- Who are you?
- I am… I am…
Grey Seer Vellux awaited the answer, arms crossed, stern eye. Chitik, Diassyon, Klur and Moly stared at him with apprehension.
Psody was on the Temple stage once again. Above him, the huge idol of the Horned Rat spat green flames, roaring. The Skaven crowd of Brissuc, massed at the foot of the stage, also held their breath. This time, the White Skaven was fully aware he was not where he should be. But he was again only four years old, in his apprentice coats, and all he could feel in his veins were a few shy sparks of Warp Magic. His actions, like his choices, seemed limited.
- I am in a nightmare!
- You are about to become a true citizen-citizen of the Under-Empire. Thanks to me!
- No! I'm Prospero Steiner, the Master Mage of Vereinbarung!
- Why do you reject-deny what you really are, Psody? My pupil, my greatest pride... you make me terribly sad.
- I am no longer your student-disciple! I am no longer a Feral Skaven!
- You are a Son of the Horned Rat, Psody. Your father is me, and the Horned Rat.
- No, no! Shut up! I'm not listening to you anymore!
- Yet you still listen to him...
Vellux raised his finger to the huge statue in a theatrical gesture.
- Isn't the Horned Rat the only unique-true god in this world? Is it not his voice that you hear, that speaks to you?
Psody gritted his teeth.
- No… no! When I burned you at Gottliebschloss, I stopped hearing him, precisely!
- For a long moment-moment. But he decided to call you to order! You are a Son of the Horned Rat, Psody, and not an animal trained-castrated by man-things!
The young ratman could no longer bear it. He spotted the opening between the two curtains under the statue. He threw himself through the mouldy fabrics, jostling on his way a vague figure wrapped in a robe. Then he ran, ran through the corridors, and passed a door which he slammed behind him.
He was in a small dark room in the middle of which was a brazier. Next to him was a large wooden seat that he could see from the back. However, he could see someone's arm in it on the armrest. A deep, confident and imperious voice resounded.
- It's useless, Psody. You cannot escape your destiny.
The White Skaven felt his ears throb in puzzlement. He didn't know why, but that voice was reminding him something. As curious as he was anxious, he stepped forward to face the chair. He gasped in surprise. Before him sat a tall human, completely bald, with a piercing look and fleshy lips that wrinkled in a cynical smile.
- You?! It can't be true-possible!
- So why not?
- You are dead-dead! Your name is Klaus, you lived in a village that I ravaged-destroyed with my brothers! You helped me save Chitik, and I killed-killed you!
- No, you're about to be named a citizen of Brissuc. It's only after you'll meet me and kill me.
- So, what are you doing here? It's not consistent!
- You are right, but there is a logical explanation: it is your future you saw in bits and pieces. Soon you'll meet me for good, and accomplish your duty.
- What do you mean, "my future?"
- Let's go back to the prayer room, I'll explain everything to you, and everything will be revealed.
The poor White Skaven knew very well what was awaiting him in the great ceremony hall. And yet he also suspected that the only way to be free from this nightmare was to live it to the end. As they were on their way, the rumour of the Skaven crowd became increasingly clear.
"All of this is not real, Psody. It's only a dream. You are about to wake up. Grey Seer Vellux made you taste warpstone. You remained unconscious for weeks, during which you imagined things. You, at my fellow man's? You, with an untreated breeder? You, with pups raised like Humans? You, stealing the children of the Under-Empire? No, Psody. None of this has happened. What you see is a possible version of your future."
They were now behind the curtain. Klaus raised the corner of fabric, and invited the ratman to cross.
Psody found himself again on the stage. Vellux had not moved. In contrast, Chitik, Diassyon, Klur and Moly, accompanied by half a dozen Stormvermin, surrounded his family members. Heike, Kristofferson, Sigmund, Bianka, Gabriel and Isolde, naked, were huddled together, and trembled in terror.
The Grey Seer raised his hand. One of the Stormvermin grabbed Bianka by her arm and threw her at Vellux's feet. Psody stepped forward, but immediately the Stormvermin grabbed him. A second Black Skaven caught him, and the two warriors tackled the White Skaven to the ground, on the stage wood. Psody contorted, but the iron fist of the two warriors crushed his bones.
- Just put your dirty paw on her, and I kill you!
