Children of the Horned Rat,
Clan Pestilens continue its bad move, and unfortunately, many people have been victims of their malice. My family and friends have been spared for the time being, but I guess this is not the case for many people. I'm especially sad to hear that Juan Giménez, the designer for Jodorowsky's The Metabarons, an authentic epic masterpiece of Ninth Art, each page of which is a real painting, passed away.
However, I would like to share with you a news that reached me the same day: my request for a change of position was validated, so in June 2020, I leave the factory in which I have been working for more than two years. Those of you who know me a little know how much I didn't like this situation. Things should logically be better for me in the coming months. It's not my final goal yet to become a librarian in a city library, but it's a step.
Anyway, I want to sincerely thank the readers who have openly supported me with encouraging messages, some of which have become very interesting long conversations. But I also think of all the others, the simple fact of knowing that this fanfiction is read around the world is very stimulating.
Do not hesitate to write to me, I will be happy to answer all your questions, comments or observations. And feel free to encourage the artists who bring the characters to life on the ChildrenOfPsody page of DeviantArt website.
Stay healthy, and Glory to the Horned Rat!
The rain had soaked the ground, and turned the village square into a mud bath. A liquid, sticky mud, on which each step was heavy, painful, and where the clay seemed alive to the point of sucking up the weakest hoofs and boots, without ever appearing satiated. A real hunger for shoes. This point didn't worry the Skaven so much. They were all walking barefoot, the skin on their feet was naturally strong enough and insensitive to walk on surfaces that would have injured a Human heel. But regularly, a Skaven slipped and fell, especially those that were heavily loaded.
Until the day before, the Klapperschlänge construction site had made good progress. Unfortunately, black clouds had gathered at sunset, and pouring rain laced the workers without respite. Accidents multiplied, injuries were more serious. The unlucky ones were quickly led to a twenty yards long tent, which had been erected at the start of the work. It served as a dispensary, and three priestesses of Shallya worked tirelessly there. Wüstengrenze was a good hour's walk away, so care had to be taken of the injured on the spot.
- All right, guys! That's enough for today!
The loud voice that had just spoken belonged to Baldur Gottwald. He was a rather impressive sized man, with a large brown beard in undergrowth, and muscular arms, sculpted by years of construction. When Ludwig Steiner and his gang had passed through Nuln before definitively leaving the Empire, the future Prince of Vereinbarung had spread the word that he was going to need lots of arms to build a new kingdom "with a totally new concept". Like all the Humans who henceforth populated this principality, Gottwald had been enticed by the profit in front of the promise of interesting wages, and especially curiosity.
He and his family had accompanied the procession to the field of ruins that would become the mansion of the ruling family. Like all of those involved, he had seen with his own eyes a couple of ratmen altogether civilized during their journey – Prospero and Heike had stopped hiding once the border of Averland had been crossed. At the beginning, the future Prince had announced to his followers that they were just his adopted children, without adding anything. Once there, the big work had started. Everyone had participated in the building of Steinerburg. Even the children had provided help as much as possible. Mercenary captain Hallbjörn Ludviksson had been tasked with recruiting and training militiamen. And the site had been entrusted to Gotrek Gurnisson, the famous Dwarf Slayer, himself an engineer before having made the Vow to the Slayer Cult.
It was therefore natural that Baldur Gottwald had been appointed as the assistant to the foreman. After a year of hard work, he learned a lot from the brave Dwarf. He was therefore able to take over when the Slayer set off on an adventure with his faithful companion, the poet Felix Jaeger. The official announcement of Steiner's real goal – to build a whole society where Humans and ratmen would cohabit – did not immediately please him, but several things made him think. He had always heard of these beings as monstrous creatures ready to devour the imprudent, but had the opportunity to exchange a few words with the two Skaven, become parents since their arrival. His wife had finished convincing him: the pay was good, it was a new life awaiting them and their children, the climate was better than in Nuln, thanks to the work in which he had participated, the vital resources wouldn't lack… So he had continued to use his carpentry skills. And every time he got up and walked the streets of Steinerburg, he was proud of the result. Fortunately, he kept his feet on the ground, and knew that this job could never have been accomplished without the help of all his workers.
