Children of the Horned Rat,
The confinement continues, the Pestilens are still sowing the disease, but we will manage to resist them. I wish you all well, and sincerely hope that you, your loved ones, your family, your friends are doing well in these troubled times.
For my part, I would like to thank a particular artist, I named Mennina. Check out her page on DeviantArt, you'll find her paintings of characters from the Rat Kingdom made in a completely selfless way, as well as her own Old World fanfiction called Of the Same Blood.
Danke Schön, Mennina!
A few days later, Clarin and his delegation returned to Steinerburg, with the two Skaven. The trip had taken place without a hitch. Psody had felt a marked increase in ambient blood pressure, but nothing dramatic had happened since his departure.
In the evening, the emissary was having supper with the Steiner family and the Magister Steadyhand. Sister Judy Hoffnung had also been invited. The ambassador was disappointed, however, that he couldn't be introduced to the youngest son of the ratmen couple, who was again absent from the table, but he tried not to show anything. On the other hand, he was fascinated by the Magister. He had already the opportunity to meet some Elves during his career, but this one told him stories that were far more interesting than the usual diplomatic palaver, especially about his native island, Ulthuan. Steadyhand questioned him about Estalia in return. The Magister and the priestess of Shallya were relieved and happy to hear the success of their combined work.
- And so, your Highness, I assure you: we had not left the field that, already, the true nature took again its rights on this abomination.
- It will still take some time, because the depths of the earth itself must also be purged, and it will be necessary to be sure that there is no longer the slightest trace of warpstone, but within a couple of months, the domain should be liveable again, explained Brisingr Steadyhand. I even think that the surrounding fields will be more fertile than before, thanks to the energy of the Slann mask.
- I would still be curious to know how your son obtained this artefact?
Psody turned his head towards the Prince. He made a small gesture of indifference. Confident, the White Skaven replied:
- It was given to me by a White Skaven. Oh, I know what you are saying to yourself: how could a White Skaven have had in his hands an item from Lustria, whose power is obviously linked to the sun-sun? I hope your curiosity to be ready to accept some rather... surprising things?
- I would even say my curiosity is thirstier than a Dwarf Slayer who has just crossed the Khemri Desert without having died!
- So open your ears, but don't repeat it to Prince Calderon right away, he might have doubts about your mental health. Talking to Skaven as equals is already an unusual concept that many already consider "dangerous-heretic".
The impatience was palpable for the Estalian. Bianka, herself installed near the Human, detected the fragrance that people emitted when curiosity turned into an obsession, it was a perfume that she particularly appreciated.
Heike didn't show the same enthusiasm.
- If you allow me, Excellency, I'm going to put the little one in bed. We already know this story, and it's getting late.
- I wish you a good night, Señora Steiner.
- I'll be in the greenhouse, if you want to see me.
And the ratwoman got up, immediately imitated by her younger daughter. Before exiting the dining room, she exclaimed:
- Opa, you don't forget the gift to Shallya, huh?
Psody sighed, a bit annoyed. The Prince replied:
- No, my angel. But it was supposed to be a surprise! You have to know how to keep surprises, from time to time.
Of course, that was not the case, Sister Judy Hoffnung knew very well why the Prince had invited her. Isolde had asked the question when she had seen the priestess arrive. To avoid having to embark on long explanations on conventions still inaccessible to a two-years-old child, Ludwig Steiner had contented himself with telling her that he was going to give her money to send to the temple of Shallya.
Sister Judy saw the face of the little girl wrinkle in worry.
- It is not a problem. Shallya won't be angry about it, don't worry. However, I think she thinks it's time to go to bed for little girls!
Once the two Skaven girls were out, Psody was able to resume:
"I'm going to reveal-tell you something that very few people outside this room know. One day, perhaps, the book I wrote with my father and prior Romulus will no longer be considered heretical, and will be able to be printed and distributed across the other countries, but in the meantime, what it contains has not yet travelled far. And I'm going to reveal a few little secrets that you now have the right to know. You can repeat them to your Prince, but I don't know if he will believe you."
