, but

perhapsitwasthepatienceofapredatorabouttospring.Whateverthetruth,itwaspossibletobringhimhere.The teleportation was risky. Only Terminator armour had homing devices. The Iron Priests hadcommunedwiththemachinespiritoftheancientteleportarium.WiththeTerminators’homersmarkingthefullspreadofthestrikeforce,theIronPriestsbelieveditwouldbepossibletosendthefullcomplementofwarriorsintothesubterraneanwarrenofMorkai’sGatewithanacceptabledegreeofsafety.Mostofthe complex’s population lived below ground. The tunnels and caverns were large. The maps weredetailed and accurate.Therewasnouncertainty to the coordinates.The risk came from the turbulencecreatedbythewarpstorms.Grimnar and Ulrik strode across the teleportarium platform to the centre. TheWulfen watched theirapproach. They dropped their heads before the GreatWolf, acknowledging the supreme alpha. Theirbatteredarmourandpunchdaggershadbeenreplacedusingthestoresofnew,Wulfen-adaptedequipmentaboardtheColdfang.Theywererestive,clawedhandsopeningandclosing.Theirjawswerewide,lipscurledbackovertheirgums.Thetensionofsuchalargemurderpackbledintotherestofthestrikeforce.Ulrikfeltthecontagion.Hecouldnotdismissit.Hisheartbeatsaccelerated.Histeethwereonedgeandsaliva flooded his mouth. His righteous anger over the daemonic incursion lost some of its focus,becomingabeastofitsown.Heneededtofight.Heneededthewarmsprayofhisprey’sblood.Heclutchedthetotemshangingathiswaistandfixedhisgazeonthecroziusarcanum.Thisisthetrial.This is our truth.The rage is ours. It ismine.Therewas no curse here, only the reality of the SpaceWolves,thetruthofthespiritthathadgrownlargerandmoreferociouswiththereturnofthe13th.‘Lettheenemyfeelourclawsattheirthroats!’Grimnarcalled.Inthecontrolgalleryintheupperreachesofthechamber,theIronPriestssalutedandbegantheirtask.Therewerepylonsateachofthefourcornersoftheplatform.Theyweretall,engravedwithsigilsholytotheOmnissiah.Theycurvedinwards,theirtipspointingtowardsthecentreofaninvisibledomeoverthestrikeforce.Thepylonscametolife,energyspirallinguptheirheight,buildingtoablindingintensityattheirpoints.Theairgrewtaut.Therewasthesharpsmellofozone.TheWulfenhowled,theirmanesbristling.Theshifthappened.Asplitinthematerium.Theeyeblinkofreality.Ulrikexperiencedthejoltofbeingandnon-being.HewasintheAllfather’sHonour,andthenhewasinthehighcavernbeforethegreatundergroundgatesofthefortress.And the Wulfen were maddened. Maniacal howls filled the cave. The monsters of the 13th GreatCompanyleaptforward,clawsout,fangsgaping.Intheirmidst,Murderfangexplodedintoviolentmovement,athunderoffrenzyandwar.

In theAlphaFang’sstrategium,Haraldgathered theWolfGuard,Feingarof theColdeyesandNorvaldIceflamearoundthehololithicdisplayofMorkai’sKeep.‘The shipwe detected in orbit translated into thewarp beforewe could identify it,’Harald told hisofficers.‘However…’hetappedthevox.Anauspexrecordingplayedback.ThevoxtrafficonFrostheimwasactive.Itwasscrambledbytheproximityoftherifts.Enoughwasintelligible,though.Dark,twistedvoicesemergedfromthespeaker.‘Traitors,’Canisspat.Haraldnodded.‘Therearemorethandaemonsbelow.Ourtrueenemybeginstoshowhisface.’‘Whoarethey?’Feingarasked.

‘Stillunidentified.’‘Justoneship,’saidCanis.‘Yes,’saidHarald.‘TheyhaveMorkai’sKeep,butwearemany.’‘Whataboutthedefences?’saidNorvald.‘Inactive.’Haralddistrustedthenewturnofluck,butthereadingswereclear.FatewasatlastfavouringtheSpaceWolves. ‘Sensoraugurieshavedetectednoenergy readings from thegunemplacements.Thewyrdstirsintheheartofthekeep,butitsouterwallsaredead.’‘If that is true,’ Feingar said, ‘the attackmust have occurred very recently. A poor strategy to leaveyourselfvulnerabletoretaliation.’Haraldagreed.HisloathingfortheTraitorsdidnotmeancontemptfortheirskillinthebattlefield.Theywerenotfools.Itwouldnotdototreatthemassuch.TheassumptionthattheTraitorshadonlyjusttakenFrostheim troubledhim, even though itwas the only plausible deduction.Hedid not second-guess theaugurreadings.Hehadtoactbasedontheinformationhehad.Andheneededtoact.TheideaofMorkai’sKeepintraitoroushandswasinsupportable.Theenemywasforcing the SpaceWolves to attack their own fortifications. Harald’s limbs thrummed with anger. Hewould fall on the Traitors and make them curse their own existence. Every second of waiting wasindefensible.Hesawthesamefuriousanticipationinthefacessurroundingthetacticariumtable.Thebloodiest,mostviolentretaliationimaginablewasrequired.Haraldmadeaclawofhishandandhelditabovethecentreofthehololith.‘WedropintotheheartofMorkai’sKeep,’hesaid,‘withthefullfuryofWhitestalker.Theywoulduseourwallsagainstus.Sowewillignorethewalls.Droppodsfirst,Stormwolvesfollowinginasteepdescent,providingcoveringfirefor the drop pod troops. Our primary target is the command chamber. Retake it and exterminate theTraitors.’Therewasnothingsubtleaboutthestrategy.Itwasdesignedasabrutalhammerblow,fuelledbyrage.Harald’sangerwas toogreat foranythingelse.Sowas thatofhisbrothers.TheWolfGuard roaredasone,andclappedtheirfiststotheirpauldrons.RevelationhoveredbeforeHarald’seyes.Hesawthesaluteasathinveneer.Thetruthwastheroar.Thetruthwasthebeast.Hesawthemarkofthewolfonallhisbrothers,andinhimself.Hesawthedivisionbetween human and animal vanish altogether.He sawwhat he had beenwarning against, and fightingagainst.Hesawthatthecontagionhadreachedhimtoo.TheinsultoftheTraitorswastoogreat.Thewarangerwastoostrong.Thebeastwasclaiminghim.Hesawallthis,andthenhedidn’t.Therevelationsankbeneaththeredseaofwrath.Heansweredhisbrotherswithhisroar,andthenhemarchedfromthestrategium.Afewminuteslater,HaraldandonepackofThunderclawWolfGuardwiththeir thunderwolveswereaboardRuneclaw, streaking through the frigid atmosphere of Frostheim.He looked through one of theforwardviewingblocks.Theairwasclear.Visibilitywasexcellent.Hecouldalreadysee,ontheplaneofwhite below, a small shape, barelymore than a dot, but jagged, clearly artificial:Morkai’sKeep.AheadofRuneclawandtheotherStormwolves,thedroppodsleftcontrailsoffireintheirwake.Searingclawsstabbedtowardsthefortress.Harald felt calmer than he had aboard theAlpha Fang. The hunt was on, and soothing the rage offrustration. His earlier revelation rose in his mind. He pushed it aside, consciously this time. Thosethoughtswereuselesstohimnow.Thesurfaceoftheplanetdrewcloserandtheuniformwhiteacquiredtexture.Thecracksofcrevasses

andtheshadowsofmountainsappeared,outlinedbythereflectedlightofSvellgard.Morkai’sKeepgrew.Itsblockyformgatheredstrength.Harald’scalmbledawayagain.Hissensessharpened.Thehungerbuilt.Closer.Thedistantmountainrangescleared.Themesaofthekeepfillingtheview.Theconcentricwallsofthekeepmarkingthetarget.StrikeForceWhitestalkerfelltowardsthesilentfortress.Silentnolonger.ThewallsofMorkai’sKeeperuptedwith light, thebarrel flashesofdozensofguns.Lascannons andvortexmissilesstruckatthedroppods.Thelethalflowersofflakblossomedinsuchdensitythatthekeepvanished beneath their blackened crimson. The huge shells of macro cannons roared through thesquadrons.Droppodsexploded,vanishinginexpandingfireballs.Otherpodshadtheirsidesshearedoffandweresentintouncontrolled,tumblingfalls,sheddingwreckageandwarriorsastheyspun.Proximityalertklaxonsshrieked.‘Turnthatoff!’Haraldshoutedovertheclamour.Thealarmswerepointlessnow.Inthecockpit,IronPriestVeigirobeyed.Theklaxonsfellsilent.NowHaraldcouldheartheuproaronthevox.Cursesmixedwithsnarlsandelectronicshrieks.‘Therewerenoenergyreadings!’Veigirshouted.‘Howcanthegunsbeactive?’‘Whatmatters is they are,’ Harald said. ‘Stormwolves, provide covering fire for the drop pods,’ heordered.‘Thereisnoevasiveactiontobehad.Wearecommitted.’Straightdown,intothecauldron.Theanti-airfirewassointensethattheskywasasingleexplosion.TheSpaceWolveshaddesignedthearmamentsofMorkai’sKeeptoannihilateanyattackbyairorbyland,andnowitfulfilleditsduty.Other,darkerweaponsaddedtheirdestructiveforcetothelasandmissilesand flak.Wyrdflamebillowedandwrithedbetween theexplosions.Harald sawadroppod fall intoaconcentratedburstof themutagenichorror.Thepodcollapsed inon itself, crushing itsoccupants, thenturneditselfinsideout,becomingathingofgiant,bulbousorgans.Itcontinuedtochangeasitfell.Ithadnoformanylonger.Itwasaconstantflowoftransformation.The Stormwolves sent out a stream of lascannons and heavy bolter fire. They sought to take out theturrets,buttheywerefiringblindthroughthestormofflame.Thedroppodswereinthedirectlineoffire,hampering the gunships’ retaliation, and even they were disappearing from sight. There was only thecauldron,theroiloftheairtearingitselfapart.Thevoxtrafficwasacacophonouslitanyofdisaster,ofdroppodsblastedfromthesky,ofshellsandlaspunchingthroughthehullsandwingsoftheStormwolves.‘Hold fast, brothers,’Harald exhorted. ‘Weare still hunting!Our clawswill tear the enemy from thesky!’Therewasnothingelsehecoulddo.Hewashelplessuntilthegunshipreachedtheground.Hebitbackhiscurses.Hisfurywasindeedstrong,butithadnowheretostrikeashegazedattheunfoldingofarout.Runeclawdroppedbelowtheflakbarrier.Morkai’sKeepcamebackintosight.Itwasunbreached.Onlyafewdroppodshadlandedwithintheringwalls.Theywereisolated.TheirsurvivingDeathwolveswerebeingchewedupbyground-defenceturrets.Beyondthewalls,therestofthepodswerespreadoutacrosstheglacier.Theconfigurationof thebattle changedagain.Winged shapesburst from the flanksof theglacier andscreamedupwardtomeettheStormwolves.Theywerearmour-platedpredators,bothenginesofwarandyowlingdaemon.‘Machinedrake!’Veigirshouted.Angularjawspartedtorevealautocannons.Theyaddedtheirfiretotheanti-airguns,flyingintowards

theStormwolvesontheflanks.TheirshellscutacrossthedeadlystreamfromMorkai’sKeep.AttheverymomenttheSpaceWolvesattemptedtochangetheirangleofapproach,veeringawayfromthefortresstodefendthescatteredtroops,theywerecaughtinashredding,interlockingbarrage.Onceagain,therewasnochanceofevasion.TheturretsbelowceasedshootingasthemachinedrakesscreamedintothemidstoftheStormwolves.The blistering rate of fire from the six-barrel autocannons pummelled ships already battered by thedescent.Vesselsthathadbeenthesubjectofsongformillenniaturnedintometeoricballsofflame.Thedeathofheroesroaredoverthelandscape,sheddingwreckageandbodies.Thesquadronturneditsgunsonthedaemonicengines.Theytooktheirtoll.Runeclawunleashedacoordinatedburstoflasandbolter,bothtwin-linkedpairspulverizingthegunship’stargetatthesamemoment.Theblastsdecapitatedaflyer.Itsheadplummetedtowardstheground.Thebodycareenedoffinawild,whirlingspin.Itcollidedwithanother corrupted flyer, tangling their wings. Both fell, flames erupting from the body and rupturedengines.Haraldpunchedthebulkheadandsnarledashesawtheenemybleedatlast.Thenhugetalonsplungedthrough theroof.Wyrdenergycrackledaround themas theycontractedandcrumpledablativeceramiteandadamantium.Themachinedrakepeeledtheroofbackandscreamedin triumph.Entwinedwith thatshriekwereothers, thesoulsofacrewlongsuccumbedtodamnationhowledpainandterrorandrage.The scream slammed through the troop compartment ofRuneclaw, overwhelming even the roar of theinvadingwind.Icetooth and the thunderwolves howled. They struggled against the harnesses bolted to the deck.Deathwolves fired upward, bolter shells by the score punching into the blue, glowing armour of themachinedrake.Explosions rippledalong itsunderbelly. It shriekedagain,withangernow,andopenedone of its talons, releasing the sheared roof and reaching into the hold to crush the tinywarriorswhodaredcauseitharm.Haraldbroughtuphisstormshieldandsmasheditintotheleadingclaw.Theshield’senergyfieldexplodedwitharageofitsown.Theimpactjolteddownthelengthofhisframe,hardenoughforthedecktocrackbeneathhisboots.Thetalonjerked,momentarilyhalted,andHaraldspun,bringingGlaciusagainstitwithablowtoshattermountains.Hesevereditandichorandpromethiumfloodedthehold.Nowtheflyerscreamedwithitsownpain.ThesoundignitedtheairandafirestormengulfedtheDeathwolves.Contemptuousoftheflames,Haraldstruckagain,hittingthecentreofthetalon,openingasplitthattravelledupthesideofthemonster’slimb.Energylashedoutineverydirection.Fireracedintotheengine’swound.Pain engulfed the sentientmachine. It yanked itswounded limb from the gutted Stormwolf, and, stillclutchingthehullwithonetalon,foldeditswingsanddroppedintoaverticaldive.ThesuddenshiftinmassturnedRuneclawoverintheair.Haraldjammedthestormshieldintothetornbulkheadandheldontokeepfromplummeting through thegap in theroof.Mostofhisbrotherswerestill ingravharnesses.Theydangledupsidedown,shootingatthemachinedrake.Runeclaw’senginesthunderedwithstrainasVeigirfoughtagainstthepull.Heslowedthedrop,butcouldnotrighttheship.Anotherflyerstreakedpastontheportside,autocannonshellspuncturingthewingandenginenacelles.The flight surfaceswere all but destroyed.Twoof the engines had exploded.Thegunship’s fallwasacceleratingasthemachinedrakepusheditdowntoanannihilatingsmash.Boltershellsdugintothedaemonship’splatingbutitkeptitsgripontheStormwolf.Thetalonswereoutof reachofGlacius.He couldnot attackwithout slippinghis arm fromhis shield and falling from thegunship.Inthemidstofwindandflame,theThunderclawKollungirdroppedhisbolterandyankedoffhishelmet.Hiseyeswerewideandredandmad.Hehowled,insensatewithrage.Thehowlwentonandon.Harald

