INWOLVES’CLOTHINGIanSt.Martin

Fractured nightmare light undulated across the faceplate of Hrothgir, born ofFenris,ashechargedintothethrongofscreamingfanatics.Hesnarledatawalloffrenziedcultists,theirabusedfacesswathedinkaleidoscopicsilksorflayedofskin,astheybroketheirtwistedbodiesagainsthim.Hrothgir’spackkepttighttoeithersideof theSpaceWolf,anunbreakableshieldwallofstorm-greypowerarmourcleavingthroughtherustedknivesandgnashingteeth.‘Forward brethren!’ roared Hrothgir, sweeping cultists apart with crushingblowsfromhiswarmaul.‘Ourtimetostrikeisnow!’TheVlkaFenrykahadsailedintotheEyelikeaneedlelancingcorruptionfroma boil, hounding a fiend from one of the Traitor Legions and his degeneraterabble across the light of toxic stars. The Wolves of Fenris had run him toground beneath the skies of this daemon world, goading him into a martialexchangehisvanitywasincapableofresisting.Once,Hrothgir’spreyhadbeenawarriorofthevauntedIIILegion,apeerlessswordsmanof theEmperor’sChildren.Hehadepitomised themartialprowessand ruthless pursuit of perfection that had swept out to reconquer the galaxyduringthetimetheAllfatherwalkedamongmortals.LikeallofhisLegion,thefiresoftheHeresyhadsearedawayanynobilityandhonor from him, andwhat remained collapsed into decadence and debauchedsorcery.FortenmillenniahehadreavedacrosstheImperiumandthemadnessofthewarp,untilhenowstoodbeforeHrothgirandhispackuponthemireofthisplanetwithintheEye.HubriswastheenduringtraitofthetraitorSpaceMarine,and as the warriors of the rout cut through the multitude of his wretcheddevoteestoreachhim,hecouldnotresistindulginginthebloodshed.‘Youareknownbymanynames,’Hrothgirboomed, levelinghiswarmaulat

the waiting champion of Chaos. ‘Scion of Chemos. Fulgrim’s Champion.Soulthief.ChampionoftheFellPowers.Buttome,wretchedone,youareonlyprey!’The traitor smiled and leapt into the fray.He had lost nothing of hismartialprowess throughout the millennia.With a silver blade and daemon-possessedlash,thefallenAngelofDeathdancedintoHrothgir’spack,awhirlinghurricaneoffeintsandprecisionblows.Aelfar – known to his packmates as Claw of the East Winds – fell first,bifurcatedfromcollartohip.ThethreadofHamaCrow-Songwascutnext,runthroughevenasthedaemoniclashpinnedhisarmstohissides.ThreemoreofHrothgir’spackwouldmeettheirdoominthenextfrenziedheartbeats.‘Our prey is a duelist,’ snarledHrothgir. ‘Let us deny him his comfort!’Hispackhowledtheirassentastheyrushedthetraitorchampionasone.ThebattledevolvedintoahowlingbrawlasHrothgir’spackassailedthescionof the Emperor’s Children. The skies above the daemon world churned,amplified by the bloodshed below and exploding in sunbursts of aurorae andtwisted light.Torrents of bile andmercury fell over the battlefield.Mountainsthrustintothefirmamentonlytocollapsemomentslaterwithinwrithingoceansofunblinkingeyes.The Wolves of Fenris dragged their foe to the ground with their combinedstrength.Hrothgir leaptupandsmashedhismauldownintothetraitor’schest.His quarry howled in joyful pain, the contorting faces that covered hisblasphemousarmourmoaninginconcertwiththeirgaoler.Hrothgirlookedintothe eyesof the championof the fallenLegion as he drewback for the killingstrike.‘So,’ the warrior of the Emperor’s Children grinned, revealing needle-sharpteeth.‘Itshallbeyou,then.’Withafinalswingofhismaul,HrothgirputthenameofLuciustheEternaltothetest,andfounditwanting.

Hrothgir stood in the silence of the battle’s aftermath as he counted his dead.Their stiffened forms lay on the blighted soil of the daemon world he stoodupon, drifting in the fringes of the Eye between the real and the unreal. Theremainder of his pack stood arrayed in loose order behind him, their armourpittedandscorchedfromthethroesofthemurdermake.ThefallenVlkaFenrykaweregatheredapartfromtheabattoirthatsurroundedthem.Heapsofbrokencorpsescoveredtheground,carvedopenbybladesand

