Within moments, the shuttle left the hangar of the Fist of Russ, bound for the Wings of Belisarius.
Within minutes, the shuttle docked with the Wings of Belisarius. The cruiser was warp-capable, and it had a fair complement of guns, although it was hardly a match for the powerful vessels of the Space Wolf fleet. Ragnar knew that they were being left out of the battle, sent to Fenris because Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist felt that the Wolfblade couldn’t help him defeat the Chaos fleet. What angered Ragnar most was that he knew that the Wolf Lord was right.
The members of the Wolfblade and the crew of the shuttle disembarked swiftly. The servitors in the hangar had already begun securing the shuttle for the larger ship’s warp travel. There was no time to waste. Gabriella was already on the comm to the bridge.
“Captain, we are aboard and we will be strapped in as quickly as possible. Once we are secure, we shouldn’t waste any time. We need to reach Fenris as quickly as we can,” she said.
“Haegr will once again return to Fenris. Let the gods themselves tremble in their halls,” bellowed Haegr.
A beetle flew out from under Ragnar’s shoulder pad as the group left the hangar for one of the main corridors to the restraining couches. Ragnar crushed it against the wall. “We’re done with Hyades.”
“Brilliant holiday idea,” offered Haegr cheerfully, but Ragnar wasn’t smiling.
Torin waved his hand over the activation runes for the door to one of the ship’s transport chambers. He stepped back to let Gabriella enter the room first with enough of a flourish for Ragnar to be certain that he had fully recovered.
“Captain, we’re ready,” announced Gabriella over her comm. She sat down and pulled the restraints. The others hurried to do the same.
“Activate restraints and harnesses. Prepare to enter the warp,” came the command from the ship’s speakers.
Gabriella looked over at Ragnar. “I’m sorry. You served with them before the Wolfblade,” she said.
“Sorry about what?” asked Ragnar as he finished adjusting his restraints.
“There are too many Chaos ships. They won’t survive,” she stated flatly.
Ragnar set his jaw. “They are Space Wolves.”
Before Gabriella could respond, reality folded in on itself and the colours of the room lengthened and shifted. Ragnar lost all sense of space and time. The Wings of Belisarius had entered the warp.
From the observation window on the bridge of the Fist of Russ, Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist watched the attackers come for them. Waves of enemy attack craft swarmed out of the bays of the Styx cruiser. Like monstrous bats, they covered space, blocking the light of the sun and blotting out the stars. Berek knew that it was time to find his place in the sagas, but, by Russ, they would remember him and his men for this day!
The cloud of death descended towards the Space Wolves. Berek cursed under his breath. The men of his great company had outdone themselves. They had fought the Dark Angels to a standstill and yet they had found the heart to destroy far more of the Thousand Sons than any tactician would have deemed possible.
Berek remembered the run through the Chaos cruiser. Ah! Those were the experiences that made a man’s blood burn with life. They had killed her mutant crew and detonated her power core. Two Chaos cruisers had fallen to the Fist of Russ. Now, the Styx cruiser came at them, and they limped through space, badly damaged. Berek knew that the hull of the Space Wolf vessel wouldn’t hold for much longer. “Come on you treacherous bastards! Come and destroy us if you can,” he said waving his power fist at the enemy.
“My lord, Lady Gabriella and the Wings of Belisarius have made it into the warp,” reported the ship’s guide.
“All is not lost. She’ll get word to Logan Grimnar,” the Wolf Lord said, and then continued to shout at the Styx. “Burn in hell, you traitors!”
Then, as if it was intimidated by the cursing of the Wolf Lord, the wave of enemy bombers and fighters wavered and turned, breaking up and retreating towards the Styx.
“What in the name of the Gates of Morkai?” asked Berek.
The Dark Angels battle-barge suddenly filled the view screens on the Fist of Russ. The Vinco Redemptor opened up on the Styx with all of her guns, beams of energy illuminating the void with holy fury. A myriad of smaller Dark Angels vessels erupted from behind the mighty battle-barge, guns blazing.
The Dark Angels were back. Dark Angel escorts flew in behind the remaining Chaos ships sending ravening blasts of white-hot energy into the hulls of the enemy vessels. The Vinco Redemptor showed no mercy as it launched barrage after barrage into the Styx. Large sections of the Chaos cruiser glowed and exploded into molten fragments.
