A large circular platform had been erected in the middle of the largest intersection of the colony. Torches attached at regular intervals along the circumference lit up the Skaven coming and going with their flickering flames. Everyone could attend the ceremony or pass the way, provided that there was no disturbance. Also, there were around thirty onlookers gathered on the lawn. On stage, two groups could be made out. Five young and rather intimidated Skaven formed the first, and facing them, Grey Seer Vellux, supreme authority of Brissuc, was waiting, assisted by two Skaven henchmen wearing dresses. One carried a copper tray on which laid a long rusty knife, the other held a small iron cauldron filled with water. Behind the servants stood a rather old Skaven wearing a black dress, a large face-scarred Black Skaven, a stocky Skaven with an apron and pockets full of tools, and a dark-coated Skaven with a black cape and hood.
The Grey Seer raised his hands, turned his eyes toward the ceiling.
- Oh, Horned Rat, you can be delighted. Today, five of your children are now able to serve you as they should. As required by our custom, they shall now introduce themselves!
Then he returned to the five brothers. He gestured toward the elder, the biggest and strongest. The latter gulped and stepped forward, then knelt before the Grey Seer, looking down. Vellux asked in a loud voice:
- Who are you?
- I am Chitik, a Mighty Black Skaven, the other replied. I am ... I am the arm of the Horned Rat. My black coat aspires – err, inspires the fear of death.
The Black Skaven had trouble finding all the words of his introduction. Grey Seer Vellux was not offended, and continued:
- Why were you born?
- To... to crush all enemies of the superior race! To destroy-destroy everything that does not please the Horned Rat!
He took a breath, and waited anxiously, watching for any sign from one or other of the elders of the colony, particularly his chief, Clawleader Furghân. But none reacted. Finally, with a hand sign, Vellux invited Chitik to get up. After that, he snapped his fingers. The worshipper with the knife on his board walked forward. The Grey Seer picked up the blade, and approached the Black Skaven. He took the left ear of the young Skaven in the clutches of his free hand, stretched it, and made three small incisions on his earlobe – one long, one short, one long. He lowered his dagger, and murmured:
- So may those who perish under your blows be numerous, Chitik the Mighty!
Chitik bowed his head respectfully and stepped back, while Vellux washed the dagger in the bowl held by the second servant. Then Diassyon, the brown Skaven, advanced in turn, under the eye of his teacher. He knelt and bowed his head and Vellux again asked the ritual question:
- Who are you?
- I am Diassyon, and I serve the Clan Skryre. I'm the arms of a collective intelligence that animates the entire Clan. Thanks to technology, Skaven prove they are indeed superior to all other peoples, including and especially those who fiercely deny it!
Without naming them, the Skirmisher had alluded to dwarfs-things, the secular enemies of the sons of the Horned Rat. The Grey Seer then asked:
- Why were you born?
The brown Skaven raised his head, and his red eyes shone with a feverish glow.
- Over time, we managed to tame the warpstone. We have developed powerful weapons to kill the inferior races. We have learned to move faster. We even figured out how to talk to others despite the long distances. I want to help the Clan Skryre to do more, and I will!
Vellux nodded slowly with a little pout, then notched the ear of the young Skryre the same way as he had his elder brother.
- Technology is not everything, Diassyon of Clan Skryre, but it can be the key to victory.
Klur was the next one. He knelt before the Grey Seer.
- Who are you?
- I am Klur, Night Runner of Clan Eshin.
- Why were you born?
Klur squinted, reducing his eyes to two narrow slits. He murmured in a honeyed voice:
- Men-things have experienced a huge wave of terror on the day that Grand Master Assassin Snikch executed their reincarnated god. An Assassin can send a kingdom to ruin by killing-killing the right elements. I shall overthrow the Empire of the men-things by cutting off its head, for the glory of the Horned Rat!
Vellux gave a little chuckle. Still smiling, he made three small nicks on the left ear of the anthracite Skaven.
- May the strongest of our enemies tremble in fear while waiting for your blade, Klur of Clan Eshin!
The Plague Monk, Moly, got into position before the Grey Seer. He felt Plague Deacon Soum watching him closely, which made him uncomfortable.
- Who are you?
- I am Moly of Clan Pestilens, replied the cream-coloured young Skaven in a drawl. I am a craftsman at the service of the Horned Rat, and serve his will.
- Why were you born?
- To reshape the upper world in the way of the Horned Rat, so that us, his children, we can spread, and completely dominate.
Grey Seer nodded. Moly was left with the three small marks of the colony Brissuc.
- The Horned Rat trusts your judgment, Moly of Clan Pestilens.
Moly bowed and stepped back.
All eyes turned to the youngest. Psody felt intimidated. Extra weight was weighing on his shoulders due to his very nature and his direct contact with their god, and he knew it. But he decided to move forward in turn. His master seemed more troubling than ever.
- Who are you?
- I am Psody, a White Skaven... I am your servant, and the servant of the Horned Rat.
Vellux leaned forward. His eyes glittered more brightly. He said, in a voice so deep it was almost frightening:
- Why were you born?
- To... to... to transmit the sacred word of the Horned Rat. His words guide the people of Skaven, and his magic destroys his enemies. I am... his most humble servant. I was born to serve him... to serve you, my master.
The Grey Seer stretched his lips into a indefinable grin. He slowly pulled the ear of his disciple. Psody gritted his teeth when he felt the steel bite his flesh, but remained stoic. Two more bites, and it was over. He had become a true citizen of Brissuc.
- May those who hear you hear only the Horned Rat. May those who suffer your anger only see the will of the Horned Rat. May those who follow you be blessed by the Horned Rat.