"Vereinbarung is not the first country where a people has tried to tame-raise the children of the Horned Rat. Over two thousand years ago, a Slann Priest named Xarkish attempted to do the same. The Skaven and the Lizardmen were then at war, Clan Pestilens was particularly delighted-delighted to be in a country with all new flora and fauna, from which a good number of poisons and diseases could be extracted-extracted. Xarkish fought the Skaven infiltrated into Lustria. One of the colonies he cleaned up contained a nursery inside which there was a Skaven White baby. The little one had been shelved, and thus preserved from the Pestilens rot. He felt a lot of mystical energy in this little boy. He then had an incredible-blasphemous idea: to take him to make him an ally."
"A few years later, the boy had become a young man full of life, clever, and voluntary. Xarkish had baptized him Cuelepok. Cuelepok had learned to use Ghyran magic – it wasn't called it at the time, but it was life magic, at least one of its variants. Cuelepok was in good health, but he remained the only Skaven in the entire city of Capatec Hanahuac, and that made him very unhappy. Slanns are not used to show their emotions. You would have a hard time reading the little signs you talked to Sigmund about in their behaviour."
"To deal with this loneliness, Xarkish organized a harvest of young Skaven still in nursery, and offered to Cuelepok to raise a few of them. And it worked! Very quickly, the little Skaven gave back to Cuelepok all the love he had generously given them. There were other harvests, and soon over the years Capatec Hanahuac became a city where the two peoples coexisted. It was something completely insane! You might as well allow Goblins to live in a Dwarf Karak. And yet things went well... at least, between the walls. Indeed, the Slann lords of other cities saw this with a very bad-suspicious eye."
"Finally, faced with the resurgence of the Feral Skaven in his country, the Venerable Lord Kroak ordered Xarkish to execute all the Skaven of Capatec Hanahuac, in order to avoid any betrayal. Xarkish obeyed, with a heavy heart. He had the choice between obey, or see the whole city destroyed-destroyed. But he tried to help his friend Cuelepok escape. Unfortunately, Cuelepok didn't succeed, and died in exhaustion. But before his escape attempt, he managed to contact me, through time and space."
Psody paused, enough time for Clarin to assimilate all of this information, and especially to take in the revelation he had just made. The White Skaven gestured to his adoptive father to continue the story.
"My son was therefore contacted by Cuelepok. And so, in order to understand the meaning of the visions that he saw constantly, he made research, they led us in the footsteps of Marco Colombo, the explorer from Tilea. We noticed in the notes compiled by Colombo several small clues which finally led us to the conclusion that it was possible to find the remains of Capatec Hanahuac, and therefore the answers to Psody's questions. So I set up an expedition to understand and learn. The results went beyond my expectations, Master Clarin. We found Capatec Hanahuac… and its inhabitants. The descendants of the Lizardmen were there, along with Xarkish himself. Two thousand years had passed, and yet he was still alive – the Slann are known for their longevity."
"Xarkish first made sure he was facing the White Skaven whose arrival had been predicted by Cuelepok. Then he told him the whole story, and let him go, giving him the mask of his old friend, and his treasure. This experience really made my son grow up, Master Clarin. The treasure made it possible to constitute the foundations of the Rat Kingdom. Cuelepok's mask remains the symbol of hope by excellence of our Principality, and that is why its motifs were included in our coat of arms."
Clarin pouted admiringly.
- What an incredible story!
- Isn't it? laughed the Magister. At times I envy our friend. I should have accompanied him. When he left, I myself had several urgent matters to deal with that I could not get away from. Please believe that I regret it!
- Why don't you go, then, Magister? asked Sister Judy. After all, you are someone recognized in the academic world, if you ask the Bright College to finance an expedition to do research, the Patriarch should grant you the credits?
- It's not so simple, sister. Lizardmen don't like foreign magicians coming to study at their place.
- Couldn't you ask your compatriots from Ulthuan to support you?