ruptured by boltgun fire. Their emptied lifeblood had turned the soil into asticky, rust-red loam.Whatwas recognisable as having ever been humanwascovered in blasphemies and entreaties to the fell entities of the warp whoseprovincewaspleasureandpainbeyondreality’sremit.At Hrothgir’s word, Tohern played his flamer over the bodies of their foes,reducing the remains to charred husks rimed with greasy ash.Who they hadbeen,theSpaceWolvescouldnotsaywithclarity,butnothingcoulddistinguishthemnow.Hrothgirgrippedthepommelofhiswarmaul,itsheadrestingagainstthesourearth.HiskinknewhimasStoneAmongtheTroubledSky.Hewasimplacable,theiranchor,nevergivingvoicetopainorjoyorrage.Someinhispackbelievedhelackedthefeelingtodoso,butthosefiressmoulderedwithinhimassurelyasinanyoftherout.His resolveburiedsuchemotions, lockinghispassionawaybeneathglaciersofdiscipline–disciplinethathadbeentestedbythishunt.Eventhroughtheirrespiratorvoxgrills,theSpaceWolvescouldsmellairthickwithspiceandcloyingsweetness twisting through thebloodandsmokeof thebattlefield.Dozensofmoonshung in the transient skies likepearls cast into achemical spill. They appeared and collapsed, grew faces and devoured eachotherwithfangshewnfrommountainranges.Hrothgirwantedtospit,theutterwrongnessoftheplaceraisinghishackles.Hedid not dwell upon the madness that surrounded them. The pack leader’srestraintkept thatdoorclosed.Hiswarriors ran fingersoverworn fetishesandtalismans.Hecouldhearthemwhispertooneanother.‘Howlonghavewebeenhere?’‘Whocansay?Eventimeispoisonedhere.’‘…maleficaruminfestseverything…’‘…everygrainofsand…’‘…eachbreathofair…’Hrothgir’s grip tightened around his maul’s haft in a creak of worn leather.They had been within the miasma too long. He watched as Vyght crouchedamidstthefallen,theWolfPriestattendingtotheritualsofthedead.‘Ourhunt is finished,’ saidVyght.He lookedup atHrothgir frombehindhiscaninedeathmask.‘AndweshallnotreturntotheHearthworldempty-handed.’Hrothgirreliveddealingthekillingblowperfectly.The force of the strike tore the traitor swordsman’s sneering head from hisshoulders in a fountain of blood as dark as midnight. The trembling facespressingagainstthesurfaceofLucius’armourshrieked,babblingincoherencies

withdozensofoverlappingvoices.Theancientwar-plateshivered,drainingofitsvioletcolourandfragmentinglikeshatteredglass.Hrothgir reached down, then snatched his hand back as the headless bodydisintegrated into a heap of boiling ash. The detritus leapt upon the wind,corkscrewinginwhorlsthatsparkedanddispersedintosmokeandnothing.AllthatremainedofLuciustheEternalwasthesilverbladehehadcarried,scarletwiththebloodofHrothgir’skin.Takingtheswordfromtheground,Hrothgir,StoneAmongtheTroubledSky,feltsomethingquiverwithinhim,strainingagainstthebarricadesofhisresolve.For thousands of years this fiend had assailed the dominion of theAllfather.Thebloodofmillions–men,kings,SpaceMarines,wasonhishands.Hewasasingularenemyofmankind,andonthisday,Hrothgirhaddefeatedhim,andsenthimscreamingintooblivion.Hrothgirfeltitforaninstant,asifhisheartshadpushedicewaterthroughhisveinsforasinglebeat.Heexperiencedsomethinghehaddeniedhimselfallhislife,crushedbeneathdisciplineandcontrol.Hefelttriumph.Hrothgir buried the memory of his conceit, shaking away the reverie andsnarlingathislapseofcontrol.HeturnedhisheadtoregardVyght,astheWolfPriestrosefromhisministrations.‘Ourbrothers?’Hrothgirasked,hisvoicegravelly.‘Their essence is tainted,’ growled Vyght from his wolf skull helm, shakingbloodfromtheFangofMorkaihehadusedtoremovetheprogenoidsfromthedead.‘Itislosttous,’Hrothgirsaidnothing,hiseyeslockedtothesilverbladeheldinhishands.Thegleamof theaether’s light twitchedandpulsedover itsblasphemousedge.Hedidnotrememberdrawingtheswordfromwherehehadhungitonhisbelt,ashiswarmaullayforgotteninthedust.‘We cannot tarry here any longer,’ said Vyght, leaning closer. ‘This place isstirringadarknesswithinus.Wemustbethelightning,gonebeforethethundercomes.’‘Wherearehisbrothers?’Hrothgirasked,gesturingtothecorpseslayeringtheground. ‘We slaughtered mortals, thin-blooded slaves fit to be nothing butcarrion. Our prey commanded Space Marines, ancient killers of their thrice-damnedLegion.Thereisnothingofthem?’ItwasthenthatHrothgirheardit.Alaboured,wrackingchoke,emanatingfromthemoundsofcorpsesnotyetsettotheflame.TheSpaceWolvessearchedthe

