The Prince accompanied the diplomat and the White Skaven to the gate. They were awaited by a large coach decorated with the coat of arms of Vereinbarung, led by two beautiful and distinguished stallions. A valet man was holding the door open.
- My friend, I propose to let your men rest after the journey. We will take care of your safety and your comfort. However, we invite you to choose two of your guards to take them aboard, too.
So, the protocol is pretty much respected, but there still remains a small measure to reassure me, thought the Estalian. Very well!
Clarin turned to his own team where his servants waited, and made a gesture, calling two names. The two guards climbed onto the roof of the carriage.
A rather young and richly dressed Skaven approached. Psody put a hand on his shoulder.
- My eldest son, Kristofferson, who is also the first Skaven that is officially born on the surface. Here is Master Eusebio Clarin, who comes from the Principality of Sueño.
- It is a great honour to receive you, replied the young ratman before bowing.
- All honour is mine, young man, the Human replied.
- Kit, you shall drive the carriage to the temple of Verena, where we will decide the route that will please Master Clarin. Then you will take us wherever he wants-ask.
- Right, Father.
The tall brown Skaven moved quickly to the coachman's place. Clarin was going up, when he suddenly felt an uncomfortable feeling. A strange reflection had appeared at the corner of his field of vision. He reflexively raised his head, and thought he saw a window close on the top floor.
- Is something wrong, Master Clarin?
- Well... for a moment, I felt I was being watched.
The White Skaven raised his head in turn, then sighed, guessing where the diplomat was looking.
- Don't worry. It's not an impression, but it's not a danger, either.
- May I ask you what it is, then?
- This is my youngest son Gabriel. This window opens on his workshop.
- You think he just wanted to get some fresh air?
- I think he's wondering what you are doing here?
- So he can come and ask me, I'll be happy to answer him.
- I'm sure of it, but you won't see him.
- Is he sick?
- No, but he's horribly shy. He is at ease only in front of his drawing board.
- Is he an artist?
- A kind of. He invents some incredible machines.
The Human frowned, pensive.
- I beg you not to be offended. He's a nice boy, but he cannot speak-communicate with people he doesn't know. Everyone scares him, especially adults-grown up.
- Is he so young?
- For a Human, he would be about twelve years old. You know how children are at that age. We're expecting worse for him.
- Well. I understand. I hope for him that he will gain confidence.
- That's what we all hope-want. Well, let's go!
The Human took a seat aboard, followed by the White Skaven. He was about to close the carriage door, as Bianka ran towards them.
- I have to go to Verena's temple, can I use your coach, too?
Psody looked at the ambassador questioningly. The latter turned to the ratgirl.
- Please, miss. I will have the pleasure of enjoying your company!
Without hesitation, the girl got into the carriage and sat down next to her father. Kristofferson slammed the whip, and the team left the property.
Eusebio Clarin was facing the two Skaven. He noted with a slight satisfaction that he was gradually becoming accustomed to the presence of the two ratmen. He looked out the window, admired the houses, and was still amazed to see men and women cross Skaven without any discomfort.
The voice of the girl pulled him from his thoughts.
- Master Clarin?
- Yes, señorita?
- Say no... what?
- Oh, that's what a damsel is called in Estalia.
- Ah. I should learn to speak Estalian one of these days.
- It is a language halfway between Bretonnian and Tilean.
- I see. I... I would like to thank you for being so confident towards us. You are the first Human to show so much sympathy for us.
- Yet, your grandfather, all his subjects are as Humans as I am, and yet they don't seem to consider you in a troubling way.
- I meant "a Human from the outside". All Humans who have followed Prince Ludwig the First are volunteers. Everyone knew what to expect by settling here. And so, all those whom you will see here have left aside their prejudices, even if they are perfectly justified. This is not the case for outsiders. Well, until you arrive.
- Have Humans ever come, but finally left Vereinbarung?