- We all know you won't, Klaus explained calmly. You're not able to do anything.
The Human crouched near the young ratman, and grabbed his horns. He forced him to keep his head towards Vellux. The latter made another gesture. Immediately, the four remaining Stormvermin threw themselves on the Steiner. One of them lifted Heike at arm's length and threw her into the pit. The second seized Isolde by the skin of her neck, and sent her on the spectators. Finally, Vellux lifted his robe with a sneer, and jumped on Bianka, laying on her with all his weight. The young ratgirl yelled. The three boys were gutted by Chitik, Klur, Moly and Diassyon, under the amused eye of the Stormvermin. Psody finished being terrified when Klaus' soft voice crept into his mind.
"This possible version of the future greatly displeases the Horned Rat, your god. This Rat Kingdom, these impious descendants... So many blasphemies which must be avoided at all costs. But there is still time to catch up. Shortly, you'll be out of this torpor, and you'll be what you have always been destined to be: a true Grey Seer, the faithful servant of the Horned Rat. But above all, you have to realize your true role, and erase for good what prevents you from fulfilling your destiny. Destroy the last delusions of your brain!"
Psody struggled with all his might, but the two Black Skaven still held him firmly on the floor. Understanding he could do nothing but suffer, he had the reflex to turn his head. The Human was still squeezing his horns. The White Skaven forced himself to rotate his eyes as far as possible from Bianka. His gaze fell on the gap between the two curtains behind the idol. Suddenly he saw something that ended up disturbing him. Dazed, hypnotized, his daughter's voice made him jump.
- Wake up!
Psody fell from his bed with a frightened yelp. With his heart pounding, his eyes bulging, his breath cavernous, he felt all the hairs on his fur stand on end. The cries of terror, the groans of suffering and the lustful grunts still rang in his ears as clearly as if the tortures were passing before him.
He got up painfully, and shook his head. His hoarse breathing sounded. His panicked eyes fluttered. Little by little, what he thought to be reality came back to him: he was in a small cell in the Shallya temple of Steinerburg, stuck in a camisole with sewn sleeves. There was only a rudimentary bed and a chamber pot in the room. A terrible feeling of emptiness gripped his guts, as if he hadn't eaten for a fortnight. Furious itching irritated him.
The runes, of course!
Magister Brisingr Steadyhand had applied symbols on the outside walls of the cell to block the winds of magic. Those accustomed to feeling them therefore found themselves victims of a craving, like a person brutally deprived of one of their senses.
And yet, it's not getting better!
The White Skaven couldn't hold his tears longer. He fell to his knees, and hit his head on the stone floor. At least he tried, but the little head cage that surrounded his skull prevented him from doing so. He rolled onto his back, and cried out in despair.
The key turned in the lock, and the door opened on Heike, more worried than ever.
- Psody!
The White Skaven started as he heard the voice of the young ratwoman. He got up, sat on the bed, and tried to catch his breath. Heike slowly approached her companion, sat down next to him on the mattress, and stroked his shoulder.
- It was just a nightmare, my love.
- Not the first-only time I see it.
- What did you see?
Master Mage pretended not to have heard the question. His companion insisted:
- What was it, Psody? What scared you so much that you put yourself in this state? Please tell me, it'll relieve you.
- I saw... your death. And our children's.
- Was it so awful?
The Master Mage sniffed, and related his dream. At the end of his story, the young ratwoman snuggled against him.
- My poor love... Is that the kind of thing that keeps you from sleeping?
- And it's even worse! Now I have visions-hallucinations in broad daylight! It's appalling, Heike! Look, I ... you're all my family! My life! I'm no longer a Feral Skaven, and I don't want to be again! I love you, I love our children, and I will never-never hurt you!
- I know it well. These are just bad memories, nothing more. And again, these are false memories; your past is mixed with our present, if you see us then when it is supposed to happen, none of our children was born. It didn't happen.
- I hurt Bianka!
- You just pushed her around a bit, and it was an accident. She will understand, and Siggy too. But how long has it been going on?
- Since our return from the last Harvest.
Heike stood up with a reproving eye.
- You mean you've been seeing this regularly for weeks? Come on, you had to tell me right away! Why did you hide it from me?
- Because... because...