- No, Master Clarin. I can tell you that I would rather avoid going to Ulthuan.
- Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Master Steadyhand.
- I thank you, but you don't have to be sorry. It's been a long time since I adopted the Empire as my homeland.
- Nevertheless, your Highness, your son has just told us a great story.
- But still, it's only the beginning, Master Clarin. This story continues, and you are one of the actors in its sequel.
- Me?
- Yes, don't be modest, please. Vereinbarung is a relatively stable country, and so far the two peoples who live there manage to live in harmony. However, everything could fall apart in just a few months. We need strong allies. We're not ready to endure a heavy war. However, in recent weeks, there have been several signs that have multiplied. Many people are actively trying to harm us, I fear. The Feral Skaven stroke here, too. And we were attacked by Orcs, towards the southern border.
- Oh... that's rather annoying.
- Isn't it? This is why we need trusted allies among our neighbours, and I hope your monarch will be the first one.
- It's on the right track, Your Highness, I assure you.
The meal ended thus, and everyone returned to their apartments for the night.
Only Psody didn't go to his room right away. He left the building, and went to the greenhouse. This place had been a gift from the Prince to his daughter when she gave birth to the twins. Even if the ratwoman was delighted to already have three children whom she loved with all her heart, it was good for her to isolate herself from time to time in peace.
This was the function of the greenhouse. It was a square building, about sixty yards long, with walls made of reinforced glass. Inside, the walker could discover an impressive collection of colourful flowers and plants. The Prince had brought them at great cost from many countries of the Old World, including Tilea and Estalia, but the most expensive had been imported from even more distant countries: Arabia, Cathay, and even some flowers from Lustria. It had taken Steiner almost a year to collect all of these seeds, and more time to make them flower, but the results had been really worth it. Regularly, healthy seeds were taken in order to replace the plants that were wasting away. The whole interior garden was organized in a small labyrinth, the glass building was large enough for that. But it was not possible to enter without the express permission of the owner, who was the only one to have the key.
As he approached the door, Psody saw the light of a lantern through the reinforced glass. He opened the door, came in, called. She was there.
- I thought you were going to bed straight away?
- I wanted to find you, so we have a little time just for the two of us.
The sun was just setting out, and the copper glow of its last rays gave the place an almost autumnal atmosphere.
The White Skaven hesitated. He articulated painfully:
- They... didn't see anything. I took every precaution for that.
- Good.
- You know... it's not because I did this by duty-obligation they... well... I assure you that it stayed between me and our son.
The young ratwoman didn't answer, but Psody felt the musk of satisfaction. She finally allowed herself a little joke:
- Don't worry. As long as you keep your zeal for me alone, I'm not jealous.
- You know, it could have been worse. Can you imagine if we had to do this... together?
Heike made a pensive little pout.
- Note... the two of us, in this field, under the sun... might not that be such a bad idea?
- In the full carrion, with all these soldiers to watch-watch us?
- Sigmund contained them well, right?
- Ah, in addition, we would have done that in front of Sigmund?
- No, it's true, it should be a deserted field, where there are no guards.
- In the middle of the countryside, not here. Even our park is under surveillance.
- Yes... except one place.
Psody recognized the knowing smile that was now stretching the Skaven woman's mouth. She approached him, and slid her finger across his chest. He felt his heart accelerate as the voice of his companion whispered with mystery and sensuality:
- This greenhouse.
- Someone could come in? suggested the ratman, smiling too.
- Really? Who? Clarin? Do you think he's interested by my flowers?
- What if Bianka decides to show him this greenhouse?
- Oh, there is no risk for them entering!
She turned to the door, picked out of her pocket the key to the greenhouse, which was attached to the end of a string, and turned it in the lock.
- There is a unique door. This door has a unique key, and I'm carrying it. And if you want to go out one day, my horned knight...
She put the key around her neck, and fled laughing, before disappearing behind a grove. The White Skaven was stunned, but when he heard Heike's voice still exclaim:
- Come and get it!