Bianka remained silent. She turned to Psody. He answered:
- So far, we have not yet had to deal with this kind of issue. But mentalities can change. We come to a stage where all the first-generation Skaven have reached adulthood, and have fully taken their place in our society-society. From adopted-beloved children, they became responsible citizens. But it is not sure that everything will go smoothly. First, we live less time than you live, and that drives us to want to do things faster. Then... I cannot say. We'll see!
- I wish you it works, Master Steiner.
The coach slowed down when approaching a large construction. It was a large, austere building, without ornamentation, with the exception of a large bronze sign representing a scale fixed above the large wooden entrance doors. The Temple of the Goddess of Justice had white walls, and the various blocks were topped with slate roofs. The windows of the building were narrow, without any colouring. The splendour was not the main characteristic of Vereneans worshippers.
The two Skaven and the Human descended from the carriage to enter the temple. Clarin let his gaze estimate the value of the decorations, the quality of the tapestries, the finesse of the sculptures in the wood of the doors and skirting boards.
Sober in quantity, but quality is at the rendezvous.
Bianka's voice pulled him from his examination.
- Master Clarin, now I leave you, my office is here.
The ambassador bowed politely with a warm smile.
- I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again before I leave, señorita.
- We will see. I wish you a pleasant journey. Father…
- Have a nice day sweetheart.
The two Skaven embraced each other, and the girl took leave of the two men. Psody leaded Clarin to the cartographer's desk. A large map representing Vereinbarung was hanging on the wall. In the centre, the capital, Steinerburg. The suburbs included cities with imperial-sounding names. Clarin spotted the main road to the north-western Empire, which ran through Hoffnungshügel. A city seemed more important to the southeast, Neuedorf. It was however far away, and the journey to reach this town required more time than the diplomat had. Finally, Prince Calderon's representative chose to visit the city of Pluftzig. This city was situated in the middle of once arid plains. The Master Mage ensured, however, that cereal production was generous in this sector. This affirmation stirred the curiosity of the Human.
A few hours later, the whole company had arrived. The team stopped at the relay. The ambassador and the Master Mage descended, followed by Calderon's two men-at-arms. Kristofferson stayed to look after the horses, leaving his father and their guest to walk around.
Pluftzig seemed prosperous. The streets were wide and relatively clean. The houses, of all sizes, clear and well maintained. Some of the houses, those around the Verena Temple in the centre of the city, were larger and wore some decorations that foreshadowed a certain financial comfort from their owners.
What struck most Estalien was the shock of communication between races. Rather the absence of such a shock. Indeed, even in a city smaller than the capital, where the average citizen's level of openness was generally lower than in the large cities frequented by many peoples, there were no barriers between Humans and Skaven. They mixed with an ease almost disconcerting.
When they arrived at the exit of the little town, Master Clarin was surprised by something else.
- According to the information of our cartographer, this whole area was arid, and completely unfit for cultivation. How to explain such an abundance?
The White Skaven reached his arm in one direction with a knowing smile.
- Thanks to this.
"This" was the imposing form of a stone aqueduct that ran along the skyline.
- When we moved in, it was a dry-uncultivated land indeed. But we had the advantage of having among us a Dwarf who had engineering skills. He agreed to stay here for some time to plan and supervise the start of the work. All able-bodied men took part in the project, plus more from outside. It took a long time to finish, but it was worth it. The first real harvest made the following year was a real pleasure.
- I wish I could fully realize it! Could we go to see him a little closer?
- Of course! We will spend the night at Bau-Aquädukt, it is a village nearby where work started-started. A lot of wealth has passed through, and it is now a relatively large trading post. They have a good hostel. I suggest you go there in a short time. Let's have a drink and let the horses breathe. Will be this fine to you?
- Sure it will!
The crew exchanged some opinions and observations around a cold beer. Psody invited Clarin's two soldiers to join the conversation. He took care not to ask them what their previous experiences with the Under-Empire had been, and preferred to question them about their origins, and what had led them to attempt the Renegade Crowns adventure. The two men answered without being too intimidated or upset.
Then they resumed their visit, towards the construction. A few extra hours of travel were announced. Clarin put them to good use to continue his information work.