The Prince had appointed him to take care of the reconstruction site of the village of Klapperschlänge. Each morning, he and his men came from Wüstengrenze, and worked to rebuild the place from morning to night. Everything had been destroyed by the Orcs. The foreman had decided to reconstitute each dwelling. First, it was necessary to completely clear away the remains and ashes. Then restart the construction of the building from scratch, while making improvements. Klapperschlänge would literally rise from the ashes, the carpenter was convinced of it.
Another small detail finally improved his mood: the rain had stopped falling for a quarter of an hour. Better still, the clouds were tearing, and a few rays of the setting sun punctured the greyish cottony blanket.
Baldur Gottwald wiped his forehead. He saw approaching a characteristic silhouette, on horseback: that of the elder son of the Master Mage, a young ratman of pleasant company named Kristofferson. He approached slowly, and waved to him.
- Hello, sir! It's nice from you to come to Klapperschlänge!
- I came to see how the work progresses. Compliments, my friend, you've made an impressive advancement!
- We do what we can, sir. What about you?
- It's all right, as much as it can be. Wüstengrenze soldiers are not very well trained, but they don't lack motivation. The training is going on. When I finish my... well, when I get back to Steinerburg, they should be able to provide an effective defence. Captain Müller should be much more efficient than his predecessor.
Young Kristofferson was unable to participate in the construction due to his broken hand. So he spent his days at the military barracks with Captain Rudy Müller. He gave the old captain advice, tips, and sometimes allowed himself to teach him some small communication techniques that he had received from his grandfather. The difference in method had not taken long to be felt.
- You said it, sir! Kreutzer was really not a good lad!
- He's not dead, Master Gottwald. Don't talk about him by using the past, please.
The carpenter spat on the ground.
- According to me, that asshole is dead. I had friends who lived here, my lord. They may still be alive today.
- They might still be alive if I had thought of sheltering them!
- Come on, my lord! We know very well the real problem was Kreutzer. You're not.
- If you say so...
Kristofferson still hadn't come to terms with the tragedy that had struck Klapperschlänge. All people around him supported him, no one blamed him for anything. And the authoritarian shadow of Kreutzer, who was still found totally drunk the last morning in a bush, no longer hung over the village.
Young Steiner glanced at a particular point.
- If you allow me, I would like to check something.
Gottwald raised his thumb over his shoulder.
- We're going to have a drink at the inn before going back to Wüstengrenze.
- When we go?
- In an hour, we have to prepare the wounded for the trip, yet.
- Right, I'll join you.
The Human nodded, then strode towards the building that had once been the village inn. The roof had been burned, but the rest of the structure had held up, and the reserves stored in the cellar had not suffered too much from the fire. The workers had stretched large canvases over the walls. As he walked through the door, he spotted an easily recognizable figure out of the corner of his eye under the large tent in the dispensary.
- Move on in an hour, my Sister!
- Thank you, Master Gottwald!
Sister Carolina Kuhlmann was exhausted. The work had lasted all day, and her service had too. She had volunteered to come to the site and provide care to the workers. The accidents were numerous, and with this bad weather, more serious and more difficult to deal with. Finally, she looked up, looked at the man she had just wrapped his calf, and sighed in relief.
- Well, I did what I could. It's up to Shallya to decide for the rest, my good fellow.
- Thank you… my Sister.
- You'll be installed in the cart for the back travel.
- I understand.
The worker let himself fall on the cot. The young nun looked at her hands stained of blood, and looked around. This patient was the last one. She had finally finished. She gave a last reassuring look to the wounded man, grabbed the strap of a leather satchel placed not far from her, and came out from under the stretched canvas.
She spent a minute looking for a specific person. She smirked in satisfaction when she saw him. She advanced, but slipped on a clod of mud and sprawled all the way. She got up slowly, and clenched her teeth.
May Taal forgive me, this slush is a real pain!
Like other members of her congregation, she wore simple sandals, and the feeling of mud smearing her toes was all the more unpleasant. She had taken the precaution of wrapping strips of tissue around her bare feet, but there was not much to expect from the fragile fabric in front of such an avalanche of loose soil. It took her a long time to cross the central square, and she finally stopped in front of a small, isolated house.