Psody bowed his head, and returned to his place. Instinctively, he approached Chitik. Vellux put his dagger on the tray, and gestured to the two henchmen who came down from the dais. Then the Grey Seer said to the four masters.
- Henceforth, your pupils are true Skaven. Be satisfied as long as they satisfy the Horned Rat. Now, go all in peace.
The Deacon, the Warlock Engineer, the Master Assassin and the Clawleader left the stage in turn. The five brothers looked at each other, and at the Grey Seer.
- I grant you a day off. Spend it as you please. Tomorrow, your teachers shall give you your new instructions. It is time for you to take your rightful place in your respective clans.
He called over the small White Skaven.
- Psody, before that, follow me, I have to talk to you.
Psody obeyed his master, while the others separated.
Both White Skaven headed towards Vellux's lab.
- I'm glad the five of you. You and your brothers have done well today.
- Oh, you are too generous, generous highness of the generosity personified.
- However, remember you are not a Grey Seer yet. You're now an adult Skaven, you have rights and duties, and you can claim spoils of war and breeders. But to become a Grey Seer, you shall perform one last task.
- Which one, my kind and farseeing master?
Still walking, Vellux was silent for a little while before explaining:
- Prove you have retained my teachings and know how apply them.
- How?
- Tomorrow, you'll return to the surface, to a place I'll show you. There, you'll see something you've probably never seen.
- What? What, my master?
The Grey Seer stopped, and put his hand on the shoulder of his disciple.
- An abomination of the forest.
- The… forest?
- Yes. You must have seen a forest last night, during your assault on Niklasweiler. It is inhabited by a spook that has recently installed itself there. Men-things have erected a little shrine for it on the edge of the woods.
- A shrine? Psody repeated.
- Its presence is an insult to the Horned Rat, whistled Vellux. You'll get rid of this obscenity, and spread the magic of the Warp in its place in the glade! Only then you will be a true Grey Seer.
Psody nodded slowly. Both resumed their journey.
- Will I go alone, my master?
- No, you are still young and inexperienced. This spirit is not very powerful, but it can cause you real problems. You'll choose two Skaven whose abilities are most useful according to you. Remember though that you are the only one who can banish the influence of this spirit.
- I won't return without having accomplished my task, farseer of farseers!
The Grey Seer had a wicked smile.
- No risk.
Three unlikely silhouettes appeared between the trees. In front, the curved shape of a medium-sized Skaven advanced on tiptoe, watching. He was followed by a particularly big strong Skaven, who carried on his back a little horned one. The one ahead asked:
- I'm very happy-happy you chose me, but why me?
- Not so loud, you moron! We must not wake the forest spirit. Chitik, let me down.
The Black Skaven stopped and squatted. Psody jumped down, and turned to his other brother.
- It's true, Klur might have been more appropriate for this task. But he doesn't smell good. And you're smarter than he is. Now, shut up! We'll approach in silence. Not a sound!
Diassyon of Clan Skryre nodded, and went back to the front, followed by his two brothers, taking care not to crack any dead branch. Even the great Chitik walked silently, despite his size. However, the White Skaven could still hear a low regular rattling which annoyed him.
- Were you forced to take all this stuff?
- I don't have Chitik's strength or your powers. I have to be useful in my own way!
Indeed, Diassyon was wearing a whole arsenal: a knife attached to his hip, two warplock pistols tucked into his belt, and a Skaven musket, called "warplock jezzail", tied to his back with a leather strap. Above all he wanted to test his first invention, a new kind of miniature warpfire thrower, small enough to be worn by a single Skaven. He held the conical end of the hose firmly, this was connected to a cylindrical copper tank held up by braces.
- For your sake I hope it'll help! Now, let us be silent! We're approaching.
Diassyon acquiesced with a nod, and walked on tiptoe. Suddenly, he stopped and raised a hand. Psody joined him.
- What? whispered the White Skaven.
- Listen-listen!
Psody and Chitik listened. Then the apprentice Grey Seer heard something. He had never heard such a sound. It was like a complaint, a kind of litany without any sensible words, but rising, then descending in a pattern in a logic that escaped sharp intellect of the White Skaven. He felt odd, as if this sound was acting directly upon his emotions. He shook his head vigorously, and motioned to his two brothers to move forward again.
On tiptoe, all three finally reached a wide glade. It was a space where there were no large trees and few shrubs. High in the clear sky, the moon was diffusing light so that it gave a supernatural atmosphere. Psody felt well, this place was bathed in magic. Strange luminous insects flew over a pond of clear water. Colourful plants were growing in bushes. A flowering tree was overhanging the polished surface of the water. At the foot of the tree, the three Skaven saw something that immediately caught their attention.
Kneeling in front of the tree, a man-thing had its back turned. No garment covered its bronzed skin. The melody came from it. Its form was that of a fairly young female. But unlike the slaves captured by the veterans of Brissuc, its cranial fur wasn't made of hair, but green foliage. The White Skaven felt the winds of magic waving around this apparition. Without a doubt, they had just met the spirit of the forest.
Chitik snapped his tongue to get the attention of his young brother. As the latter turned his head towards him, he mimed the action of throwing a weapon in the direction of the fairy-thing. Psody agreed with a nod. The Black Skaven took the heavy spear attached to his belt delicately between his fingers, aimed carefully at the creature, and threw it with a sharp movement of his arm. The spear sped straight to the fairy-thing-in a quiet whirring air, and landed on the grass.
