Children of the Horned Rat,
This year 2020 will have been particularly trying for many people. As I'm publish this chapter, it is announced that, perhaps, the devious plans of the Pestilens that have plagued our world for over nine months would be fully analyzed, and the appropriate responses could be implemented. We'll see where it takes us.
I hope that, like the Chaos Storm, once the Pestilens are pushed back, the world will succeed in rebuilding itself, but I'm afraid the cultists of Slaanesh and Tzeentch will take advantage of this to extend their unhealthy influence on our badly damaged society. Only the gods know what awaits us as the dawn of this New Year.
Either way, I appreciate your continuing to follow this adventure. The last few weeks have been pretty trying for me, and the writing helps keep my head on my shoulders. Even though there isn't a lot of feedback from you, at least I know you keep reading me, and that's great support.
Furthermore, I've learned that, in September 2020, a brave Grail Knight unfortunately left our world to go to Avalon. I didn't have the chance to meet him in person, but I would like to talk to you about Philippe Beaubrun, also known as Sire Lambert d'Udécor (this pseudonym could be translated in English in "Sir B. Hayn Daceen"). This pioneer of the French branch of Games Workshop was passionate about Bretonnia. In the 90's, he was a member of the French editorial staff of White Dwarf magazine, and I particularly remember a very interesting chronicle where he explained how to build an army of Bretonnians in a smart way with a reasonable monthly budget. May the Lady of the Lake guide your steps to her, Sire d'Udécor!
And of course, I wish you all, loyal readers, a happy new year 2021!
Glory to the Horned Rat!
Like any city built according to the imperial model, Steinerburg had a Great Temple dedicated to Verena, which also served as a court. This was also the place where Bianka used to work. But Johannes Schmetterling's case was different. As Army Commander, it was a military tribunal that was responsible for trying his case, and with complete discretion. The execution of an assassin like Larn could have a cathartic effect on the crowd, but the judgment of the highest authority in the Kingdom after that of the Prince was to remain unnoticed for as long as possible.
The tribunal was chaired by Prince Steiner himself. He hadn't liked this assignment so much; he feared to make proof of a kind of lack of objectivity. Provost Tomas had made him understand no one in the whole Kingdom would have the slightest objectivity, but respect for the Prince's authority remained a safe bet. Ludwig Steiner knew he had to make the fairest judgment possible. It was a test for him: the confidence of the people of Vereinbarung depended on his verdict. A verdict that had to be fair, impartial, and firm.
The designated accuser was Brother Arcturus. He was the prior responsible for Sigmar's word in the Rat Kingdom. Brother Arcturus was a big man, very brawny. Like all followers of the Empire's main deity, his head was shaved, and a thick chestnut beard completely covered his chin, mouth, and cheeks. As the priests of this cult who chose to live in the Rat Kingdom, he displayed a not customary to the faithful of the founder of the Empire open-mindedness. Until then, he had never shown the slightest racist antipathy towards a Skaven. The Prince was confident in his ability to push liars to their limits to distinguish them from sincere people.
On the other hand, there was no military or religious jurisconsult to defend the Commander.
The jury was made up of his former lieutenants, other servicemen of both genders and both races. And in the witness box, there was the Master Mage and his second son, Eusebio Clarin, the Gottlieb Twins and Nedland Barnrooster.
Johannes Schmetterling was seated at the bar. He didn't look especially worried about his fate. He was by no means impressed by the thirty people who would attend the trial, either. Instead, he displayed unrestrained annoyance, while nervously squeezing his bandaged fingers.
In front of the Prince's pulpit, four small objects were placed on a large table, each accompanied by a small card with a number. The first item was the metal box hidden in the tree. The second item was the notebook Psody had found in Iapoch's burrow. The third was the threatening letter sent to Prince Calderon. Finally, the fourth was a simple page of plain paper with some text written on it.
The Prince raised his hand, and the voices in the room fell silent.
- Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here at this delicate moment when we are going to have to deal with a particularly complicated issue. We are here to examine the case of Commander Johannes Schmetterling, officially charged with high treason, in the form of collaboration with the enemy. Before we begin, Commander, I remind the Court you have chosen to defend yourself on your own, it is your right.
- A right I'll use without hesitation. I feel like I can't trust anyone else here...
There was already a first rumor. The Prince raised his hand again.
- Please, Commander, spare us such comments. I call Prior Arcturus.
Sigmar's priest stood up.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I've been attracted by the idea of founding a new society, a particularly difficult challenge when you see the faces of those who constitute this society, but every step forward involves taking a risk. Three years ago, I chose to take this risk, as all Humans who came to Vereinbarung before me have. I was happy and proud to be part of this effort. During all this time, we have endeavored to reproduce as well as possible the system in which we were educated, a system where everyone has their place, where we do everything to live in harmony under the benevolent gaze of the gods."
"Unfortunately, perfect society don't exist, and sometimes, those who live in it are not happy with their position. Some of these dissatisfied people choose to stay in fatalistic passivity, and will spend their lives complaining without doing anything to improve their lot. Others seize the things under control and decide to take action to change their lives. And among them, we can recognize those who accept to follow the rules... and those who decide to bypass them, ignore them, or even break them."
"Today we are considering an affair concerning Commander Johannes Schmetterling. This soldier has so far led a more than honourable career: irreproachable service records, years under the responsibility of Count Elector Boris Todbringer, and we will find nothing to say about his action in Vereinbarung... at least, until now. The Commander had always followed the rules, but he was tempted to break them by a malevolent spirit, and instead of fulfilling his duty of loyalty to the Crown, he chose to indulge in this temptation."
"Our nation was attacked on two fronts: the Orcs besieged Wüstengrenze, and the Feral Skaven invaded a corner that was isolated, indeed, but they were preparing for an invasion on a larger scale. And Commander Schmetterling, we will come to that, was one of the actors in this infamy: he explicitly and deliberately collaborated with Grey Seer Iapoch who offered him remuneration for his help on a small or large scale. He thus hoped to see our Kingdom fall into the clutches of the Feral Skaven, and maneuvered in this direction, in order to obtain a payment which he would have used for purposes undoubtedly detrimental to the Rat Kingdom."
"We cannot afford to have corrupt soldiers in our army when our kingdom is still very fragile and our society is in its infancy. And this is all the more serious as it concerns the head of this army. The betrayal came from the person who should have been the least inclined to indulge in it. That's why, Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I advocate capital punishment against the Commander as an example."
A brief silence followed the indictment. The Prince asked:
- Commander Schmetterling, can you explain the circumstances of your arrest?
- Certainly, Your Highness. We agree, there is one traitor in our army. But you are on the wrong target. It is not in my principles to betray the nation to which I have sworn loyalty. As Prior Arcturus just explained, if the situation I am living in does not suit me, I will manage to change it. At the court of the Count Elector, when I heard about the Rat Kingdom, I understood I had an opportunity to become someone even more important than I already was, and that's what happened. I left the Empire to take an oath to the Crown of Vereinbarung. I am Commander, I am the most powerful person in the whole Kingdom apart of Your Highness, I feel very much in my place, and I have no reason to want to change. And so, when I heard a traitor was hiding in our ranks, I asked a soldier whom I absolutely trusted to investigate for me. We spoke by coded messages, each one left in a precise place a message with the location of the next meeting point. I was about to retrieve the last message he left for me before leaving for Kreidesglück. This is where I fell into a trap, no doubt organized by the real traitor to silence me.
There were a few indignant mumbles. The Prince hit his deck with his mallet.
- Silence, please! This is a perspective that seems to hold water, but we'll make sure of that by looking at the exhibits and listening to the testimony. Prior?
Prior Arcturus announced:
- I would like to hear the testimony of Master Sigmund Steiner.
Sigmund stood up, and obediently settled himself in the witness seat.