He sneered impatiently, and set off in pursuit of the ratwoman, between the trimmed bushes. At the first intersection, he spotted his companion's shawl on the path to the left. Further on, her belt dragged on the ground. Psody felt his blood boil, and he followed the trail to ecstasy, running.
The thunder woke up Bianka with a start. Rain was pouring down on the shutters of her bedroom window, which trembled under the pressure of the wind. She got up, stretched, and then smelled a curious smell. She turned her head, and saw with horror three crossed-triangle lines painted on the full height of the wall which overlooked her bed. The red colour and the aroma left no doubt, it was blood.
A loud slam behind her made the young ratgirl react. She turned around, and saw one of the window shutters had dropped, and was banging against the wall. Hypnotized by the irregular movement of the wooden plank, Bianka approached step by step. The floor creaked under her toes. Finally she found herself facing the window. It was hurricane outside. The gusts of wind shook the trees with incredible violence.
The girl hesitated. Should she take the risk of letting in such a flurry to close the shutter? At the same time, it was beating so hard that it risked falling off and breaking something. Or worse, on someone, even if it was the last carelessness to be outside in such weather. She remained thus, motionless, for an indefinable time.
Finally, she made her decision. She slowly turned the round window handle, opened it, and was almost blown away by the wind. She gritted her teeth, and stretched out her arm to catch up on the hung shutter. Suddenly a hand gripped her wrist, and the other panel, still closed, was torn off by an irresistible force. Bianka screamed in terror when she saw a dark figure in front of her yelping at her face, its two eyes burning with a green glow.
Bianka fell from her bed, drenched in sweat, her heart pounding, and a taste of blood in her mouth. She turned towards the window, still closed and intact. She heard nothing but the song of a few birds. She rushed forward, tugged the curtains, parted the wings and opened the shutters wide.
The sun was already high in the spring sky, and in the park, life was trying to continue at an almost normal pace. The weather was bright.
Unlike the girl's mood.
- All right, now, that's enough!
She ran off to freshen up her body, got dressed, and walked down the stairs with a determined step. She spent a few minutes crossing the manor, passing through the most strategic places. But no way to find any of her two parents. She ran to the laboratory, but it was locked, so was the greenhouse.
Furious, the ratgirl looked around, and rushed towards the first servant whom she met, a young Skaven girl named Tanya.
- Tanya!
The servant started.
- Yes, Mistress Bianka?
- Do you know where my father is?
- He's not here, Mistress.
- And my mother? Have you seen her?
- I didn't more, I'm sorry.
- You must be kidding!
Bianka stamped on the spot.
- Bianka, what's wrong?
She spun on her heels. It was Magdalena.
- Where are my parents? articulated the ratgirl with difficulty.
- They are downtown, with your grandfather and Master Steadyhand. They left instructions: they have a certain number of matters to settle, they will be back only for supper.
Bianka squeaked between her teeth, then held her breath, closed her eyes, and tried to keep the little bit of calm she had left. The only solution she found to get through the day without making a nervous breakdown was to take refuge in the library.
The Magister was on the threshold of the throne room.
- I am sure your Principality will only get stronger.
- I still wonder what Patriarch Gormann will think about it?
- He's an intelligent man, more than most ordinary people or army captains. You can imagine I've set the scene with him before telling you about this project. Sure, he doesn't like the Skaven of the Under-Empire, but he recognizes that Vereinbarung is not a threat to Karl Franz yet. From the moment you have at least one ally among your neighbours, he will look into the matter further. At that time, I will suggest him to come to see you, with the escort of his choice, of course.
- Of course. He will therefore see that we have only good intentions, and will support our permission to the Emperor.
- And I will be at the head of the site to open a Bright College in Steinerburg, your Highness.
- I would prefer to start with Jade Magic. The Magic of Life will be very useful for us to better cultivate our lands. But I don't exclude Aqshy's firepower, Steadyhand, you can be sure. The Bright College will be the second to open its doors. Well, you can dismiss.
- I wish you a good evening, your Highness.