- Tell me, Master Mage, in Plufzig as in Steinerburg, the houses are inhabited by Humans and your peers. Skaven here all live on the surface?
- Of course.
- Why are the Skaven not installed underground?
The White Skaven answered in the same tone with a small smile:
- What pushes you to live in the open air?
- Well, Humans have always lived like this. Our gods created us, with the ability to build our homes. For the Skaven, this is not the case.
- You don't know anything about it, Master Clarin. The Skaven are perfectly capable of building houses, too. The Horned Rat created them in the same way that your gods created Humans. And just like you, the Skaven do not like to live in the middle of garbage and garbage from the world above. They breathe stale air, they drink stagnant water, and eat the rotten food that falls from the sewer pipes. That is not their choice.
- You mean this situation doesn't suit them?
- On the contrary, they are constantly inconvenienced by this life. Only a few of them indulge in dirt, members of Clan Pestilens. This freaky mentality is the result of dozens of generations made obsessed by the disease and intoxicated by drugs from birth. Believe me, all the others are ready to do anything to leave their cesspool.
- Are there cities populated only by Skaven? I mean, places where they could live on the surface?
- One city, to my knowledge: Skavenblight. It is the capital of the Under-Empire, the city where the Skaven appeared officially-established for the first time. It is in the middle of a quagmire, somewhere between Bretonnia and Estalia.
- Is it big?
- I've heard so, but I cannot say how much, I've never been there. It's the largest Skaven city Skaven, I'm sure of it. There are still some Dwarven strongholds that have fallen into their clutches, but they are buried in the mountains. Even Hellpit is in a pit.
- What about Mordheim?
- Too dangerous to live permanently, even if they go regularly to pick up warpstone. No, overwhelmingly, the Skaven live-die underground. The goal of the Children of the Horned Rat is to invade the surface and settle there. Fortunately, they don't think about it too much. It's rare, but sometimes they do it.
- That explains the invasion attempts like Nuln's or Ubersreik's, I guess?
- I have never participated in such an offensive, but I received first-hand testimony of Nuln's invasion. The person confirmed me it was terrible-terrifying. And I take your word for it when you talk about the horrors of the Ubersreik invasion. For Helmgart, it was even worse. They concluded an alliance with weird-things.
- What?
- Oh, excuse me, I speak so little of them that I sometimes call them still as the Feral Skaven do. I'm talking about the creatures of Chaos. To invade Helmgart, the Under-Empire joined forces with the followers of their most rotten-corrupt god, Nurgle.
The emissary rubbed his chin.
- Master Prospero Steiner, may I ask you why the Feral Skaven have not already invaded the Empire, if they are so numerous and so well equipped?
- It is true that today, the Feral Skaven are as numerous as the Humans, have a more destructive technology, and master a formidable magic. But the Feral Skaven are not Humans, far from it. They will never admit it, but they are too scared.
- By us?
- Yes. As you probably know, a Feral Skaven will never agree to fight loyally. Whoever its opponent is, it will do anything to defeat him by treachery, unless that opponent is obviously inferior in number.
- The stories of battles against them that I could read confirm what you're telling me.
- They are afraid of their enemies, but the most important source of fear is themselves.
The convoy passed near a field. Several peasants, Humans and Skaven, were ploughing the land together jokingly.
- You say they are afraid of themselves? repeated Clarin.
- It's a bit long to explain, but relatively simple-simple. Do you want me to tell you how it works?
- Please.
The White Skaven cleared his throat, took a bag out of his wallet, drank a little water and handed it to the Human. While Clarin quenched his thirst, Psody began his explanation:
"When a Feral Skaven comes into the world, it is integrated into society from day one. According to his colour, it will be a Clanrat, a Stormvermin or a Grey Seer, unless it is a female, in which case it is put in the nurseries where it will serve as a breeder all its life. Girls have no other function than to be fecundated and to give birth to Feral Skaven. That's why they do not even bother to name them."