The three Skaven opened their eyes wide in surprise. Chitik should have reached his target's back easily... but it had completely disappeared a heartbeat away before impact. The song had also stopped. Suddenly, a bright and amused laugh rang through the glade. The Dryad was sitting on a big stone near the pond, and was merrily giggling. The Black Skaven ran toward it, arms open wide to crush it against his chest. He jumped on it, but it disappeared at the last moment, he hit the stone with full force. He gasped, as his ribs were bruised. Laughter sounded again.
Diassyon nimbly drew his two warplock pistols. He slowly scanned the glade, ready to fire. In the corner of his eye he say the copper and emerald colours of the fairy-thing on his right, he reached out and pulled the trigger in one movement. The warpstone bullet whistled and penetrated the trunk of a tree. The Skryre was startled by hearing the Dryad whooping behind him. He turned with a bound and opened fire with the other gun. The Dryad faded again with a loud laugh.
The little White Skaven wrinkled his nose.
You think you're clever, but now, experience the magic of the Warp!
He saw the fairy-thing sat on a tree branch, a few yards over the ground. It chortled at the stunned look on Diassyon's face. Psody smiled wickedly. It wasn't paying any attention to him, and this error would be its last. He slowly raised his hand, the three fingers forward, as he felt something wrapping around his ankles. In less than a second, he found himself hanging upside down, his rags rolled up on his face. He realised he was being held by tender branches.
- Get me out of here!
Chitik rushed. He took the vines in his big hands and cut them off with a bite. The young White Skaven fell head first and was planted in the ground by his horns. He snarled and barked with rage a flood of very pictorial insults at his older brother. Chitik took the White Skaven gently by the waist, and pulled, uprooted him, then reversed him and laid him on the grass.
The laughter of the Dryad became even stronger, more mocking. The White Skaven was totally upset. Very angry, he stamped and spit:
- I swear I will crush you, fairy-thing!
Then he sat down on a small mound of clay, and covered his face with both hands, about to weep with rage. More than his body, it was his pride that had been wounded. Chitik leaned toward him.
- Hey, don't despair!
- I am not worthy of Vellux!
- Wait, you think he would have sent you here if this task was too easy-easy? This is a test, this is normal, Diassyon judged. This creature has to have a weakness. All we need to do is find it!
Psody lifted his reddened eyes towards the Skryre.
- You may be right. So far, this fairy-thing plays with us because it is sure to win. But if we manage to make it lose his cool... we can beat it.
- What did Vellux tell you about fairy-things?
Chitik picked up his spear. The White Skaven stood up, and concentrated.
- They are linked to where they live. Not only the forest, but one particular corner especially. As here!
- So, if something wrong ever happened to this glade... Diassyon suggested.
The young apprentice had a cruel smile.
- Diassyon?
- Yes, brother? replied the other with the same smile.
He pointed to the tree in bloom.
- Set fire to these twigs!
The brown Skaven chuckled softly and grabbed the tube of his device. He turned a small dial on the side of the tank, which caused a slight hiss. A small cloud of steam escaped from the exhaust pipe. Diassyon pointed the cone toward the tree, and pulled the trigger. Immediately a torrent of green flames burst and struck his target with full force. The tree caught fire instantly, and soon the whole clearing was illuminated by the flickering and strange lights of the warpstone fire.
A terrible cry echoed over the three Skaven. The Dryad reappeared, but it was no longer in a playful mood. On the contrary, a great anger distorted its delicate face. It rushed to the small White Skaven who drew his dagger from his belt and brandished it.
- I'm gonna skin-skin you, fairy-thing!
In a second, the forest spirit transformed. The frail young creature covered with hard and cracked bark, its facial features solidified, and its limbs became broad and as large as branches. The Dryad swept the air with its arm, and Psody was thrown a few yards away with incredible force. He hit the ground hard, and felt a sharp pain in his chin. He had lost his weapon.
Diassyon pointed the cone of his flamethrower at the creature. He was about to spread the warpstone fire once again when he heard a chorus of chirps and whistles over his head. Dozens of small birds, insects, squirrels, rabbits and other animals rushed upon him and attacked him on all sides. The critters pulled his facial hair, tried to put out his eyes, poured under his tunic to bite him. In a reflex movement, he released the handle and waved his arms frantically.
- Aw! Ouch! Go away! You nuisances!
A young deer emerged from the forest and rushed headlong at him. It rammed the Skryre, sent him rolling on the grass.
Surprised by such truculence from the nature, Chitik hesitated on what to do. He soon recovered his spirits when he saw the fairy-thing attacking Psody. He gave a thundering sound and ran to the rescue. He twirled his weapon with large spins, ready to strike. The Dryad turned to him, and struck the ground with its feet. Its woody toes dug into the land. In an instant, a multitude of thorns grew in front of the Black Skaven. The great warrior was unable to stop in time, and found himself entangled in flexible vines covered with spines. He struggled, but only succeeded in entangling himself more.
Psody was still on the ground. He tried to get away by crawling to the grass. The Dryad grabbed him by the tail and lifted him, before whipping his back and hindquarters hard with its free hand.
Diassyon smelled a strong and toxic odour, the fuel of his warpfire thrower. The deer had pulled the hose off from the tank, making it unusable. Furious, the Skaven unfastened the straps, grabbed the cylinder with both hands and ran towards the animal. The deer returned to the attack. The Skryre held the tank in his arms like a battering ram. As the metal mass hit the skull of the deer, it split it up and down. But the young ratman had little time to savour his victory, as the small animals attacked him again.