couldnothearitoverthewhineoftheremainingengines.Hecouldfeelitthough.Hisbloodpoundedinanswer.Kollungir’sjawlengthenedandhishairandbeardcoarsened.Heshookhisheadbackandforth,snappingwithlethalfangs,andhisfaceprojectedforwarduntilitwasnolongerhuman–itwasamuzzle.Hestruggledwithhisgauntletsuntil they too fellaway, revealing fingers thatended inhugeclaws.Hetorehisharnessapart.Stillhowling,hisbodytransformedbyafrenzythatwentbeyondwarintothemostprimalbeingoftheSpaceWolves,heleaptthroughtheroof.Hefellonthedaemon’sclutchingtalonandattackeditwithstabbing,slashing,bitingfury.The contagion spread to a secondThunderclaw. Leifir ripped himself free aswell and followed hisbrother.Ashejumped,Haraldsawtherewasnothingleftoftherationalinhiseyes.Hewaslostforevertothebeastwithin.LeifirandKollungirwereflesh.Theyattackeda thingofmetalandwyrd-bornsorcery.Yet theydrewblood.They pierced the hide of their prey.The foulmix of ichor and fuel sprayed into the hold. Firebellowed.ThedaemonengineroaredinoutrageandreleasedRuneclawbeforepeelingofftostarboard.Twofiguresfell,clawingatair.Freed,Runeclawwentintoaspin.Ittumbledandrolled,aruininfree-fall.Thewindatlastputthefireout.Haraldheldtighttothewedgedshieldashewasthrownbackandforth.Hecaughtglimpsesoftheground through the open roof. Once again helpless to act, he damned the decisions that had broughtWhitestalkertothispoint,ambushedandblastedfromthesky.Werushed.Wedidnotstoptothinkwemightbedeceived.Weonlylistenedtothefuryofourbeastswithin.Wearefallingtothecurse.Twisting,fallingendoverend.Theglacierrushingup.Theenginesstuttering,firinginburstsasVeigirstruggledtoslowthedescent.Theworldamaelstrom.Windandspeedandfury.Asudden,terriblecrash.

CHAPTER7

Nova

KromstoodwithHrothgarSwordfangattheentrancetotheWulfenquarters.Serkirfacedthem.Heheldhisfrostaxewithbothhands.Therewasaneagerglintinhiseyes,buthishackleswerenotraised.Hisstancewasnotaggressive.‘Takethem,’Hrothgarurged.‘Usetheirstrength.Seeingthemincombatwillbeinvaluable.’‘There are more urgent considerations,’ Krom reminded the Iron Priest, who nodded inacknowledgement.Kromwouldhavehesitatedtostophere,howeverbriefly,ifnotfortworeasons.TheWinterbitewouldnot yet be ready for launch.And therewas fate.Evennowheworked todivine themeaningofthatgatheringbeforeMurderfang.TheWulfenhadaroletoplayintheeventsunfoldingintheFenrisSystem.Hecouldnomoredenythatthanhecouldthecomingofwinter.Serkir focusedhisgazeonKrom.Hestruggled to formwords. ‘We…must…go…’hesaid, the finalword trailingoff into agrowl, one thatwasnot a threat, but instead a shudder fromhisdeepbeing, aresponsetothecallofdestiny.Heshookhimself,thenrepeated,‘We…must…go…toValdrmani.’KromgaveHrothgarasharplook.‘Whathaveyoutoldthem?’‘Nothing.’Hrothgarwasstartledtoo.KromturnedbacktoSerkir.FatehadspokentotheWulfentoo,then.Serkirknewwhathemustdo.HiswordsweresoclosetoBjorn’s.Krom’sdecisionwasclear;therewasnochoiceatall.Forthefirsttimesincethedepartureofthehunt,hebreathedmoreeasily.Thefatethathadbeenclosinginwashere,andhewasfreetotakeuparmsagainstit.KrommadeforthegravliftwithHrothgarathissideandSerkirleadingthepackbehind.Theyrosetothepeakof theFang. In the final stagesof theascent, thewallsof the lift shaftvibratedwith thedeepthrumoftheWinterbite’senginespoweringup.ThevibrationbecamethunderwhenthedoorsopenedandKromenteredthespacedock.The crewof theWinterbite had begun a crash preparation for lift-off the instantKromhad given theorder.Anchoredtothedock,theNova-classfrigatewassmallandlightaswarshipswent.Itwasstilla

mountaintetheredtoanother.Itrumblednowlikeavolcanoonthevergeoferuption.Ittoowaseagerforthebattletobejoined.WaitingforKromwere thewarriorsofFierce-eye’sfinest.TheyhadassembledassoonasKromhadgiven theorder formobilisation:BeoricWinterfang and theWolfGuard in terminator armour,HengistIronaxeattheheadoftheGreyHunters,EgilRedfistandhisBloodClaws.TheyweretheeliteofKrom’sGreatCompany.Theywereapackofhuntershungryforwar.Theiconofthesunwolfontheirpauldronsseemedtosnarlinfrustrationathavingbeenheldbacksolong.‘TheGreatWolfhasunleashedus?’Beoricasked.‘No,’saidKrom.‘Hehasreturned,butwestillhavenocontact.BjorntheFell-HandedsendsustotherescueoftheGreyKnights.’‘What?’saidEgil,astounded.‘TheyareheadingintoatraponValdrmani,’Kromtoldhim.‘Iftheyfall,ourChapterwillsufferamortalblow.’Withthathecrossedthedockatafastmarch,pastvassalsandservitorscompletingthefinaltasksbeforethelaunch.HestrodeupanembarkationrampintothemusteringbayoftheWinterbite.Theramprosebehindthelastofthewarriors,slammingshutwithareverberatingclang.‘BeoricandHengist,youarewithmeonthebridge.Therestofyou,remainherewithourbrothersoftheThirteenthCompany.Thejourneywillbebrief.Actionwillbeimmediate.‘Shipmaster,’hevoxedashestrodefromthebay.‘Weareaboard.Istheshipready?’‘Justnow,lord.’‘Thenlaunch.’Hebrokeintoarun.Hefeltthepoweroftheenginesrunthroughthehallsofthefrigatelikefirethroughhisblood.Thedeckstrembled, thenhisweightmultiplied,g-forcepressingdownastheshiphurleditsgreatmass towards the sky.Kromdidnot slow.He andhis brothers charged towards thebridge as ifreachingitwouldbringthemtotheirtargetsooner.TheWinterbitedidnothavefar to travel.Merely thedistancefromFenris to itsmoon.ButKromhadbeen conscious of time flowing away from the moment Bjorn had returned to the silence of his warbeneathsleep.Nosecondshadbeenwasted.Thefrigatehaddepartedthemomentitcould.Butforeveryoneofthoseseconds,theGreyKnightshaddrawnclosertoValdrmani,andnoneofthehailsfromFenrishadbeenanswered.TheGreyKnightscouldnotbewarned.Theonlyhopewasthattheycouldbestopped.Notenoughtime,Kromthought.Notenough.ItwasasifhecouldpicturetheGreyKnightshipknifingthroughthesystem,approachingthemoonwhilehestillhadnotlefttheupperatmosphereofFenris.Heburstontothebridge.TheoculusshowedthevoidandthefaceofValdrmani.Alreadythemoonwasvisiblygrowingcloser.ItsfallintosilencehadbeenaspecialtortureforKrom.TherewerehundredsofthousandsofcitizensintheLonghowldomeplex.TheywereonthethresholdofFenris.KromshouldhavebeenabletoreachoutfromthepeakoftheFangandstrikeatthedaemonicfoe.‘HowclosearetheGreyKnights?’hedemanded.Theaugurofficerlookedup.‘Theyhavealreadyarrived.’Notime.

Thedistresscallwasclearnow.ThesignaltheastropathsofTitanhadsopainfullypiecedtogetherfromthe shreds that escaped the warp was whole. Precise, focused, it came from Valdrmani, not Fenris,broadcast fromLonghowl.The crywent out on sub-warp frequencies too.WhenStern switched to itschannelon thevox,hecould listen to the fullmessage.Hedidsoagainasheboarded theStormravenDeimosGlaive.

‘They’restillcalling?’Brother-LibrarianCaracasked.Theshadowofhispsychichoodaccentuatedtheanglesofhislong,sharpfeatures.‘Theyare.’‘Itisn’tautomated?’‘No.’Sterndrewthegravharnessoverhisshoulder.‘Thewordsrepeat,buttherearevariationsinthevoice.’Itwashoarse,exhausted,sometimesalmostinaudible.‘Don’ttheyseeus?’saidXalvador.‘The speaker is not a SpaceWolf,’ said Stern. ‘These aremortals. I doubt theywill believe in theirsalvationuntilitisuponthem.Soletusbeaboutit.’The Stormravens launched. They shot away from the bays of the battle-barge. Below, Valdrmaniawaited.SternknewthatChaosriotedonthemoon,thoughitpresentedafaceofemptinessandsilence.Thesurfacewasadesertofreddust,nevertobemovedbyawind.Therewasnoatmosphere.ThedomesofLonghowlbecameclear.‘Nobreaches,’Caracsaid.‘Soitwouldseem,’saidStern.Therewasnovapourofescapingairfromthedomes.Theirformswereintact.‘Strangethedaemonsshouldtakesuchcare,’Caracmused.‘Deathsbysuddencoldandasphyxiationare toomerciful tobeenjoyed,’Sternsaid. ‘If the incursionbeganinsideLonghowl,theenemywouldnotneedtoforceanentry.’Evenashespoke,hisanswerdissatisfiedhim.Anotherreasoncametohiminthenextheartbeat.Iftherewerecorruptedmortalsintheenemyranks,theywouldneedair.Andifthatweretrue…Thesignal,hethought.Inthatmoment,thesignalchanged.Itbecameasingleword.‘Welcome,’thevoicesaid.Thenitlaughed.Wellitmight.Thesubterfugehadbeenperfect.Inaninstant,Sternbeheldtheenormousimplications ofwhat had been done. The enemy had simulated a broken distress call that had passedeverytestofauthenticitytheGreyKnightshadusedonit.Worse,henowsawdirepurposeinthefactthatonlytheSonsofTitanhadsucceededininterceptingit.ThesignalhadbeenimperceptibletotheSpaceWolvesbecauseithadbeenaimedspecificallyattheGreyKnights.TheSpaceWolveswerenotcounteringtheenemy’splanbyreturningtotheFenrissystem.Theywerefulfillingit,luredbymeansoftheGreyKnightstoarriveattheappointedtime.Wewereluredtoo,Sternthought.Theenemywantsushere.Now.Atthisveryspot.Thelaughterbecameamaniacalhowl.Thesignalcutout.In thecentreofLonghowlwasahugecylindrical tower.Itstoodhigher thananyof thedomes.Itsplitopen,revealingthebarrelofanimmensegun.Thenovacannonfired.Destruction had a royalmajesty. The eternal night of Valdrmani exploded into ruby-coloured day. Amultitudeofenergycolumnsshotoutofthebarrelatonce.Theylancedintothevoid,andintothecoreoftheGreyKnightsvesselsittinginloworbit.Thebattle-bargewasstillfullyvisiblethroughtheStormravens’viewingblocks.Nowitwaslitbytheterminalbeam.Sternwatchedthedisplayinhorror.Hewatchedannihilationunfoldinsilentgrace.The light seared so brightly, it seemed to burn the void itself. It sliced through the battle-barge fromunderbellytosuperstructure.Theshiphelditsformforalong,slowmomentthatwaslessthanthesingle

beatofaheart,thenthebowbegantodip.Thesternmovedforward.The battle-barge became two. The light between its identities expanded, becoming brighter yet,becomingthecryofplasma,thewailofasun’sbirthandofasun’sdeath.Theshockwaverippledoverthe length of the vessel. The wave travelled outwards. It reached Valdrmani. The Stormravens werebeyond its greatest force.Even so, it hammered themwith its passage.The enginesofDeimosGlaivehowledinprotest.Agreatfistshookthegunship,blurringtheviewofthebattle-barge,thenpassed.Thefirefromtheheartoftheshipblossomed.Itswallowedthehalvesbeforetheycouldbegintotumble.Theydisintegratedinitsjaws.Thelighthurledthepiecesaway.AmonstrousdawnflaredoverthefaceofValdrmani,thenfaded.Thenovacannonceasedfireandnightreturned, illuminatedbyasombre fireball in theheavens.And then the raincame.Thebroken,burningpiecesofthevesselbegantheirfalltothesurface.Flungwiththeforceofthebattle-barge’sdeath,manystreaked moonwards at immense velocity. They were comets of broken vaults, vast marble columnsbecomingbrokenspears,meteorsofadamantineslag.Aheadtenmetresacross,fromthebow’sstatuary,smashedthroughBaneoftheMagi.Thegunshipexploded,becomingmoreoftherainofwreckage.Thedomeplexwouldsurvive.Itwasdesignedtowithstandsuchimpacts.TheStormravenswerenot.‘Getusdown!’Sternordered.Hestaredatthedomes,willingthegunshipstodescendfaster.TheGreyKnights were exposed to the hurtling debris of their ship. Longhowl would give them the necessaryshelter.Andtheevenmorevitalchanceatrevenge.