The Astartes were victorious. Berek raised his fist and his heart pumped wildly.
“Wolf Lord Berek, incoming transmission,” reported comms.
Interrogator-Chaplain Vargas appeared. “Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist, I offer my congratulations and praise for your efforts and for those of your men. Your distractions allowed us time to repair and flank the enemy. The Lion will be victorious this day. Praise to the Emperor!” His voice retained a metallic ring.
“Praise to the Emperor! You abandoned us! You fled and left us to do the fighting,” shouted Berek, as anger replaced the feeling of victory. “You said that you were leaving!”
“We could not speak the truth over open channels, Wolf Lord. We are a proud Chapter just as you are. We always intended to flank them. I will grant you this: we never expected to discover that you destroyed so many. Our praise to you, Wolf Lord. Now, let both our Chapters fight as brothers against this foe and let Chaos be destroyed.”
Berek nodded. “Let Chaos be destroyed.”
The transmission ended. Berek didn’t trust the Dark Angels, but thanks to them, they would win the day.
“Engines, get us full power,” ordered the Wolf Lord. Berek turned on the ship’s full comms. “The Dark Angels have decided to join the fray. Let’s remind them who won this battle. For Fenris! For Russ! For the Emperor!”
Berek could hear the cheering of his men fill the Fist of Russ.
SIXTEEN
Return to Fenris
The Wings of Belisarius had traversed the warp to Fenris, making the journey to Fenris in good time. Upon entering orbit, Gabriella and the surviving members of the Wolfblade had boarded the same shuttle that had taken them to Hyades. Now, they rode the vehicle to Fenris. The foursome sat quietly, Gabriella beside Ragnar, who stared out of a viewport, with Haegr and Torin seated further down on the same side at another viewport. The Space Wolves all longed to see their homeworld.
Ragnar gazed out at the planet below. He was almost home. He could see the raging seas and the mountainous icebergs surging with the waves, great white shapes rocking back and forth. Storm clouds crackled with lightning, voicing their power with peals of thunder, and a wall of weather threatened to shroud the surface of the planet. Fenris was a harsh world, a cold and bitter place where only the strong survived, but most of all it was home.
He struggled to avoid shaking from the emotions he felt. He knew that he had thought a great deal of home, brooded on it in fact, but he hadn’t expected to feel this strong a reaction. He shook his head, and then grinned with exultation. Finally, he was returning to the Fang.
“Aye, I know how you feel, lad,” said Haegr. “Nothing stirs a warrior’s heart like a return home. Now, poor Torin who was completely corrupted by civilisation, he’s in for a bit of misery.”
Torin looked over. “I harbour strong feelings for Fenris as well. It’s the homeworld of our Chapter. Beyond that, I can’t feel too sentimental over endless winters, krakens, and a harsh life filled with nothing but battle and cold. Still, I understand why my brother Ragnar loves Fenris so much, and well, as for you, I expect you’ll be the cause of decades of starvation once you find the Fang’s pantries.”
“Hah, it’ll just make the rest of the Wolves tougher, weed out the frail and weak,” responded Haegr.
Ragnar could a
lmost taste the Fenrisian ale and hear the stories of the grizzled veterans concerning battles against the ork, the eldar and Chaos. He had stories that he wanted to tell too, stories about fighting cultists, Imperial assassins, Dark Angels and Thousand Sons. He couldn’t wait to see his old friends, especially Sven and the old Wolf Priest, Ranek. Sven had been with Ragnar since his choosing and was a member of Ragnar’s first claw, a bonded group of Blood Claws. Ranek had chosen Ragnar as a warrior, and although he trained hundreds of Space Wolves, Ranek had the ability to make him feel as though he were the only Space Wolf that Ranek had ever recruited.
The Fang came into view. It was the eternal fortress of the Space Wolves, the greatest mountain on all of Fenris, a spike of rock and ice so high that it pierced the sky. It dwarfed the other mountains surrounding it, and its peak even rose above the oncoming storm clouds. The warriors of Fenris viewed the Fang with superstitious awe as the home of gods. In some ways, they were right; compared to ordinary men, the Space Wolves might as well be gods. Unlike other Chapters though, the Space Wolves had never forgotten that they had once also been men.