butcher’s carpet, finding the source of the noise shivering amongst its fouldeparted brethren.Gone from thewaist down, tattered strings of broken fleshtrailingfromitsseveredtorso,somethingthatmayhaveoncebeenhumanpulleditselftothesurfacefromthemoundsofdead,stilldrawingfeveredbreath.It did not surprise Hrothgir. Half a man could take hours to scream out theremainderofhislife,afacthehadknownlongbeforehehadascendedtostandamong theEinherjar.What surprisedHrothgirwas the noise coming from thewretch.Itwaslaughter.‘He’llcomeback,’saidthetwistedfiendbetweensnarlsofagony,itsdeliriousvoicewetwithblood.‘Healwayscomesback.’Hrothgir crossed the distance between them in four strides, standing to loomover thedyingcreature.Helookeddownas thefiendreturnedhisgazefromaface flayed of its skin, the raw glistening muscle covered in twitchingblasphemousrunes.Age,gender,nothingwasdiscernable,otherthanalifetimeof desecration. A single eye, jaundiced and bloodshot, bulged as it laughedagain.‘Heiseternal,youwillsee.’AtwitchskitteredupHrothgir’sface.Lucius’swordwasgrippedtightlyinhisfist.With slow, almost contemplative care, Hrothgir placed his boot over thewretch’shead.Hedidnotstampdown,butslowlypressedhisfoottotheground.The fiend’s laughter became shrieks of agony, shot through with breathlessmoansasitsskullflexedunderthetitanicstrain.‘Thank… you,’ the wretch choked in reed-thin adoration, before its skullcollapsedlikearottenfruit.Hrothgirwipedthedetritusfromhisboot,breathingout the toxic mist that shrouded the world and shaking away the shudderclimbinghisspine.Heturnedtohispack.‘Weleave,’henoddedtoTohern.‘Everythingburns.’Silent,Tohern stepped forward and levelledhis flamerupon thepack’s dead.With a shriek of igniting promethium, theSpaceWolf enveloped the fallen inflames.TheonlysoundtranscendingthescreamingfirewasthehowlingdirgeoftheWolvesleftstanding.

Thepackmade the trekacross theblightedplains toaclearing, trudgingshin-deep through themudof thehumandead.The skies abovehadquieted in thetime since the murdermake had ceased, but still twitched and flowed inincomprehensible patterns. TheWolves averted their gaze, keeping their eyes

low and fighting the ticks and twitches that skittered over their flesh likephantomspiders.AThunderhawkinthestorm-greyliveryoftheroutscreameddownfromorbitto receive them.Hrothgir andhispack filedup theembarkation ramp into thegunship, as slack grey servitors fused to heavy bolter turrets panned thelandscapeforthreats.Astheboardingrampsealedandthegunship’sretrosfiredtoliftthembackintoorbit, thepackremovedtheirhelmswithgaspsofventingairpressure.Scarredfaces and sweat-matted beards glistened in the ochre light from theThunderhawk’shold.OnlyVyghtremainedhiddenbehindhisdeathmask.Hrothgirlookedfrombrothertobrotherwithsilvereyessunkenintoafaceofweatheredflesh,seeingthebone-deepwearinessanddisquietsownamongsthispackthatmirroredwhathefeltwithinhimself.Thishunthadcostthemdearly,inoath-sworn brothers and exposure to the rampant maleficarum of the Eye’sfrontier.‘Kindred,’saidVyght,standinginthetroopholdasthegunshipblastedthroughtheatmosphere.‘Wehaveshedbloodandmoreinthishunt.Nowitisfinished.WesailbacktotheAettinvictory,andthesagasofthisdayshallechofromitswallsuntiltimeceases.Letusrejoiceandhonorourfallen.’Hrothgirwas not listening.All he could hearwas the laughter of the cultist,dyingupontheinfernalsoilofthedaemonworld.Healwayscomesback.Vyghtspreadhisarmswide.‘Wearegoinghome.’

Hefell.Tumbling,spinningendoverendthroughendlessblack.Hurtlingfasterandfasterasfacesresolvedfromthedarkness,palehandsreaching,envelopinghim.A shadow fell across him, impossible in the complete black, closingoverhimtotheechoofscreaminglaughter–Hrothgir’seyessnappedopen.Torchlightbathedthestonewallsofthefeastinghall fromblazing coal pits, illuminating the long table aroundwhich the packsat.Aprocessionofmasked thrallsbrought racksof roastedmeatandmjod inlarge wooden bowls, special reserves set aside for the feast to mark theconclusionoftheirhunt.TheWolveshadremovedtheirpowerarmour,leavingitbelowintheholdsoftheReioditobethrice-purifiedandcleansedofthetaintofthemaelstrom.Theywore jerkins of beaten leather, festooned with knotwork patterns of eachwarrior’s own design. Only Vyght, as always, remained in his armour. Serfs