TheWulfenleapttowardsUlrikandGrimnar.Theywereamassoffangsandblades.TheywerelargerthananyotherSpaceWolf.Ulriksawwhatonlytheirenemieshadwitnesseduntilnow.Theuttermadnessofviolencecoupledtoanunparalleledphysicalforceofwar.TheWulfenwereafurythatcouldnotbestopped.Ulrikdidnotblink.Hekeptfaithwiththe13thCompany.TheWulfenleaptoverhishead.Murderfangstormedafterthem,hisvoxspeakersshrieking,overloadedbythehowlinginsanitywithin.Oninstinct,UlrikandGrimnarmovedasidetolethimpass.Twosecondshadpassedsincetheteleportation.Thelastofthedisorientationleavinghim,UlrikturnedinthedirectionoftheWulfencharge.TheyhadpassedthroughtheranksofStrikeForceMorkailikeaclawedwind.‘Theyarefrenzied,’saidGrimnar.‘The teleportation process,’Ulrik surmised. Therewas nothing but the animal in them now.Yet theyknewtheenemy,andfellupontheabominations.The Space Wolves had arrived on target. The cavern was the grand entrance to the undergroundsettlementsofMidgardia.Behind,thegroundslopedgraduallybackuptothesurface.Ahead,hugeirondoorsengravedwiththetwoheadsofMorkaiopenedontothewarrenof tunnels.Fromthedarkwithincamedaemons.Theunholyunitythathadprevailedupontheotherworldsbesetbythewarpstormsheldtruehere–daemonettes,plaguebearers,pinkhorrorsandtheswordlingsrushedouttogether.TheWulfentoreintothembeforethefirstTerminatoropenedupwithstormbolters.Twoseconds,thatwasall.ThentherestofStrikeForceMorkaijoinedtheassault.Thefireof theWulfenwasamong themall.Ulrik felt it inhisbloodand inhisbones.Ashedroveaplaguebearer’sheadbetween itsshoulders,hecouldfeel thepull to theferal, stronger than ithadeverbeen.Hisjawsachedashisfangssoughttopushoutfromhisgums.Everybreathwasasnarl.‘Thegiftisuponus,brothers!’heshouted.‘Rejoice!WeareamongtheblessedofRuss!’Thefloodofdaemonswasimmense.Theyattackedwithalethalunity.Thespeedofthedaemonettesand

blooddaemonswasadistraction,demandingaresponsetotheirattackwhiletheplaguebearersclosedinwithinexorablepatiencetodelivertheirheavyblows.Thepinkhorrorskepttheirdistance.Theyhurledsorcerousboltsintothefray.MutatinglightstrucktheSpaceWolves.Brothersdied.Somewentdowntoscoresofwoundsinflictedbybladeorclaw.Otherscollapsedwiththeir lungs foaming out of their mouths and nostrils. And there were those who succumbed to themutagenic fire. Their armour became a gnawing cartilage. Their flesh became a vortex of change thatendedonlywithdeath,whenitslidofftheirskeletonstopoolonthecavernfloor.Ulrikheardthecriesofsagascutshort.Andheraged.Farmoresagasgrewlongerindeedandglory.Foreverybrotherwhofell,dozensofdaemonswererentasunder, blownapart and crushed.Thebattlewas ferocious. Itwas alsobrief.His armour covered inichor,hisbreathturningintoasnarl,Ulriksuddenlyfoundtherewerenomoreabominationstodestroy.Thecavernwasawashwithfoulness.Bodieslayinheaps.Theirformswereslowlymeltingintonothing.Inhuman whispers and babbling came from deeper in the tunnels. TheWulfen andMurderfang wereabouttorunthroughthedoorsaftertheirprey.‘Halt!’Grimnarroared.TheWulfenstoppedintheirtracks.Theslaughterofthedaemonshadeasedtheconfusioncausedbytheteleportation.Killingwassomethingtheyunderstood,andthishadbeenagoodhunt.Ulriksawtracesofrationalityreturntothem.TheybowedtoGrimnar.Murderfang,stillundertheinfluenceoftheirpresence,waitedalso.Unintelligiblemuttersgrowledfromhisvoxspeakers.‘Theenemyisontherun,GreatWolf,’NjalStormcallersaid.‘Andwewillkeephimrunning.Ourwaitwillbeshort.’Volkbad Wulftongue stepped forward. ‘Indeed,’ he said. ‘I am in vox contact with elements of thedefence forces. The Midgardians are coming to join us.’ The leader of the Shieldbrothers spokeapprovingly. The Terminator pack dwarfed any mortal, but they could appreciate valour even in thathumbleform.‘Theyarestillfighting?’Ulrikasked.‘Barely.Whatremainsoftheirunitsareconvergingonthispoint.’Themortalsarrivedafewminuteslater.Somefoundtheirwaydownfromthesurface.Mostcamefromthetunnels.Theywereraggedfrombattle.Theiruniformsweretornandcakedinmud,dustandblood,andtheireyeswerehaunted.Theyhadbeheldsightsnomortalshouldevenimagine.Their exhaustion fell away as they entered the Space Wolves’ presence. Their determination wasrenewed,thoughtheygazedfearfullyattheWulfen.Whilethemortalsgathered,formingthemselvesintosomethinglikesquads,GrimnarspokeoverthevoxwithEgilIronWolf.Severaltimes,UlrikheardhimasktheIronWolftorepeathimself.Communicationsweregoingtobedifficultevenovertheserelativelyshortdistances.WhenGrimnarwasdone,heaskedWulftongue,‘Areyouableto tracktheteleportationhomersonthesurface?’‘Therearesomefluctuationsofthesignal,’Wulftonguesaid.‘Itisstrongenoughfornow.’Grimnarnodded.‘Wellenough,’hesaid.Heraisedhisvoicetospeaktothefullcompany.‘StrikeForceFenris has taken theMagmaGates,’ he announced. ‘The IronWolf is ready to advance.NowwewillreclaimMidgardia.As above, sobelow.Weadvance together, scouring each zoneof the abomination.Thedaemonwillfindnorefuge,nowheretoregroup.Brothers,towar!’Withthosewords,heloosedtheWulfen.Theyranintothetunnels,Murderfangclosebehind.Thetunnelswere barely wide enough for the passage of a Dreadnought, and his roars were bounced around thenarrowstoneconfines,echoingahead,ahornblastofdoom.

TheSpaceWolvesfollowed.Past thedoors, therewere three tunnelentrances.Rather thanreducetheeffectivenessofthecompanybyrestrictinghiswarriorsintightconfines,Grimnardividedthestrikeforcebetweenthethreepassages.‘Allmustbecleansed,’hedeclared.UlrikmovedwithGrimnar and hisWolfGuard down the central tunnel.Hewas one step behind theGreatWolf,aheadevenofhischampion,ArjacRockfist.TheWulfenwerehowlingmuchfurtherahead.Ulrikneedstohavetheminhissight.Heneededtobearwitness.Theyencounterednodaemonsfor thefirsthundredmetres,only theirbodies,shreddedby theWulfen.Then the tunnelsbranchedagain.And thenagain.Andagain.Ateach intersection,Grimnardivided thestrikeforcefurther.Thesmallersquadscouldadvancemorequickly.TheSpaceWolvesspreadthroughthecavernsofMidgardia.Thegreatscouringhadbegun.Daemons lurked in the darkness. They attacked from the shadows, lunging out from side passages,ventilationshaftsandcrevassesinthewallsandcaveroofs.Theywerescattered.Theystoodnochance.Flamers,bolters,thunderhammersandtheStormcaller’sconjuredlightingburnedthemtoashorsmashedthemtopulsingfleshinpoolsofichor.Theybarelyslowedtheadvance.‘Whereare theyall?’ArjacaskedashesmashedaplaguebeareragainstawallwithFoehammer.Thedaemonslid to theground, itsupper torsoandskull turned tomush. ‘Notallat thesurface, Ihope.Nosportinthat.’TheMan-MountainmarchedbyhimselfjustbehindGrimnar.Hishugeframefilledmostofthetunnel.‘Theywillbeclosertothehabitationzones,’Ulriksaid.‘Wherethereisprey.’Thetunnelsthusfarwereaccessroutes,exhaustedminingseams,andmaintenanceshafts.ThefewlargercavernstheSpaceWolveshadpassedwerewarehousesandturbineroomswherehugefanscreatedwindfortheunderworld,circulatingtheair.Theyhadseenafewmutilatedremains,butveryfewsignsofthecitizensofMidgardia.Ulrikpresumedtheyhadsoughtshelterintheirhomes.Concentratedtogether,theywouldhavepresenteddesirabletargetsforthedaemons–somanyvictims,somanytosufferandtoseeotherssufferinturn.Massacresthatwouldnowbeavenged.More tunnels,moredivisions,more speed.TheWolfGuardcaughtup to apackofWulfen.Daemonsappearedanddiedinseconds.Hoursintotheadvance,UlrikheardGrimnarcallEgilIronWolf’snameseveraltimes,thencurse.‘Whatnews?’Ulrikasked.‘Nonenow,’Grimnarsaid.‘Notforsometime.’Hecursed.‘Theywereadvancingwell.’The IronWolf’s forcesweremovingentirely inarmouredvehicles.Themistatthesurfacewassocorrosiveitcoulddissolvearmour.‘Untiltheyreachedaswamp.Thedaemonshavebeenhittingthemhard.’‘Theycan’tfreethetanks?’‘ThisiswhatIhopedtolearn.I’veheardnothingforalmostanhour.Inhislastvoxtransmission,theIronWolfwascursingaboutsporeseatingthrougharmourandflesh.Nowhedoesn’tanswer.Wehavenovoxcontactwiththesurface.’‘How far havewe comewithout their cover?’Ulrik asked. If the tandem advance had broken down,StrikeForceMorkaiwouldbemuchmoreexposedtoacounterattack.‘Wulftonguehaslostthesignal,’saidGrimnar.‘WecannottellwhereStrikeForceFenrisis.’‘If we purge…’Ulrik began. Hewas interrupted by the angry growls of theWulfen. ‘The enemy isclose,’hesaid.Theyheard thedaemonsbefore they saw them.Therewasa rasping sound, as though the tunnelshad

begun tobreathe.Thenoisegrew louder, becoming the skitteringof claws, thedraggingofblades, thesnarlsandchantingofthousandsofabominations.Agreattidewascominginfromalldirections.ThetunnelaheadofGrimnar’ssquadscurvedtotheleft.Theairfilledwithacloyingodour.ItworkeditswaythroughtherebreatherofUlrik’shelm,reachingbehindhiseyes.Itsoughttolullhim.It invitedhimtolaydownarmsandsurrendertoadreamofexcess.Hesnarled,shakingfreeoftheuncleanillusion.TheWulfenhowledandracedforward,enragedbythemalevolentscent.GrimnarraisedtheAxeMorkai.‘Rendtheabominationlimbfromlimb!’heshouted.TheSpaceWolvescharged as one. They rounded the corner and barrelled into a huge cluster of Slaaneshi fiends. Thedaemonslashedoutwithpincersandstingersandceilingventsdisgorgedflamers.TheyfellinthemidstoftheSpaceWolves,thefireofchangewashingoverthewarriors.Bellsbegantotoll.Frombehindcamethemonotonechantsoftheplaguedaemons.TheyhackedattheGreyHuntersbringinguptherear.Fellbladescutthroughceramite.Diseaseateatthesoulsofheroes.TheSpaceWolveshitthedaemonswithfireandblade.TheWulfencutabominationsinhalfwithsingleblows of their relic weapons.Mounted on their backs, the stormfrag auto-launchers responded to theneural impulsesoftheWulfen.Thegrenadeexplosionswerehugeinthetunnel.Theyblastedcratersofflesh,splashingthecavernwallswithwet,brokenchunksofdaemon.AdaemondroppedinfrontofUlrik.Hismomentumcarriedhimthroughthefullburstofitswyrdflame.Changeseizedhim.Itsankclawsintohisbeingandsoughttoremakehim.Itfoughtwithanotherforceoftransformation.ThegiftoftheWulfenwasthere.Hefeltthebeastrageagainstthedaemonicinfluence.Itshold on his soul was deeper. The flames could not touch him. He retaliated with a different flame,incineratingtheformofthedaemonwithplasma.Thewrathofwolvesoverwhelmedtheplagueofdaemons.Grimnar’ssquadsstormedoverandthroughthe enemy. The more daemons there were, the more prey there was. The advance did not slow. Itaccelerated.Acleansingflameofbestialragesweptthroughthetunnel.Ulrikemergedfromthewaveofdaemonscoveredinichor.Hepausedforamomenttotakeinthestateofhisbrothers.Therehadbeenlosses,andtherewereseriousinjuries.Thesewereonlyfuelforanger.TerminatorsandWulfenthunderedon.Onthesquadchannels,Ulrikheardhoweasilybreathingturnedtogrowls.Thegiftwasgrowingstronger.Sowerethewarriors.Heranonforwardagain,catchinguptoGrimnar.‘Thespiritofthewolfburnshighinourbrothers,’hesaid.‘Wecannotbestopped.’TheGreatWolf’sfacewasgrim.‘IfeartheIronWolfhasbeen,orworse,’hesaid.‘Thedaemonshavehadtheopportunitytomassacounterattack.’‘WhatoftherestofStrikeForceMorkai?’‘Stymied,Ithink.Icannotreachallofthem.Thosewhoanswercannotyetbreakthroughtheambushes.’‘Soonlyweareadvancing.’Grimnarnodded.‘Soitwouldseem.Westrikeon,’hesaid.‘Wewillplungeourclawsintotheenemy’sheartandripitout.’‘Theotherswilltriumphtoo.’‘They will,’ Grimnar affirmed. He growled with such conviction, it seemed to Ulrik the wordsthemselveshadthepowertoshapereality.Thoughthetunnelscontinuedtobranch,Grimnarnolongerdividedtheforce.Thesquadsplungeddownthe larger passages. Here they had liberty of movement along with the power to smash the foe. Thedaemonsattemptedrepeatedambushes.Theyweretorntopiecesfortheirpains.The temperature climbed as the SpaceWolvesmoved deeper and deeper underground.They reachedsettlements built into large caverns. Streams of lava flowed across the floors and interconnected