The Elf bowed and exited the place. He left the mansion and walked towards the gate. On the way, he saw the little Isolde, seated on a bench, manipulating a small shiny object. He felt his forehead wrinkle when he saw more clearly what she was holding between her little fingers: a piece of silk in one hand... and a small knife in the other.
- What are you doing?
He had spoken without raising his voice so as not to startle her. She looked up, and replied with the purest innocence:
- I'm cutting a piece of fabric to craft a dress for my doll.
The Elf opened wide suspicious eyes.
- And you have the permit to use this kind of tool?
- I'm not doing anything bad, I want to give her a present!
- I don't think your parents would appreciate seeing you play with a knife.
- And I don't think our parents would appreciate seeing you give her education lessons!
The Magister spun on his heels. Bianka was facing him, her hands on her hips, furious. He innocently raised his hands.
- Your sister is playing a dangerous game, I'm doing my duty as a caring adult.
- Bullshit! Mind your own formulas instead of approaching my sister! Weren't you supposed to be on the road back to Altdorf, by the way?
- Know your grandfather asked me to stay a little longer, in order to establish a first study on the constitution of a first College of Magic here in Steinerburg. You're not about to get rid of me, I'm afraid.
These words finished to annoy the ratgirl, who violently attacked her little sister.
- And you, Isolde, where did you get this thing?
- I didn't steal it, I found it.
- Put it on the bench. Right now!
The girl's tone didn't allow any argument, so Isolde obeyed. Bianka quickly picked up the small utensil, and examined it from all angles. She begged Verena to help her avoid a nervous breakdown when she recognized the object.
Father's paper cutter!
But she did not lose her temper. She asked in a toneless voice:
- Where did you find that?
- Under the armchair of my bedroom.
- And since when do you have it?
- Since... since the morning when Father and Sigmund left.
- Have you kept it with you all this time? Why, then?
- Not to be found.
Bianka looked the little girl in the eyes. She was petrified, and a small tear germinated in the corner of her eye.
- Is that ... is it serious?
- Don't worry, my child, answered Master Steadyhand. I am sure that…
- Enough! yelled Bianka to his attention. This does not concern you!
She ran to the annex which served as her father's laboratory. It was time to set the record straight once for all.
Psody reread the letter he intended to send to Altdorf's Jade College. The Magister Steadyhand had repeated it to the Prince, it was time to found a school of magic worthy of the name. But it was important to know where to start. On the financial level, they had spent the day prospecting with the various temples and citizens among the wealthiest to be able to raise the first necessary funds, it was now necessary to determine how to spend them in the most constructive way. Druid Ayden, the Jade Mage who trained him, could probably give him some good advice.
The White Skaven wanted to take the cup next to him for a glass of water when he heard a knock on his door.
- Come in.
But as he reached out, he knocked over the cup that rolled under the desk. Grumbling, he got down on all fours. He put his fingers on the goblet, and heard the voice of his older daughter.
- Have you lost something?
- Only my cup.
- Are you sure? Nothing else?
The White Skaven heard the sharp sound of an object placed on the wood of the varnished furniture. He pulled out from under the desk, and his forehead twitched when he saw Bianka's hand applying his paper cutter to the worktop. But his daughter's expression disturbed him more.
- Hey... I thought I had lost-lost it! What are you doing with?
- I caught Isolde doing something stupid with it.
- Don't tell me she got hurt?
- No. Don't worry, unlike Siggy, there is no damage apart from a piece of cloth.
Indeed, when he was very young, the Black Skaven had accidentally planted a small knife in his hand, the scar was still visible. A little relieved, Psody stood up and scratched his head.
- How could she put her hands on?
- She found it in her bedroom.
- In her bedroom?
- Under her armchair. She has kept it on her ever since. In terms of search for clues, I think Heifetz still has a lot to learn.
- Heifetz? What is Heifetz doing in there?
- Well, his investigation.
Psody felt his forehead crack.
- What investigation? Bianka, what the Hellpit are you talking about?