Unlike all the other dwellings, this cottage hadn't been burned down by Orcs. The green-skinned barbarians used to ignore what was already destroyed. The girl posted near Kristofferson. The latter, standing, motionless, watched the remains of the house, tears in his eyes.
- Master Steiner? Is something wrong?
Without moving, the young ratman murmured:
- I was thinking about the last owner. It was an old lady who lived alone. When we were attacked by these wyverns, one of them fell on the roof.
- Was this woman inside then?
- She was, but she managed to get out of it in time. She has not been devoured. However…
Kristofferson couldn't finish his sentence. He bowed his head, and felt a tear fall on his toe.
- I promised her to fix her home...
- And that's what we're going to do, Sir Kristofferson.
- That's all she owned. All her life hung between these stones and this wood. But now… what's the use?
- This house will experience a new life, it will protect a new family. The story of Klapperschlänge didn't stop. It experienced a sudden and tragic turnaround, it's true. But we're doing our utmost to make this story evolve. Master Gottwald is a professional, and I'm sure the whole village will come back to life, more beautiful than before! Don't you believe it?
The young ratman finally looked at the sister, and had a light, sad smile.
- If all the people present here share your optimism, I'm even sure of it.
- If you continue to encourage them with your presence, they will remain optimistic.
The priestess make silent, and pouted while she was thinking. Kristofferson scratched his head.
- Can I do something for you?
- Well, yes. I have a favour to ask you.
- I'm listening.
Sister Carolina looked right and left, then she spoke more softly.
- Have you seen which condition this day left me in?
Indeed, even without the fresh mud, Sister Carolina's white dress was smeared with blood and other fluids, and a pestilential odour emanated from. Kristofferson dared not say anything, but his sense of Skaven had been violated by the scent of carrion and faecal matter before the conversation even had begun.
- I would like to take advantage of the respite that Master Gottwald has granted us to go to the river and wash myself. Could you accompany me, please?
- Me?
Sister Carolina hastened to add:
- This is asked with the most honourable intentions, sir! Usually, at the temple, we have a small cabinet to make us presentable after a messy operation, but here, of course...
- Of course, the young ratman repeated.
- I know that the Orcs are far away at the moment, but the river is a few minutes' walk away, and it would be unwise for a young girl to be alone in the countryside, especially near an abandoned place, and therefore easy to loot.
- Even if there is nothing to recover, I guess. Either, I come with you.
- Very good. And…
Kristofferson saw the girl's round face flush.
- You'll find me very demanding, but... Hum... You tell me, I treated you, I saw you naked, and then, we are not of the same people, my anatomy should not arouse the slightest emotion within you, but...
- I understand.
- Please forgive me, even if I seem to talk like a frightened virgin, I consider you as Human, and I ask you the same thing as I would have asked of a Human who would have the confidence that I'm having towards you.
- I thank you for this confidence, and for your consideration. Don't worry, my Sister. My parents taught me to look at a naked woman only if she explicitly authorizes it, by words, stares or gestures, and whether she is Human or Skaven. Or, failing that, if her life is threatened and I can do something to help her. Like you did, when you took care of me. I'll respect your modesty, you have my word.
The girl finally allowed herself a smile.
- Your parents educated you so well, sir. I'd like to meet them so much.
- If you come to Steinerburg, someday, I'll be happy to introduce you to them. I think you would please to my mother. On the other hand, you'll have to be patient with my young sister, she won't lack of questions about your priestess life! For the time being, I'll stay nearby, but until you have given my permission, I lay my eyes on you to save you from immediate danger only.
- Yes, and in that case, you said it, my life will come before my modesty. But really, I appreciate, Sir Steiner.
- Oh, you can call me Kristofferson. If you allow it, I would be happy to count you among my friends, Sister Carolina.
- Is it true? So, I authorize you... Kristofferson. You can forget the "Sister".
- As you wish, Carolina. And... What about your clothes?
- I have a spare dress, replied the girl, tapping her leather bag.
- Right. So let's go!