- Master Steiner, before I listen to your testimony, I ask you to swear before this assembly to submit to Verena's authority, and to answer questions only with the most absolute truth.
The Black Skaven replied:
- I swear on my soul to tell only the truth, as long as Verena's eyes are on me, in this courtroom.
- Very good. So, Master Steiner, can you explain to us what happened to bring Commander Schmetterling in this trial?
- I can, Your Honour: Commander Schmetterling was surprised on a road, in the middle of the night, to retrieve an item; more precisely a small box in which he was to find the payment for his betrayal.
- Would you recognize this small box?
- Absolutely, Your Honour, it is the incriminating evidence number one.
- Are you sure?
- I picked it up myself.
- And what was its content?
- Pebbles.
- Right. I'll recap: Commander Schmetterling wanted to get his hands on a box hidden in that tree, and that box only contained a handful of stones?
- That's it, Your Honour.
Brother Arcturus leaned over to Schmetterling.
- So, Commander, your so-called contact was supposed to leave you pebbles? Were they painted according to a colour code?
- Of course not, Brother Arcturus. I should have found a sheet of paper with a coded message written on it. It is obvious the people who arrived before me to pick me up had already replaced the contents of the box.
- I take note. I have no further questions on this subject for the witness.
The Commander then turned to Sigmund.
- Master Steiner, did you find ordinary stones in that box?
- Perfectly ordinary, Commander.
- Didn't you touch the box until the moment you picked it up in front of me, while your accomplices were handcuffing me?
- I've never put my fingers on this box before this time, indeed.
- Let's admit you're right, Master Steiner; what could have contained this box if it had been left as payment to a traitor?
The Black Skaven pretended to think.
- Gold? Jewelry? Maybe warpstone?
- Warpstone? We all know this is a highly toxic matter. Personally, I have participated in Harvests, and I have seen its effect on people. Do you think I would have been oblivious enough to accept a warpstone payment?
- The box looks like it's made from a material that insulates warpstone, Commander. Someone like you might use them to transport refined warpstone tokens without danger to give to someone else, like a wizard interested in studying this material.
- "Looks like", "might", "someone else"... You don't seem very sure of yourself, Master Steiner.
- I am a man of action, not a man of science, Commander.
- Yes, you are. A man of action.
The Commander then left a short silence. Instinctively, Sigmund sensed that something unpleasant was looming.
- You have been at the heart of the action many times, Master Steiner. Including at the Battle of Kreidesglück. I have the impression all of this has not been of great benefit to you.
- What do you mean?
- You were personally struck by the assault on the troops of Grey Seer Iapoch: your brother was wounded, and today we don't yet know if he will survive this terrible wound.
The Commander's cunning worked: Sigmund felt anger rise in his stomach.
- What is Kit doing in there?
- You are scared for your brother, which is quite normal. Your elder, your example, injured by a Feral Ska...
- Leave him alone! Sigmund cut in.
- You are afraid, my boy, and this fear affects your judgment which is usually very precarious already. You are an honorable citizen, but your mind is subject to Black Hunger, as we know it.
- So what? the Black Skaven brutally retorted.
- You want someone to pay for your brother, Master Steiner. Maybe you are following your instincts, maybe your family's instructions, but you're not sure about this box and its contents. You have a chance to take revenge on an innocent man, and that's what you are doing, in a way as dirty and dishonorable as the day you publicly slaughtered that spy!
- Objection! exclaimed Brother Arcturus.
- Refused, replied the Prince. Go through with your reasoning, Commander, please. But watch your words and your tone.
Sigmund was seething with rage. He glanced over his shoulder. Psody and Clarin were staring at him. The Estalian begged him not to get carried away.
Opa, why let him spit out that crap? Because… because you have your role of impartial judge to play!
- I think Master Sigmund Steiner's testimony is unreliable. Given his passionate personality and his current concern, it wouldn't be safe to rely on his words only. Of course, Master Steiner is usually a good person, and several people you trust will tell you that. Nonetheless, I question his testimony. Especially since we know he has a tendency to drown his grief in alcohol.