"The Skaven society is like a pyramid. At the foot, you have all the slaves, the worst scum, the off-clans. Above you have the Clanrats, the "ordinary" citizens. These are the most numerous. Then you have more "specialized" Clans members. Warlock Engineers, Plague Monks, and others. Then come the Clawleaders, Pawleaders, Fangleaders, so the equivalent of our "captains". Finally, above all, stands the Warlord, who generally belongs-belongs to one or other of the Clans, and will tend to favour the members of his Clan, obviously. Grey Seers – the White Skaven, if you prefer – have a special place in this society. As chosen-chosen ones of the Horned Rat, they are above everyone else. Some are even the true masters of a burrow or colony, if not too big-big. This was the case for my master. The Pestilens were the most numerous, and Plague Deacon Soum was the ruler, but he did nothing without the agreement of Grey Seer Vellux. Only the Seer Lord is above an ordinary Grey Seer. And only the Horned Rat is above the Seer Lord. And every White Skaven is sacred. According to the beliefs of the Feral Skaven, whoever dares to attack a White Skaven without being commanded by another White Skaven will be severely and mercilessly punished by the Skaven above him, or by the Horned Rat. Thus, everyone has his place."
Clarin had a puzzled expression.
- Who is this... "Seer Lord", exactly?
- The emissary-emissary of the Horned Rat. The White Skaven who hears his messages directly and transmits them according to his heart to the Skaven people. He lives in Skavenblight.
- He's a great religious figure, then. He would be the equivalent of the Great Theogonist of the Empire?
- Absolutely, Sir Clarin.
- Well, where are the problems? Everything seems well organized and structured, as with us.
- In appearance, you are right. But reality is different.
"The elevation from one rank to another in this hierarchy is not the result of a promotion obtained by honest-applied work. It is usually the result of treachery, murder or conspiracy to eject the one up. Everyone wants the place above, ensures that those who are at the same level do not constitute an obstacle, and takes care that those from below remain there."
"Feral Skaven at the bottom of the ladder are the worst off, apparently in any case. Slaves are out-of-clan, they have no status, and will not be missed. So their life is a daily struggle. The least Clanrat can beat a slave to death on a whim, without risking the slightest consequence. Clanrats are intrinsically superior to slaves, and slaves are busy enough to protect their lives so as not to want to avenge one's own."
"The more a Feral Skaven climbs the stairs of the pyramid, the more the risks grow. First, compared to those above, who will be fewer and fewer, but more and more clever-cunning, and therefore dangerous. Second, Feral Skaven of the same level will do everything to have the place above, including and especially eliminate all the competitors. And, you have understood, a rising Feral Skaven must also pay attention to those who remain below him, who will do everything to overthrow it."
A Skaven swung a heavy canvas bag in a trolley while singing. The diplomat understood the explanation.
- So, whatever its social position, a Feral Skaven will always be afraid for its life, whether it's the most miserable slave or the most important of the generals.
- Only the Feral Skaven whose brain is no more than a sponge soaked in warpstone are not afraid for their lives. And more than one Feral Skaven behaving so did not see his end coming.
- And so, this constant fear pushes the Feral Skaven to fight each other permanently, instead of planning an invasion of the surface world.
- You understand everything, Master Clarin.
- How odd, this behaviour is reminiscent of the Orcs.
- The Orcs often fight with each other, it is true. But from what I read, they do not kill each other so much. Even a leader defeated by another will not necessarily be executed, if it proves that it can still be a good and useful warrior. Its men will submit to the new leader, their loyalty goes to the strongest of instinctive way. And the Orcs never act by treachery. They are violent, they are brutal, they plunder and kill, but they are not deceitful. There is no subtlety or ambiguity. And we are sure of one thing: they respect the law of the strongest. If their warlord is killed in action, there is a good chance they run away if someone doesn't replace it very quickly.
- I never had the opportunity to realize it. Manann be praised, I have always avoided the Orcs, so far.
The visit of the surroundings of the aqueduct was done without a hitch. The Estonian emissary realized that the whole was not decorated with the sculptures proper to Dwarf architecture. Psody confirmed, but recalled that only the engineer was from the Dwarven Kingdoms. In addition, the urgency of the situation had somewhat precipitated the site. Although it took a few years to build it, sustainability had been favoured, to the detriment of aesthetics.