walkwaysand livingplatformshung from theceilings.ThepeopleofMidgardiahad lived inside theirforges, suspended above a killing heat and had braved molten death the way the people of Fenrisconfrontedthecold.Theminingandmanufacturingcommunitiesweresmall.Eachhadbeenhomeatmosttoafewthousand.Theywereallemptynow,brokentombs.Piecesofbodieslitteredtheplatforms.Fleshwithoutboneswasdrapedacrossthresholdsandhungfromwindows.Flayedskeletonsweresuspendedfrommetal frameworks, stilldrippingblood.Theywerecoatedwithoozing,viscousslimeandbuzzedwithotherworldlyinsects.Themetalworkonthewallsofthesuspendedhabshadbeendefacedandtheengravingsofwolfheadsandhammershadbeengougedbyclaws.Thenewmarkingsformedrunesthatwrithedinthecorneroftheeye.The deeper the SpaceWolveswent, theworse andmore elaborate the desecrations became. Bodieswere fused together intoaltarsofbone.On thecentralplatformofonesettlement,adozenmortalshadbeenassembledintoasinglerune.Ulriksmashedthesculptureashemarchedpast.Theviolencehedidtothedeadwasanecessaryeviltofreetheirsoulsofthesenew,cursedbonds.Hecouldnot read the runes.Nohumancouldwithout sufferingmoraldamage.Even so, the tracesofmeaningscrapedat theedgeofconsciousness.Thesamefour runeskept repeating.Thesewerenames.Theirfrequencywasincreasing,aswastheirsize,asifthenameswerebeingshoutedlouderandlouder.Asummoning.‘Weareseeingpiecesofaritual,’hetoldGrimnar.‘Ongoing?’‘It has been completed,’ Stormcaller answered. ‘The energy of the wyrd is present, but fading.Somethinggravehasalreadytranspired.’Theywentthroughmoresettlements,deeperbeneaththeground,theairwaveringintheheat,thetunnelsflickering orange, lit by lava now always close at hand. There were more ambushes. The daemonsattackednowatwhereverthepassageswereattheirnarrowestandmovementmostrestricted.Therewasblood.Brothersfell.Butsodideachwaveofabominations,utterlyextinguished.Settlement 529was larger than the others the SpaceWolves had traversed, though it too occupied asinglecavern.AfallensignbytheaccesswalkwayreadDeepspark.Thecitizenshadgiven529aname.Therewerenonenowtospeakit.Thecommunitywasanothergrave.Therewerefewerbodieshereandnonewereintact.Allwereburned,asifthecavernhadbecomeagiantcrematorium.TheWulfenmovedcautiouslyalongthewidemetalwalkway.Theygrowledwarnings,theirhacklesup.Therewasnothreatvisible,butUlrikcouldfeeltheimminenceofpresence.Somethingpressedhardontheair,stretchingthemembraneofreality.‘Thefoeisclose,’Stormcallersaid.‘Fromwhatdirection?’Grimnarasked.‘Icannottell.Fromthewyrd.’Ulrikglancedovertherailingofthewalkwayatthefloorofthecavern.Hehissedatwhathesaw.‘Thatiswhy,’hesaid,andpointed.Thelavachannelshadbeenaltered.Theyhadbecomethefourrunes.Moltenrockflowedthroughunholynames.‘Thefourrunesarejoined,’Stormcallersaid.‘Fournameshavebecomeone.WeapproachtheheartofMidgardia’storment.ThegreatpowersofChaoshaveunited.Thehordeswearefightingarecommandedbyaunityofdaemonlords.’‘ThentheirdestructionwillbeMidgardia’s liberation,’saidGrimnar.‘Doyouhear,cravenscum?’hebellowed.‘ThesonsofFenrishavecometoripyoufromthisrealm!Youdowelltohide,butdonotthinkyouwillescapeus!’ThesquadsreachedthecentreofDeepspark.Theplatformwaslargeandhadactedasatownsquare.A

chapel to theAllfatherandhallofsagaswerebuiltonoppositesides.Walkwaysandmetalsuspensionbridgesconvergedontoit,creatinganexuspointinthewebofironpaths.Themembranetore.Warpriftsopenedupoverfourmajorwalkways.BehindtheSpaceWolvesandahead,totheleftandtheright, realitywailedanddisgorgeda legionofabominations.Thiswasmore thananambush.Daemonsboundedandlurchedoverthebridges,clamouringforthebloodofheroes.Fourhordes.FourarmiesoftheRuinousPowers.Toweringovereachwerefourprinces.Theriftstorewider at their arrival and the cavern trembled with the sounds of their names, becoming a volcanicfanfare.Lavaeruptedfromtherunes.Tonguesofrocklickeduptowardsthewalkways.Theedgesofthechannelscontortedintolips.Grindingvoicespaidtributetotheforcesthatgavethemlife.Mordokh.Arkh’gar.Tzen’char.Malyg’nyl.The nameswere attacks. Each syllable stabbed behindUlrik’s eyes. And though he had escaped themeaningoftherunes,theirconstantrepetitionhadleftitsresidueonhim.Whenthenamessoundedlikethetolling of granite bells, he knewwhat they were. He knew the daemons. They insisted upon it. Theymarchedtocollecttheirchoiceprey,andtheywouldhavetheirvictimsdieintheknowledgeofwhatgreatbeinghadbroughtthemlow.Grimnarlaughed.HeraisedtheAxeMorkaiwithbothhands.Itflashedwithitsownwyrdenergy,hungrytopunishthedaemonswiththesameforcethatembodiedthem.‘Goodsportatlast,brothers!’heroared.‘ForRuss!ForFenris!’‘Forthewolftime!’cametheanswer.Itturnedintoahowlthatshookthecaverntoitsroots.Fromvoxspeakerandbestialthroat,thehowlwentonandon.Rageandanimalhungerwereone.Ulrikrodethefuryofthegift.Itsfireconsumedhisthoughts.AttheGreatWolf’sside,amidstbrotherswhohadfoughtfortenthousandyears,hechargedtowardstheprincesofdamnation.

Anger.Instinct.Reason.HaraldactedonallthreeinthemomentsafterRuneclaw’scrash.Thegunshiphitwithbrutalimpact,buttherewasno time to recover.Angergavehimthe impetus to leap towar.MostofhisWolfGuardhadsurvived.Sohadtheirmounts.Theybatteredtheirwayoutoftheruin.Instincthadhimleadhisbrotherstothesideofthegunshipfacingawayfromthefortresswallsandgunemplacements.Runeclaw had landedon a ridge a short elevation above the battlefield.Harald followed reason andclimbedontotherooftoseetheextentofthedisaster.Instinctagaingrantedhimspeed.Hewasexposedforafewsecondsonly,andtheywereenough.Whathesawmadetheangerburneverhigher.Reasonheldhimbackfrompointlessrecklessness.Instead,hesawtheneedforthemeaningfulkind.TheDeathwolveshadlostthecoherenceofanyformation.Theywereinscatteredsquadsatbest.Somefoughtontheirown,theonlysurvivorsofthedroppodsdestroyedinmid-flight.Hesawtwootherthings,whichhisreasonseizedupon.Hesawtheenemy.TherewereKhornatedaemons,butitwasnotthosefiendswhoheldtheredoubtsandturned their huge batteries on the Deathwolves. It was not daemons who had concealed the energysignaturesof thedefences.Theenemywhousedhumanweaponswason the fieldnow,pickingoff the

individualSpaceWolves,erodingthestrengthofWhitestalker.Mobsofmortalcultistswerelooseuponthe glacier, harassing Wulfen and Deathwolves. They were the thralls of vicious masters in horned,distortedpowerarmour.TheTraitorswerecladinblueandgreen.AlphaLegion.Traitorsandworsethantraitors.Beingssoconsumedbydeceptiontherewasnothingleft.Theydefiledthehonestyofwar.He felt the revulsion, the hatred. Instinct and anger sought to hurl him roaring from the roof.Reasonprevailed.Anditwasthankstoreasonheunderstoodtheothercrucialsight:anotherstrickenStormwolfstreakingoverhead,itsenginesburning.Itleftacontrailofblacksmokeasitcameinatanangleoverthebattlefield,overshootingMorkai’sKeep.Haraldmadeoutitsmarkings.ItwasSigurd’sMight,carryingFeingar’sColdeyes,oneofthepacksofWolfScouts.Thegunshipdisappearedbeyondthefortress.HaralddroppeddownfromRuneclaw’sroof.Asheleaptonto Icetooth’s back, he pictured the geographyof the glacialmesa.The fortress did not rise from thecentreoftheplateau.Itwasbuiltattheedgeoftheglacier’sflank.WhereSigurd’sMighthadgonedown,therewasonlythegreaterdroptothewastesbelow.Unless…Therewasaniceledgethatjuttedoutpartwaydowntheicecliff.Iffatehadsmiledandthegunshiphadcometorestthere…Haraldswitchedthevoxtoaprivatechannel.‘Feingar,’hesaid.Inthebackground,heheardgroaningmetal.ThenFeingarsaid,‘Yes,LordDeathwolf.’Hisvoicewascalm,assured.Thevoiceofawarriorwhoknewexactlywhathistaskwas.‘Wehavealreadybegun.’‘Good,’Haraldsaidandendedthecommunication.TheThunderwolvesawaitedhisorders.HesaidnothingaboutFeingar.TheAlphaLegionweremastersofmisdirectionanddeception.Todeceivethem,therecouldbenocommunicationwiththeColdeyes.Hehadtokeeptheknowledgeofwhatmighthappenfromall.Evenfromhimself,ifhecould.Meaningfulrecklessness.‘Westormthegates,’hetoldtheThunderwolves.‘Takethefield,andcallourbrothers tous.Wewillgatherourstrengthoncemore,andourhammerwillbatterthefoetoextinction.’DonotthinkaboutFeingar,hetoldhimself.Donotspeculate.RidetodestroytheTraitors.Letitsuffice,anditwilldomorethanthat.He turned Icetoothandchargeddown the slope fromRuneclaw.Canis and theothers followed.Theyjoinedinhiswarcry.Thewolvesbayed,asenragedastheirriders.Harald rode hard for the centre of the plain. Turrets turned his way. Shells chewed up the glacier,stitchingalineofcratersastheysoughttheThunderwolves.Iceexplodedindaggershards.ButHarald’spackwasfast.ItdefiedthegunnersandbarrelledtowardstheTraitors.Theshellingveeredawaytowardsothertargets,avoidingthenewmastersofFrostheim.TheThunderwolvesfelluponasquadofAlphaLegionwarriorswhohadsurroundedawreckeddroppod.TheywerepouringbolterfireintothreeGreyHuntersstrugglingfromtheruin.TheSpaceWolvesstillfought,buttheirwoundswerecrippling.Twomoreoftheirbrotherslaymotionlessbesidethem,theirbloodstaining the icecrimson.Theclamourof the shellscovered theapproachof theThunderwolves.One of the Traitors turned at the lastmoment and receivedGlacius full in his helm’s grille.Harald’sstrengthandIcetooth’sspeeddrovethebladethroughthearmourandoutthebackoftheTraitor’sskull.TheThunderwolvescutthroughthesquad’sline,killingthreeupontheinstant.Theyturnedandcircledtheothers, strafing themwithboltpistols.TheAlphaLegionnaireswerecaughtbetween the fireof theridersandtheirformervictims.Theyfoughtbackwithboltersmillenniaold.Atthesightofthearchaic

models,Harald thought again of theWulfen’s ancientweaponry.Hismind sawdark connections to bemade,butherejectedthemfornow.Allthatmatteredwastokillandtofighton.As the Thunderwolves cut down the squad, the battlefield responded. Using his peripheral vision,Harald sawmany brothers struggling to converge on his position. TheWulfen foughtwith blind rage.Therewasnoorderthere.Not allDeathwolvesweremaking for him.Lone figures loped across the ice, howling and changing,consumedbythecurse.Somanydead.Somanytransformed.He roundedon theAlphaLegionwith renewed fury.He lethisanger strike forhim.Hedidnot let itbecomehim.Hisangerwashuman,andsoitmustremain.As the last of theTraitorswent down,Harald turned to find the next kill. It found him instead.Withautocannonsblasting,adaemonengineemergedfrombehindtheruinsofthedroppod.Theround-bodiedmonsterwalkedontwolegs,hadarmsandathingthatmighthavebeenahead–Haraldcouldnotimaginewhatmachineitmightoncehavebeenbeforecorruptionandpossessionhadtransformedit.Nowitwaswalkingdestruction,athingwiththedrake’smawandautocannonlimbs.Theheaddugitsteethintothebuckledhatchofthepodandtoreoffachunkofmetalasifitwereflesh,beforedevouringit.Atthesametime,itsarmsopenedfire.ShellsofphosphorblazedacrosstheiceandintotheThunderwolves.BrotherOnarrandhiswolfblewapart.The flaming remainspattereddown to theglacier.Haraldand Icetoothtorethroughthefallingflames,headingdownandleft,towardstheothersideofthedroppod.Thedireenginedevouredmorewreckage,thentookaheavystepforward.Itsfeetpuncheddeepholesintotheiceandthesurfacemeltedfromthemonster’sinfernalheat.Itdidnotletupinitsfire,turningtheareaaroundthedroppodintoastormofphosphorandexplodingice.TheGreyHunterssawtheirrescueturn to their destruction. They turned their guns on the monster. It turned its attention to them. Theydisappearedinthehailofautocannonshells,theirarmourvaporised.Harald rounded thedroppodandcameupbehind thebeast, leaping fromIcetoothand landingon theengine’s back. The monster’s carapace was a heavily shielded sphere. The beast responded to hispresencebyturningsharplytotheleftandtheright,tryingtoshakehimoff.Haraldhungon,graspingthegrille of one of the vents. A searing wind blew from the internal furnace, scorching his face. Themonster’sarmsandneckflailed,butHaraldwasoutoftheirreach.Helungedforwardsandgrabbedholdoftheedgeofthecarapacefromwheretheplated,articulatedneckemerged.TheotherThunderwolvescircledtheengine.Twomorepackshadjoinedthefightandtheirboltpistolfirehammeredagainstthecarapace.Theexplosiveshellsdidnomorethancrackthesurface.Thefiendstampedandroared,firinginacircle.IncandescentdeathpursuedtheThunderwolves.Itfoundtwomore.Cursing,Haraldheldontothecarapacewithhislefthandand,withhisright,hepulledkrakgrenadesfromhisbelt.Hethrustthemintothejoinbetweentheneckandbody,fixingfourgrenadestothebeast,clusteringthemonthesamepoint.Thenhejumpedawayfromit.Helandedonhisfeet.Hewasinsidethecircleofthemonster’sfire.Itsblindmawcraneddownathim,inorganicteethsnapping.Thegrenadeswentoff,oneaftertheother,meltingthroughtheplatesoftheneck,tearingopenthebeast,reaching itsburningcore.Ageyserof flames shotout from thebaseof theneck.Thedaemonicenginestaggered.Amachinicscreamofpaintoreitselffromitsthroat.Itsautocannonsfellsilent.Thenitfiredagain,withoutatargetnow,blastingattheentireworldinitsagony.Theshellswereofitsbody,anditconsumeditselfinitspain.Thefirejettedhigher,pushingthewoundwider,untilthemonstercrackedinhalf.Haraldshieldedhisgazefromthesearinglight.Thebeastdisappearedintoitsownpyre.Icetoothboundedoverthecrevassesopenedbytheshells.Haraldclimbedontohisbackoncemore.He