- You call me a liar or a drunkard? Sigmund barked.
- Easy, Sigmund! the Prince intimated.
- No, Master Steiner. But I am in the position of the accused, and I have the right to consider all the elements to defend myself. You are telling the truth, but maybe you just don't know everything yourself? Or do you think you are telling the truth when your passion and drinking prompt you to see things that are not correct?
A slight crackle echoed in the room. Jochen swallowed hard when he realized it was the sound of his friend's knuckles clenching his fists. The Black Skaven closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and his mind closed to everything around him. He had just one thing in mind:
Master the Black Hunger!
Ludwig Steiner's voice pulled him out of his trance.
- Well, Commander, do you have something else to ask this witness?
- I don't, your Majesty.
- So he goes back to his seat.
Without saying a word, the tall Black Skaven stepped back, and sat back down on the witness bench. His ear swiveled when he heard a soft "pst". It was Psody. The White Skaven winked at him.
The accuser Arcturus waved his arm broadly.
- I'm calling Brother Sander of the temple of Verena.
A Human who had remained in the background stood up. He was a thin man, of average height, in his forties. His head was encircled with well-trimmed brown hair, which revealed a shiny forehead. He was clean shaven, and wore a pair of copper-rimmed glasses. A large patch of Verena's Libra was sewn on his cleric robe.
- Brother Sander, as priest of Verena, we already know you have taken an oath to always speak the truth in cases such as this one which concerns us, I won't ask you to reiterate this commitment now. I would like us to deal with the incriminating evidence number two.
- As you wish, Your Honour.
- Can you explain to us what this piece is?
- Perfectly, Your Honour: this is a notebook that belonged to Grey Seer Iapoch. In this notebook, you can read reports, resource accounts, inventories of war machines and weapons, all written in Queekish, the language of the Under-Empire. On the last few pages, Iapoch has practiced writing in our language.
- Can you confirm the authenticity of this notebook?
- Yes, Your Honour. Master Mage Prospero brought it to the temple and warned us: the pages of this notebook are scrolls made from human skin. The ink used to write these notes contains diluted warpstone. We had to apply a light treatment to this bound notebook in order to be able to examine it safely, and present it here.
- Does it contain information explicitly naming the accused, Brother Sander?
- No. However, this notebook has served us well for other purposes. It allowed us to establish a definite link between Grey Seer Iapoch, the accused, and the assault on the province of Sueño.
- Interesting. Can you develop?
- I was about to ask His Majesty's consent for this.
- Go ahead, replied Prince Steiner.
Brother Sander stood up and pointed to the table.
- I would like to talk to you about the incriminating evidence number three. Can I handle it?
- You can, Brother Sander.
- I remind this is the letter received by His Majesty Prince Calderon. It's been treated, and the warpstone ink is too depleted to cause anyone any harm now. This is the first time we have allowed ourselves to show it as is to an audience.
Brother Sander asked over his shoulder:
- Bring the lectern, would be kindly?
Two clerks, a tall Human and a Black Skaven, brought from a corner of the room a large wooden desk with a hinged brass arm attached to it. The arm was fitted with a convex lens about fifteen inches in diameter. This object thus made it possible to optically magnify what was presented on the desk. And so, when Brother Sander put the letter down on the varnished wooden board, the jurors could clearly read its content which still said:
"The man-thing Calderon will die soon. The Children of the Horned Rat have already begun to remodel their lands. Soon we will arrive, and we will kill-devour you. Our men-thing slaves will weaken you, then we will attack, and you will learn to fear us before dying-dying."
"Psody the Grey Seer of the Rat Kingdom".
- I am an expert in graphology, Brother Sander resumed. I was able to compare the pages written in Iapoch's notebook with this missive. The two writings concur, without the slightest doubt, on all points. So it was indeed Iapoch who provoked His Excellency Ambassador Clarin's Principality. Now let me make a further concordance with the evidence number four.