- I want to understand how your paper cutter ended up between Isolde's hands. I guess it was with this object that someone chiselled the triangle of the Horned Rat on her bed?
The White Skaven's heart stopped dead.
- What the…?
- Didn't Opa tell you about it yet?
- He had something to say to me, but he had a lot of work, vis-à-vis the burgomasters of the Kingdom.
- Didn't you notice that he offered Isolde a new bed?
- Uh... I did, but I thought it was for her to have a bigger-spacious bed?
- He did it especially so that she did not see the board with the Feral Skaven triangle which was engraved in it. By your paper cutter!
- My…
- I first thought it was again a Gutter Runner who wanted to scare you, but it would have done that with an Eshin dagger. Maybe it could even have hurt Isolde? It could be the famous "traitor", but I remember that you are the only one who has the key to your laboratory. And therefore access to this paper cutter. Did you do that, then?
Psody brutally remembered the strange feeling of absence he had had the day Sigmund was put in solitary confinement. He then heard an increasingly furious hum. The whole room slowly revolved around him, and his eyesight blurred.
Have I… threaten-threaten my little girl?
Bianka's anger gradually slipped into worry.
- Father? Father? What's wrong?
The ratgirl's clear voice was getting harder and harder to hear. The walls and furniture of his cabinet faded visibly, and gave way to the stone walls of the large nave of the temple of the Horned Rat of Brissuc. Bianka was still before him, undecided. The buzzing cleared, and soon an imprecation sounded more and more distinctly in the ears of the White Skaven. He recognized his native language when he heard: "Glory to the Horned Rat! Glory to the Horned Rat!"
Psody felt each of his hairs tending to loosen from the skin when he distinguished a pair of hands with hooked fingers caressing the neck and chest of his daughter, like two monstrous spiders ready to drain her blood until at the last drop. Behind her head, Vellux's two malicious eyes sparkled with mockery and lechery.
It was too much for the White Skaven. He grabbed the first object that came to hand – a thick bound volume loaned by Brisingr – and threw it with all his strength forward, toward the sinister apparition.
- Leave her!
Suddenly everything went black.
When Psody regained consciousness, he was standing behind his desk. His eyes rested successively on the paper cutter, the magic book wide open on the marble floor... and Bianka, lying full length, inert, her nose was swollen, and blood running down her chin.
Psody fell to his knees.
He grabbed his horns firmly, tilted his head back. A high-pitched, shrill screeching, scratching his throat, cracking his eardrums, and spreading his jaws in a frightful distortion.
The door opened with a crash. Heike, Sigmund and Ludwig rushed inside.
- Treasure! cried the ratmother.
She knelt beside her daughter, stroked her face to revive her.
- Well, it looks like Bianka was right, the low voice of the Black Skaven whispered.
The tiles slammed under the heavy footsteps of Sigmund, who approached slowly. Psody felt the shadow of his son hanging over him. When their eyes met, he shivered again. The great Black Skaven clenched his fists.
- I hope you have a good explanation...
The great Human hastened to intervene.
- Siggy, no! It can't be what you think!
- My sister, on the ground, injured... with him?
- Siggy, please! Your father is no longer himself! We'll fix it. Take care of your sister, please.
Sigmund growled, but stepped back, and took Bianka gently in his arms, before taking her out of the office.
Psody was trembling so much that he couldn't get up.
- Father, I... I...
- What have you seen? What did you do?
The Human leaned toward him, the White Skaven grabbed him by the shirt.
- Lock me up, quickly! Brisingr must examine me!
- He will, but only when you have calmed down. In the meantime, we must take precautions. Heike, fetch him, quick!
- He's at the door! cried Heike.
The poor ratwoman, panicked, ran in pursuit of the Bright Mage.
Gabriel shivered with anguish. The sun had barely set, the green rays of Morrslieb lit the area. The young Skaven had the impression of seeing the heavy paw of the Horned Rat hanging over the whole city through the window.
He wanted to sleep, he wanted this day to be finished, but he couldn't. His hectic spirit was too boiling.