ledthechargeanew.Therecouldnotbepause,nochancefortheturretstoacquiretheThunderwolvesastargets.Haraldbecamethegravitationalpullofthebattlefield.Ridingdownthecentreoftheglaciertowardsthegates,hewasvisibletoall,andhepulledhisscatteredbrotherstowardshim.Theenemysoughttoblocktheir gathering, the keep’s batteries and daemonic cannons smashing Deathwolves to pulp and ashes.Cultistsswarmedoverthem.Traitorspickedofflonefigureswithcoldprecision,buttheytoowerecaughtbythegravity.TheyrespondedtothethreatoftheThunderwolves,andclosedin.TheWulfenandtheDeathwolveswhohadfallentothecursewerenearertoo.Theyfollowedthepathoffrenzy.Itledthemtothegroupingsofprey.Batteries on the left and right converged fire, two gatling cannons and a battle cannon creating animpassablecurtainofshredding,poundingshellsbeforethegatesofMorkai’sKeep.Therewastheline,Harald knew. If the Thunderwolves reached that point, they would go no further. Even so, he urgedIcetoothtorunfaster.Keepupthepressure,hethought.Keeptheenemy’sfocus.He had stolen the battle’s momentum from the Alpha Legion, despite their massive advantage inarmament and position. The advantage was temporary. The Alpha Legion had time. Stalemate wouldresultintheTraitors’victory.Meaningfulrecklessness,hethought.Andsoheledthechargeasiftheartillerybarragemeantnothing.Therewereenemies still tokillbefore the terminalpoint.AheadofhimwasabandofeliteTraitorsbutchering Long Fangs. Off to the right, a lone Alpha Legion warrior moved through the strugglingDeathwolveslikeaserpentof lightning.Hewasablur.Intherushofhisownspeed,Haraldcouldnotcatchmorethanabriefglimpseofthewarrior.Heleftawakeofblood,GreyHuntersandBloodClawsfallingtohisassault.AhandfulofWulfenandBloodClaws,enragedbythisviperofwar,abandonedtheeffort to reach theirWolfLordand turnedon thenearer foe.Turret firedogged theirmovements.TheywerewoundedandslowingastheytriedtosurroundtheTraitor.Hewelcomedthemtotheirend.Haraldsawthecircletighten.HelookedawayatthenearerbandofTraitors,comingintoreachwithinseconds.Whenhecheckedagain,severedheadslayontheglacier.OnlytwoWulfenstillfought,andonehadlostanarm.ThesightofthatsinglekillerspikedHarald’srage.There,hewascertain,wasthelordoftheTraitors,andthecauseofFrostheim’ssuffering.Harald’srageurgedhimtoturnIcetoothfromhispathandhuntthewarlorddown.Reasonheldhimback.His place was before the gates. There weremore of his brothers fighting their last here. And theseTraitorswerecloser.‘Fenris!’ Harald roared as the Thunderwolves raced through explosions of ice shards. He pulledGlaciusback,preparingtopaytheAlphaLegionnairesinkindanddecapitatethefirstwarriorinhispath.He swung.The axe bladewhistled through empty air.His target hadmovedwith sinuous grace. TheentirebandshiftedtheirfocusasiftheThunderwolveshadbeentheirgoalallalong,andtheLongFangsmerelybait.Harald’sfoewassuddenlyatIcetooth’sleftflank.Hisboltpistolcracked.ShellsslammedintoHarald’sshoulderplateandceramitesplintered.TheimpactknockedhimfromIcetoothandontohisback.ATraitor aimed a power sword at his neck, theweapon flashingwithwyrd energy, butHaraldrolledtohisright,firinghisboltpistoltotheleft.Theglacierhissedwheretheswordstruck.Therewasnosoundofhisshotsfindingtheirmark.Heleapttohisfeetandtheswordwasinfrontofhim,plungingtowards his chest. He knocked it aside and sidestepped, and a bolt shell exploded against his leftshoulder.Asuddenfogsurroundedhim.Itwasasmearofjaggedblackandwhite.Hecouldnotbesurehowmany

Traitorshefought.Theymoved likeasinglebeing,oneopponentalways inhisweakspot.Fromsomeunknowabledistance,heheardCaniscallhisname, thensnarl.Weaponsclashedonallsides, invisiblebeyondthewall.Thesword,oneormany,stabbedandslashed.Heblockedmostofthestrikes,buttheTraitor,oneormany,hadtheadvantageofspeed.Blowshithome,cuttingthroughtheseamsofhisarmour.WhenhestruckbackwithGlaciusandboltpistol,heattackednothingbutair.Oneormany,theywerewearinghimdown.Inthedistance,abellowofpainthatdescendedtoagurgle.Feingar,makeyourmove,hewilled.Ablindingflashofenergy.Silverpainsinkingbetweenhisribs.Feingar,weareoutoftime.

CHAPTER8

Ritual’sEnd

Flies.Fliesandblood.Bloodandchange.Changeandpain.Thedaemons’gifts to themortal realm filledDeepspark.FourprincesofChaosmarched towar, andtherewas no aspect of the cavern thatwas not onewith their corruption.The floors of thewalkwayssquirmedandbit.Therailsrottedandburstwithspraysofvenomousspores.Thewallsofhab-hutsranwith smoking blood. Death sang its music of seduction, inviting themind to the contemplation of thesensuousnessofblood,thedecadenceofseveredlimbs,theheadinessofbutcheredmeat.And in themidst of themanifold tortures of corruption, therewas the gift. The purity of the huntinganimal. The total abandon of bloodletting, yet bloodletting not without purpose. Threats must beextinguished. Prey must be run to ground. There was no corrupt pleasure in the kill. There was noshrieking,mindlessvengeance.Therewasnecessity.Therewasinstinct.Thearmofthewarriorandthefuryofthebeast.Ulriksawandunderstoodallthis.ThewarinDeepsparkwasanavalancheofsensationandrevelation.Hefoughtthroughwallsofdaemonicflesh.Hisbodyactedoninstinctsorapidandurgentthathismindbarelyregisteredhisactions.Inhislefthand,hisplasmapistolfiredandfiredandfired,therhythmoftheburstsstoppingjustshortofthecriticaloverheating–blastafterblastofdestructivelight,incineratingtheskulls of abominations, melting their torsos. His crozius smashed form and devastated flesh. Plaguedaemons, Khornate swordlings, the clawed dancers of Slaanesh and the pink nightmares of Tzeentchpressedinonhim,strugglingagainsteachothertostrikethekillingblow.Hewadeddeeperanddeeper,cursingtheminthenameofFenrisanditsspirits.Hisvoicewasrawwiththepowerofhisanger.Hebellowed,thoughhedidnothearhisownwords.Nospeechcouldbeheardoverthefireofstormboltersandwhite-noiseroarofflamers,echoingandbuildingagainstthecavernwalls.Ulrikreactedto

thedaemonicstrikes,counteringthemandretaliatingwithkillingforce,yettheeyesofhisspiritlookedpast the immediate foe. His struggle was to reach the daemon prince ahead of him. It was the oneembracedbytherunic,soundlesscryofTzen’char.Ithadaform.Itwaswinged.Ithadlimbs.Ittoweredover the lesserdaemonsof its horde.But its form seemedcontingenton thewhimsof itswill and themoment. Itsmovementshadaswift,stutteringquality,as if fragmentsof timekeptfallingaway.Itsarmwasraised,andthenitstalonswereimpalingoneoftheWulfenwithoutiteverbringingthearmdown.AsUlrikdrewnearertoitspositionontheplatform,hesawanimpossibledepthtothedaemon’sshape.Tostareintoitsbeingwastoseeanexistencestretchingfarbeyondthisplaceandtime.Thedepthstwistedand coiled and branched. Each flicker of its being brought a different version of the daemon fromelsewhere.ThecloserUlrikcame,themorehehadasensehewasapproachinganincarnatedlabyrinth.Hehadtoreachthedaemon.HehadtofightalongsidetheWulfen,whohadsurroundedtheabomination.Thisstrugglewasafulfilmentofdestiny.ThiswaswhattheWulfenhadreturnedtofight.Thegiftoftheirbestialfurywastheanswertothecurseofthedaemons.Theyhadclawedtheirwaythroughandoverthelesserfoes,straighttothecreatorsofthemadness.Andtheywerebeingcutdown.No,Ulrikthought.No.Hewouldnotletthemfall.Hehowled,andthebeastracedthroughhisveins.Hewouldtearthroughtheabominationbeforehimwithhisbarehands.At his shoulder was an even greater roar. Logan Grimnar barrelled into the horde. His face wascontorted.Hiseyeswereredandblazing.Hisfangswerebared.ThewayforwardbecamecleartoUlrik.ThefrenzyoftheWulfenmustnotbecontained,butembracedandchannelled. Itwasspreadingnow,and itwoulddestroy theabominationsbefore them.ItwouldbeMidgardia’ssalvation.Ulrik’showlbecameacryofsavagejoy.Theblowhitthesideofhishead.Itwassopowerfulitseemedtostrikehisentireframe.Itknockedhimto the floor of the platform. He fell on his back and darkness crept in at the edges of his vision. Itwithdrew,butthecavernspun.Hislimbsdidnotobeyhiscommands.The daemon prince of Nurgle loomed over him. Beneath a faceplate, its mouth gaped in a leprous,contemptuousgrin.Fliespouredoutfrombeneathitsteeth.Itlurchedawayfromhim,itsjawunhingingtospewavastswarmofinsectsovertheSpaceWolves.Ulrikstruggledtoclearhisvision.Feelingwasreturningtooslowlytohisarmsandlegs.TheblowfromMordokhhadbeenmorethanphysical.Rise.Riseandhunt.Thebeastgavehimstrength.Hestartedtomove.Hestillcouldnotseeclearly.Thewarwasadizzyingvortex.TheplatformrockedandsuspensioncablespartedwithavicioustwangandawalkwaycoveredinstrugglingSpaceWolvesanddaemonsfelltothelavabelow.Alithe,reptilianpresencestoodoverhim.TheSlaaneshiprinceheldtheeyesofUlrik’sbrothersinonehand.Itreachedtowardshishelmwiththeother.Andthenitsfacesplitinhalf.TheAxeMorkaiwasdeepinitsskull.Grimnar, baying his wrath, struck faster than Ulrik had ever seen. He moved with the speed of theunleashedpredator.Thechangewastakinghold.Rise.Hunt.Ulriksnarled.Crimsonfuryfloodedhismind.Helurchedtohisfeet.Hisvisionatlastbegantoclear,

andGrimnarhadalreadymovedtoanewtarget.Malyg’nylwasonitsknees,elegantclawsstrugglingtohold its head together. TheKhornate PrinceArkh’gar clashedwithGrimnar.Already the daemonwasbleeding.Yes,Ulrikthought.HestaggeredforwardtotheGreatWolf’said.Thegifttakesustovictory.‘WewillopenthewayforRuss!’heshouted.‘Weshall–’Laughtercutthroughhiswords.Tzen’charspreaditswings.Itspokeasentencethatflickeredandloopedthroughthelabyrinthsofexistenceandmadnessas thedaemon’sformdid.Ascreamof theimmateriumhowledfromthecentreofthecavern.AflashofunlightcutthroughUlrik’sarmourandslashedhisflesh.Bleedingfromahundredcuts,hekepthisfeet.Heblinkedhiseyesclear.Thedaemonsweregone.Ontheplatformandwalkways,TerminatorsandWulfenstoppedinmid-strike.Theshriekofthewyrdpassed.Itwasreplacedbytherumblingcrackofstone.Thewallsandceilingofthecavernsplit.Awebofcrevassesspreadandjoined.AllofDeepsparkshookastheendapproached.Ulrikhowledhisdenial.Butthewounded,weakenedbodyofMidgardiadidnotcareforprophecy.Thecracksbuilttothunder,thethundertoamountain’sroar,andtheneverythingfell.Fellintothecrushingdark.

Ashaperippedthroughthefog.Massive.Athingofsinewandclawsandfangs.Amonsterofthebloodypastandoftheuncertainfuture.YngvirslammedanAlphaLegionnairetotheground.HestoodontheTraitor’sbackandseizedhishelmthentwistedandyankedback,tearingofftheTraitor’shead.Heheldhistrophyhigh,bloodrainingdownuponhim,andhowled.Thefogbegantobreakup.Yngvirlashedoutintothefadinglimbo,andsuddenlyhewasholdinganotherenemybythearm.TheTraitorturnedhisbladeagainstYngvir.TheWulfenwastheequalinspeedtotheTraitor.Withthefluidityoftheperfectkill,hereleasedtheTraitor,evadedtheblow,andcounteredwithhisrelicfrostclaws.Hestruckwithbotharms,shatteringtheAlphaLegionnaire’sarmourandplungingthehugebladesthroughtheTraitor’scarapaceandintohishearts.Nowthefogwasgone.Sowastheintricate,interlockingchoreographyofbattlethathadturnedthebandofwarriorsintoasinglebeing.Yngvirhadbrokentheirunity.Haraldstruck,andthistimehefoundhistarget.Glacius severed the swordarmof thewarriorbeforehim.TheTraitor stumbledback, sprayingblood.Heraisedhisboltpistol.HaraldplungedhisaxebladethroughtheTraitor’schest.Around him, the Thunderwolf cavalry brought down the enemywith the full savagery of vengeance.EveryblowHaraldlandedhadarichlysatisfyingimpact.Andallthetimehethought,threetimes.Yngvirhadsavedhislifethreetimes.Heowedatranscendentdebtofhonourtothewarriorhebelievedtobecursed.An explosion shook the upper levels ofMorkai’sKeep.Armourglass blew outward. The turrets fellsilent.Atlast,HaraldheardFeingar’svoiceonthevoxoncemore.‘TheKeepisours,LordDeathwolf.’HaraldstoodbackfromanAlphaLegioncorpse.HeyankedGlaciusfromtheskull.Helookedoverthebattlefield.‘YourScoutshavegivenusvictory,’hetoldFeingar.TheeliteTraitorswereslaughtered.Withtheartillerydown,thesuperiornumbersoftheDeathwolveswerenowturningthetide.Anewinevitabilityhadcometotheglacier.Haraldpushedasidethethoughtofhowmanybrothershadbeenlost.Therewouldbetimetomournandcelebratetheirsagaswhenthewarwaswon.