The priest of Verena gently grabbed the sheet of paper. It was a letter. If the paper was perfectly ordinary, the writing itself was very edgy, aggressive, all in lines drawn with violence.
"Green things on their way to Wüstengrenze according to my plan-calculation. Man-thing Schmetterling must prepare-lead this assault, my troops weaken-destroy the traitors the men-thing Prince will send to Kreidesglück. Reward in the big tree with a hole east of Steinerburg."
Brother Sander took a small wand from his pocket, and pointed to a few characters of the letter.
- Again, as you can see, it is still the same hand that wrote this message. The way the quill pressed the paper, the tendency to scribble nervously, especially when the writer "doubled" the words, as the inhabitants of the Under-Empire do. It was Iapoch who wrote these directives to Commander Schmetterling, whose name appears here in full.
- Thank you, Brother Sander, answered Brother Arcturus. So, Commander, what can you tell us about this fourth incriminating evidence?
Schmetterling smirked.
- I already know what you're thinking, and I already know you won't believe me, no matter what my answer is. But that's nothing, I'll talk anyway.
- So go ahead, Commander, don't make the suspense last, Brother Arcturus invited in the same tone.
- I never received this mail, I don't know who discredits my name. Anyone can write anything. This letter is a fake.
The accuser replied:
- You're right, we already knew you would answer that. And if you want to be believed, you might be able to explain to us why you were found rummaging through the tree mentioned in?
- I had to find a coded message from one of my contacts. After the attempted assassination of Master Mage Prospero Steiner, we all became aware there was a traitor in our ranks, an unconscious person who was baited by the Grey Seer who declared war on us without realizing the seriousness of this act.
- According to this letter, the "unconscious person" is you, Commander. And you were taken by surprise in search for your "reward".
- I know the Feral Skaven well enough to know they don't write on paper imported from Altdorf, but on skin-manufactured parchments. This letter is a forgery, I repeat.
- On that point, you are not wrong, Commander. We did indeed have to ask Brother Sander to reproduce the original so that we could present it to this tribunal.
- How convenient, Schmetterling replied. Hasn't your copyist accidentally changed a line or two, by any chance?
- The copy was made under the supervision of Provost Tomas and three of his auxiliaries, all sworn in from Verena. You won't question their word, I hope?
- I'd be then curious to know where the original is? Why show a copy?
- The original cannot be presented. It was destroyed by you after you received it.
- That remains to be proven, accuser.
- We'll get to that. But let's talk about your right man, the one who supposedly left you a message in the tree, if you don't mind. First, can you tell us who he is?
- I can, Brother Arcturus. It was Lieutenant Bruno Kretschmann.
- Can he be brought to the witness stand?
- It won't be possible, the Commander replied with a victorious little smile. The unfortunate man fell in Kreidesglück. I invite you to check it out.
- What a pity! The only person who could have confirmed your side of the story turns out to be one of the casualties of this war! It is really bad luck!
- You said so. If I had known, I would have had him mobilized for Wüstengrenze, he would probably have survived.
- What tells us you didn't just make this up by choosing randomly the name of a soldier from the missing, to make sure that this lead cannot be exploited further?
- My word as Commander of the Army of Vereinbarung.
- You don't have any correspondence with this soldier Kretschmann?
- Of course not, we were careful, we only spoke by coded messages, and each message was burnt after reading!
- Ah, I would like to believe you... I have no further questions, Your Honour.
Schmetterling cleared his throat.
- Well, I have some questions. A lot of, I say. To begin with, I would like to come back to the notebook. Brother Sander, you have studied the pages written by Grey Seer Iapoch, is that right?
- Absolutely, Commander.
- How could you study it, if its only contact was dangerous? I remind you that this is human skin soaked in warpstone ink!
- You're right, that's why we used a little enchantment to neutralize warpstone vibrations, as I told you earlier.
- In short, you have altered this notebook.
- In some kind of way, Commander.