The two young people walked away from the village, side by side, and followed the path to the nearby river. Kristofferson spotted a tree stump he sat on, turning in the opposite direction to the water. Confident, Sister Carolina approached the clear aqua, put her bag down, removed a piece of soap from it, and undressed completely before entering the water.
Still on his stump, Kristofferson heard the splash of water on the girl's skin as she gradually sank into it. Once accustomed to the coolness of the river, she began her ablutions.
While soaping herself, Sister Carolina contemplated the young Skaven. She found herself thinking from a new perspective.
Hmm... I must admit, for a ratman, he is rather remarkable! Even without the character... nothing but the appearance make him different from the others! I wonder if…
She smiled slightly, and asked the question out loud:
- Tell me, Kristofferson...
- I'm listening, replied young Steiner without moving.
- Is there anyone waiting for your return in Steinerburg?
- My parents and my brothers and sisters. I hope to be able to present myself to them with my honour washed.
- Don't you have a bride?
This time, Kristofferson let a few seconds of silence hover before answering.
- No, Carolina. I have not taken a wife yet.
- But you could? Do you prefer to stay single?
- That's not the point, Carolina. As you know it, I am the first Skaven born in Vereinbarung. All the others were harvested, or were born from parents brought back with these harvests. Aside from my own family and a few friends like Pol and Walter, I haven't had much opportunity to hang out with a lot of Skaven of my age, and thus bonding that could lead to marriage.
- There are many girls in marriage age for now! Some even have children! You can meet one who will be a young adult, it is not necessary to marry someone who has exactly the same age you have.
- You are right, but there's something else: the Harvests have just finished. However, I participated in all those that I could as soon as my father judged that I was aged enough to. That means, for the past few years, I have taken risks. If I had married, had children, and had been killed in a burrow of the Under-Empire, I would have left a widow and orphans.
- Yes, but now that you have returned, you could think about the question when you are home again?
- Maybe… If Orcs don't kill us all before.
Sister Carolina hesitated between laughter and annoyance. She tried to mix the two.
- Shallya have mercy, Kristofferson, you should relax! It's good to be forward thinking, but you have to know how to enjoy life, too! You are young, you are appreciated, and you are rather pleasant to look at, even for a Human like me... You have no fear to have, love will knock on the door of your heart! If you ask me nicely, I can even be the priestess who will marry you!
Kristofferson finally laughed a little.
- If I accept your proposal, Carolina... will you invite me to your wedding?
- Ah, but it's not planned, my dear. Not yet.
- Shallya's priestesses can get married as well?
- They can, but... let's say I haven't met the right person yet. But the day it happens, if you're a good boy, you can even be my witness!
- Cross my heart and hope to die, Carolina!
The Human and the Skaven laughed together. Young Steiner ended up to admit:
- Having said that, I must admit that between two Harvests, I sometimes had the opportunity to participate in a ... "social evening" organized by my grandfather, where he the main personalities of Vereinbarung and their children were gathered. Including Freed Skaven, and therefore, young girls of marriage age.
- And... Did one of them catch your eye?
- No, Carolina. Like you, I haven't met the right person yet. The ones I have been presented with so far have not seemed to me enough...
- Pretty?
- Special. Pretty, they were, but too bland for my taste. For me, beauty is not everything, in someone. I think there are girls who are much more attractive by heart than by physique.
- I hope you don't speak for me? The nun quipped.
Once again, Kristofferson let a little silence hover.
- All I can say to you without hesitation and without risking, I hope, to be wrong or disrespectful, is that you are someone of very pleasant company.
- It's an exquisitely crafted sentence. And a very kind compliment.
Sister Carolina went completely into the water to rinse herself off. She felt clean again. She got out of the water, rubbed herself at length with her towel. She took her spare bure from her bag and got dressed. She sat down next to the young ratman to lace up her sandals, and gave him a warm smile.
- You're a very pleasant companion, too, and I'm not afraid of being wrong when I tell you so. Right, we should go back, the others will need our arms.
- After you, Carolina.
The young woman picked up her bag, and the two friends returned to the village under reconstruction without adding a word.