HelookedfortheAlphaLegionwarlord.There,afewhundredmetresaway.Hehadlostthepurposeinhismovements.Hehesi tated,motionlessinthemidstofthebattlefield’seddyingsmoke.Are youwonderingwhat has happened to your guns?Harald thought.He pounded across the glaciertowardsthewarlord.Areyouwonderingwhathappenedtoyourvictory?Thewarlord’shesitationwasfatal.Hewasamotionlesstarget.Hedidnotseetheenormoussilhouettecloseinonhimthroughthesmoke.IcetoothslammedintotheTraitorwiththeforceofatank.Thewarlordfell, roseagain todefendhimself,managing tostrike the thunderwolfoncebefore Icetoothbroughthimdownwithfinality.Thecrackofasnappingspinesoundedovertheglacier.IcetoothstoodguardoverhispreyuntilHaraldarrived.TheTraitorreachedforhislostsword,buthewas broken. He could not move. He looked up at Harald. ‘The ritual is complete, lapdog,’ he said.‘Killingmewon’t change anything.’ Empty insults, empty defiance. The Traitor sought some shred ofpride,somemeasureofdignityathisend.Haraldgrantedhimneither.‘Maybenot,butit’llmakemefeelbetter.’WithasingleblowfromGlacius,hedecapitatedtheAlphaLegionnaire.Haraldkickedtheheadawayfromthetwitchingbody.Hehadnotlied–theexecutionwassatisfying.Itdidmakehimfeelbetter.Thenhe lookedout across the glacier, at the blood and the cost, at the rampagingWulfen, and at histransformed brothers. He thought about his debt to Yngvir, and of the contagion that had shut downstrategicthinking.Damnationandsalvation.Hedidnotknowhowtoseparatethem.Oriftherewasstilltimetodoso.

ThethreeStormwolvesflewthroughthetumblingwreckageof theGreyKnightsvessel.AstheyangledtowardsthesurfaceofValdr maniandmadeforLonghowl,chunksofthebattle-bargebecameahardrainuponthemoon.Therewerefewremainsofanysize.Compared to thevessel thathadbeen,Kromwaspassingthroughtheashesofcremation.OnthebridgeoftheWinterbite,hehadseentherubystreakof thenovacannonshot, theflash.BythetimethefrigatehadreachedthefarsideofValdrmani,thefireshadfaded.Therehadbeennothingbutthenightofthevoid,theashes,andtheterribleabsence.Toolate,hehadthought.Toolate.Youheldtruetoyouroathtoolong.Thentheaugurarrayhaddetectedthefadingsignatureofenginesonthesurfaceofthemoon.The Stormwolves flew close to the domes and passed over the landing site of the Stormravens. Thegunshipswereintact.‘Smokerisesfromthemaingates,’saidHrothgar,lookingthroughtheviewingblock.‘Agoodsign,’Kromsaid.‘Theywentinfighting.’TheIronPriestgesturedatthedomeplex.‘Abigareatosearch.’Krom nodded. ‘We’ll make for the nova cannon emplacement. We can start there. I would wantvengeanceformyship.’‘Aye,’saidHrothgar.‘LordDragongaze,’EgilRedfistvoxed fromhisStormwolf. ‘Bolter flashes threehundredmetres toport.’Krom had been focusing on the column of the cannon. He looked down in the direction Redfist hadindicated.TheBloodClawleaderwasright–aspotmidwaydowntheheightofthedomestrobedwiththedistinctivelightningburstofgunfire.‘Takeusthere,’heordered.

Thesquadrondropped,closinginuntilitwasflyingalmostflushwiththeanti-radcrystalglassskinofthedome.TheinteriorofLonghowlwaslitwithasickglowthatpulsedslowlyfromredtogreentobone-grey.Monstrousshadowscavorted.Theygrewinnumberthecloserthegunshipscametotheflashes.‘Good,’Kromsaidwhentheyreachedtheposition.Thewordfeltstrangetoutter.Whenhadhelastbeenabletolookatanythinganddeclareitgood?HehadjustpassedthroughthedustofaGreyKnightsbattle-barge.HebeheldthesettlementofFenris’moonoverrunbydaemons.AndnowhesawasmallbandofGreyKnightssurroundedbydaemonsledbyabloodthirster.TheGreyKnightsweremomentsfrombeingoverwhelmed.Evenso,Kromsaid,‘Good.’Thebattlewasnotover.Therewasstilltime.‘Onmy signal,’Kromvoxed to all threeStormwolves, ‘breach the dome.’Over an open channel, hebroadcast,‘GreyKnights!Incoming!Brace!’Thenhesaid,‘Now.’Skyhammermissiles and lascannons struck the dome. The battle flashes vanished behind the greaterblazeofexplosionsand thedomewallburstoutwards, turned topowder in theviolentdecompression.Theatmosphereofthedomerushedout,carryingwithitthedaemonichorde.Lasandtwin-linkedheavybolters pulverised the enemy cloud.Moremissiles streaked towards the bloodthirster as it sailed out,carriedbyawindmorepowerfulthanitswings.Itdisappearedinthemultipleblast.‘Takeusin,’KromsaidwhenthelastofthedaemonswerescatteredoverthesurfaceofValdrmani.The threeStormwolvesflewin through thehugebreach.Theirassault rampsdroppedbefore theyhadfinishedsettling.Kromstrodedownfirst.HisFierce-eye’sFinestfollowed.TheWulfencamelast.TheGreyKnightssaidnothingbutheadedforthenearestexitfromthevoid-struckquadrantofthedome.Evenwhenbotharmedpartieswereontheothersideofasealedbulkheadandinafullatmosphereagain,theyremainedsilent.Kromeyedthemandtheircaptain.Hecouldlistadozenreasonseffortlesslywhyhehadcontemptfortheirorder,buttheiractualpresencewasimpressive.ItwasmorethanthesuperlativeAegisarmourandtheperfectionoftheNemesispowerweapons.Thecoldnobilitycommandedrespect.Kromfeltthestrengthofthecaptain’sgazeevenbeneaththeGreyKnight’shelmet.Whenthecaptain’sattentionpassedfromKromtotheWulfen,Kromchosethatmomenttolaugh.‘Youcanembarrassuswiththanksabitlater,’hesaid.‘Onceourworkisdone.IamKromDragongaze,WolfLordoftheDrake slayers.MymenandIarehonouredtofightatyourside.’TheGreyKnightcaptain lookeda fewmoments longerat theWulfen.Serkirheld theminorder.Lowgrowls issued from their throats,but their attentionwas focusedbeyond theGreyKnights.ThecaptainfacedKrom.‘Brother-CaptainSternof theThirdBrotherhood,’hesaid,andheldouthishand.Kromdid thesame.Theyclaspedforearms.‘Wehavetomovequickly,’Sternsaid.‘Whateverthedaemonsaredoing,itisalmostdone.’Asthetensionoftheimmediatemomentpassed,Kromnoticedthegrowingpressurebehindhiseyes.Itthrobbedwiththepulsingoftheunnaturallight.‘Thereissomething…’hebegan.‘Yes,’saidStern.‘Youfeelit,then.Thereisaritualatworkonthismoon.’There were two exits from the storage bay in which the Fierce-eyes and the Grey Knights foundthemselves.Sternheadedfortheoneontheleft.‘Whatsortofritual?’Kromasked.Hesignalledforhiswarriorstofollow.TheGreyKnightshadfoughttheirwaythisfar.Theywouldhavedonesoforagoodreason.‘Idonotknow,asyet.Ibelievethedestructionofourvesselispartofitswork,however.Everyeventsincetheformationofthewarpstormshasbeenpartofafoulpattern.Theritualisreachingthecriticalpoint.Wecannotpermititscompletion.’

‘Howdoyouknowthis?Orthatwemustgointhisdirection?’‘Areyouapsyker,LordDragongaze?’‘Iamnot!’Hemadeasignofmaleficarum.‘Yetyoucanfeeltheenergy.Imagine,then,myexperienceofit.’Time,Kromthought.Intheend,therewasevenlessthanhehaddreaded.

LordSkaylehadfallensilent.IntheastropathicchoristriumofLonghowl’scommandsanctum,HekastisNulwalkedthecircumferenceof the glyph, musing about the silence. The Dark Apostle felt little concern. It did not matter to himwhetherSkayle livedordied.Nulwouldbedeadhimself ina fewminutes.Buthisanticipationof thegreat moment was acute, and his preparations were complete. He filled the remaining seconds bycontemplating the implicationsofhis lord’sdefeat.Perhaps theDogshad reclaimedFrostheim.MaybeSvellgardtoo,orat leastestablishedafootholdthere.UnlesstheyhadperformedExterminatusontheirownmoon,itwasimpossiblethattheyshouldhavebanishedmillionsofdaemonsinsoshortatime.‘DidyouloseFrostheim,LordSkayle?’Nulmusedaloud.Standingaroundtheglyph,hiscultistsborewitnessasitapproacheditsgreatflowering.Theastropathsof Longhowl were alive, after a fashion, but they no longer had flesh or minds. Imprisoned in theircradles,theirpower,theirpain,theirsanityandtheirselveshadbeensiphonedintotheglyph.Theyweremelted,deformedfigures,stillconvulsinginagony,stillscreaming,keptalivebythehungerofthethingtheywerefeeding.‘IftheDogshaveFrostheim,’Nulreasoned,‘theynowhavehope.Iftheyhavehope,whatfollowswillbericherstill.Therefore,LordSkayle,yourdeathispartofourpattern.’Thepower in thechoristriumspiked.SodidNul’s anticipation.He stoppedpacingand lookedat theglyph,standingbetweentwoofhiscultists.The glyph was daubed in daemons’ blood. It occupied the centre of the choristrium, embracing theastropathiccradles.Itslightwasaspainfultobeholdasasun’s.Thelightinthechamberhadceasedtoshift colours. Now it was a jade of mind-stabbing intensity. Soon the glyph would bring about anapotheosisofpain,andwithit,theendoftheSpaceWolves.TheblastthatwoulddestroyLonghowlandallwithinwasnomorethanaby-productofitstruegoal.Thegoalwas thevision– thevision thatwould travelacross thegalaxy.ThevisionofGreyKnightsmurderedbytheSpaceWolves.ThevisionfortheentireImperium.Thefinalmomentsslippedaway.Astheydid,theDarkApostlefeltanothertensionbegintofoldandcuttheair.Abeingthatwasmanyandonewascomingfrommanydirectionsandnone.TheLivingLabyrinthapproached.Nulsaid,‘Iamglad,master,youhavechosentowitnessthemoment.’Ontheothersideofthechoristrium,hiswardsattheentrancecollapsed,banished.Theirsuddenreleaseofenergyblewthedoorsapart.Shreddedmetalflewacrossthedome.Thedogswhodidnotunderstandtheywerealreadydeadrushedin.Youaretoolate.Iwillshowyou.HekastisNulsteppedintotheglyph.Energieseruptedaroundhim.

Beyondthedoorway,KromsawthefateofhisChapterreducedtoseconds.Hechargedintothechamber.Byhisoath,hewouldprovethosesecondstobeenough.‘Cultists!’Sternvoxed.‘Incoverbehindthecradles.’‘Pettylittlemen,’saidKromaslasgunfirestreakedhisway.‘Drakeslayers!’hecalled.‘Putthemdown!’

TheSpaceWolvesspreadoutthroughtheroom.Theirfirewreakedmonstroushavoconthemortals.Thecultistswerearmed,andshotback,buttheeffortwasfutile.Theydidnothingtoslowtheirexecution.‘Kill them all and kill them now!’Krom ordered. Faster, he thought. Faster. He streaked around thecircumferenceofthechamber,hisaxecuttingdownanothercultistwitheverystep.Hewasascythe.Hefiredintothecradlesasheran,killingtheastropathstoo.Hisonethoughtwastostoptheenergyflowintotheglyph.‘Commendablevehemence,’ saidStern. ‘LordKrom, keep thembusy.Mywarriors and Iwill finishthis.Brothers!TheRiteofNullification!’TheWulfenandtheFierce-eye’sFinesthitthehumansofthechoristriumlikeacycloneofboltershellsandblades.Theairfilledwithadelugeofblood,buttheenergywasstillbuilding.Greenlightlashedoutfromthecentreoftheglyph.Thepressurewassointense,Krom’searsbegantobleed.Thedomeofthechoristriumcracked.Thewallsandfloorvibrated,onthevergeofshatteringoutward.Thesecondswerefallingawaytonothing.TheGreyKnightsbegantheircounter-ritual,movingintotheglyph.Hurry,Kromthought,glancingawayfrom the killing to see their progress. Theyweremovingwith deliberation,marching directly into theblazingenergy,pushingagainstit.Thewyrdlashedout.Itcouldnotkeepthemaway.Hurry,Kromwilled.Thereisnotime.Therewasaconcussionatthecentreoftheglyph.Foramoment,Kromthoughttheendhadcome,butithad not. The pressure stillmounted. The light strobedwithmadness and shriekedwith rage. From itsblindingcorecameaDarkApostleoftheAlphaLegion.SternplungedintobattlewiththeTraitor.Kromwasless thanaquarterof thewaythroughhisrunofbutchery.Therewerehundredsofcultists,scoresofastropaths.HiswarriorbloodcriedouttoattacktheTraitor,buthedidnot.HisoathhadkepthiminactiveonFenrissohemightbehere,now,atthismostcriticaljuncture.HisdutytoFenrisnowwasmassacre.EventheWulfendidnotturntothegreaterprey.Theyunderstood.Withouttheenergyfromthecultistsandtheastropaths,theDarkApostlewasasinglefigure,allbutpowerless.Draintheglyph.So much blood. So many mortals dead now, and yes, the terrible light wavered. The rhythm of thesearingpulsesofjadelightslowed.Itbecamesyncopated.Thelightbegantofade.Nowthelastofthecultistswascutdown,andthecradlesoftheastropathswerealldestroyed.TheDarkApostlewasonhisknees,impaledbyStern’ssword.Hewasshouting.HeshriekedthenameTzen’char.ThesoundofthenamehurtKrom’seyes.Butthelightwasfading.Thelightwas…No…No!Theenergybuiltoncemore,fasterandmoreterriblethanbefore.Morethanblinding.Thedomeofthechoristriumseemedtomeltandshakeatonce.Realitytore,andthechamberfilledwithdaemons.Theairaroundthecontoursoftheglyphvomitedintoexistencepinkhorrorsandflamedaemonsbythehundreds.AfirestormofwyrdflamehittheSpaceWolves.BloodClawsturnedtoglassandshattered.Wulfenweredevoured by new maws on their own bodies. The daemons fell on the Grey Knights, disrupting thecounter-ritual.TheGreyKnights cut down the abominations as fast as they attacked, but they attackedwithoutcease.Thefloodwouldcomeuntilthepurposeoftheglyphwasfulfilled.Theblastwasimminent.Krom’smindfilledwithjaggedfragmentsofbetrayalandmutation.The wyrd roared with awful birth, and the dread owner of the name howled by the Dark Apostle