- I'm your wife! Even if we didn't seal an official religious union, it's part of the contract! You watch over me, but I also watch over you! So what? There has to be a way for it to stop tormenting you! Something other than putting off the problem with Esmeralda's calming nectar!
- Oh... you know about that?
- Yes, I do.
- How did you do?
- After what happened, it should be the least of your worries! Well... I made Romulus speak when I smelt the nectar you had put in your tea. He told me it was because you were still in shock from your last Harvest, but I didn't know if I should believe him. So he lied?
- No, my heart. He said what he believed to be true. I was the one who lied to him.
- You lied to... oh dear, Psody! Romulus is your best friend, I am the mother of your children, we can and we must help you! How long were you planning to hide your problem from us?
- Until I can fix it by myself.
- Well, there you are! Do you realize that we might have already resolved everything if you hadn't waited? That you would not have scared our children? And Bianka?
The White Skaven said nothing, completely hurt by the truthful words of his wife. The latter decided to take matters into her own hands.
- Fortunately, now, we will be able to do everything to deliver you from these awful anxieties! And everything will go back to how it was before. We will be a united and happy family!
The White Skaven looked sorry.
- My love, it's not so easy-simple. I am a White Skaven. That means my god is talking to me. It hadn't happened to me for a long time, but these visions that have bothered me since my return are a message. The Horned Rat regularly speaks to his chosen-chosen ones. I still am for him, and maybe he is upset-offended by what I'm doing. He decided to show me he is not happy at all! I'm afraid these are warnings-warnings! So what should I do? Get away from you? Give up on you? I can't-don't want! But if I stay here, what can happen? Worms like Larn don't scare me. But what about a divine curse? I couldn't do anything but suffer the wrath of the Horned Rat. If necessary, I will submit to his judgment, but I don't want to put you and the children in danger! This is what scares me. What if he punishes me by taking revenge on you? What if he makes me slit Isolde's throat while her sleep? That's why I didn't tell you anything. This is a matter that must remain between the Horned Rat and me!
Outside, six bells rang. The White Skaven rose.
- The day will break. I don't think I can sleep again I need to think and think.
- Very well, as you wish.
The poor ratwoman had tears in her eyes, but she didn't dare say anything more. Could she only? She backed out of the cell, the key turned in the lock, then nothing remained apart Psody's raspy breath.
The White Skaven closed his eyes, and concentrated with all his might. It was time to understand. Analyse, then think, interpret, and decode this macabre enigma. For the past few weeks, a voice had pushed him to deny his family, his human upbringing, all that he had learned from his adoptive father, old Katel, and Romulus. And to better emphasize this invective, he witnessed, helplessly, the massacre of those who mattered most to him, in this world.
Why-why? Does… does the Horned Rat is contesting my way of life?
In the six years that he has lived as a Human, not once since his installation in Vereinbarung had the Horned Rat clearly expressed his disagreement. On the contrary, Psody addressed a prayer to him every day, and everything went on as he had always wished. But maybe things had changed? What if the purification of Nichetti Estate had been the last straw?
And the figures from his past came back to haunt him. His brothers, all dead except Chitik who had completely vanished. Klaus, the peasant. And Vellux, again and again Vellux, who had the audacity to attack his daughter. What did it mean? The Horned Rat had gathered them, all three, for his biggest...
Three? What, three? There were only two of them that day! He and his master!
Two what? By the Horned Rat!
He concentrated with all his might, convinced to touch the key to the puzzle. He saw himself again on the stage. Frightened, he fled, and crossed the curtain. He jostled someone along the way... but that someone was ... Yes, the memory came back to him: in this dream that seemed so real, he had seen a very characteristic head. And that head had appeared again between the curtains, while Bianka was suffering the furious assaults of Vellux, a shadow with green eyes, with the shape of a pair of horns.
Another White Skaven!
A few hours later, mid-morning, Master Brisingr Steadyhand was in the cell. Psody no longer looked completely lost. On the contrary, he seemed to have regained possession of his means. He told her about his dream with all the details he could mention.
- And Klaus tells me all this is just a dream! If anything, you are not real-real. No more than this kingdom or my family. And I may be delirious because of the first warpstone I swallowed!
- You mean everything that you would have experienced since your escape from Brissuc wouldn't have happened?