After an excellent meal at the Rusty Dwarf Inn, named in homage to the colour of the beard of the Dwarf engineer who led the construction – the famous Slayer Gotrek Gurnisson – Humans and Skavens went to bed. The next day, they went back to Steinerburg. It took them more than half a day to return to the capital, and the bells of the temples rang four times when the carriage stopped completely in front of the Prince's mansion.
When he dismounted, Clarin saw five people waiting for them. Prince Steiner was there, as well as Miss Bianka and young Sigmund, and two people he had not seen were there: a little ratgirl, dressed with an elaborate dress, behind which stood a Skaven woman with a light coat that looked more mature. Psody hugged them.
- Master Clarin, I have not had the opportunity to introduce you to the last two people who are among the dearest to my heart-heart: my wife, Heike, and my youngest daughter Isolde.
The ambassador bowed, gave the mother a hand-kissing, and a small bow to the girl. The latter rose to her full height, inhaled a good blow, and said:
- Glory and honour to Prince Calderon!
Clarin pouted in surprise as he recognized his native tongue, and burst out laughing happily.
- How adorable!
- I hope you do not take too much of her accent, she has been training all day to please you, muttered Steiner.
The Estalian's smile sparkled more.
- Your Highness, I wish to thank you. Thanks to you, I had a much more optimistic and enjoyable vision of the Skaven people than the memories I kept from Ubersreik. And I am convinced that my monarch and the people of our principality will understand the same thing when our exchanges begin.
- I suspect it will take a little while, Clarin. Even here, living together is not always very simple. But I am as optimistic as you. If the people of Sueño are in your image, we should be able to get along. You will remind Prince Roderigo Calderon that I am ready to meet him whenever he wants, wherever he wants.
- We will find a place at the border for that.
Then the Human turned to Sigmund.
- Young man, I beg you to excuse my behaviour, if I could seem scornful to you. Your father was able to find the right words to convince me of your good intentions.
The Black Skaven did not answer, and just nodded slightly.
- Well, my children, your parents and I still have things to do with Master Clarin. We will meet for dinner.
The five Steiner children each greeted the ambassador, then dispersed. The two Humans and the Skaven couple made their way to the library. As usually, the Encyclopaedia of the Children of the Horned Rat was enthroned on its shelf.
- My friend, as a token of friendship, I intend to offer Prince Calderon a printed copy of our common work. My adopted son, my best friend and I have written a book about the Skaven people. Of course, Prospero was our best source of information, indeed. But I spent long hours studying them from my side, and Prior Romulus compiled all the texts to bring them together in a harmonious way.
Ludwig Steiner opened a small cupboard and took out a big book of about fifteen inches.
- Here it is. I beg you to hand it over to His Highness Prince Calderon. But if I brought you here, it's to prove to you that it's not a fake. The original is here, firmly attached to its base. I invite you to take the time you want to compare the printed copy that I'm giving you with the original.
- Is it a work you have written with your adopted son and your chaplain? Prior Romulus is your chaplain as well?
- He is. And each chapter is signed by the hand of its author.
- Well... I trust you, but the protocol requires me to make such a check.
- Then sit down and take the time you like.
- Oh, one hour should be enough, your Highness.
- We let you work. When you're done, ring the bell, Gerd will take you back to the throne room.
One hour later, the Estalien appeared again before the Prince and his two adopted children, the print in hand.
- All the pages I checked were actually identical. I have no reason to doubt the rest.
- Perfect. I hope this will allow Prince Calderon to know a little more about Feral Skaven.
- Thus, the difference with the Fifth People will be the clearest, your Highness.
Prince Steiner smirked when he heard the ambassador adopt the expression he was trying to formalize, but he tinkered. He felt Clarin was going to say or do something unpleasant. And in fact…
- I would like to apologize to you, your Highness, but I have not been completely sincere with you so far.
- You haven't? So what did you hide from me?