encircled him, cleansing his war-plate and enveloping him in fragrant smokefrom censers that they swung about his figure as they chanted wards againstsorcery.Themoodof thepackhad lightened,and thewarriors sangand jokedamongoneanother.Thefeastatahunt’sendservednotonlyasacelebrationofvictory,butasafuneraryriteforthosewhofellbringingtheirpreytoitsend.UpontheirreturntoFenris,thenamesofthedeadwouldbeinscribedwithintheAett,whereallwouldremembertheirnamesanddeeds.Setuponanironrackatthecenterofthefeastingtable,theswordofLuciustheEternalgleamedinthefirelight,thespoilsoftheirtriumphelevatedforalltosee.Hrothgirwastransfixedbyit.Forall thetimetheyhadpursuedLucius,alltheworldstherouthadburnedforthesinofhistouch,forallthedeathithadtakentogettohim–thehunthadendedtooquickly.Theirpreyhadfallentooeasily.Wherewerehisbrothers?Hrothgirlookeddownuponhishands,hisseverefeaturescreasingintoafrown.New scars covered his weather-beaten skin, threaded in crimson and black.Uneasecrawledoverhim likecoldoil.With thesurgeriesandministrationsofthe flesh-smithsat the timeofhisascension, itwas impossible forHrothgir totrulyforgetanything.Yethecouldnotrecallearningthesescars,orthestrange,precisepatternstheydescribed.Vyghtstood,scatteringtheserfssurroundinghimandrappinganarmouredfistupon the table to gather the pack’s attention. ‘Brothers, our hunt is over. Awretched champion of the Archenemy is fallen, and we return to Fenris inglorious victory.’ The Wolf Priest turned to Hrothgir. ‘Stone Among theTroubled Sky, it is your right to speak the saga of this hunt, that all of theEinherjarshallsingitacrosstheAllfather’sdomain.’Thepackdrummedtheirfistsagainst thetable.Hrothgirroseslowly,blinkingtofocus.Astrangeodorfilledhisnostrils,asifhisfleshwererotting.Hisheadthrobbed in rhythmwith thebeatofhishearts,as fever sweatglistenedonhisbrow.‘My thegn?’ asked Vyght, his voice betraying the concern his masked facedenied.‘It is nothing.’ Hrothgir replied, his voice thin. He took the bowl of mjodoffered tohim, and raised it beforehisbrothers.Hedrewbreath to speak,butfaltered.Hisvisionblurred,shotthroughwithslashesofred.Thebowlfellfromhishand,crashingtothestonefloorasHrothgirfelltohisknees.‘Thegn!’ Tohern rushed to Hrothgir’s side. He threw his arm out, pushing

Tohernbackashegaspedforbreath.Hisbackarched,andheretchedatorrentofblacksludgeontothefloor.Hrothgir’sheadsanktotheground,andhesnarledashisskinrippledandtwitched.Thepack tensed,eyeswide.Forall the superhumanstrengthandnobility theinheritanceofLemanRussbestowedupon theSpaceWolves, italsoconferredanaffliction,lockedawaydeepwithintheirblood.‘Isthis–’Tohernbegantosay,hisvoicegutturalashisownbloodbegantoboil.‘Awayfromhim!’Vyghtshouted.‘Thisisnotthecurse!’Hrothgir roared as hismusculature swelled, his skin splitting like oil-soakedcanvas. His flesh sloughed from his frame in greasy ribbons, revealing thepulsing,bleedingmeatbeneath.Hisfacecontorted,twistingandsnappingasthebonesreformed.Scarsetchedthemselvesoverhisentirebody,likesomeobscenecartographer’ssurveyoftheEyeitself.TheSpaceWolf’showlbecameinhuman,beyondpain,beyondhorror.Hisheadcollapsed, sinking into his ribcage until his face pressed out frombeneath themeat of his chest. Another howling face pressed alongside Hrothgir’s, thenanother,andanother,coveringhistorsoinwailingfacades.Hrothgir’s naked muscle petrified, calcifying into a hardened shell. Thechrysalissnapped,formingindividualridgedplates.Blasphemoussigilswormedtothesurface,andaknobofobscenefleshswelledbetweenhisshoulders.Witha sickening wet snap, a skull formed, sheathed in crimson muscle and pale,torturedskin.Hrothgir’s screaming never ceased, joining the countless writhing faces thatcovered thearmour.Witha shudderinggasp,Lucius theEternal stood, turningtowardthegatheredSpaceWolves.‘Ah,cousins,’Luciussmiled,‘itissogoodtobeback.’The Wolves roared. Something snapped within them. The final barricadeholdingbackthedarknesswithin,erodedtogossamerfromthemadnessof thehunt,was finally breached.Their howls deepened, becomingbestial and feral.Fangspunchedoutfromprotrudingsnoutsastheirbodiesbecameswollen,andhookedclawsburstfromtheirfingers.Theirjerkinssplitandtoreastheirbodiesmutated, morphing into hulking lupine monstrosities. The transformed SpaceWolvesbared their fangsatLucius, froth foaming fromsnapping jawsas theymovedtosurroundhim.Wulfen.Lucius’gringrewwider. It hadbeencenturies sincehehad last seentheirkind.Thiswouldbeinteresting.Luciusflexedhisrightarm.Withawetsnapoftearingsinew,aropeofbarbed