Ragnar felt a chill race along his spine and spread outwards to cross his body. The Fang still inspired awe in his heart, and he knew that no matter what the future held, how many battles he fought or where he travelled, the Fang would always affect him this way. For him, it represented the heart of the Space Wolves and their desire to fight for their ideals against all mankind’s enemies.
Excitement mixed with dread in his gut. He was still an exile. This was a temporary visit. Seeing his friends would be bittersweet indeed, because he would have to leave again. Ragnar wanted to watch the Fang for the entire descent, but he thought that seemed like the action of a young Blood Claw and Ragnar knew that he should wait like the others.
Ragnar looked over at Gabriella, who turned her head to look away. Had she been looking at him?
Ragnar realised that Gabriella had seemed quiet and reserved since her rescue, especially around him.
“Gabriella, is something bothering you?” Ragnar whispered, although he knew that Haegr and Torin could both hear.
Gabriella met Ragnar’s eyes. “Yes, I had a vision on Hyades.”
“What was it?” he asked.
“I’m not exactly sure. It was many things, colours, shapes and images. It’s hard to know what was real and what was delusion,” she whispered, “but I think I saw a great spear, perhaps the Spear of Russ.”
“What?” asked Ragnar. His hearts nearly burst from his body. “Tell me. I have to know.”
“I don’t know much, Ragnar. I think that I saw the Thousand Sons with the Spear of Russ, but there were so many other images that I can’t be certain. It happened when I was in the bunker in the Chaos temple. I don’t know whether it was a real vision, it may just have been a hallucination. Perhaps it was a scene from the past, but I felt like the Thousand Sons had retrieved the Spear from the warp. As I said, I’m not sure, but I know how you feel about it. I just thought I should mention it. I’ll speak to the Great Wolf and the Rune Priests and see if they think it’s real.” Gabriella turned away.
“I have to find it. We have to have the chance to bring it back. That’s my chance,” said Ragnar.
The shuttle suddenly angled, making its final descent into the hangar of the Fang. The shadow of the mountain fell over the craft, darkening the viewports.
“Ho! Enough talk,” said Haegr. The shuttle decelerated and Ragnar saw the mighty sculpted wolves that stood guard over the hangar. A large emblem of the Great Wolf marked the side of the hangar. This was Logan Grimnar’s territory. The shuttle soared into the hangar and then he heard the crunch of landing gear on ice.
“We’ve landed. We are home, brothers,” said Haegr.
As the four walked out onto the icy surface of Fenris, Torin took Ragnar’s arm and pulled him aside. “Brother, listen to me and listen well. Both Haegr and I overhead what Gabriella said to you, our ears are too sharp for small quarters. Let Gabriella speak to Logan Grimnar. Don’t speak of the Spear of Russ yourself. Trust the Great Wolf.”
Ragnar swallowed. His friend was probably right. Torin understood politics. If there was any justice in the galaxy, Ragnar would get his chance, and if any leader was just, it was Logan Grimnar.
Ragnar felt chills as he walked out of the hangar into the halls of the Fang with his Wolfblade brothers, following Gabriella. The imposing majesty and strength in the rock gave this hallowed ground an indescribable feeling. Other Space Wolves walked all around, along with the human warriors who dedicated their lives to serving the Chapter. It had been a long time since he had seen so many of his fellows. The Fang was where his life as a Space Wolf had started and it was his home.
Ranek, the ancient Wolf Priest, stood in the centre of the great passage, awaiting them. “Wolfblade Ragnar, let me see you,” he said.
Ragnar immediately came to attention.
Clad in black power armour, the Wolf Priest wore a cape made from the pelt of a massive Fenrisian wolf. Like all Space Wolves, he wore teeth and wolf tails along with runes and wolf skulls as per his station. He was a large man, grey and dominating, old and strong like the mountain of the Fang itself. His fangs protruded like tusks and his beard was so grey and fine that it evoked comparisons to the colour of snow at twilight.
Ranek’s glacial blue and piercing eyes studied Ragnar, assessing him. He felt as if the Wolf Priest knew everything that had transpired in his life since he had joined the Wolfblade.
“Lady Gabriella, may I have a moment with this member of your Wolfblade?” asked Ranek.
“As you wish, Wolf Priest Ranek,” she answered. Ragnar thought that he saw a hint of a smile in her eyes. Gabriella, Haegr and Torin continued into the Fang, leaving Ragnar behind.