- I wouldn't even have fled Brissuc! Maybe at this moment, I'm lying on the floor in a dark, humid cellar, and Chitik is watching over me, waiting for me to wake up!
- Since when have you had this kind of nightmare?
- Since... since the visions returned.
- That is to say?
- The first time Vellux allowed me to see a breeder, I lived a moment of my future; a conversation with my son Gabriel. A few weeks ago, when we returned from the last Harvest, I briefly relived the time when I was with the breeder.
- So what do you think? So would I be just an illusion, right now? And are you going to regain consciousness in Brissuc?
- It's contradictory! I remember everything I did. Would I have dreamed of these six years? With so much detail? So many different things? A dream cannot contain so much!
Brisingr rubbed his chin.
- I have already dreamed of something completely different from my real life, and yet it seemed so true that everything was as it were; for example, if I dreamed of being the servant in charge of the latrines of the Phoenix King, everything fitted around me to go in this direction. In my mind, I was this servant, with experience, social condition, and everything seemed to go without saying. Dreams work according to their own logic, but when you understand this logic, everything is explained. For you, things are different. From my point of view, everything is true, all of it. You are Master Mage Prospero Steiner, you have a wife and five children, that's a fact. And I remember very well our first meeting in Altdorf, at Steiner's. Besides, you suffered, you fought to be what you are. However, generally, during a dream, you have many possibilities to be woke up. The slightest slap, the slightest violent sound, and you suddenly find yourself in your bed, and reality comes back to your mind. So you think it's the Horned Rat that sends you messages?
- That's what I feared when I hu... when Bianka...
- Don't' worry, I understand. So?
- Since then, I've had time to think about it. I feel that in this vision, too many things are not conform-conform! As Vellux made me a true citizen, I hadn't met Klaus. And I'm pretty sure of it!
- This is a small detail which is perhaps the key to everything.
- I can give you another: during the massacre of my family, I saw a White Skaven watching us behind the curtain. At this time, Vellux and I were the only two White Skaven in the whole colony of Brissuc!
- Are you sure? It was a long time ago, you were young, maybe there was another Grey Seer visiting, and you forgot about it?
- No, I assure you! You can't forget the day when your ear has been cut!
- Hmm... yes, probably. Concentrate, this sum of details can actually find a logical explanation. You're on the platform, and you see the head of a White Skaven through the curtain, as the statue of the Horned Rat lights up the assembly. Something else?
- Oh! Now I'm thinking about it, there was no curtain, either! No stage, even less the idol of my god! That day, we were on the public square, and not in the temple!
- Ah, interesting! Another inconsistency.
- It proves that this is not a vision sent by the Horned Rat. My god would never have been wrong. And it conforms my opinion!
- Which is…?
Psody took a few steps, and waved his hands more and more nervously.
- Another White Skaven is trying to get into my head!
- Yes, I think so. And that would explain the presence of another White Skaven behind the curtain. As you know it, each spell bears the mark of the one who casts it. The spirit imprint of this White Skaven necessarily resides somewhere in the vision he sent you. Generally, a magician who wants to scare you by sending you this kind of bewitching does not appear, but it can happen that you see in the true light this magician through illusion, unless he is too arrogant to stay hidden. So you spotted him. And if I believe what you told me, there is nothing friendly about it. Rather, it tries to make you lose your mind!
- Yes! But how could he force my mind, in your opinion?
- He must have felt a stir in the flow of Warp magic by the time your mind touched the mind of Psody the Grey Seer six years ago!
- The Horned Rat connected me to the magic energies at that time. The two souls of the two Psody might swap places for a short while!
- And this intruder perceived this moment, maybe by chance, maybe he was watching you? Regardless, he took the opportunity to penetrate your psyche.
- How could he have made me see such precise things? My family, my master, and that poor villager I shot and killed in the back?
Brisingr ran his hand through his hair.
- You know, it's not so difficult. You just have to establish a ritual that will tickle the memory of your victim. It's the same thing when you take a hallucinogenic substance: it acts directly on your brain to awaken your fears, your fantasies, your most intimate shame. No need to compose a personalized medication for each individual; the poison just draws from your soul, and your imagination does the rest. This White Skaven is not a great evil mastermind, but nothing more than a dirty little rapist.
- But... wait, your retention runes should have prevented-stopped this from happening, right?