The sun was just setting. The caravan was halfway to its goal. Kristofferson was at the tail of the procession, near the cart on which the most seriously injured workers were transported. He walked quietly alongside his horse, and held the bridle with his valid hand to guide it, while Sister Carolina was seated on the saddle.
The priestess ran her hand through her long hair, and took a deep breath. The air was still humid, mosquitoes swirled around the workers, and the wounded chased flies regularly, but she remained in a good mood. There were no more clouds, and the warmth of the sun was very pleasant to her.
- I hope the building site to be finished on time, the girl said.
- There are enough able-bodied people in Wüstengrenze to take over.
Kristofferson turned his head toward the nun.
- Your words were right; we are going to bring this village to life.
Satisfied to see him happier, she replied with a smile. Then the young rat man asked her:
- Tell me, Carolina: What did a Human like you come to do in a kingdom like this?
Sister Carolina found the question rather personal, but she hadn't forgotten that the young Skaven had spoken truthfully from the heart at the river. She decided to return the favour.
- There are several reasons. First, I would say it was a proposal from the Mother Superior of the Temple where I was. She… sensed that my opinions, my ideas, my motivations on the status of women would be useful in a society like the one of the Principality of Vereinbarung. You know better than I do how Feral Skaven treat their women. This is a whole education we have to offer here. Even if you were educated as a Human, even if all of the Skaven adopted here, and then their children, received all a Human education, it is important to remind them that men and women are equal. In Karl Franz' Empire, alas, it is far to be acquired, I know something about it.
- So you think you can change everyone's mind-set?
- If we manage to create a society where boys and girls have exactly the same status, there is a good chance that this society to become powerful. And therefore, an example for others to follow.
- It's pretty ambitious.
- But not impossible. I've learned about the subject: there are already societies where women have their place in political life and military affairs. Among the Norscans, for example. And see the Kislev! This is a country ruled by the Ice Queen, and the magic is mastered only by women!
- Interesting, but aren't you afraid of going overboard? What if we find ourselves in a society where men are reduced to the state of reproductive slaves, as girls among the Feral Skaven?
Sister Carolina leaned forward, leaning on the pommel of the saddle.
- Be reassured, Kristofferson. At the rate things are going, three new Chaos Storms will have time to occur before such a situation becomes a reality.
The young ratman pouted ironically.
- Have you always had such… avant-garde ideas?
- As far back as I can remember. When I was little, I insisted on playing boys' games!
- Ha! Your parents shouldn't be bored! What did they think about it?
The priestess did not answer immediately. She even sighed.
- I don't know. They couldn't see me grow up.
Instinctively, the Skaven understood that he had just put his finger on a delicate subject. He dared not add a word. Before his silence, Carolina continued:
- Kristofferson, I... I'm one of the orphans of Nuln.
- One of the orphans of... by Verena's scales!
Kristofferson felt his ears down in discomfort. Even without having lived it, he knew too well the terrible tragedy which had struck the city of Nuln, seventeen years earlier. Grey Seer Thanquol had tried to bring down the capital of Wissenland. Lots of people had died in just a few days.
- I... I don't know what to say.
- Well, don't say anything, Kristofferson! replied the girl joyfully. You have nothing to say, nor feel! You have nothing to do with it! Your father wasn't even born at the time. And then, I like to say that this... page of my story was like a second birth, for me.
- What do you mean?
- I was four years old when it happened. My parents lived in a house in the Neuestadt. They had a business in the Handelbezirk district. I will never forget that night, Kristofferson. My mother hid me in the cellar and pulled the hatch down on me. I heard cries of terror, and hissing, squeaking... then nothing more. I stayed in this cellar, without light, I don't know how long. And then, the hatch opened, and a member of the Null Guard lifted me out of there to put me back in the light. I was first dazzled, then I looked at the outside world. Everything had changed, I didn't recognize anything. I felt like I was born for the second time, at that time. In any case, the symbolism was very strong. I was taken to Shallya temple. I quickly discovered a vocation for the Bleeding Heart robe. I could help people, learn to care for them, and have the same value as a man while still being a woman. So this tragedy was finally the real start of my life.
- In a manner of speaking, yes. But... weren't the priestesses put off by your ... strong personality?