- How can we be sure its content has not been changed? Perhaps the reikspiel writing pages have been added? By you, perhaps? You are an expert in graphology, Brother Sander, is that right?
- Objection! cried the priest of Sigmar.
- Granted, declared the Prince. Commander, this is not Brother Sander the accused of the day, I remind you.
The face of Verena's priest had turned bright red. He mumbled through clenched teeth:
- Commander, I only live for the Truth. I have taken an oath on Nuln Verena's altar to fight for the Truth. I would never think of fabricating false evidence. It would be a betrayal towards Verena on the one hand, and my principles on the other. This notebook is authentic, and I haven't changed, added, or subtracted a single comma.
- All right, all right, Brother Sander. Let us come to this letter which was addressed to me. You affirm the handwriting is the same as the notebook and the threatening letter to Prince Calderon?
- I affirm it so without hesitation.
- This letter is a reproduction. While it was made in the presence of honourable servants of the Temple of Verena, it is nonetheless a reproduction. Where is the original?
- We never found the original letter. I relied on another support to write this copy. It took me a while to do this.
- Um... I'll come back to that. I'll just ask who provided you with this "other support"?
- Master Mage Prospero Steiner.
The Commander then turned to the White Skaven, and said calmly:
- That doesn't surprise me that much, after all. Your Honour, I have no more questions for this witness.
- Good. Thank you, Brother Sander, please return to your seat.
Once the graphologist was seated, Brother Arcturus continued:
- I would like to clarify once and for all what preceded your arrest, Commander. What were you doing near this oak tree?
The Human sighed in annoyance.
- I'm telling you I was there to find a communication from the soldier Kretschmann!
- You were about to seek the price of your betrayal, the "reward" promised by your accomplice, Grey Seer Iapoch.
- This box must have contained a coded message!
- That's not all, Commander: you tried to shoot Captain Gottlieb.
- He threatened to shut me up, I wanted to defend my life!
- About fifteen witnesses affirmed you were the first to shoot.
- I was, I didn't hesitate to open fire. I know him, he would have killed me if I hadn't taken the lead! And I would have killed him if his accomplice, Nedland Barnrooster, hadn't stolen my gun a few hours earlier! This is all a set-up, Brother Arcturus!
- We heard the testimony of each soldier: according to them, when you saw that the box contained only stones, you clearly expressed the frustration of the man who was trapped!
- It's their word against mine! Just because many of them lie doesn't mean they're right. And I would even bet Captains Gottlieb put pressure on them to tell you this story! Prince Steiner is surrounded by interested scoundrels who do everything to get rid of me!
- So you think the highest instances of Vereinbarung are untrustworthy?
- I don't think so, Brother Arcturus, I know it!
- So, maybe we should ask an outside person?
Brother Arcturus swivelled toward the witness bench.
- Master Eusebio Clarin, Representative of the Principality of Sueño, would you please give your testimony?
Without a word, the elegant Estalian settled in.
- Master Clarin, you are a faithful agent on His Excellency Prince Roderigo Calderon's service, but the laws of the gods are above the laws of the people, so I must ask you, in accordance with the laws of our Kingdom where you are currently, take an oath to tell the truth.
Clarin raised his hand and announced:
- With the blessing of Manann, and in order to make Prince Calderon honour, I, Eusebio Clarin, undertake to respect the commanders of Verena, and to answer the questions which will be asked me in the precincts of this tribunal only by the truth.
- Very well, Excellency. Can you tell us what prompted Prince Calderon to contact Prince Steiner?