The Elf sighed.
- I'm sorry, Psody. I painted runes to block the winds of magic of the Imperial College, to avoid you using your powers in any way. But these enchantments were not effective against other forms of magic, such as Warp magic. It's my fault.
- No big deal. On the contrary, it reassures me. It is not the Horned Rat who does this to me, but a very playful Grey Seer... I will show him it takes two to play this game!
- Three, Master Mage.
- You don't have to get involved in that, you know.
- Sure I have! I promised your father to look after Heike and her close family, what means her children and you. Faced with a Grey Seer who will not hesitate to use the worst treacheries, it will take all of us and a lot more.
- Right, I accept your support-help to counter his troops, he will probably not be alone. But I want to face him, just him versus me!
The White Skaven looked the Elf in the eye, gravely.
- Once again, you helped me to see clearly. I thank-thank you.
The Elf looked back at the White Skaven.
- Once again, I only gave you a little hand. Now, this time, I want to do more. This Grey Seer prompted you to do unforgivable things. Usually I try to be objective, but today, through you, someone has caused harm to one of the few people I really care about in this world. I refuse to give him the littlest chance of escaping us.
- So what do we do?
- I think I have a plan. For now, I prefer to leave you here, in case of our Grey Seer tries something again. Give me a little time, and we shall catch him.
The sunlight was filtered through the stained glass windows in the little chapel. Psody could see grains of dust in the coloured rays. There was only silence, the secret room was well isolated.
The Master Mage had taken care of washing himself, perfuming himself, and had put on beautiful clothes. After two days in this cell, having the appearance of a well-groomed citizen again had done him the greatest good. But if his body was refurbished, his spirit remained tumultuous.
He knelt before the large ornate window which represented the Horned Rat above the two peoples, his and Humans'. Under his benevolent hand, right in the middle, the silhouette of Cuelepok could be seen. Psody had never heard Cuelepok's voice since his feat at Gottliebschloss. Even when he had purified the Nichetti Estate, the mask had remained silent. But Cuelepok, as wise as he was, was just a mortal, and his soul had probably finally found rest.
The Feral Skaven called me "The Blasphemous One"... I wonder if they had found him such a nickname-nickname? I would call him "enlightened one", "conciliator"...
But the time was not for these questions. Psody now had to act to fully understand what was going on, and remedy this problem.
He kneeled ceremoniously in front of the window, bowed his head in humility, and spoke in his native language:
- O Horned Rat, powerful-eternal among the gods, I pray your sacred-sacred name! I am a victim of visions I do not understand. I have been thinking-thinking for days, but nothing comes! I can't hear you anymore, but I see things that make no sense! Horrible things! I really don't understand anything anymore…
He stood still for a long minute. As he thought about getting up, a voice broke the silence. A deaf, hoarse, very deep voice.
- YOU REALLY HAVE THE GALL-GALL, PSODY!
The White Skaven jumped, and looked up. His blood froze when he saw the silhouette of the Horned Rat in the window begin to move. The colours around the divine figure mutate to take on an entirely green hue.
- SO MUCH TIME BETRAYING MY ORDERS-ORDERS, AND YOU'RE ASKING WHY?
A strong draft swept across the small room. The ratman heard the characteristic sound of the cracking glass. Dazed, he saw the shape of the Horned Rat get out of the window to stand in front of him.
- YOU ARE A SACRILEGE-BLASPHEMER, PSODY!
- I... I don't understand, o Horned Rat!
- AND, IN ADDITION, YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL?
The apparition swept the air with a wide gesture of the arm, knocking over a candelabrum. The White Skaven squeaked in terror.
- I always listened-followed your instructions, o Horned Rat!
- NO! YOU DID ALL THE CONTRARY I SAY TO MY SONS!
- I interpreted the visions, the images, everything! And I allow the Skaven to flourish!
- YOU HAVE MULTIPLIED INSULTING BEHAVIOURS! YOU HAVE DARED TO PACT WITH MEN-THINGS! MEN-THINGS! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT IT MEANS? MEN-THINGS ARE LOWER BEINGS! THEIR PLACE IS UNDER OUR FEET, OR IN OUR STOMACHS, AND YOU, YOU CONSIDERED THEM AS... ALLIES! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM, PSODY, MY CHOSEN-CHOSEN ONE! AND THIS WHOLE MADNESS OF RAT KINGDOM IS THE WORST OUTRAGE YOU COULD HAVE DONE TO ME!
