A/N – And finally someone becomes a true Space Wolf, also some plotting that may cause few people to ask me if I'm insane or not and stuff moves forward.
o-0-o
Past two years were hell for Harry as he was mercilessly trained by Strybjorn, Egil and several other of Ragnar's Wolfguard whenever Ragnar's Great Company was staying at the Aett. During interludes between those periods his education in martial arts was handled by one of the Sargeants that tried to educate, Blood Claws, the most reckless and foolish part of the chapter. However that was just third of the training he needed to survive. The rest was evenly spread between academic education, handled by the machines that deposited knowledge inside of his mind and it was up to him how he sorted it and how to digest it and individual training with the Stormcaller. Even if they were hell and he spent most of his day on those activities he had something like half of a day for himself and while most of it he spent sleeping and letting his body recharge, however the rest of the time he spent discovering the Aett and enjoying the company of female kaerls that seemed very willing to flirt with him and few were even willing to go with him into his quarters.
At those memories he blushed furiously, they were awkward and embarrassing, but he needed to admit that he enjoyed what they did. He saw Njal arch an eyebrow at it and he quickly sent those thoughts away, one of the first lessons beaten into his skull by the old rune priest was simple. Mind shall stay disciplined when using any of the powers he possessed and that any thoughts that could distract him shouldn't have any place in his mind.
"Do it again," Njal said and indicated thick bar of adamantium placed between them.
Harry nodded and closed his eyes before focusing on his rage, anger, pain and unleashing it and then swiftly channelling into his arms and hands. He felt the power course through his muscles, reinforcing them and giving more power, power that he needed for the task ahead of him. He grasped the bar of adamantium with his bare hands and started to slowly tear it apart, the metal groaned and protested, but finally gave up under the strain.
He dropped pieces of metal onto the ground and looked at his hands, fait glimmer of power dancing over his skin. It felt as if he could tear anything he needed to and nothing would stop him. He flexed his fingers and looked at Njal. "That. Was. Awesome."
"Aye," Njal nodded and smiled. "A very useful gift to have and one that can save lives of your brothers on the field of battle."
"I can see that," Harry said as he looked at the metal with some wonder and shock. "I still cannot believe that it can be done."
"It can be done," Njal said and placed another bar of adamantium in front of Harry. "Again."
Harry gave his mentor a dirty look, but then nodded and focused on the task.
o-0-o
The Grandmaster looked at Carrow and frowned. "You spent three years in the Quarter and didn't learn a single thing?" He slowly asked, making the younger Inquisitor wince and inch away from him.
"Not exactly, Grandmaster," Carrow said. "I learned that the amount of Wolfblades that's serving as bodyguards to the House of Belisarius was doubled, yet one spot is still opened and apparently they wait for someone to finish the training and fill it."
"Peculiar, peculiar," the Grandmaster muttered and nodded. "Did you learn something more?"
"They are receiving equipment, a lot of it, straight out of the forges of Mars. Master crafted bolters, power weapons, Artificer Armor, Terminator Armors, Centurion Warsuits."
The Grandmaster reached for a goblet he had to his side and slowly sipped the wine as he tried to compose and calm himself. "How sure are you that those are legit pieces of data?"
"Unfortunately as sure as I can be," Carrow said. "I was able to see Mechanicus delivering four Cataphractii pattern armors."
The Grandmaster felt himself losing control over his body for a brief second before he managed to once again claim it. Those events were worrying, he could use normal zealots to deal with normal Space Marines, but against Terminators and Centurions they would get slaughtered and the only question was how gory and brutal it would be. To deal with those heavy armors he would need to give zealots heavy weapons and that could be a problem, even bigger if a good Tech-Priest could take a look at them. He weighted his options and then looked at Carrow, plan forged in his mind.
"I want you to expand the net of zealous followers of the Cult Imperialis that will be willing to give their life in the name of the Emperor," the Grandmaster said. "Tell them when the time is right they will be allowed to prove their zeal and piety by assaulting the Quarter and cleansing it from the mutants that now live within."
Carrow's eyes narrowed in question. "But the Navigators are vital to the Empire and without them we won't be able to travel between the stars."
"They will be fine," the Grandmaster said. "I just need something bloody enough to make an argument out of it to remove the Wolves from Terra and possibly get the one we want in our hands."
"The Great Wolf told me that the boy is theirs and that the next such attempt will end with violence."
"What Grimnar doesn't know, doesn't hurt him," the Grandmaster said. "If they don't find the body, they will assume he is dead and we can have him just for our needs and plans."
"I see," Carrow said and bowed his head. "If the Grandmaster allows it I will leave him alone and start preparing the zealots."
