65: Belated Judgment (26, Triple-Length Chapter)

Leman Russ had always felt that certain qualities possessed by himself and his Legion were inseparable from Fenris.

That was not to say that that damned giant iceball was some wonderful place worthy of being praised in epic poems. Quite the opposite—Russ believed that their cruelty, ruthlessness, and savagery were all gifts from Fenris.

Though that might have sounded stupid enough to provoke laughter, he still believed it, because everything had two sides.

Fenris did not welcome the weak, but did that mean it welcomed the strong? Wrong. This lethal place, crawling with ghosts, evil spirits, and savage beasts, welcomed no one.

Even when The Emperor came, it still wore that blizzardy expression of, "You'd better get lost quickly, or hide somewhere I can't see you." As Russ remembered it, during The Emperor's very few visits, Fenris had never once shown him a friendly face.

In other words, it was fair—it treated even the Master of Mankind like that, so what more could anyone ask of it?

Thus, the wolves of Fenris were the same. They were fair as well.

Those who could get along with them would be surprised to find that these long-fanged beasts, known as killers and monsters, were actually mostly quite humorous. Many had terrible tempers, but even more could take a joke.

But now, back to that notion of two sides—only those with the courage to approach them could enjoy such treatment.

Russ raised his head and deliberately whistled. "Enjoy the hunt, you two?"

His words darkened one of the two faces covered in snow and blood. The other paid it no heed, merely nodding and raising his left hand to show the Fenrisian an enormous beast's head.

The latter remained crouched on the ground and smiled. Then, without warning, he flung his hand axe.