The Prince spoke in a soft voice, but with a note of firmness. Without losing his temper, the ambassador took an envelope out of his pocket.
- My monarch has instructed me to check your good faith before explaining the essence of the problem. Now, I know you are worthy of our trust. Also, I will give you information that even my people still do not know.
Prince Steiner relaxed.
- Ah, right, I appreciate that proof of trust. What is it about?
- It is a threatening letter that Prince Calderon received a few days after the attack on the two villages.
The Prince made a small gesture. Psody stepped forward, retrieved the envelope the ambassador handed him, and handed it to his adoptive father. Steiner opened the missive and read it aloud.
"The man-thing Calderon will die soon. The Children of the Horned Rat have already begun to remodel their lands. Soon we will arrive, and we will kill-devour you. Our men-thing slaves will weaken you, then we will attack, and you will learn to fear us before dying-dying."
The Prince's mouth narrowed into an ironic pout.
- Well, I admit that the style is quite provocative.
- Look at the signature, your Highness. That's what pushed us to pay attention.
The White Skaven felt a sting between his lungs when he heard the voice of his adoptive father announce:
"Psody the Grey Seer of the Rat Kingdom".
He noticed that Clarin had turned his head towards him. Feeling that an explanation was expected, he mumbled:
- My birth name is Psody, Sir Clarin. People who know-know me also know it. However, for the good of all, we think we'll manage to make sure it doesn't become known when I'm gone. Officially, I will remain an adopted child of Prince Steiner, but I will have been collected very small by one of his battalions of mercenaries, like my companion.
- Do not think of it as a rejection of identity, Heike added. It is to make life easier for the inhabitants of Vereinbarung. Even though I prefer truth to lies, there are certain truths that cause more harm than they help. And the citizens who will inhabit this kingdom in the future must not know that one of the founders of Vereinbarung was a Grey Seer.
The ambassador nodded.
- You are absolutely right, my lady. But still, today, Master Mage, someone knows you well enough so that your birth name is not a secret for him. And that someone does not like you. Prince Calderon wants to know the end of the story, and if you accept his help, he will be happy to set up a collaboration. What do you say, your Highness?
- The pleasure will be shared, but for now... I can send a team to investigate on the spot, however I do not see what more to do.
- We have this letter.
- This is a first element, but it is rather thin, you will agree.
- Because all the clues do not appear clearly, your Majesty. For the simple reason that this letter is a copy.
Psody, who had read the letter during the dialogue between the two Humans, narrowed his eyes.
- It's not a Grey Seer writing, indeed!
- Sallust, our Master Mage of the Golden Order, copied the text after neutralizing the warpstone powder that was in the ink. To do this, he had to use a mask and protective gloves.
- Excellent-excellent initiative!
- I have the original letter. It is hidden in a reinforced compartment of my coach, in a lead box. The Golden Order has established that lead protects from warpstone fumes. I thought you might want to look at it, and make sure it's a letter written by a Feral Skaven? Of course, taking all precautions. Master Sallust assured us that the warpstone was dead, but we are never too careful.
The White Skaven turned to the Prince.
- What do you think, Father?
- It shall be done in your laboratory. Come on, Clarin, let's take a look at this.
The four people left the mansion to return to the emissary's carriage. Clarin gave a brief order to the coachman, brought to the vehicle by Gerd. The man opened a hidden panel at the back of the carriage, and pulled out a small but solid-looking box. Psody seized it, and led his wife and two men to a small, secluded building at the bottom of the park, on the side of the cliff. Here again, Gotrek Gurnisson's talent made it possible to create a high-performance laboratory, where everything was in its place, and where there was an impressive collection of quality instruments.
- It must be pleasant to work in these conditions.
- Indeed. Be sure that even the Seer Lord doesn't have this equipment!
- That must kindle the envy of your inventor son, right?
- I promised my grandson Gabriel to have him build a workshop like this when the age of adulthood comes for him, said the Prince.