Contrary to his habit, he had chosen to go to bed early, to try to sleep more. However, a few minutes earlier, his ear had caught the end of a conversation between Sigmund and Bianka, through the open windows.
- Aren't you mad at him?
- No. He's the victim of something that makes him see scary things.
- Fortunately, the little ones didn't realize anything.
Indeed, at least one of the two "little ones" was smelling a rat. What did they mean? What had happened? Who was "victim of something"?
Before going to bed, the little Skaven had been upset, the meal had passed without his parents, neither Sigmund, nor Bianka. He had worked all day in his workshop, and ended up with his grandfather and little sister. Opa Ludwig explained that Psody and Heike needed to "take care of a little grown-up issue", and had gone to town. Isolde, always so carefree, had spent the day playing with Teresa and Magdalena. Very tired, she hadn't asked any question. As for Bianka, according to the Prince, she had wanted to go to bed very early, and Sigmund had stayed close to her. But instinctively, Gabriel had sensed that something very serious had happened. However, he hadn't dared to question his grandfather. And the few sentences he had just heard suggested the worst.
The best way to endure this was a good, restful sleep, but sleep didn't come.
Gabriel writhed in his bed. He wedged his head under his pillow. He fidgeted nervously. He stuffed himself as deep as possible under the sheets. He remained motionless for a long minute, then as it was too hot, he threw the blanket through the room, then he tore off his nightgown, and rolled on the mattress grumbling "Will I sleep or not? Will I?" He even ended up crawling on all fours on his bed, like a hysterical insect.
Then he stopped, realizing the ridiculousness of the situation. He got up, looked at himself, and considered he was pathetic enough to make him cry. Without saying a word, he picked up his clothes, got dressed, and lay down on the bed. He closed his eyes, and tried to stop thinking.
It remained thus for an indefinable time. Outside, the bell tower rang successively every quarter of an hour. Sleep still did not come. On the other hand, an unpleasant sensation tickled the young Skaven again. He straightened up, and sighed in annoyance.
Maybe I can sleep if I stop wanting to go to the bathroom?
His grandfather had installed equipment that was the ultimate in hygiene: a special room with a seat connected directly to the sewers. This avoided the need for a chamber pot – Isolde, however, still had one in her own room, for more safety.
When he entered the dark hallway, Gabriel trembled again in fear. He remembered a whole bunch of horrible stories about the dark tunnels of the Under-Empire his big brother Kristofferson had told tell him in order to frighten him, for fun. There were hundreds of Feral Skaven, and sometimes monstrous creatures, crafted by Clan Moulder or improved by Clan Skryre, sometimes both. The little light grey Skaven clenched his teeth.
What an idiot to have described all these horrors to me!
The familiar corridor seemed terrifying to him. Fortunately, he only had a few yards to cross it and reach the small cabinet. However, he panicked when he was about to lift the wooden cover.
The toilets are connected to the sewers... What if a Feral Skaven is hidden in it?
The urge to satisfy the natural need became more oppressive than his fear of any intruder.
Once his bladder was relieved, the little ratman wanted to go back to his bed, when he saw a ray of light through the gap under the door leading to Sigmund's room. He wanted to say good night, to ask him if he could stand by him to reassure him. With Sigmund at his side, Gabriel felt protected. He was going to put his hand on the door handle, but stopped his gesture.
He had just heard a rather disturbing snort.
He swallowed and shivered as he felt sweat flood his nightgown. With infinite care, he lowered the handle, pushed the door slowly, very slowly. When it was fully open, it was to reveal a sad spectacle.
A strong smell of alcohol irritated Gabriel's nostrils. The flickering candle on the desk lit up Sigmund. He was collapsed on the counter, mumbling, his fingers clenched around the neck of a completely empty wine bottle.
- Uh... Siggy?
The tall Black Skaven groaned, and stirred in his chair. The bottle he was holding fell to the ground, and rolled slowly across the floor before stopping at the big toe of Gabriel's bare foot.
Frightened, the little light grey Skaven fled to his own apartments.