appeared.ItstoodbeforeKromattheedgeoftheglyph.Majesticintriumph,Tzen’charspreaditswings.‘Stern!’itroared.TheGreyKnightlookedup.Kromchargedatthedaemon.Herammedhisshoulderintotheabomination’sback.Itwaslikerunningheadlongintoamountainside.Theimpactstunnedhim,butthedaemonfell.Heemptiedhisboltpistolintoits skull. Suddenly he was staring at the front of the daemon. The maze of its being reassembled itsconfiguration in theblinkofaneye. Itwasprone,and then itwas standing,and its swordhadpiercedKrom’s left shoulder.Hispistol armwentnumb.He stepped forward into theblade,moving towithinstrikingdistanceagain,raisinghisaxe.Thedaemonlaughed.Itraiseditsrighthand.Energydancedfromtheclaws,asblindingas theunholylightoftheglyph.SerkirleaptatTzen’char.Hisfrostaxecamedownonthatrightarm.Itbitdeep.Thelabyrinthinebeingshifted again. Serkir’s blade went all the way through and struck the floor. The daemon’s arm wasuntouched.Serkir’sattackhadgainedKromonesecondmoreoflife.Andthedaemonlaughed.ThesorceryonitstalonsbecamearoaringnimbusasitreachedforKrom.Hecouldseenothingexceptthelight.Theburning,destroyinglight.Exceptnowthelightwasfilledwithprayer.Andthedaemonwasscreaming.Themalignantjadeshattered,replacedbythepurityofsilver.Theenergyofthewyrdcameapart,brokenfromtheinside.Sternwasthere.Sternhadenteredtheeyeofthewyrdstorm.Kromhadturnedthedaemon’sattentionaway,andtheGreyKnighthadstabbedhisholyswordintothecentreoftheglyph.Tzen’charscreamed.Allthedaemonsscreamed.Thebuild-upofenergywasreversed.Eventheglyphshrieked.Thelightofjudgementconsumedallthatwasunholy.

EPILOGUE

IthadbeenScoutDolutas,woundedalmosttodeathbythesavageryofmutatedSpaceWolves.IthadnotevenhadtospeaktodeliveritsmessagetoAraphil,togivehimtheanswershedreaded.TheDarkAngelshadseentheimagesheldbytheskull.Theyhadbeenreluctanttodrawtheterribleconclusions,buttheirthoughtshadbeeninexorablypulledtowardsthatchasm.Theyhadtakenthebait,andthegreateventhadbegun.IthadbeenMasterAstropathAsconditus.IntoSammael’searsithaddeliveredquestionsandsuspicions,allconstructedaroundthetinyfragmentsofanotherlie.ItrejoicedintheperfectionofitsartasSammael,reluctantly,slowly,butinevitably,hadwalkedstillfurtherdownthepath.Then that form ofAsconditus had served its purpose too.Another kill, another disappearance on theRock.Thelittletouchesgaveitsomuchpleasure.ItwatchedtheDarkAngelsbegintosuspectanalliancebetweentheSpaceWolvesandadaemonicparty.Ittriedtorememberwhenithadlasttastedsuchdelight.Now it was the seneschal Vox Mendaxis, and it waited upon Grand Master Azrael. Events wereproceedingsoperfectly,ithadnoneedtoactforthemoment.Therewerenomessagestotwist.Noorderstomisinterpret.Azraelhadthefacts:ChaostaintintheentireFenrissystem,SpaceWolvestransformingintoWulfen.Nothingbutthetruth.Azraelwasstillregrettablyhesitant.Forthemoment,though.Onlyforthemoment.UnderthehoodofVoxMendaxis,theChangelingsuppressedasmile.

Thevoxsystemwasworkingagain in thedamagedcommandcentreofMorkai’sKeep.Theunitwasapowerful one, and some of the interference had diminished. Harald established contact with SvenBloodhowl, holding theWorldWolf’sLair onSvellgard.The IronPriests of both companies used thesignalsfromthetwofortressestoamplifyeachother.AndnowheheardKromDragongaze’svoice,too.Harald stood at the gaping hole in the command centre’s wall. He looked up into the night sky of

FrostheimwhilehespoketoDragongaze.‘Brother,’hesaid,‘itisgoodtospeaktoyou.’‘Andyou.WhatnewsoftheGreatWolf?’‘None.CommunicationwithLordIronWolfhasbeenfragmentary.ThesituationonMidgardia isdire.All contact with Grimnar’s strike force has ceased.’ He paused. ‘The Iron Wolf says there was anearthquake…’‘Iwillnotbelieveit,’saidDragongaze.‘Wehavehopenow.Letususeitwell.WepurgedValdrmani.Wewillfreeourotherworldstoo.’AttheaugurbankbehindHarald,Feingarshouted,‘Vesselstranslatingin-system!’Haraldrushedbackinside.‘Who?’heasked.‘Dark Angels,’ Feingar said. He tapped the augur network’s pict screen. One reading after anotherappeared. ‘Ultramarines. IronHands…’More than a dozen differentChapter runes appeared over thevesselsignals.ThencamethoseofKnightlyhouses.ThenmasstransportersoftheAstraMilitarum.Thefleetwasimmense.‘Dragongaze,’Haraldsaid,‘Areyoupickingupthesamesignatures?’Hehadsomanydoubts.Therehadbeensomuchdeception.Hehadtobesure.‘Weare,’ theFierce-eyesaid.‘It looks likeasubstantialportionof theDarkAngels fleetbeforeweevencounttherest.’‘Itistheirfleet,’Feingarsaid.Thenhiseyeswidened.Hepointedtoarunemanytimeslargerthantherest.‘Russ,’heswore.‘That’stheRock!’Doubts.Patterns.Doomswithindooms.Haraldfelttheeventsclicktogetherlikethegearsofaterriblemachine.AsFeingarupdated thepositionsof the fleetminutebyminute,Harald returned to thebreachoncemore.Hewatchedthesky.Hewitnessedthepassageofamoon,onethatdidnotbelongintheFenrisSystem.Hesawthemovementofstarsheknewtobewarships.Hewasstillwatchingwhentheskyflared,andthebombardmentoftheFenrisSystembegan.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

DavidAnnandaleistheauthoroftheHorusHeresynovelTheDamnationofPythos.HealsowritestheYarrickseries,consistingofthenovellaChainsofGolgothaandthenovelsImperialCreedandThePyresofArmageddon.ForSpaceMarineBattleshehaswrittenTheDeathofAntagonisandOverfiend.Heisaprolificwriterofshortfiction,includingthenovellaMephiston:LordofDeathandnumerousshortstoriessetinTheHorusHeresyandWarhammer40,000universes.HehasalsowrittenseveralshortstoriessetintheAgeofSigmar.DavidlecturesataCanadianuniversity,on

subjectsrangingfromEnglishliteraturetohorrorfilmsandvideogames.

AnextractfromLegendsoftheDarkMillennium:SpaceWolves.

For thefirst timeinmanyyears,LoganGrimnarwasexhaustedfrombattle.Hehadheldoff the taufornearlythreedaysasthexenoshadsentunendingpacksofattack-beastsandswifthover-tankstoharasstheSpaceWolves.ThealienshadpaiddearlyforthechancetotireouttheGreatWolfofFenris.Hundredsoftauandtheiralien auxiliaries lay among the rocky canyons covering the surface of Dactyla. Now, as the GreatCompanyfacedthexenosoutside,Grimnarstoodonthethresholdofthetemplehehadcometothisworldtofind.‘Can theGreatCompany stand?’ askedoneofGrimnar’s champions.Eachof thehalf-dozenwarriorswas taken from theChapter’sWolfGuard, armedwithTerminator armour and their pick ofweaponryfromtheFang’sarmoury.ItwasrarethatanyonewouldspeaktoGrimnarsobluntly,andGrimnarstillhadamplefuryinhimtoroundonthewarrior.‘Youknowbetterthantoquestiontheresolveofourbrethren,’hesnarled.‘Theywillstandaslongastheyhaveto.Andwewillensurethatisnotforlong.Followmeandspeaknomore.’The temple was more ancient than the Great Crusade itself. Echoes of a long-dead xenos empire’sarchitecturebrokethroughthelivingrockofthetunnelcomplexbeneaththeground.EvenasGrimnarledhischampionsdownfurther,hecouldhearthereportsoftaupulseriflesandthereplyingvolleysofbolterfire.TheywereSpaceWolves,andthetauwereasdrainedbytherunningbattleasGrimnarandhisbrethrenwere.TheGreatCompanywouldhold.Thetauassaultwouldbeblunted.Heknewthisbecausethiswastheplacetheruneshaddescribed,andGrimnarwouldnotreturnfromthishuntempty-handed.‘There,’ saidGrimnar, indicating a symbol cut into thewall. It resembled a serpent coiling around askull.‘NjalStormcallercastthatruneasIwatched.Weareclose.Justalittlefurther.’Grimnar felt theweight of theAxeMorkai as hewalked.Thewarrior hehadoncebeenwouldhavedearlylovedtolayitdownandrest,butthosewerethethoughtsofalazypupandnottheGreatWolf,soheforgedonuntilhecameuponamassivecircularslabofrockblockingthewayahead.Withoutaword,Grimnarputashoulderagainsttherockandpushed.TheWolfGuardjoinedhim,addingtheirstrengthtohis.Theslabrolledaside,revealingthewayintothechamberthatlayattheheartofthecomplex.Purple light bled from the vault. Grimnar’s autosenses were not enough to shut down the glarecompletely, andheheld ahand in front of his face, squinting.TheWolfGuardhad their stormboltersreadytoopenfireonanyenemythatmightemergefromthetemple’score,buttheyheldtheirfire.TheysawwhatGrimnardid.Andinthatmoment,allthewearinessofbattlewasgone.

Ulrik’swatchincludedthedawnhours,whentheblood-redlightofFenris’sunbrokeacrosstheglacier-boundmountains.Itwastheseasonoffire,whenFenriscameclosesttoitsstarandtheequatorialoceansboiled.IntheenvironsoftheFangtherewasnowarmth,butthegroundheavedandcrackedlikedistant

thunderastheglaciersexperiencedararethaw.‘Itwillbetoday,’saidavoicebehindUlrik.ItwasthatoftheWolfLordKromDragongaze,whoseGreatCompanyhadthedutyofmanningtheFangduringtheThirtiethGreatHunt.Kromworehistrophyrackonthebackofhispowerarmour,surroundinghisruddyfacewithahaloofjanglingbone.Theorangeridgeofhairalonghisscalpwasdarkinthereddishdawnlight.‘Doyounotthinkso,LordSlayer?’‘Perhaps,’saidUlrik.HeanticipatedthereturnoftheGreatCompaniesasmuchasanyattheFang,andyethecouldnotlettheemotionsofaFenrisianclosetothesurface.‘I can smell it,’ said Krom. ‘My Great Company is restless. It is not a glorious task, to serve ashousekeepersherewhiletherestoftheChapterisonthehunt.Imustfighttokeepthemfocused,andyetIitchtobeletofftheleashmyself.’‘Sometimes,’saidUlrik,‘wemustkeepthewolfcaged.’‘Thatisnotaseasyforusasitisforyou,’saidKromshortly.Ulrikkeptlookingintothedistance.Hewore,asalways,hisarmour’sskull-facedhelmet,andsoKromhadnochanceofreadinganythingfromhisface.Ulrikletthesilencefall,brokenonlybythedistantmoanofthethawandthecriesoffrosthawkswheelingoverhead.‘Forgiveme,’saidKrom.‘Ispokeoutofturn.’UlrikdidnotmovetofacetheWolfLord,andinsteadpointedafingeruptowardsthecolouringsky.Asilverstreakwasjustvisiblethere,likeafallingstar,athreadofpreciousmetalsuspended.‘TheCanisPax,’saidUlrik.‘Youwerecorrect,LordDragongaze.Itistoday.’