meatslithereddowntothefloor,coilingaroundtheChaoschampion’sforearm.Thelashchitteredandhissed,thedaemoncagedwithinitstarvingforblood.Hethrewthewhipforward,wrappingitaroundthehandleofhissabreandhaulingitbacktohim.Hecaughtthesword,rollinghiswristandslicingtheair.‘Well?’Luciusasked.‘Who’sfirst?’TheWulfenleaptathim.Luciussidesteppedone,usingthebeast’smomentumtocleaveitinhalfuponthebladeofhissabre.Heswepttheweaponuptoblockanother’s slashing claws, severing the creature’s forearms in a fountain of hotblood.Luciusgaspedasthebloodsplashedoverhisface.Thefirstbloodsheduponhisreturntothelivingalwaysdeliveredthehighestecstasy,andheshudderedashedrankthesensationin.Healmostdidn’tseetheroaringSpaceWolfrushinghim,drunkenlyswayingasideasitskiddedpasthim.Lucius hurled hiswhip toward theWulfen. The lash closed around its head,venomous barbs sinking into flesh. Lucius hauled back, tearing the creature’shead from its shoulders in awelter of gore and torn cartilage.The lash drankdeepofthebloodandspinalfluidpulsingfromtheseveredhead,castingasideashriveled,shrunkenlumpoffleshandskulltothefloorwhenithadhaditsfill.Luciusweaved throughabarrageof clawsand snapping jaws,disemboweledanotherWulfenwithablindingseriesoflightning-fastslashes,andspuntofacethelastoftheirnumber.Hecouldstillseecrackedplatesofebonpowerarmourbeneaththethickfurofthebeast,asitglaredathimwithblazingambereyes.Lucius swung his lash. The Wulfen charged, ducking beneath and clear. ItrolledtothesideasLuciuslungedwithathrustofhissword,thebladelaceratingitsflankwithoutinflictingamortalwound.The Space Wolf slashed at Lucius, its claws tearing deep gouges into hisarmour.Itdrewbacktostrikeagain,butfalteredasitmetthevisageofHrothgirscreaming from beneath the plate. It hesitated for a heartbeat; all the openingLuciusrequired.Lucius snarled, pistoning a fist into theWulfen’s jaw and tackling it to theground.TheChaosSpaceMarineseizedhis foe’s throat inastranglehold,andbegantosqueeze.‘Iwouldhaveexpectedbarbarians to shun theperfectionof theduel,’Luciushissedashetightenedhisgrip.‘ButeveninyourmongreleyesIseetheshockyoucannothide.Ishouldnotbe.Yourbrotherkilledme.’The Wulfen that had once been Vyght bucked, snarling as it thrashed todisplace the champion of Chaos. Lucius brought his scarred head down in a

savageheadbutt,smashingthecreature’sheadagainstthestonefloor.‘Donotinterrupt.HowlongwasIdeadtoyou?Hours?Days?’LuciusleanedaninchfromthestunnedWulfen’sface.‘Ifellforeternity,drowninginthedregsthat flood the lands of the dead.But I amEternal, and formy sins, thewarpgrantedmevindication.AllIneededwasasinglething.’Lucius’lipspeeledbackfurtherfromblackgums.‘Pride.Amomentofvanity,themerestaggrandisementbyyourmongrelchieftainblazedlikeabeaconintheaether. I followed it, tobe rebornand takehis fleshasmyown. Iwanted thisship,andallIhadtodotogetitwasdie.’The Wulfen’s eyes refocused, its pupils sable pinpricks in molten amber. Itroaredfromfrothingjaws,freeinganarmtorakeitsclawsacrossLucius’face.Viscous black fluid burst in gouts from the champion’s rent flesh as his headsnappedback.Lucius grappled with the Wulfen, snarling as he looped his lash around itsthroat.Thedaemonicwhipconstricted,stranglingthelifefromtheSpaceWolf.‘Ifyouarenobetterthanbeasts,thenIshallbutcheryoulikebeasts!’TheWulfen’seyesbulged,bloomingcrimsonascapillariesruptured.‘More,’itgrowledinaferalchoke,fightingtopushthewordsbetweenmonstrousfangs.‘Morewillcome.’Lucius leaned closer, grinning as his serpentine tongue slithered between hispointed teeth. ‘Cousin, I amcountingon it.’Hepried theWulfen’s jawsopenanddrovehissworddownthroughtothestonefloor.Luciuswrenchedthebladefree and pushed himself off the beast’s twitching chest, standing as its bloodemptiedoverhisbootsinaflood.