- The incriminating evidence number three, Brother Arcturus. A few weeks ago, my country was submitted in quick succession to four assaults led by Feral Skaven. The first took place on Chiringuito. Salograr was their second target. We thought we could solve the problem by ourselves, but a few survivors of the Salograr attack assured us that a White Skaven was at the head of the battalion that had razed the village. Prince Calderon knew His Majesty Prince Steiner by reputation, as well as the identity of his adopted children, who have never been in hiding since their arrival in the Renegade Crowns, for good reason. After this second assault, the Prince received the letter which you can see on this table. That's when Prince Calderon wanted to make sure our enemy wasn't Master Mage Prospero. On his order, I went to the court of Prince Ludwig Steiner. Prince Steiner dispatched his grandson, Master Sigmund, to examine the traces left in my home by the Feral Skaven. During the time to return to Sueño, a third village, Rabanera, had also fallen. Finally, Master Sigmund helped us plan where the fourth attack would happen, at the village of Oropesa.
- You faced the Grey Seer who led these Feral Skaven?
- I did, your Honour.
- Was it Master Mage Prospero Steiner here?
- Not at all, Your Honour. It was another White Skaven.
- Very good. Is this the White Skaven our troops defeated in Kreidesglück?
The diplomat hesitated a little before answering the question.
- Your Honour... I don't know. When I was in Oropesa, I didn't have the opportunity to see their leader up close. I couldn't tell if it was Iapoch, or somebody else.
- Thank you, Excellency, I will have no further questions. Commander, I leave this witness to you.
Commander Schmetterling stared the diplomat straight in the eye. The two men measured each other for a few seconds. Each of them knew very well who they were dealing with. The exchange promised to be lively.
- Excellency, what is your opinion on the people of the Rat Kingdom?
- So far, Commander, I have nothing special to say. I've been in regular contact with Skaven for a few weeks now, and the only difference I see with Humans, of course, is the physical side. Otherwise, all the inhabitants of Vereinbarung seem to me to be equally trustworthy of each other.
- You are above all a faithful servant of the crown of your Principality, which is to your credit. The interests of Prince Calderon come before those of Prince Ludwig… and your own experience.
- What do you mean, Commander?
- Before this whole masquerade for me begins...
- Commander! interrupted the Prince. Be careful, you are insulting the Court! This "masquerade" is a due process!
- Yes, your Highness. So, I was saying, before the trial started, I was careful to find out about you. You are a distinguished guest, but the instructions are the same for everyone. Prince Steiner ordered me to get any information possible on each important person who would come before him. I did it. I've learned you are personally related to Prince Calderon's family. Is it correct?
- I am, indeed, by marriage.
- I also learned you were at the heart of the attempted Skaven invasion of Ubersreik… Is that right?
- It is.
- It was terrible, wasn't it? All this destruction, these deaths, this suffering… Were you afraid for your life?
- Yes, Commander. I am not a soldier.
- Even a soldier can legitimately be afraid of what has happened. Given the circumstances, I can fully understand your point of view on the Skaven.
The diplomat allowed himself a small taunt:
- You seem to be fairly well aware of these events, Commander... Yet you weren't there?
- I wasn't, indeed, but I was in Middenheim during the Chaos Storm. A far more terrible and destructive invasion than Ubersreik's ... well, I'm digressing, this is no contest. My point is that I wouldn't be surprised if your feelings towards our Skaven friends are somewhat lukewarm?
- Where are you going, Commander?
- Do you want to tell us what you really think about Skaven? I remind you have sworn to tell the truth, Excellency. What does your heart say when you find yourself facing any person in this room whose features remind you of those who chased you in Ubersreik?
Clarin's lips curved into a sad smile, as a small sigh escaped her.
- I encountered the Feral Skaven in Ubersreik. Prince Calderon knew this very well, and yet he sent me to meet you. He knew I would instinctively distrust the people of Vereinbarung. How could it be otherwise? The horrors of Ubersreik are still fresh in my mind. When I first crossed the border of your realm, I was concerned when I saw the guards, members of the Under-Empire race. But in the few days it took me to reach Steinerburg, absolutely nothing bad happened to me. I was then greeted by Señorita Bianka Steiner, the daughter of Master Mage Prospero Steiner, her father and her brother. All three gave me a welcome worthy of a faithful friend. Of course, I admit, I preferred to remain cautious in the presence of Master Sigmund, who had clearly displayed some hostility towards me. But I have come to know him as you know him: a man of his word, loyal, who fights with all his might to come to the aid of those in danger. I'll put my life in his hands without hesitation. Here is my answer, Commander: I hate the Feral Skaven of the Under-Empire, but it is clear the people who inhabit this principality have emancipated themselves from the will of the Horned Rat, like its most famous representative, Master Mage Prospero. They are honourable people.