Chitik screamed in frustration seeing the fairy-thing maltreating his brother. He closed his eyes, curled up as much as he could, then jumped forward. The thorns lacerated his skin, but he managed to free himself. He picked up his spear, and sprang at the Dryad with a diagonal swing of his weapon. The metal spear head penetrated the hip of the forest spirit, with the same sound as an axe into a tree trunk, and wood chips flew. The creature stopped, and sounded a long and low moan which made the hearts of the Skaven shiver. It released Psody who rolled away on his side. Then it folded its arms, and struck a terrible backhand at the Black Skaven who was thrown against an oak.
The White Skaven looked up. His vision was blurred and he couldn't hear very clearly either. He saw the Dryad extract the spear from its body. It seemed greatly weakened by the injury, and returned to its original frail female form in a few moments. Bright green blood ran down its thigh. It would probably not live long. The young ratman saw on its face that it was determined to take him with it. It slowly approached, raising its trembling hands.
- Psody! cried the voice of Diassyon on his left.
Panicked, the White Skaven turned his head toward his brother. He had managed to approach, despite the onslaught of birds. He had wrapped his tail around his warplock jezzail. The Skryre flicked his tail and sent his firearm at the Grey Seer apprentice. Psody held out his hands, and caught the musket. The Dryad was only two feet away, ready to strangle him. He only just had time to aim the gun at it and pulled the trigger.
The jezzail barked and the deadly warpstone volley burst the abdomen of the fairy-thing. Instead of bending forward, it reared back, holding its head with both hands. Once again, the Skaven heard a terrible wail that seemed to reverberate between the trees all around. Brambles wilted. Animals on Diassyon died. And the forest spirit fell on its back.
Psody leaned on the musket to get up. He saw the unfortunate fairy-thing lying on the grass, and couldn't help chuckling under his breath. He retrieved his dagger and ran to his victim. He squatted just above her, and asked with a revenging smile:
- So, no more laughing? No more playing?
The Dryad had tears in its eyes. On its face Psody could see not only the pain of the injury, but also a great sadness that went well beyond that. It laboriously managed to articulate two syllables. Psody was thunderstruck as he understood:
What for?
Inconceivable. For him, it was simply impossible, ridiculous that the fairy-thing might ask a question whose answer was so obvious. And this lack of faith caused a violent explosion of anger in him. He raised his dagger and shouted with all his might, looking to the sky:
- For the Horned Rat!
And with a quick movement, he planted the rusty blade directly into the heart of the Dryad. It winced again in suffering and despair for many seconds, and then finally moved no more. Psody withdrew his knife, put it away in his holster and looked at his hands covered with warm and green blood.
For the first time in his life he had killed someone.
This thought stunned him, then he felt an exhilarating feeling of omnipotence growing in him. He, the little White Skaven, physically weak, inexperienced, had the power to kill beings that seemed stronger than he was. Indeed, he was a chosen one of the Horned Rat. He looked at his fingers still, unable to think of anything else. A violent cracking noise pulled him out of his reverie. He looked down and saw that the Dryad was transforming. Its skin solidified, the leaves on its head browned, withered and fell. Within seconds, the fairy-thing was just a piece of dry wood.
He got up, stepped back, and spat on the remains of the Dryad.
- And voila! I've won, and you're dead!
He turned to the Black Skaven.
- Chitik! Hurl this old branch into the fire!
- Yes, brother!
- It will be one with the earth, definitely! Diassyon quipped, before bursting into laughter.
Chitik picked up the old stump with one hand, lifted it and threw it into the flames with a single movement. It caught fire in an instant.
Psody raised his arms.
- My brothers, you've done well! Without you, I wouldn't have succeeded. But now I have to accomplish a feat only a Grey Seer can perform. Stand back.
Both Skaven nodded, and ran to the edge of the glade. The small White Skaven stood alone in the centre of the cleared area. He knelt down, closed his eyes and joined his hands over his heart.
He made a void in his mind. Background noises were gradually smothered by his will. He remembered the lessons of Vellux and focused more.
The Horned Rat hates the current face of the surface world. Our duty is to redefine it according to his will. And the most powerful force we have is his anger. His rage toward this insolent world. We, the Grey Seers, are here to unleash the wrath of the Horned Rat.
Psody felt his face gradually start twitching. The beat of his heart progressively quickened. He thought he heard increasingly strong Skaven yelps. He visualised violent battle scenes. Dwarf-things, green-things, men-things, half-things were falling before the omnipotence of the Sons of the Horned Rat.
The White Skaven let a single long syllable out of his lips. Around him, a slight breeze sprang up. He clenched his hands on his chest, and bared his gritted teeth. Away from him, his two brothers worried when they saw his face twisting under the influence of such strong emotion. The apprentice got up slowly. Rage emanated from his intestines, and gripped his heart in its burning claws. The wind around him turned into a tornado, and Diassyon clearly saw green sparks crackling around his young brother.
Psody threw his head back with a wild growl, and stretched his arms to his sides. Immediately, a swirl of green flashes whirled around the small White Skaven, widening more and more to fully swallow the glade. Then thunder broke, trees collapsed, and then everything stopped.
A terrifying silence fell upon the forest. Chitik and Diassyon were silent both through fear and admiration. The entire perimeter had been ransacked. The grass had become black, the plants were burning with green flames, and the lake had dried up. On the ground, calcified birds. And in the centre, the small White Skaven wavered before falling back. The Black Skaven leapt forward and was beside him in two strides, followed by Diassyon.
- Psody? Psody?
- Hey, brother! Wake up!
Psody painfully opened his eyes and saw the faces of his two brothers leaning towards him. Both Skaven lifted and set him upright. The White Skaven looked at his two brothers, one after the other, and gave a little smile, which became a laugh, which he shared with them. The three Skaven eventually laughed out loud together, slapping each other's arms to congratulate each other. Psody climbed once again on the back of the Black Skaven, and the three brothers departed to their burrow, leaving behind the dead area.