The Horned Rat rose with his full height. At the same time, he took full shape, and ceased to be an assemblage of fragments of worked glass to become an avatar of flesh and blood.
- YOU DID ABERRANT THINGS, YOU HAD IDEAS EVEN THE MOST WARPSTONE-EATEN BRAINS WOULDN'T DARE TO CONCEPT! AND, THE WORST OF ALL, YOU REVOLTER AGAINST ONE OF MY MOST FAITHFUL SERVANTS! GREY SEER VELLUX, THE ONE WHO TAUGHT YOU EVERYTHING!
- I... I did what all the Grey Seers do to their master!
- SILENCE, INSOLENT! the god roared twice louder by hitting the ground with his fist. GREY SEER VELLUX HAD MORE VALUE-VALUE THAN YOU HAVE! HE WAS POWERFUL, OBEDIENT, CARING, AND YOU COWARDLY KILLED HIM WITHOUT EVEN RESPECTING OUR TRADITIONS-TRADITIONS! I DON'T KNOW WHAT PREVENTS ME FROM DESTROYING YOU RIGHT HERE-NOW!
Psody was on his knees on the ground, trembling to the end of his tail, tears in his eyes.
- I am... so... sorry, o Horned Rat! What can I do to make up?
- AH, WANT TO MAKE UP, BLASPHEMOUS ONE? WANT TO MAKE UP? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
- Never-never, oh powerful-sublime-magnificent light of my miserable existence! I beg you! Give me one last chance!
The Horned Rat stopped. He tilted his head forward to the Mage Master. His drool crackled on the carpet.
- ONE LAST CHANCE...
- I know how generous and magnanimous you are towards your faithful worshippers, o Horned Rat! Let me prove to you I still am part of them!
The deity shook his head slowly, and a cruel smile stretched his face.
- I THEREFORE AM MAGNANIMOUS. I SHALL LET YOU A LAST CHANCE, PSODY. I CAN LET YOU RETURN TO A COLONY, WHERE YOU'LL CLAIM YOU TRUE PLACE.
- I knew it! Thank you, oh great-merciful Hor…
- BUT THERE WILL BE TWO CONDITIONS, PSODY! cut off the Horned Rat.
- Which ones, o my god?
Once again, the Horned Rat straightened up.
- YOU WILL LEAVE THIS KINGDOM. YOU WILL GO BACK TO THE UNDER-EMPIRE TO WHICH YOU BELONG. AND ONCE YOU HAVE BECOME A REAL GREY SEER AGAIN, YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING TO DISSOLVE THIS... "RAT KINGDOM". MEN-THINGS WILL LEAVE WHERE THEY WANT, AND THE TRUE SKAVEN WILL ALL HAVE TO REINTEGRATE THE UNDER-EMPIRE AS SLAVES, OR DIE!
Psody swallowed. The price of his purchase seemed really high to him. But there was one more detail.
- And... what is the other condition, oh supreme-infinite divine greatness?
- THIS BREEDER HAS NOTHING TO DO IN THIS WORLD, NO MORE THAN THE FIVE OFFSPRING IT EJECTED FROM ITS BELLY! ALL ARE THE PROOF OF YOU BETRAYAL AND THE RESULT OF YOUR BLASPHEME! SO, IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A REAL GREY SEER BACK, YOU WILL KILL ALL OF THEM!
The heart of the White Skaven was trapped in an ice compressor.
- No! Not that! Not my family-family, please!
All the walls of the chapel collapsed at the same time. The ratman threw himself to the ground. When he had the courage to raise his head, his coat bristled when he saw that the very reality had been shattered. All around him was just a whirlwind of green vapour clouds, smoke trails that formed a swirling spiral around the meagre surface that remained of the chapel tiles.
The Horned Rat had become gargantuan. His body was immersed in the whirlwind, and only his head still emerged to be right at the level of the Master Mage. The Horned Rat opened his jaws, revealing glistening with drool fangs, and a mouth so large that it could swallow the unfortunate White Skaven without chewing.
- NO MERCY, PSODY! YOU SHALL TEAR-EAT THE HEART OF EACH OF THEM, OR ELSE I EAT YOU!