The Grandmaster dismissively waved his hand and focused on his own thoughts. What he was doing was a gamble, it was a difference between a salvation for the Imperium and its doom. That boy was too precious to be left in the hands of the crude savages from Fenris, he needed proper education that only the Inquisition could provide him with.
o-0-o
The Black Library, the most secretive of the Eldar craftworlds moved silently through the Webway, its mission sacred and possibly crucial to the salvation of the galaxy from the clutches of Chaos. On board of the Library was hidden the biggest collection of texts and lore concerning Chaos, its nature and foul intends for the galaxy and its inhabitants.
Ethereal silence filled its corridors when suddenly it was broken by the sound of pages quickly turning and moving on its own. It immediately caused a reaction from an individual dressed in a colorful outfit with a bright orange mohawk on its head and a set of graceful, alien looking weapons strapped to his body, a sword at its side and a pistol in a holster.
It was one of the Rillietann, more commonly known among the servants of the Imperium as Harlequins, Eldars that followed the Laughing God also known as Cegorach and held no allegiance to any other organized structure within the society of Eldar. He walked into the room where the book that caused the disturbance was and looked around.
It was a plain, circular room with walls grown out of wraithbone, same material that was used in the making of his weapons. In the middle was a simple pedestal with a book placed on it. Pages of the said book were flipping quickly and the Harlequin frowned at the sight. He stalked towards it like a cat and waited for them to calm down. Once they stopped he smoothed out one that remained visible and took a good look at it.
"Interesting," he muttered. "The herald of the Wolf King walks the stars and return of his master will announce the beginning of a new age. So the Mon-keigh might have some use for us."
He walked out of the chamber and felt a shiver of fear pass through his body at the sight of one of the cloaked and hooded Guardians that floated past him. If the events were moving in that direction perhaps it was a time to help the Wolf King and his loyal guards emerge out of the Warp and into the material universe.
o-0-o
Valkoth shifted uncomfortably as he entered the throne room of the Celestarch and then kneeled at the prescribed distance from her throne before bowing his head in a sign of submission to her.
"Did you summon me, M'Lady?" He asked.
"I did," she said, her voice as smooth as velvet. "I normally don't interfere in how the Wolfblades are chosen or who is being sent, however I decided to use a prerogative given to the Celestarch in the agreement signed between our house and your chapter. It allows me to choose a single person to be sent here as a Wolfblade and I decided to request that Harald Belisarius once he finishes his training is to be sent here to guard me."
Valkoth was silent for a moment, carefully gathering his thoughts. "I understand your wish, Lady Celestarch and I will notify the Great Wolf that you request Harald as a bodyguard to you. However he won't be available right once his training ends as before that he will need to be fully inducted into the ranks of the chapter."
"We understand that and we allow the chapter to adhere to all of the necessary customs and rites, yet our wish remains unchanged. As soon as he is done with them he is to be send to be a bodyguard for us."
"Of course, I understand that and the Great Wolf will, but I needed to ensure that you remember about the fact that there are rules, rites and customs of our chapter that are sacred to us and cannot be ignored."
The Celestarch nodded and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture, letting him know that he was no longer needed. He bowed his head and without any more words walked out of the room, his superiors needed to be notified about this.
o-0-o
Harry looked at his torso and frowned, the Black Carapace certainly looked weird and felt even weirder or better when in bed with a lover. He could see in his skin several places where weird black circles were formed. He knew that they were nerve interfaces that helped his body communicate with the power armor, but it looked and felt weird. He touched one and felt a jolt of energy snap through his body.
Before he had a chance to play much with them into the room entered an Iron Priest with a trail of servitors following him and carrying pieces of power armor. Pieces that once connected would be like second skin to him.
"Good that you are ready," the Iron Priest said and gave his body covered in body fitting black suit a single look. "All of the interfaces are visible, so it should go smoothly. Stand straight, spread your legs and arms and don't move."
Harry nodded and shifted into the position the Priest wanted, knowing well that even if it wasn't formulated as an order, it was one and disobedience was not a trait liked from the Aspirants.
Iron Priest nodded and took from the servitors two heavy plates that formed the breastplate and backplate of the armor. Then he positioned them on Harry's torso and once he was sure that there was a connection between the body and the systems of armor his cybernetic arms went to work. They connected plates to each other and then slowly ensured that seals were perfect and wouldn't be broken.
At this Harry felt a strange feeling, he felt as if someone just added a second layer of skin onto his body. It was a very interesting experience that he wasn't quire ready for, however before he had a chance to do much the Iron Priest quickly put on the rest of plates and in his hands remained a helmet with the faceplate shaped to resemble a head of a wolf.