As he saw the light beam coming down from the aperture sixty feet above him, Diassyon realised that the day had dawned. Sat on the wet ground, he was looking up dreamily.
- So what?
The Skryre immediately recognized the drawl, issued from the noxious throat of his brother Moly. The Plague Monk approached, limping.
- Ah, Diassyon... Watching the outside again!
- I don't get bored. It's so pretty-pretty! I can't wait for the day we can live there.
- You're always distracted, aren't you?
- Hey, I'm a Skryre, this is not distraction, but ambition. The ambition to ascend above the others.
Moly giggled.
- Don't ascend too much, you could crash on one of the two moons...
- And feed on cheese for the rest of my life! What a joy!
Moly looked at the light.
- Ah, there is the sun-sun outside.
- I'd like to see the sun. You think Vellux will let us go out during the day?
- Maybe. We are true Skaven now. But we must always work for the superior race. We're made to stay in the shadows. The sun isn't for us. Come on! We have to go.
Diassyon got up and followed the Plague Monk.
- What do you think he'll feel?
- Don't know.
- In his place, I'd be troubled. I hope he'll be fine.
The Plague Monk stopped and stared at the Skirmisher.
- You should avoid taking care of him too much.
- Hey, he's still our brother!
- No. We're all children of the Horned Rat. He considers us all in the same way, and we don't have to feel closer to one Skaven in particular. We shouldn't even have found out about our relationship.
- Bah, he's a chosen-chosen one!
- Not yet, as long as he hasn't proved it. Skahl died because he erred. I don't regret him. And this will be the same for today. He'll do the right thing, otherwise he'll die! The Horned Rat doesn't like the weak.
- But... and Chitik?
- Chitik doesn't need to think. His role is to obey orders. As for you, you better take care of your own tail instead of others'!
Meanwhile, deep in the colony, a young Skaven was even more nervous than usual.
Vellux explained the whole thing to me, everything should be fine…
Psody was waiting anxiously at a heavy door with the triangular symbol of the Horned Rat. He stood before the holy of holies, the Temple of the Horned Rat of Brissuc. It was undoubtedly the most impressive building of the entire underground city. It was not a simple landscaped cave, but a real edifice built of odds and ends with a multitude of material stolen from men-things, dwarf-things, green-things... even elf-things. A dozen arrows rose in all directions, none were the same height as each another. At the centre climbed the thirteenth steeple, a huge bell tower.
The White Skaven knocked three times. The doors opened with a big creak. He crossed the threshold, and shuddered when he heard a harsh slam behind him.
He was in a long, dark corridor and felt a carpet plagued by mould under his feet. On the columns of arch support, globes of light created a bizarre illumination and emitted small crackles and shrill whistles. Skryre technology had invaded the whole construction. There were along the way bas-reliefs depicting scenes of fierce battles between Skaven and many other peoples.
Down the hall, double doors led to the large prayer hall, where Grey Seer Vellux used to officiate masses in honour of the Horned Rat. But Psody didn't enter this, instead he veered towards a smaller door on his right. He entered through it, and found himself in an antechamber lit by rare lights. His sense of smell perceived a strong odour of incense. There was a brazier before him. He made out a platform at the other end of the room with a pulpit and a large armchair stolen from men-things, covered with partially punctured leather.
He heard the great bell ringing through the walls. Other Skaven were soon to come into the prayer room. His eyes gazed at the lit brazier. He remembered the instructions of his master. A whole symbol.
He swallowed his saliva, and untied the knots that held together the tissues of his black rags one by one, dropping them down. He picked them up, and threw them in the brazier. They burned in seconds. He found himself naked and alone before the fire, not knowing what to do. He thought he heard a murmur, and footsteps. The first true-hearted were settling. All this put him uncomfortable. He decided to kneel down, folded his hands over his nose, closed his eyes and prayed silently. Behind the walls, the hubbub was growing with the number of Skaven.
After an indefinable time, he heard a satisfied chuckle, before him. Opening his eyes, he realised he wasn't alone. Grey Seer Vellux was sitting in the chair.
- Approach-approach, my child, Vellux ordered.
Obediently, Psody got up, walked round the brazier and stopped before his master. The Grey Seer left his seat, opened a box lid, and pulled out a worn, light grey dress.
- You are now no longer an apprentice. You have earned the right to represent the Horned Rat as a Grey Seer.
Psody raised his hands without a word, and Vellux made him put this new dress on. As he was dressed, the young White Skaven looked at himself hesitantly. Vellux smiled a disturbing smile.
- I too was intimidated when I was in your place. But Grey Seer Thanquol assured me I could be confident. Today, I assure you the same thing. Now it's time for you to prove to the colony you are worthy to provide the word of the Horned Rat.
Vellux stepped down from the platform and headed to a side door he opened. He invited Psody to cross. The young ratman guessed it led to the main prayer hall, and went through it. He climbed a wooden staircase with crumbling steps. As he reached the summit, he was welcomed by a huge amount of cheering.
Psody was on a six foot high scaffolding. Before him were all the members of the colony, sat on the dusty ground, applauding. To the side, two acolytes bearing trinkets and gowns began to beat huge drums in rhythm with skull-tipped sticks. A third one rang a large bell with his iron hammer. A roar burst over the head of the young ratman. It was a fire that lit the whole room, which came from the mouth of a huge statue of a Skaven with long thin limbs, with two pairs of horns – two twisted, two straight.
The Horned Rat is greeting me...
Clouds of smoke hovered in the room, intermittently lit up the by the green glows. Psody didn't see them, but his four brothers were amongst the public. Diassyon and Moly were sat side by side. The Skryre sneered.