Lucius stood in the feasting hall, alone but for the crackle of fires and thewhispers within his mind. The trapped souls of his armour moaned, eachshackled to the Chaos SpaceMarine as the price for defeating him in battle.EachsurrenderingtheirfleshuponthealtaroftheEternal’srebirth.Lucius clenched a fist, the flesh numb and twitching against his control. Hefrowned.Lessand lessofhimwas returning.Somethingcoldandancientwasgrowing over the parts he had been forced to leave behind, coiled dormantbehindhiseyes.ItstrainedattheperipheryofLucius’mind,patientasitswelledintothegapsthatoblivionhadstrippedawaytoclaimforitsown.Lucius felt it taking root, tasting reality with probing gossamer fronds. Hewonderedhowlonguntilnothingofhimremained,untilhediedforthelasttime.WhatwouldemergefromdeathonthedayheceasedtobeEternal?

Lucius cast the rumination aside to relish themoment.He lifted an armof adeadWulfen by the wrist, and swung his blade. Blood flecked the walls andfloor ashe set abouthis task, silent but for the songof steel slicing flesh andsnappingbone.Helookedoverthefeastinghallhehadmadeintoanabattoir,thestonefloorstrewnwithbutcheredremainsscatteredinconcentriccirclesaroundhim.Luciusclosedhiseyes,and loosenedhisgripover theanguishedsoulsboundwithinhisarmour.Thefacesscreamed,desperatetoclawthemselvesfree.Theshriektorethroughreality, through the decks of the Reiodi and into the turbulent void beyond,reachingthosewhowaitedinsilence.‘Brothers,cometome.’Theseveredlimbsandbodiestrembled,rimingwithfrostastheyquiveredandshookinthefreezingair.Boilsbloomedfromthestumpofanarm,swellingandexpandinglikecanceroustumors.Theycontinuedtogrow,darkeningtothecolorofspoiledmeat.Eachsectionofcorpsereactedthesame,buddingandgrowing.Torsos sprouted new arms and legs. Heads grew bodies, and orphaned limbsgeneratednewfleshsheathedinfrozenbrackishslime.Blood and mucus wept from the walls, and the flames within the coal pitsundulatedinthefullspectrumofunnaturalcolours.Luciussmiled,hisserpent’stonguetastingthebloodrunningfromhisnoseastheritualcontinued.The emergent forms coalesced. Armour of sable and mauve hardened likecarapace.Weaponsmaterialized,clenchedinmailedfists,andscreamstorefromthegrillesofdaemonichelmsfromtheagonyofthesummoning.With a howling gale, the fires in the feasting hallwere extinguished.TwelveChaosSpaceMarines,fallenangelsoftheEmperor’sChildrenboundinservicetoLuciustheEternal,rosetostandaroundtheirlord.Karonatius strode forward in twisted armour of jagged violet teeth thatweptmoltengold.‘Eternal,youarewholeagain.’Luciusnoddedtohis lieutenant. ‘Purgetheship.Killanythatresistbut leavethoseIspokeofalive.Theywillbeneeded.Go.’Karonatiusslammedafistagainstthedefiledimperialeagleonhisbreastplate,itsskeletalwingsseemingtotwitchwithanguishedlife.Hedrewascimitar,itsbladescreamingasapowerfieldenvelopeditinkillinglight,andmarchedfromthechamberwithLucius’warriors.Luciusopenedavoxchannelonhisarmour,utteringasinglename.‘Clarion.’

Foramoment,heheardnothingbutfaultystatic,beforehereceivedareply.‘Master,’itspokewithachild’svoice,‘youhavereturnedtous.’‘Summon the fleet,’ said Lucius. ‘Do not concern yourself with the wolves’guns,theywillbesilentbythetimeyouarrive.’‘Tellme,lord,’Clarionhissed,hervoicebetrayinghersmile,‘howlongwasitthistime?’‘Justbringthefleet,’Luciussnarled.‘Wehavewhatwecameherefor.’