"Try to move your hand," he said and Harry nodded, moving his hand and watching in wonder as he didn't feel even the slightest strain caused by the armor. "Good, really good," the priest said and handed him the helmet. "Put it on and think about sealing the armor."
Harry took the helmet and put it on, once his head was inside, in front of his eyes showed up hundreds of displays covered in data he could have needed. He thought about sealing the armor and then he felt a soft click and few runes blinked showing that he was sealed away from the world. He thought again and the lock was released.
"Good, the seal holds and Machine Spirits are happy," the Priest said and gave him a piece of rock. "Try squeezing it until it is changed to dust."
Harry took the stone and gently squeezed his fingers around it, he felt the stone resist the force and groan under the pressure.
"Enough," the Iron Priest said and before Harry could say anything he felt one of the cybernetic arms connect to his armor and modify it. "Try again."
Harry once again flexed his hand around the stone and this time felt the stone groan and creek under the pressure before finally giving up and turning into fine dust that slipped between Harry's fingers.
"That's better," the Priest said and looked at him. "You are free to leave and enjoy the time before being sworn in as the member of the Space Wolves."
o-0-o
Ragnar Blackmane entered the Chamber of the Annulus and paused when he saw just the Great Wolf inside. "Great Wolf, did you summon me?"
"Aye, I did," Logan said and Ragnar shifted into more relaxed pose. "It relates to one that you have found on Terra, he is ready to be inducted into the chapter and will you keep your oath to take him for your company?"
"Aye, I will," Ragnar said. "I want to promote him straight into my Wolf Guard."
"Very well," Logan said and Ragnar looked at him. "Tomorrow there's swearing in ceremony for other Blood Claws that are ready, he will be sworn in during it and then you can swear him in as a member of your Wolf Guard."
"Of course," Ragnar said. "If I may know, who will be swearing them in?"
"I will do it," Logan said and Ragnar looked at him in some surprise. "I'm also a Wolf Lord if you have forgotten. The fact that I don't use it, doesn't mean that I don't have this position."
"I understand, Great Wolf," Ragnar said and bowed his head in a sign of submission. "If that is all I will leave you and attend to some other matters. Ones that require my rather imminent attention."
Logan grunted something in acknowledgement and Ragnar took it as a sign to leave the old wolf alone.
o-0-o
Harry followed the stream of new Blood Claws into the Great Hall of the Fang, he felt his mind getting into the mood of the event. The day when he would become a true member of the chapter and effect of last five years of heavy work, work that he wanted to curse at times, but now he could see the effects of it.
Upon entering the Great Hall he quickly noticed massive changes in decor, tables normally used for feasting were pushed to the sides of the room leaving middle of it empty and in the place of the high table there was placed sixteen thrones roughly carved out of wood. All of them was covered with pelts of wolves, however over one was also draped a piece of black cloth.
"All of those lost to the Warp and the Thirteenth Company," Harry whispered as they were led into the Hall.
It was then when he realized that whole chapter had gathered for the ceremony and that there were thousands of battle-brothers forming companies and standing in even ranks. At the head of each company was Wolf Guard, followed by the Long Fangs, then Grey Hunters and finally Blood Claws. They were led down the open corridor formed between the ranks of the companies and the Champion of the Great Wolf stopped them once they reached the thrones. There he stopped and in front of the middle throne he turned around and looked at them.
"Form into a line," he barked out.
They obeyed his order and the moment it was done doors placed in the side of the chamber opened and through them entered whole leadership of the chapter. At the lead walked the Great Wolf and much to Harry's surprise he was followed by the leaders of the Priesthoods of Fenris, not the Wolf Lords. Those walked slightly behind and seemed to keep a respectful distance from their liege.
"Kneel," the champion barked the moment the Great Wolf took his place.
There was heard a bit rustling as they knelt on the rough stone floor of the Hall, their heads not covered by helmets and their eyes boring into the floor and avoiding the gaze of a man that was soon to become their new liege lord.
"Do you swear fealty to the Allfather?" the Great Wolf asked, his voice deep and grumbling, as if a mountain was speaking through him.
A roar of confirmation left their throats once the oath formula was pronounced by their liege. "We do!"
"Do you swear to defend the Imperium from, both internal and external enemies?"
"We do!"
"Do you swear to protect citizens of the Imperium and come to the help of those that cannot protect themselves?"
"We do!"
"Do you swear fealty to the chapter and to its leaders?"
"We do!"