TheCanisPaxcarriedwithittheGreatCompanyofAlaricNightrunner,knowntotherestoftheChapterastheSilentHowlers.TheydescendedinafleetofshuttlesfromtheirstrikecruiserandlandedamongtheeyriesoftheFang,andweremetbyahostofthrallstoassistwiththeirdockingproceduresandgetthefirstglimpseofthetrophiestheyhadbroughtback.ThebrothersofKromDragongaze’sGreatCompany,theDrakeslayers, lined theprocessionaldown towards thecellblocksandsparringhallsof theFangs,salutingNightrunner’s battle-brothers on their return. Behind themwalkedAlaricNightrunner himself,cuttingasdashingafigureastherewasamongtheSpaceWolves,withskinthecolourofbeatenbronzeandthunderhammerswingingathiship.AlongsideNightrunner’sCompanymarchedtheRunePriestNjalStormcaller,bysomeaccountsthemostpowerfulpsykertheSpaceWolveshadfieldedforthousandsofyears.Everyonetherecriedoutthesamequestion:whattrophyhadtheSilentHowlersbroughtbacktoFenris?NoWolfLordever returned fromtheGreatHuntwithoutanewprize tobedisplayedat theFangasasymbol of the SpaceWolves’ relentlessness at the hunt.Alaric did not carry a new skull or capturedbanner,andmetallquestionerswiththesameknowingsmile.Ulrikwasnotamongthehonourguard.ThiswasatimefortheSpaceWolvestobeuncagedandtolettheirspiritsrunwild.Theyneededtimeslikethis.TheydidnotneedapresencelikeUlrikstandingoverthemtoremindthemoftheirduties.Instead,theWolfPriestspentseveralhoursintheReclusiam,draftingmissives tobesentoutbycourier-thrall to themost loyal tribesofFenris.Eachonecalledfor themtosendanemissary,oneofthewiseandpowerfulmenpermittedtoknowoftheChapter’sworkings,totheoutskirtsofthemountainfortress’hinterland,whereashuttlefromtheeyriesoftheFangwouldtransportthemtotheinaccessiblepeak.TheretheyweretohearoftheexploitsoftheGreatHunt,andtakethetalestheyheardbacktotheirtribes.ItwaspartofthecyclethatbroughtnewbloodintotheChapter.TheyouthfulwarriorsofFenrislearnedoftheSpaceWolves’heroicdeedsandsoughttoemulatethemintheendlessbattlesbetweenthetribesand with the furious indigenous life forms of Fenris. TheWolf Priests, led by Ulrik, chose the most

valiant,andbroughtthemintotheChaptertobeputthroughtheBloodingandmadeintoSpaceWolves.ThemythoftheSpaceWolveswasascrucialapartoftheprocessasthewarlikeFenrisianstock,andtheGreatHuntservedtocreatenewlegendsthatgrewandspreadwitheverytelling.

ElsewhereintheFang,fornineteendaysAlaricNightrunnerkepthissilence.InthattimethreemoreGreatCompanies,thoseofBranRedmaw,GunnarRedMoonandSvenBloodhowl,arrivedhomeladendownwith the trophies they had taken. Finally the emissaries from the tribes arrived, and Ulrik led themwordlesslyintothefortress–wisemenandwarlords,thesoothsayersandpatriarchsoftheirclans.ThecallwentoutfortheSpaceWolvestogatherintheGreatHallandhearthesagasoftheGreatHunt.Thefirsttotaketheplacereservedforthesaga-tellerwasAlaricNightrunner.

Ulrikpresidedoverthefeasting.TherewasonlysomuchoftheleashthatcouldbegiventoaSpaceWolf.FiveGreatCompanieswerepresent in theGreatHall andFenrisian alewas flowing, a concoctionoffermentedplantlifelethaltoanunaugmentedman.ItwasstrongenoughtoaffectaSpaceMarineinspiteof his enhanced capacity to filter out toxins, so Ulrik was ready to intervene in case boasting andchallengingturnedtobloodshedamongthebattle-brothers.Ulrikstoodinhisblack,skull-facedarmour,silentwhilethecheeringanddrinkingsongsoftheSpaceWolvesbatteredagainsthimlikeaseawind.Alaric Nightrunner approached the enormous fireplace to a tremendous cheer. The tribal emissariesapplauded too, and among them Ulrik recognised the First Spear of the Bear tribe, a muscle-boundwarriorcarryingakraken-tooth lance,and thehoodedemissaryof theStargazer tribe.TheFrostWyrmtribe,theFlintStridersandthePeopleoftheBurningSeahadalsosentrepresentatives.NotallthetribeshadansweredUlrik’scall,butmanyhad.WhatevertaleAlaricwasabouttotell,itwouldsoonbeheardbyallofFenris.Alaricheardthecheeringforaminute,thenmotionedforquiet.Thenoiseloweredenoughforhimtobeheard.‘Icarrynotrophyforyou,’hesaid.Thebattle-brotherscriedout indismay.‘But thatdoesnotmeanIhavedisgracedtheGreatHunt.Farfromit!No,Ihaveataleforyou,andfearnot,therewillbeplentyofreasontopouryetmoreofFenris’bountydownyourgullets.‘OurhunttookustotheedgeoftheGhoulStars,wherethevoidisascloudedasacorpse’seyes.TheCanis Pax was my steed and my brethren were sharpening their blades for the chase. The region ishauntedbywarppredatorsandtheghostsoffallenxenosempires,andthereisalwaysworthyquarrytobehad!Njal Stormcaller,whose casting of the runes guided all theGreatCompanies on theGreatHunt,stoodbymyside,andhe lookedupon thediseasedvoidwithgreat relish.He foresaw the foesallbutbeggingtobeputtothebolterandthechainsword.AndIhadmythunderhammerandspearreadytotaketheforemosthead!’ThebrothersofAlaric’sGreatCompanycheeredandpoundedthefeastingtable.TheSpaceWolvesoftheothercompaniesshovedtheSilentHowlersandjeered,buttheycouldnotdrownoutthecelebration.‘Andwewerenotdisappointed!Butitwasnotsomevoidghostorspectrethatwefound.No,thequarryfoundus.Whichofyouhasnotfacedtheaccursedtyranidsuponthebattlefield?Theshadowacrossthestars,theGreatDevourer?Youallhavecausetohatethetyranid,andindeedIhaveleftathousandoftheirfoulwarrior-beastsheadlessandguttedinmywake.Andyet,Ihadneverfacedthemlikethis.‘TheCanisPaxwaspursuedbyagreathiveshipofthetyranids.Thismonstrous,livingthingwaslikeoneofthewhalesthatliveinFenris’deepoceans,butvastenoughtoswallowtheCanisPaxwhole!Andindeed,thatiswhatitintended,forithoundedusformanyleaguesacrossthevoid.‘The hive ship loosed its spores, and they fell upon the hull of our strike cruiser. I despatched thebrothersofmycompanytofacetheboarders,andfuriousbattleragedontheCanisPax!Elbow-deepin

darkichorweremybrethren,theirsnarlsofragepunctuatedbythesoundofchainbladesthroughchitinousarmour.AndwhattalesofheroismIcouldtellyouofthehourstheyfought!Timeandagaintheyfendedoffthe tyranids as thexenos tried tobreach thebridge andengine rooms.They led counter-charges to thealienbeachheads,wheretherawvoidhadbledintothedecks.‘Hundredsoftyranidswereslain.Thesmallercreaturesattackedinwaves.Thewarrior-creaturesthatserve as elites and officers among their kind directed them, and were singled out for combat anddestructionbythepackleadersoftheSilentHowlers.Itookmyplaceoutsidethebridge,andbesidemestoodtheStormcaller.HecalledontheWorldWolftoopenhisjaws,andascoreoftyranidstumbledintothevoidheconjured!Hebadethelightningfallupontheenemy,andabroodofwarriorswascharredtosmouldering chitinby the sky’s fire that answered!Andas the enemycharged, I killedonewith everyspear-thrust,andcrushedaskulloraribcagewitheveryswingofmythunderhammer.ThusdidthefirstpreyofourGreatHuntfall,anditwasgood!’‘Butbrothers,itwasnotenough,forthehiveshipitselfwasclosingin.Ifwedidnotdestroyit,itwouldconsumeus.Evenifweoutpacedit,theremighthavebeenamillionwarrior-beastsinitsbellytosendagainstus.Andthoughthebrethrenfoughtwithfury,somewerebroughtdownandslain.HowlthenamesofAgmundyrIronTalon,Kari theSwiftandHrolfyrBearhide!For theyreapeda tollof thexenosfilthbeforetheyfell.’Alaric Nightrunner’s Great Company howled a long, high note ofmourning for the fallen. The otherSpaceWolvesdidnotharanguethemnow.Alaricgrabbedaflagonfromthetablebesidehimandpouredthefoamingaledownhisthroatinone,andathissignaltheSilentHowlersdidthesame.‘Andwhenthefightpaused,’continuedAlaric,‘IturnedtotheStormcaller.Tohim,Isaid,“Wecannotdestroythishiveshipalone.Ourtorpedoescannotpenetrateitshide,anditspresencesoclosepreventsusfromjumpingintothewarp.”AndtheStormcallerreplied,“IsthisAlaricNightrunnerwhospeaks?TheWolfLordmostrenownedforhiscunning,forwhomnobattlefieldconundrumis tooobscure?Usethatcunning,mylord,andwithwisdomsealitsfate!”ThusdidNjalStormcallerspeaktome,andIwasmuchchastisedbyhiswords,fortheyweretrue.Butinthatmoment,Iknewthesolution.‘Imagine,mybrothers,thevoid,befouledbythepresenceoftheGhoulStars.ThehiveshippursuestheCanisPax,anddisgorgesmoreboardingsporeswitheverymoment.Andnow,whenthehourisdarkest,aheroemerges!AStormwolfgunshipfliesfromthestrikecruiser’sfighterdecks,anditispaintedwiththeheraldryoftheWolfLord,AlaricNightrunner!Canyouseeit,mybrothers?‘Thenahatchopens,andtheWolfLordhimselfstepsoutontothehull.Whitevapourstreamsfromthefaceplateofhishelm.Hecarries thespearwithwhichheslew theFrostWormofJormunGlacier.Heholdsitabovehim,andthoughnonecanhearhiminthevoid,heisyellingobscenitiesatthehiveship,anddemandsitfighthimonetoone,spearagainstvoidbornemight!’The Silent Howlers were laughing now, whooping between swallows of Fenrisian ale. They beganbangingthetablesrhythmically,adrumrollthatshudderedtheflooroftheGreatHall.Alaricwasposingwithhisspear,holdingitabovehisheadashebrandisheditatanimaginaryhiveship.‘Thehiveshipclosesin.ItsjawsopeninagrinwideenoughtoswallowtheCanisPax.Deepwithinitsgulletarecoloniesoftyranidfilth,tensofthousandsofthemroostinginthecavernofitsmouth,thousandsmorecrawlingbetween its teeth topickat themorselsof its lastmeal.TheStormwolf fliescloser, theWolfLorddrawsbackhisarmtostrike…andheisgone!’Thelaughterstopped.TheGreatHallwassuddenlysilentaseverySpaceWolfthereimaginedthehiveship’sjawsclosingontheStormwolf,swallowingthegunshipandtheWolfLordalike.Alaricheldthemthere,extendingthemomentofsilenceforaslongashedared.‘Andthen…boom!’

TheSilentHowlerserupted.Alespatteredonthewallsandfloorastheyheldtheirflagonsaloft.‘IgiveyouNjalStormcaller,’exclaimedAlaricoverthedin.‘ThegreatestworkerofwonderseverborntoFenris!ForitwashewhocreatedtheillusionoftheStormwolf,andofmyselfatopit,wavingmyspearasifImeanttoharpoonthatgreatwhaleofthevoid.Andthatillusionwaswrappedaroundamosttastymorsel–acyclonictorpedo,adeepdetonationwarhead,suchastheCanisPaxusestoraketheflanksofitsprey.Thehiveship’shidewastoostouttoletthetorpedothrough,butoncethebeasthadswalloweditsprey,Igavetheordertodetonate!‘Thewarheadmusthavegoneoffclosetothebeast’sbrainpan.Instantly,itbecameill-coordinatedandslow,andfalteredinitspursuit.Andthoseofyouwhoknowthetyranidwellareawareofhowthelordsamong themcoordinate the lesserbeasts fromafar.Thehiveshipcontrolled thecreaturesassailing theCanisPax,orelseitsbrainwasusedtotransmitthecommandsfromwhateverdistanthorrorleadstheirfleets. The control was broken, and now the tyranids on board theCanis Pax became unfocused andpanicked,strikingaboutat randomorseeking toflee.AndwhatSpaceWolfcouldresistsuchahatefulfoe,suddenlysoripeforthekilling?‘So I ledmybrethren in fallingupon the tyranid. It took threehours to finish the task.Threehoursofbutcheryandrevenge!Imusthavetakentwohundredhormagauntheads,andadozenwarrior-beastsfellbeneathmythunderhammerandspear.Thereisjoyinthehunthard-runandwell-fought,itistrue,butIcannotdenythepleasureofthehuntthatfallsuponthepreywhenithasbeenmadeweakanddesperate.AndwhentheCanisPaxwasfreeofthexenostaintanditsdeckswereawashwithdarkblood,weturnedtothehiveship.‘Its jawslolledopen.Itdriftedwithoutpurpose. Iordered theCanisPax to turnaboutandunload itsmissilesandtorpedoesdownthebeast’sruinedthroat. Its innardswereblastedthrough,anditvomitedforthamightytorrentoftornxenosfleshanddeadtyranids.Howcouldsuchasightbesofoul,andyetsoglorious?Thuswasthedeathofthehiveship,andthusdidtheGreatCompanyofAlaricNightrunnertakeitsquarryintheGreatHunt!’Alaricgaveagrandbowandthebattle-brothersofhiscompanychantedhisname.Alaricacceptedtheiracclaimwithexaggeratedhumility,layinghisspearonthefloorbeforethemastheycheered.‘Wait!’criedavoice.KromDragongaze’sfacewasflushedwithdrink,andnodoubtwithangerthathehad not had the chance to bring such a tale back from the Great Hunt. ‘You tell a fine story, LordNightrunner.ButeverylordontheGreatHuntmustreturntotheFangwithatrophyofhiskill.Iseeyoucarrynonewbaubles.Whereisyourtrophy?’‘LordDragongaze,’repliedAlaricwithasmile.‘Youhavebuttolook.’HepointedtothelargewindowsatoneendoftheGreatHall,whichledontoabalconylookingoutoverthesnowyhinterlandoftheFang.UlrikfollowedthegazeofeverySpaceWolf.Throughthewindows,apairofStormwolfgunshipscameinlowoverthepeakofoneoftheFang’ssistermountains.Betweenthemwasstrunganenormousobjectthat tookshapeas themistswereblownawayby theengines– itwasa titanic lengthofcurvedbone,linedwiththousandsofteeth.Itwasseveralhundredmetreslong,andlookedtobepartofamuch,muchlargerskull.Theshipsloweredthejawboneontothepeak,whereitbecamelodgedbetweenspursofsnow-cappedrock.‘Thejawboneofthehiveship,’saidAlaricNightrunner.‘PresentedtomybrothersoftheFang.’

ClickheretobuyLegendsoftheDarkMillennium:SpaceWolves.

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