Much of the Reiodi’s crew had resisted Lucius’ warband as they rampagedthroughtheship’sdecks,songsofFenrisstreamingfromtheirlipsastheydefiedthe invaders. Their skins now covered the walls of the bridge, flayed facesgazingdownuponLuciusandhiswarriors.Hehad transportedmutatedslavesfromhisarmadatoreplacethebutcheredcrew,keepingthosewhoservedcriticalroles aboard the Fenrisian warship alive. One such wretch arrived upon thecommanddeckastheportaltothechamberrumbledopenonsmoothhydraulics.Skeletally thin and frail, the astropath limped forward in chains. Karonatiusdraggedhimonward,andthrewhimatLucius’feet.Theblindpsykertrembled,risingandsteadyinghimselfon thebronzestaffhecarried.He lookedupwitheyesstitchedshutwithsilversutures,andcriedoutashebeheldLucius.Through his mind’s eye, the astropath saw dozens of souls, howling andwrithing around each other, fettered to the black diamond will of the ChaosSpaceMarine.Theessencesofancientwarriorslongdead,andviciouswarlordsfrombeyondtheEyeofTerror.HesawthesoulofLordHrothgir,howlingintheanguishofhiseternalprison.Dozensofspirits inhabitedthefleshofthefallenSpace Marine simultaneously, the abominable impossibility of it driving theailingpsykerbacktohisknees.‘Whatareyou?’theastropathfaltered.Luciussmirked.‘Iamtheonewhodecideswhetheryourskinstayswithyouorjoinsyourcomrades’onthewalls.’Hepointedattheflayedhideswithhissabreashislashslitheredrestlesslyathisfeet.‘TheSkyWarriorswillnotbecowedbyyou,’saidtheastropath,thestrengthofhiswordsmarredbythetremorsinhisvoice.‘Theywillcomeandfinishwhatmylordstarted.’‘Oh?’Luciusreplied,tiltinghishead.‘Well,thatcertainlysavesmetheeffortofgoingtothem,doesitnot?Still,’hespreadhisarms,gesturingtothewallsoftheSpaceWolvesvesselaroundthem,‘itwouldseemwastefulnot tomakeuseofthisship.Theyareexpectingthereturnofheroesintriumph,buthowmightthey

receive me in the halls of their mountain bastion? Your lords do so lovesurprises.’ThethoughtshiveredoverLucius’mind.Anobsessionthathadconsumedhimfornearlyacentury.Thechancetoduelonewhohadenduredthemillenniaheandhis fallenkindredhadspent inexile.Asingularwarrior,nowtheirancientWolfKing.Luciushadcrossedpathswith theFell-Handed in theyearsof theGreatCrusade,andtherewerenootherssavethefalseEmperorhimselfthatstilldrewbreathfromthattime.HewouldstrikeablowsoseverethattheywouldhavenochoicebuttorouseBjorntofacehim.Andhewouldusethisshiptodoit.ThesubterfugerankledLucius,butapleasurepostponedmade itall themoresatisfyingat its climax.Hewould spillbloodover the snowof theirmountaincitadel. He would succeed where a primarch had failed. Lucius shuddered,savoringthecloyingblasphemyofthethought.Buttodoso,hewouldneedtobleedthedefensesofFenriswhite.Whentheywere isolated and desperate, with their fleets burning, Lucius would have thecontesthesocraved.‘Now,’Lucius purred. ‘Screamout into the stars, little herald ofFenris.’ TheEternal leaned forward in the throne. Cupping theman’s head in one clawedhand,Luciusgrinnedashesavouredthehorrorwrackingthestrickenastropath.‘Andbringmemorewolves.’

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

IanSt.Martinhaswrittentheshortstories‘CityofRuin’and‘InWolves’Clothing’forBlackLibrary.HelivesandworksinWashingtonDC,theUS,

caringforhiscatandreadinganythingwithinreach.

TheLordsofChaosgathertheirforces...TheCallofChaosechoesacrossacrosstheMortalRealmsandintothe

grimdarknessofthefarfuture.

Twonewserialisedsupplements,andnewfictionforWarhammer40,000andWarhammerAgeofSigmar.

CollectthemallandanswertheCallofChaos.

http://www.blacklibrary.com/call-of-chaoshttp://www.blacklibrary.com/call-of-chaoshttp://www.blacklibrary.com/call-of-chaos

http://www.blacklibrary.com/newsletter

ABLACKLIBRARYPUBLICATION

Publishedin2015byBlackLibrary,GamesWorkshopLtd,WillowRoad,Nottingham,NG72WS,UK.

ProducedbyGamesWorkshopinNottingham.

InWolves’Clothing©CopyrightGamesWorkshopLimited2015.InWolves’Clothing,GW,GamesWorkshop,BlackLibrary,TheHorusHeresy,TheHorusHeresyEyelogo,SpaceMarine,40K,Warhammer,Warhammer40,000,the‘Aquila’Double-headedEaglelogo,andall

associatedlogos,illustrations,images,names,creatures,races,vehicles,locations,weapons,characters,andthedistinctivelikenessesthereof,areeither®orTM,and/or©GamesWorkshopLimited,variablyregistered

aroundtheworld.AllRightsReserved.

ACIPrecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.

ISBN:978-1-78572-015-4

Thisisaworkoffiction.Allthecharactersandeventsportrayedinthisbookarefictional,andanyresemblancetorealpeopleorincidentsispurely

coincidental.

SeeBlackLibraryontheinternetatblacklibrary.com

FindoutmoreaboutGamesWorkshop’sworldofWarhammerandtheWarhammer40,000universeat

games-workshop.com

http://www.blacklibrary.comhttp://www.games-workshop.com

eBooklicense

Thislicenseismadebetween:

GamesWorkshopLimitedt/aBlackLibrary,WillowRoad,Lenton,Nottingham,NG72WS,UnitedKingdom(“BlackLibrary”);and

(2)thepurchaserofane-bookproductfromBlackLibrarywebsite(“You/you/Your/your”)

(jointly,“theparties”)

Thesearethetermsandconditionsthatapplywhenyoupurchaseane-book(“e-book”)fromBlackLibrary.Thepartiesagreethatinconsiderationofthefeepaidbyyou,BlackLibrarygrantsyoualicensetousethee-bookonthefollowingterms:

*1.BlackLibrarygrantstoyouapersonal,non-exclusive,non-transferable,royalty-freelicensetousethee-bookinthefollowingways:

o1.1tostorethee-bookonanynumberofelectronicdevicesand/orstoragemedia(including,bywayofexampleonly,personalcomputers,e-bookreaders,mobilephones,portableharddrives,USBflashdrives,CDsorDVDs)whicharepersonallyownedbyyou;

o1.2toaccessthee-bookusinganappropriateelectronicdeviceand/orthroughanyappropriatestoragemedia;and

*2.Fortheavoidanceofdoubt,youareONLYlicensedtousethee-bookasdescribedinparagraph1above.YoumayNOTuseorstorethee-bookinanyotherway.Ifyoudo,BlackLibraryshallbeentitledtoterminatethislicense.

*3.Furthertothegeneralrestrictionatparagraph2,BlackLibraryshallbeentitledtoterminatethislicenseintheeventthatyouuseorstorethee-book(oranypartofit)inanywaynotexpresslylicensed.Thisincludes(butisbynomeanslimitedto)thefollowingcircumstances:

o3.1youprovidethee-booktoanycompany,individualorotherlegalpersonwhodoesnotpossessalicensetouseorstoreit;

o3.2youmakethee-bookavailableonbit-torrentsites,orareotherwisecomplicitin‘seeding’orsharingthee-bookwithanycompany,individualorotherlegalpersonwhodoesnotpossessalicensetouseorstoreit;

o3.3youprintanddistributehardcopiesofthee-booktoanycompany,individualorotherlegalpersonwhodoesnotpossessalicensetouseorstoreit;

o3.4youattempttoreverseengineer,bypass,alter,amend,removeorotherwisemakeanychangetoanycopyprotectiontechnologywhichmaybeappliedtothee-book.

*4.Bypurchasingane-book,youagreeforthepurposesoftheConsumerProtection(DistanceSelling)Regulations2000thatBlackLibrarymaycommencetheservice(ofprovisionofthee-booktoyou)priortoyourordinarycancellationperiodcomingtoanend,andthatbypurchasingane-book,yourcancellationrightsshallendimmediatelyuponreceiptofthee-book.

*5.Youacknowledgethatallcopyright,trademarkandotherintellectualpropertyrightsinthee-bookare,shallremain,thesolepropertyofBlackLibrary.

*6.Onterminationofthislicense,howsoevereffected,youshallimmediatelyandpermanentlydeleteallcopiesofthee-bookfromyourcomputersandstoragemedia,andshalldestroyallhardcopiesofthee-bookwhichyouhavederivedfromthee-book.

*7.BlackLibraryshallbeentitledtoamendthesetermsandconditionsfromtimetotimebywrittennoticetoyou.

*8.ThesetermsandconditionsshallbegovernedbyEnglishlaw,andshallbesubjectonlytothejurisdictionoftheCourtsinEnglandandWales.

*9.Ifanypartofthislicenseisillegal,orbecomesillegalasaresultofanychangeinthelaw,thenthatpartshallbedeleted,andreplacedwithwordingthatisasclosetotheoriginalmeaningaspossiblewithoutbeingillegal.

*10.AnyfailurebyBlackLibrarytoexerciseitsrightsunderthislicenseforwhateverreasonshallnotbeinanywaydeemedtobeawaiverofitsrights,andinparticular,BlackLibraryreservestherightatalltimestoterminatethislicenseintheeventthatyoubreachclause2orclause3.

CoverIn Wolves’ Clothing – Ian St. MartinAbout the AuthorLegaleBook license