At those words Logan Grimnar rose from his throne and walked towards them, his massive frame easily towering them and making them feel like children when facing their parent. "By the power passed to me from my predecessors and to them from the Russ who received it from the Allfather, I accept you into the ranks of the Vlka Fenryka."
"Rise and welcome to the chapter," Arjac said and Harry was about to rise when he saw Arjac look at him. "Harald Belisarius, remain where you are as your oaths are not done."
Harry wanted to ask questions when he saw Ragnar walk towards him, the Young King looking as regal and powerful as the Great Wolf. He stopped in front of Harry and looked at him. "Do you swear to give your life to protect me in the thick of combat?"
Harry swallowed at those words as he realized it was Wolf Guard oath, but then nodded and said clearly. "I do."
"Do you swear to avenge me in case of my death?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to be a good advisor to me and to speak what you think is right?"
"I do."
"Then I, Ragnar Blackmane, name you a member of my Wolf Guard," Ragnar said and added after the moment. "Rise and join their ranks."
Harry smiled and stood up before walking to the ranks of the Wolf Guard from Ragnar's company that moved to the side and made a space for him amongst their ranks. What followed next was a huge feast during which he consumed so much food and drinks that he had troubles believing that it was possible. When he stumbled back into his quarters he slammed onto his bed and fell asleep, too tired to do anything else.
o-0-o
Stormwolf dropped them at the end of a softly lowering valley that led into a cave placed between two massive arms of one of the numerous mountain ranges that covered the Asaheim. As they formed into a formation Harry had troubles believing that the fact that he was a member of Wolf Guard was true. Those doubts grew even stronger as he looked at the warriors which made the pack to which he was assigned, all were old and extremely experienced and under overall command of Strybjorn. Even if they numbered just ten with him, he could feel that they were able to defeat whole armies.
"Stay close to me," Strybjorn said as he approached Harry. "I know that you were good when training, but true combat is different and you might do something foolish."
Harry nodded and checked his gear, he carried with himself a power axe and a bolt pistol, two weapons that he came to adore during training and which were accessible to him. He gave a quick look at the rest of the pack and they had a collection of various power weapons and bolters.
"We check it, see what's the reason for the interference we have gotten and what had spooked Blood Claws that were around and if we meet some foes we deal with them," Strybjorn said and they nodded. "Move out, Egil, Leif, Hrolf you lead."
Three Wolf Guard named by Strybjorn nodded and moved forward while the rest of the pack fell into positions behind them. As they approached the mountain Harry felt some slight tingling sensation, feeling he was taught to associate with the usage of Warp and its powers. He briefly sniffed the air, yet he didn't feel nothing out of ordinary.
"Did you find something?" Strybjorn asked and Harry looked at him.
"Something related to Warp," Harry said and paused at the expression of the older warrior. "It could have been something old or not, I cannot tell what it is or who used it."
"That changes matters," Strybjorn said and Harry looked at him. "If you feel anything stronger tell me immediately, I already ran into the Thousand Sons in those caves or similar ones and I don't want that accident to happen."
Harry nodded as they entered the cave, air was stale and smelled with something bad, something he couldn't describe, yet it irked his senses. He quickly muttered a prayer to the Primarch and sent his psychic senses in all directions. Yet he didn't find anything and somewhat relaxed as they descended lower into the cave system.
They walked through the caves for over an hour when Strybjorn signalled all of them to stop and tapped his ear. Harry nodded at this sign and closed his eyes breathing in and out as he heard very soft sounds behind and in front of them.
"Footsteps," Egil spat as he grasped his flamer and looked around. "A group is behind us and second is directly in front of us."
"Aye," Strybjorn grimly said. "Fucking infestation of those mountains never ends. We fight our way to the surface and call for aid."
Harry nodded and checked his weapons before they started make their way out of the caves. This mission just got a lot more interesting and dangerous, at which he could feel his wolf howl in excitement and joy.
o-0-o
A/N – Things added into the story:
Ability to choose whoever they want as a Wolfblade – that's a thing any thinking ruler will write into any agreement signed by him. It allows him to deal with situation when they need more firepower than allowed by the law.
Swearing in ceremony – those things were always loud and important in almost any society and public character allowed for loud and long celebrations. Recalling the whole chapter, thing that would make it even stronger and more important.
Harry's weapons – once with the Wolfblades he will use something else, but he needs something that allows him to have some firepower and decent weapon to cut his enemies to pieces. Also a small reminder for those that don't follow Space Wolves lore so closely – Wolfblades and Wolf Guard can use any weapon they wish. Technically Harry could decide to go out in a Terminator Armor, but he lacks the training and Strybjorn would punch him through several walls for stupidity.