The old Wolf Priest sized up Ragnar, pacing around him with a stern eye. Ragnar stood to attention, feeling as nervous as he ever did under the watchful eye of the Wolf Priest. How long ago it seemed that Ranek had taken him to be reborn as a Space Wolf. Indeed, to Ragnar, it seemed long ago that Ranek had seen him, before the judgement that led to his exile. “You look good, laddie. Your time in the Wolfblade has helped you. Do you still feel like just a bodyguard?”
“No, I… I’ve learnt quite a bit.” Ragnar said, momentarily surprised at Ranek’s observations, but then, he realised that he had changed and Wolf Priests were known for their abilities to look into the hearts of men.
Ranek raised a bushy eyebrow. “I see judgement and wisdom in your eyes to go with that fire in your heart. You’ll need it.”
“Need it? For what?” asked Ragnar.
“To defend the Imperium and Fenris, as you were chosen to do. Join your battle-brothers. I want to hear your report on Hyades as well. We’ll speak more later.” Ranek clapped Ragnar’s shoulder, held his eyes for a moment, and then strode off towards a group of bellowing Blood Claws.
Ragnar hurried to rejoin the Wolfblade. Torin was grinning and Haegr looked slightly annoyed as they paced respectfully behind Gabriella.
“He was not,” said Haegr.
“Aye, that he was,” retorted Torin.
“What are you talking about?” asked Ragnar.
“We saw some new Blood Claws,” answered Torin, “and one of them was larger than Haegr, except perhaps in the belly.” Torin chuckled.
“There is no Space Wolf larger than mighty Haegr. Don’t you agree, Ragnar?” asked Haegr.
Ragnar laughed. The banter and kinship of his battle-brothers gave him relief. “Well, not that I’ve seen.”
“See, Torin? That settles the matter,” said Haegr. “Later, I’ll give you a good thrashing. Maybe it’ll put some sense back into your head.”
As they approached the Hall of the Great Wolf, the members of the Wolfblade fell into silence.
Lady Gabriella led her champions into the hall of Logan Grimnar. Great stone-carved wolfs’ heads looked down upon them. Ice coating parts of the walls of the cavernous hall made it seem like a d
eep cave, yet the banners and heraldry proclaimed that this was the hall of the greatest of lords. Advisors and warriors of the Chapter stood silently around the chamber, almost forming an honour guard, yet at the same time appearing as impassive as statues, as if they were part of the mountain itself.
The Great Wolf sat on the wolf throne, two Fenrisian wolves sitting quietly on either side. Even these massive beasts were humbled by the presence of their master. Logan Grimnar was the heart of the Fang, impassive and old beyond reckoning, yet as strong as the world. He rested a gauntleted hand on a double-headed frostaxe. He had a hardened face, craggy like the rocks and worn, yet strong, stronger than that of any man Ragnar had ever met. His beard framed his face like the ice on the sides of the Fang.
Ragnar took a deep breath and made sure to keep his eyes on the Great Wolf. He would not show fear or cowardice in front of his Chapter Master.
Gabriella knelt before the master of the Wolf Lords, as did the members of the Wolfblade in a proper show of respect.
“Lady Gabriella of House Belisarius, what tidings do you bring?” asked Logan Grimnar.
Gabriella rose to speak, and Ragnar, Torin and Haegr followed suit. Gabriella seemed like a thin dark shadow in the massive hall of the Wolf Lord.
“I bring ill tidings, Great Wolf. The capital of the planet Hyades was overrun by Chaos, and there was conflict as well with the Dark Angels. Our House was betrayed from within and the forces of the Thousand Sons are responsible for the deaths of many of my people including many noble Space Wolves.”
He replied, “Tell me everything.”
Ragnar listened as Gabriella recounted the events on Hyades. He noticed that she emphasised the heroics of the Wolfblade, although she told the truth. One did not lie to the Great Wolf.
Gabriella finished with her revelation, “There is more as well. I had a vision on Hyades. I believe that in my vision, I saw the Spear of Russ in the possession of the Thousand Sons.”
Although Ragnar did not hear a noise, he felt a collective gasp come from the assembled advisors. Such news could cause even the unwavering to waver.
[Space Wolf 05] - Sons of Fenris Page 27