Psody only managed to utter a desperate groan. He curled up on the fragment of the floor, buried his head in his hands, and didn't move anymore. One last time he heard the voice of the apparition say to him:
- I GRANT YOU A MOON, PSODY THE GREY SEER. WITHIN THIS TIME, YOU WILL RID OF YOUR PROGENY AND THE FEMALE WHICH MADE THEM, THEN YOU DESTROY ALL THE TOWNS WHERE THE SONS OF THE HORNED RAT LIVE WITH MEN-THINGS. ONLY THE SKAVEN REMAIN ALIVE, AND HONOUR OUR ONLY AND UNIQUE GOD. BUT IF YOUR RAT KINGROM HAS NOT BECOME A COUNDTRY WORTHY OF THE UNDER-EMPIRE IN A MOON, THEN I WILL MAKE RAIN A WARPSTONE HURRICAN ON FOR A THOUSAND SEASONS!
The storm raged around the White Skaven. He remained prostrate, sobbing softly, up to hearing nothing but his own whining.
Heike and Brisingr entered the chapel, and found Psody in the same posture. The Elf looked right, left, then smirked.
- You can get up, he's gone.
The discreet sobs gradually mutated into a laugh that grew louder when the White Skaven stood up. Heike snuggled against him, and the two laughed together.
Brisingr walked briskly toward one of the corners of the chapel. He carefully picked up a crystal from the ground, and looked at it from all angles.
- Now let's find out who our enemy is, and where he is hiding!
During the next supper, the Magister recapitulated to the children what he had done. These had not yet been taken in the confidence.
- I placed four special crystals in the four corners of your father's private prayer room. These are pieces of virgin quartz. With proper treatment, these crystals can become extremely receptive to the winds of magic, and register the lightest imprint. When our friend Prospero entered his chapel, he pretended to invoke his god. This is when our little prankster decided to attack. He sent huge illusions to your father.
- What have you seen? worried Sigmund.
- A ridiculous-grotesque hanky-panky, Psody replied with a chuckle. I saw the Horned Rat who threatened to devour-swallow me if I didn't obey his orders!
- So, what are your crystals for? asked Bianka in a neutral tone.
- When our prey thought he was playing predators with his devices, the enchanted quartz crystals became imbued with the winds of magic necessary to create the illusion. Your father did everything to gain as much time as possible, because the longer the spell lasted, the more the crystals were marked. After threats of a distressing banality, the illusion has dissipated. I got the four quartz crystals.
- And so, will you be able to exploit them? asked the Black Skaven.
- I will, young man! Ideally, I would have needed an entire hour, but the results of the four combined crystals will be sufficient. It will take me a few hours of calculations, but normally, tomorrow evening at the latest, I should be able to precisely determine the point of origin of these scents of magic!
- And what magic is that? murmured the small voice of Isolde.
- A magic that smells very naughty, my child! I haven't been able to determine precisely which one, but it is obvious that it is fulfilled with warpstone!
- It's Feral Skaven magic, then?
- I'm pretty sure, Siggy, said Psody. I have looked at these crystals myself. I won't be able to make the same calculations as Master Steadyhand, but I recognized the smell. There is Warp magic, but there is also something else. I can't say what.
- Is that so? Still, you used to cast Warp magic? Heike wondered.
- Yes, sweetheart, but there are other forms of magic in the Under-Empire, and since I have never practiced them, I cannot recognize and identify them with certainty.
- Hopefully this is not a new form of magic? sighed Bianka.
- One further reason for stopping-neutralizing this Grey Seer! I admit that he really scared me for a moment: he wants me to kill all the members of my family!
The three children at the table looked at each other in concern.
- Ah... After a good thinking about it, I'm not sure I'm impatient to see you go that far, Father.
- The only Skaven I'll kill is this little bastard! And unlike him, I won't wait a full moon to find him!
Master Steadyhand addressed the Prince.
- I don't yet know exactly where our bird is, but I can already tell you his magic comes from the north. Your Highness, I recommend using your best carrier pigeons now.
- Kristofferson must be called back, said Psody. His help will be invaluable to us.
- It will be done. Who else, Master Mage?
The Elf's mouth wrinkled in an ironic grin.
- Your best friends this day!