{oOo}

It seemed as if Russ had only been on Fenris for a few moments, although he knew looking back that he had stayed there for almost a standard month after Corax left aboard their faithful ship the Redemption of the Fallen to see to the wellbeing of his own Legion. Perhaps when matters here were done, Russ could return home once more.

"I must be getting old," he confided to Ranek, who had been detached by Ragnar to accompany him on this journey.

The old Wolf Priest refrained from smiling. "If it were not for your fangs, I would mistake you for a stripling Blood Claw in need of firm guidance, Wolf King."

"It's my youthful charm that does it," Russ agreed and kicked open the door.

Fifty thousand petitioners and Administratium clerks scattered as the Primarch sprinted along the mile-wide hallway, Ranek panting for breath as he tried his best to keep up.

At the far end of the hall, four more-than-human eyes assessed the approaching giant and raised their guardian spears before bringing the butts of the lances down up on the floor with such terrific force (the plaform beneath the door the guarded was reinforced against just such impacts) that the floor boomed like a drum. "Hail to the Wolf King, Primarch of the VI Legion, Son of the Emperor, Leman Russ approaches," they cried out in unison.

Russ skidded to a halt in front of them. "Hah, one of these days I'll make it here before you finish that spiel!" He glanced at the towering doors, each panel so large that life sized statues of long forgotten potentates were carved into them, each in fabulously expensive materials that might once have represented their wealth or their places of origin. Even the Wolf King did not remember who they were, although Horus or Serenity might have. "Are you going to let me in?"

The Custodes brought their lances down again again. "Wolf Priest of the VI Legion, Counsellor to Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane, Aide to the Primarch Leman Russ, Ranek approaches!" they intoned solemnly as the Space Wolf caught up.

Only then did the Custodes step aside to allow the doors to open, admitting the pair into the the towering antechamber that seperated the outer hall of the Imperial Palace, the portions open to freely to the noble and affluent of the Imperium, to the chanceries occupied by the administrators and politicans who directly executed the commands of the Terran Council.

Ranek had never visited the palace before and while he had heard and believed the tales, nothing really prepares you for a chamber large enough for an Imperator Titan to stand within. He knew it was that large because to reach the antechamber's other door (which he could see were guarded by Astartes in bronze-trimmed black and grey) he would have to walk between the legs of just such a Titan.

"I think I've fought campaigns that didn't involve walking such distances," he grumbled. "Haven't you people heard of Rhinos?"

"They wreck the carpets," Russ explained. "Serenity wouldn't speak to Jaghatai and Lion for a solid month after they had a race."

"Landspeeders then?"

The doors crashed closed behind them, to the sound of Russ laughing.

The Custodes were silent. Of course, they didn't need to speak to know what the other was thinking. Working together for ten eons helps with that.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE STAIRS ARE TOO STEEP!" Ranek's howl was audible despite the thickness of the doors.

{oOo}

AN: Another piece from the Heresy & Rebirth 'verse.