- It wasn't easy at first, but the sisters... "turned a blind eye" to my character, when they saw that I was quite good at retaining medical lessons.
- And then?
- I stayed in Nuln for thirteen years more. I learned to save lives, I mainly fought the diseases inflicted by Feral Skaven. Even after Nuln's invasion ended, they regularly sowed the seeds of their plague on several occasions, fortunately on a smaller scale. And then, over time, I settled down. I managed to reconcile my fighting spirit with my femininity, without giving up on my ideals. And then, about four years ago, I was offered to come here. I told myself that it was a golden opportunity, a way to take my revenge on Destiny definitively: the Skaven had taken my parents from me, I was going to do my best to dismantle their society. And for that, what could be better than teaching them to be Human while they still can?
- You show a real willpower! Many people in this world who have experienced what you have suffered would take revenge by killing as many Feral Skavens as possible.
- I forgave the Feral Skaven, Kristofferson. Shallya invites us to forgive, if only to be in peace with ourselves. Revenge is useless, it only stirs the bitterness of the one who exercises it. It is never satisfied, it will always be hungry, and it will always have to find something to fill it up at least for a while. I met inquisitors who were justly obsessed with revenge. None of them ended their lives peacefully. I learned to forgive, and I did.
- Have you ever met a Feral Skaven, Carolina?
- No, but I heard a lot of testimony from those who had faced them and whom I had to treat. I think their biggest problem is not their temper or deceit. No, the real problem is grief. The entire Under-Empire lives in the grip of sadness, fatalism and fear. This results in this permanent rage which pushes them to be so violent. In fact, I can't seem to be angry at them, I can only complain about them.
Kristofferson sighed a little bitterness.
- You might be less forgiving if you had seen their nurseries…
- You might think differently if you had spent the past fifteen years living according to Shallya's word, Carolina replied in the same tone.
- Maybe yes.
- Speaking of which... you said you had a rather curious sister?
The young ratman felt that the conversation was going to take a less sullen turn. He hastened to answer:
- Yes, her name is Isolde. She feasted her second anniversary a few months ago. She's fascinated by the Order of Shallya.
- Is she?
- Regularly, she tells us she would like to become a dove. She asks questions to prior Romulus, the chaplain of my grandfather, she often goes to visit the priestesses of the Steinerburg temple, she attends all the religious ceremonies she can... Even on a daily basis, she always wants to see the people smile around her.
- Well, she seems to have good dispositions.
- For the moment, of course, she is too young, and she has not yet had the opportunity to see the most... "organic" side of the life of a priestess of Shallya.
- Of course, a young child should not be confronted with illness and death too early. What do you plan to do?
- When she's a little older, we'll send her to work for a few days with your colleagues of Steinerburg. She'll see by herself if this life really suits her or not, and if it is, then she can become an initiate?
- I wish her find what she's looking for, Kristofferson.
- I wish so, Carolina. I wish so.
The caravan arrived in sight of Wüstengrenze. As its name indicated, this good-sized town was the last border between the Rat Kingdom and a desert area. Not a sandy desert, the region was made up of plains of dry grass, with a few scattered shrubs. No, if the area was known to be "desert", it was simply because it was not habitable. Or rather, it was already inhabited by many Goblin tribes. Two of them, in particular, were constantly fighting over the land: the Yellow Eyes Tribe, and the Night Goblins Bloody Spear Tribe. Fortunately, until then, the Goblins had not dared to get too close to the high stone walls of Wüstengrenze. Gotrek Gurnisson himself drew the plans and carried out the work. Like all his peers, the Dwarf knew well the methods and psychology of Goblins, and had known how to imagine suitable ramparts.
The city itself was medium in size, and rather austere. The permanent threat of the Goblins hovered over the rooftops, and the authoritarian attitude of former Captain Kreutzer had hardly helped matters – it was well known that the burgomaster, a rather oblivious man by the name of Harald Emmerich, suffered more than he allowed Kreutzer's muscular policy, as long as he had authority over the city's militia.
The atmosphere was all the more tense than usual because of two disturbing new elements: first the dismissal of the captain had shocked. Admittedly, he was credited with a ruthless man, but at least his policy had been effective so far. Not everyone liked seeing a man like Rudy Müller replace him. The old captain understood this, and had redoubled his efforts to gain the confidence of his fellow citizens.