The White Skaven put the cassette on the desk and opened it carefully. He lives inside a parchment studded with dark spots. He closed his eyes, put his left hand on his forehead, and held out the fingers of his other hand over the box. He concentrated for a few seconds, then raised his eyelids.
- There are still some warpstone particles, but you should not take any risks. Well, unless you brew that parchment and drink it like tea.
- I'm not sure this kind of decoction is to my taste, Master Mage.
The Master Mage examined the parchment more closely.
- I let you guess whose beast belonged the back the skin was cut from, Master Clarin. And I confirm that it is indeed a hand of Feral Skaven who held the feather. Look at the aggressiveness-aggressiveness with which the author has slashed the tanned leather. He wrote in Reikspiel, but the writing of the Skaven is all in straight lines, without rounding.
- You mean, like the Dwarf Khazalid?
- Nah, the Dwarves have a much more refined writing, with cuneiform symbols. Master Gurnisson showed me some examples. There, in any case, it is really a literate Skaven who wrote that.
- Many people know how to write, among Feral Skaven?
- As for Humans: mainly priests and scientists.
- What about the merchants?
- They don't have any. In the Under-Empire, people trade or steal. Hmm... the text is the same. Here, look-look!
Psody presented the back of the parchment.
- It's typical: the ink has crossed the parchment, we can see the text upside down. There is probably some dried ink powder on the author's desk. When I was a Grey Seer, I stained my writing table several times that way.
- It's a good thing that the Skaven are immune to warpstone. You look perfectly healthy.
Psody smirked.
- We are not completely immune-insensitive, Master Clarin. Skaven can only handle refined warpstone. Rough warpstone is as dangerous for Skaven that for anyone else. And even treated warpstone still remains dangerous. Those who eat it to increase their powers may become addicted to it. It's a deadly-incurable addiction.
- Really? Fortunately, you do not seem to have developed this addiction!
- Luckily I didn't, I ate warpstone only once a long time ago. And I don't know if the Skaven born in Vereinbarung will keep this resistance?
- My two children were born underground, in the middle of the permanent scent of warpstone powder, Prince Steiner explained. But everyone who has come to the world on the surface has always lived a healthy life. For my grandchildren, I cannot say, but maybe in a few generations the blood of the Skaven will have completely lost the habit of warpstone.
- If it is the price of a good health like that of all the Skaven that I saw in your borders, it is perhaps not so expensive paid? Warpstone has no place in your society, tell me?
- We do not use warpstone, indeed, said Heike. And one of our projects would be to find a way to appease the addiction to this scourge.
- I wish you success, my lady. And Prince Calderon told me to give you this parchment, if it can help you in your search, Master Mage. It is this parchment that convinced me of your good faith.
- How-how?
- While you allowed me to read your encyclopaedia, I purposely consulted the chapters written by your hand. I have carefully studied the writing of this letter of threats in order to compare it to yours. It is obvious that it was not yours.
- Clever boy, murmured the Prince with a small nod. I do not think it is necessary to make Prince Calderon wait any longer. We should send someone back to Sueño with you to examine the attacked places.
- I propose Sigmund, Heike suggested.
- Your son? He doesn't seem to like me very much.
- I will not ask him to love you, but to investigate your home. And for that, you can trust him. It does not matter if it does not please him, the friendship between our two countries is more important.
- It will be an order from the Prince, said Steiner. He will have nothing to say against.
Clarin, satisfied, could not repress a slight smile.
And we're even for the funny ideas of princes!
- You will leave tomorrow morning. In the meantime, please consider yourself as our distinguished guest. The day is not over, I suggest you visit some of the most notable places in our brand new capital.
- It shall be a great pleasure, your Highness.
- You will understand that my prince business does not allow me to leave my mansion, so I will ask my granddaughter Bianka to serve as a guide, your escort accompanying you, of course. Will it suit you?
- If her culture is developed as her company is pleasant, you will make me a fulfilled man, your Highness. If she agrees, of course.
- I think you fascinate her, said the ratwoman, evasively. It must be said that it affects her to talk with educated people, especially those who come from outside.
- So be it, said Steiner. We'll meet again tonight for supper.