- What pride! Our little brother is going to become so great!
- You said it, brother. You think it will give us benefits?
- Ah, so finally you're interested? quipped the brown Skaven.
The Plague Monk was actually under the effect of a warpstone euphoric he had smoked before entering the temple, which had greatly improved his mood.
- Yep. In fact, I hadn't thought about it this morning, but having a Grey Seer with the same blood as us, it could bring us a lot-lot, all things considered.
- What are you thinking about?
Plague Monk was silent a moment, then chuckled:
- Mountains of warpstone incense!
And two brothers went into a roar of laughter, pushing each other.
The White Skaven was on the middle of the stage, undecided. He felt so tiny in front of this crowd. He, the youngest, smallest, weakest of his litter, was also the only White Skaven to come into the world since the foundation of this colony led by Vellux. It was both intimidating... and really exhilarating. He turned, and saw that his master had followed him. Vellux stood at his side, and raised his arms, demanding the crowd to be quiet.
- Sons of the Horned Rat, I have the great pleasure to introduce you your new Grey Seer. The new voice of our God, after mine!
The Skaven screamed with joy, clapped and giggled. Vellux put his hand on the shoulder of the young Psody.
- Kneel, he ordered.
The young ratman obeyed. His master continued:
- Close your eyes, and lift your nose!
Again, Psody followed the instructions of the Grey Seer. Vellux drew a encrusted warpstone blade dagger of its sheath and slashed his own arm. Dark red blood dripped from his flesh. He lifted his wrist above Psody's head. Brown spots soiled the white fur of his forehead. He had a little nervous tic, but didn't move over. Vellux spoke in a loud voice.
- You are henceforth bound to me by my blood. You will obey only me, and nobody else. And apart from me, your master, and the Council of Thirteen, everyone will bow to your authority, and no one has the right to contest it.
He smeared the face of his disciple with his blood.
- Now, arise and look at me.
The young ratman again did what Vellux asked.
- It's time for you to see the world as it really is.
Vellux gestured, and a servant arrived, carrying a bronze tray on which there was a huge warpstone nugget. The luminescent green crystal pulsed at regular intervals. The Grey Seek took it gently, squeezed it hardly between his long fingers and broke a large walnut-sized piece from it. He proffered the small share of warpstone to his disciple.
- Open your mind to the word of the Horned Rat. Accept his present.
Psody hesitated. For the first time in his life, he would taste the sacred substance upon which the whole Skaven society was built on. He knew it was toxic, excessive amounts could be fatal. But it was also the key to the power, the cornerstone linking Grey Seers to the Horned Rat. He picked up the warpstone nugget. Vellux nodded with a mysterious smile. The young ratman breathed deeply, opened his mouth, and placed the fragment of ore on his tongue. He swallowed it at once.
The Skaven resumed their cheers even louder. Vellux applauded too, very slowly. However, Psody didn't feel any difference, or change. A few long seconds passed. As the young ratman was about to ask for an explanation from his master, he felt a violent pain in his stomach. He was seized with a coughing, and vomited black bile. Vellux went behind him, put his hands on his shoulders and whispered in his ear:
- Don't worry. The first time is a little surprising.
He threw his head back and laughed, while his disciple fell to his knees. He belched a greenish vapour. The Skaven laughed, squealed and whistled louder. Grey Seer Vellux exclaimed:
- Glory to the Horned Rat!
- Glory to the Horned Rat! the crowd repeated.
- Glory to the warpstone!
- Glory to the warpstone!
- Glory to Psody, our new Grey Seer!
- Glory to Psody! Glory to Psody!
The whole colony exulted in joy. Even Klur, who didn't like his little brother yet, eventually get caught up in the movement. Seeing the young White Skaven on all fours, his eyes rolled back, amused him as ever. There was nothing but passionate excitement amongst everyone. The bell rang louder, the drums became more rapid and fiery plumes of smoke gushed from the nostrils and the eyes of the statue.
Amid all the crowd of ratmen, one single remained motionless and silent. It was Chitik. His face was not showing any joy, only a puzzled and worried expression. His low level of intellect led him to interpret the scene in a completely different way. Vomiting, loss of balance, then this hiccup, these many small clues showed him what it really felt like for his younger brother. He got up and tried to speak louder than others.
- No, no! Wait! He's feeling pain-pain! He's not happy-happy!
The Skaven screeched with joy, grinning with satisfaction. Chitik got scared and panicked.
- Stop-stop! He's fragile! He may be sick-sick! He may die!
But nobody listened, and the cries were growing stronger, while on the platform, Psody was holding his stomach, clenched on himself. The Black Skaven smelled the musk of rage released by all his glands.
- STOP IT!
He knocked his neighbour to the side, stunning him. Then he tried to run towards the scene, throwing all Skaven on his path out of the way. Some protested and rose, annoyed, waving their fists.
- PSODY!
Psody's senses were more and more stifled by the warpstone. He barely felt anything while he was convulsing on the scene, lying at full length. There was nothing but a vast chaos, with furtive images, a tide of vermin, an odious mocking and a concert of sneers. He heard nothing but a long litany composed of hundreds of shrill voices. He was about to pass out, as a big voice distinguished itself from the rest.
- Psody! Hold on! The Horned Rat has chosen you, my brother! Resist-resist! Show him you're worthy! Do it for him! Do it for me, brother!
The White Skaven recognized with surprise the voice speaking to him. He gathered his strength to lift his head, and discerned a bulk approaching, before being stopped by three large Black Skaven.
Chitik? What's wrong with you?