The other element was the presence of the Orcs. The dreaded green-skinned barbarians have never been reported so far. Orcs live in the Badlands, far to the south, beyond the port city of Barak Varr. To see them in the Border Princes was a bad omen. What did the authorities in Barak Varr think about it? They couldn't have been unaware. So, why no reaction? No news? Was there a fault in the communication chain? Or worse, was the Rat Kingdom left to itself, deliberately ignored by neighbouring countries?
So many questions that didn't help the morale of the residents of the border town to stay high. Night was falling quickly, people still outside hurried to return, the shutters closed on the passage of the caravan. Finally, the workers reached the city's Shallya temple. The wounded were taken to the large furnished dormitory.
When Kristofferson entered the inn adjoining the barracks where he had settled, he found Walter and Pol. The tall, light-coloured Skaven offered him a pint of beer, and asked him about the work. Fat Pol then handed him a sealed envelope, which had arrived during his absence by courier. Kristofferson opened it, and spent a long minute reading its contents. Walter thought he'd rather spent that minute swallow its content, the mail didn't seem particularly long.
Without saying a word, Kristofferson crumpled up the letter, threw it into the fire in the fireplace, and stepped out of the tavern.
Letter from Sister Carolina Kuhlmann, priestess of the Shallya Temple of Wüstengrenze, to Sister Judy Hoffnung, priestess of the Shallya Temple of Steinerburg, written on the tenth Sigmarzeit of the year two thousand five hundred and thirty of the Imperial Calendar.
My dear benefactor,
The work continues at Klapperschlänge, and the bad weather that has just hit the countryside won't stop us, I am sure. But I'd like to share a little concern with you: citizens are getting nervous. Certainly, Captain Müller embodies goodwill, but a kind of unhealthy tension is mounting. We have had no signs of activity by the Orcs, but they may not have come here for a single isolated assault. They'll return someday, and we hope that His Highness the Prince will then have made arrangements to enable us to defend ourselves effectively.
I remain optimistic, from my point of view, Klapperschlänge is coming back to life, slowly but surely. Of course, there were broken arms and legs again. I am sure that the people who will live in these places once the work is finished will praise the quality of their work for years, and the treasures of patience and professionalism which they dug up from the bottom of their hearts to achieve it. Once the threat of the Orcs has passed, it will be so good to live in that others will be tempted to settle there.
As for me, the Klapperschlänge tragedy has brought me at least one positive thing, and I would like to thank Shallya for it: the beneficent warmth of a friendship. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Kristofferson Steiner, the elder son of Master Mage Prospero. I am happy to now count among my friends someone so deeply Human.
He is Human, by heart, and also by worries. Indeed, shortly before supper, I had to comfort him: Master Kristofferson Steiner wanted to "meditate on the progress of the situation". In reality, he withdrew to an isolated corner to smash a log with large axe blows. His friend, Master Pol Demmler, came to me to ask me to reason with him. When I arrived, Kristofferson seemed to be furious. I asked him what the problem was, he told me about "family concerns". "It is my brother. He made a big mistake, and now the whole family pays! When I come back to Steinerburg, he'll be sorry!" I didn't ask for details, even if I didn't want to be intrusive, it wouldn't change anything. From what I understand, the matter has gone public, and you yourself have probably known about it for longer than I did.
Still thinking about what Shallya teaches us about revenge and its consequences, I wanted to dissuade him from it. "Maybe you should relax a bit, you don't have to carry this burden, you know..." "I'm the oldest, it's my duty", he replied. "It is your parents' duty, Kristofferson. Your duty is to prove to us that you are strong enough to carry out the reconstruction. Your brother has made a mistake, he will have to assume it. You won't. Take on your role here, because we need all your resources."
Shallya be praised, I found the right words. He eventually calmed down, and returned with us to the barracks. I wished him a good night before returning to the temple. I'll be going to bed soon, myself, the day has been exhausting, and the work is far from over.
I wish you well in these difficult times. May the kindness of Shallya protect the inhabitants of our Kingdom in these troubled times!