He had no time to think more. An explosion of pain irradiated his brain, hurled him back, into the black hole.
As he opened his eyes, he realised he was no longer in the ceremony room, but on a hill. Or rather a high plateau over a rock quarry. Around him there were Skaven, watching below. Psody approached the edge, nobody seemed to notice him. As he looked, he saw a procession of dwarf-things gathered around a strange apparatus. They were too far away for the young White Skaven to see exactly what they were doing. He then heard an angry yelp on his left. He turned on his heel, and felt his eyes widen in surprise.
- Master?
Near him stood a White Skaven. He was rather tall, and slim without being skinny. His horns were curled on themselves like those of a ram, and under his hood only his nose was in the open air. Bone trinkets hung under the red cape he wore over his grey frieze. He was leaning on a pretty impressive device. Psody remembered that Clan Skryre engineers haddesigned this object, an improved version of the telescope. And this White Skaven cursed with rage.
- Those pesky intruders again! The Horned Rat decided to damn me!
- Master, is this you?
No,it wasn't Vellux, although his voice reminded him that of his mentor. He didn't seem to have heard Psody, he was too focused on his telescope. He stepped back and called:
- Boneripper! Come here-here!
Boneripper? Psody thought. But then...
As if he had finally spotted his presence, the tall Grey Seer paused, and cast a glance over his shoulder. Psody focused more, collecting his memories on the recurring names in the history of the Sons of the Horned Rat. Then his eyes met those of the White Skaven, and this disturbing glare made him increasingly uncomfortable.
This Grey Seer would be...
Without warning, the young ratman found himself in a very different place. A lush forest with huge trees, exotic plants upon which colourful birds perched. He saw a city made of white stone not far from him. And just before him stood another White Skaven. He was just a bit taller than him, and had rather short horns, coming out of his temples to point directly forward. Contrary to custom, he was not wearing a grey dress, but a coat made of coloured feathers,with a spotted fur cape over his shoulders.
I recognise this White Skaven. This is not the first time I see him.
The White Skaven smiled a friendly smile and held out his arms toward him.
- Ah, my friend! What a pleasure to see you again!
Psody realised that this greeting wasn't addressed to him, but to someone behind him. He turned, and be held a strange creature. A kind of giant scaly skinned toad, who was barely standing on its arched legs. It was bigger than the other White Skaven, and much wider. It didn't seem as pleased to see him. Other individuals with lizard characteristics approached, surrounding the caped ratman, who stopped smiling.
- But... what does this mean?
Two lizards firmly gripped the White Skaven. The toad opened his big mouth and said, in a hollow voice:
- Sorry...my friend.
A third huge lizard-being popped up behind the White Skaven, and hit him with such a blow to his skull that he was instantly knocked out. The world around Psody overbalanced. He found himself on the floor, his eyes turned toward the sky, and he saw above him the massive face of the toad watching him carefully.
Psody opened his eyes painfully. He was trembling. His head was about to explode. He had the feeling that all his organs were upside down. He felt worse than after his first mating. On second thought, he didn't remember having experienced such a suffering in all his young life.
He didn't understand. The warpstone should open his eyes wider, make him see the world more clearly, help him to understand new concepts... but he had never thought it would be such a torture. And it hadn't developed his senses, on the contrary. As if, instead of waking him, the experience had put him in a heavy torpor during which he had never been so vulnerable.
How long had his delusions lasted? Did someone take advantage of his weakness to maltreat him? Or worse? Indeed, the pain wasn't only physical, this time. It was more penetrating, he had the impression of having been bruised in the depths of his being. As if someone or something had tried to rape his soul. This idea terrified him.
He turned his head, and saw that he was lying on a heap of straw, under a blanket cut into the coarse tissue of a men-things seeds bag. He felt a presence beside him. He craned his neck, slowly raised his eyes. Near him, sitting on the ground, stood the Black Skaven from his litter.
- Chi... tik?
Chitik turned with a sharp movement towards Psody. He muttered in a hesitating voice:
- Psody... You're finally awake! How do you feel?
- What happened?
- Vellux made you eat the dust of the Horned Rat.
- When was this?
- Yesterday. Did it show-show you things?
- Yes, but I didn't understand.
Psody sat up and realised something.
- Hey... what's with your ear?
The Black Skaven had a blood-stained bandage around his skull, with a compress on his right temple.
- Vellux hasn't been happy.
- "Happy"? Psody repeated. What the...
Suddenly, other dim memories gradually resurfaced. He opened his eyes widely.
- What the hell have you done?! It was a ritual ceremony! My elevation to the Grey Seer rank! And you tried to interrupt it, you idiot!
- You looked so sick... I wanted to take you to a quieter place for you to rest. For you to be alone. Vellux didn't want that.
The White Skaven felt assailed by multiple contradictious emotions.
They cut his ear off because he wanted to…take care of me?!
- But... should not, brother, Psody said more calmly. I'll heal. I had to accomplish this feat, as Vellux did, for the glory of the Horned Rat. I'll recover. Now you've lost an ear!
- It doesn't prevent me from hearing.
Given the scowling expression of the Black Skaven, it sounded more like "it's better than losing a brother." The White Skaven was genuinely taken aback. He really didn't know what to answer. Finally, he said:
- Look... I'm sorry if I scared you. But this is a must if I want to serve the Horned Rat. Now, I can represent him.
- You'll eat it again, huh? Like Vellux!
- I... I don't know. Maybe... occasionally. But not right away.
An unpleasant grin sounded through the gap of the door ajar.
- Hey? Hi, there! So, Grey Seer, how do you feel?
- Klur, leave him in peace! Chitik growled.
- I'm not talking to you, big mutton-head! Have you not heard? Oh, I guess that's not surprising!
The Black Skaven got up with a roar. Psody put his hand on the tail of his brother.
- Wait! Forget it. Come in, Klur!
The Eshin Night Runner thrust his head through the opening, with a mocking smile. The White Skaven straightened painfully and remained sat, with a steady gaze.
- Your mind is too narrow for me to take your sarcasm seriously, Klur of Clan Eshin. On your side, remember that I'm now a Grey Seer, and you owe me respect-respect and loyalty! If you forget it, beware!
Klur smiled no more, realising that his younger brother was right. He thought that it would be prudent to change his attitude. He entered the room, and hung his head.
- You're right, brother. I'll treat you as you deserve henceforth.
- Okay. What do you want?
- Grey Seer Vellux wants to talk to you in his laboratory. He'd like you to tell him what you have learned from this incredible day.
- So I won't keep him waiting.
He had trouble, but he managed to stand upright. Chitik followed him to the door of Vellux personal quarters, and waited there.
- It seems your body assimilated the warpstone well. I can tell you, now: not everybody succeeds. The day of my appointment, there were three apprentices to taste it. I am the only one who remained alive-alive. Get dressed.
Vellux put down his instruments on the desk. Psody wore his grey dress, and then waited, hands clasped behind his back. His tail wagged with a slight nervousness.
- Psody, the Horned Rat spoke to you. You saw and heard things, didn't you?
- Yes, master. And I confess I didn't understand everything.
- I want you to relate your dream to me. I'll help you to see its meaning. Sit down and talk without restraint.
The young White Skaven settled on a stool, breathed and began:
- I saw a Grey Seer.
- It's normal. We, the White Skaven, are linked through space and time because we are all direct servants of the Horned Rat. We sometimes see the exploits of our ancestors, or sometimes those of our descendants.
- I think... I think it was Grey Seer Thanquol, your father.
- Oh yeah? You saw Thanquol? Are you sure it was him?
- He had your majesty, his voice sounded like yours... and then I heard him call someone. A strange name, like "Bold-rigger", or...
- Boneripper.
- Yes, that's it! This name often appears with your father's. Who's Boneripper?
- It was his personal rat-ogre. Have you seen anything else?
- Yes, master. A very special forest, with tall trees, high grass. There was another White Skaven, though he was different from us. He wasn't wearing a Grey Seer dress, but a suit with very bright colours. Facing him were… I don't know what they were. Snakes, frogs that walked on two legs.
- Cold-things. These people live in a very distant country, the Lustria. Our race has long fought against them.
The Grey Seer returned to his work plan, rummaging among the various containers.
- You'll have other dreams, they'll be clearer. Warpstone will clarify them further, and soon, no more mystery will resist your intelligence.
- Yes, you are right, master. It was already a bit clearer this time.
Vellux paused. He had his back to Psody, so the latter did not notice the face of his master which suddenly twitched.
- "This time"? You mean it wasn't the first time?
- No, master. The first time was when I honoured the breeder.
- "Honoured the breeder..." the Grey Seer repeated thoughtfully. And what did you see, that time?
Psody felt a little uncomfortable, remembering that night, and its disturbing epilogue. Unless it was the tone of Vellux's voice that had changed.
- The cold-things were already there, I can see their eyes again, their scales, and I can hear their whistles. I saw them torture and kill Skaven.
- So you understand why we must get rid of them? said the Grey Seer, facing Psody again. They are the enemies of the Horned Rat.
- There was also the White Skaven I saw today. Indeed, now that I think about it again, I recognize him. He was in very bad situation. Lizard-things were torturing him, too. But after, I saw something else. A... a large building, like a huge men-things stone-made hut.
- Men-things call this "castle". They hide inside to escape our wrath. One day, maybe, you'll see one, to storm it.
- At the top of the castle, there was a flag with Skaven drawn on.
Vellux smiled a dubious smile.
- Probably the future. You know it, we're destined to rule the world. All cities of all the lower races will have to wave a flag with the triangle of the Horned Rat and our faces. This should gladden you, Psody.
- There was one last thing. A Skaven spoke. He asked for something... "Do I desolate you?" Or "disappoint"? Yes, he asked if he disappointed me?
- Do you remember what he looked like?
- Vaguely. He was a toddler, he looked young, maybe two or three seasonal cycles old.
- Was he white?
- I can't remember his colour, but he didn't have horns, I'm sure.
The Grey Seer pouted.
- I think it's your conscience. As you can see yourself deep inside your mind. I've heard of that kind of image. You have the desire to please the Horned Rat, iwhat is honourable. Being his messenger is a heavy responsibility, and sometimes you'll give the impression of appearing smaller and weaker that you really are. But don't worry, Psody. Continue to serve me well, and you'll be cherished by the Horned Rat.
- I'm sure of it, my master. Thank you for your support.
Psody bowed respectfully. Vellux then made a gesture toward the door.
- Go and rest now. In the coming days, you'll help me to find Aescos Karkadourian and treat him as he deserves.
- Yes, my master! Glory to the Horned Rat!
- Glory to the Horned Rat.
Psody left the laboratory. Once alone, Vellux waited a long minute, doing nothing. His brain was boiling, white-hot by what he heard. He returned to his office with jerky movement, and tried to start an experiment on which he had wanted to work for a long time, but was too distracted. He took a vial filled with red liquid and looked at it with a puzzled look. Suddenly, with a yelp of anger, he threw it against the back wall, and banged his fist on the wooden table, knocking over several test tubes. He wanted to slow the pace of his breathing.
Relax, relax... All is not lost-lost.