- Thank you for them, and thank you for your sincerity. Prince Calderon really is a very considerate person. Besides, it was through his direct intervention that our army defeated the Feral Skaven of Kreidesglück, right?
- Prince Calderon ordered Captain Felipe Antoninus to lead a battalion to help Prince Steiner's forces defeat Grey Seer Iapoch. I wanted to accompany him.
- Why then risk your life for a people who are not yours?
The Estalien stood up, and met the Commander's gaze.
- Because I wanted to help these people, Commander. In Rabanera, Master Sigmund had rather suspicious feelings towards me, and he didn't concealed them. However, when we realized there were villagers prisoners of the Feral Skaven, he didn't hesitate to risk being killed to save them. I wanted to do the same in my turn, to appear nicer in the eyes of Prince Steiner, it is true, but also because I wanted to. The Steiner family members I have known so far have all made me want to work with them, and help them solve their problems. All as much as they are. Señorita Bianka is a person of delightful conversation and exceptional culture. Lady Heike is gentleness and generosity personified. Sir Kristofferson fought heroically, as did his brother Sigmund. And finally, Master Mage Prospero Steiner is someone I would appreciate to have as a friend one day. I am acting for Prince Calderon's best interests, but if it doesn't affect my mission, I have the right to listen to my heart and do anything right for me. And I think bonding with the Steiner family and everything they stand for is right.
Schmetterling nodded.
- That is generous of you, Excellency. Maybe even a little too generous?
- How could I be "too generous", Commander?
- Your generosity has prompted you to go beyond your rights, Master Clarin.
- I can't wait to hear your explanation, Commander.
Commander Schmetterling took a breath, and leaned on his desk.
"You are a faithful servant of the Crown of Sueño, we have made it clear. Also, I consider you are not the most to blame, because you have only obeyed the orders of your Prince. But then, as the Commander of the Vereinbarung Army, I was faced with something I cannot accept."
"As we were about to leave for Kreidesglück, young Kristofferson Steiner came to warn us that Orcs were coming to Wüstengrenze. We then had to divide our army into two distinct groups to be able to fight on two fronts at the same time. If I gave any weight to the incriminating evidence number four, I might even think it was Iapoch himself who instigated the Orcs to attack Wüstengrenze, no doubt by some Grey Seer magical power, but as I consider this letter of instructions as null, I will not go further in this direction."
"Either way, while your help was crucial, it has still been a secret. This is normal, with the known existence of a traitor, every precaution should be taken. But what I cannot accept is that I, the Commander of the Army, was kept out of this plan. No one told me Sueño was going to send us reinforcements. Rather, I feel like I'm coming after Prince Calderon's interests, in the eyes of Prince Steiner and yours. In that sense, it is I who should feel betrayed."
There were still murmurs and a few shrugs, suppressed by the Prince.
- Commander Schmetterling, beware, today I am a judge, but yesterday, like tomorrow, I am your Prince!
- I do not deny it, Your Highness, but history is full of betrayals and abusive evictions, and I would like to be sure we're not in the presence of such an attempt against me. Master Clarin, can you tell me who knew you would intervene? Remember, you are still under oath.
- I haven't forgotten it, Commander.
- Speak without fear, you are Prince Calderon's Representative, you have nothing to fear from Prince Steiner.
- Even if I was directly under his authority, I would not fear him more, Commander. Prince Steiner made the request to Prince Calderon, and to my knowledge, at the Court of Vereinbarung, only three other people knew: Master Mage Prospero Steiner, Magister Brisingr Steadyhand, and Master Nedland Barnrooster.
Commander Schmetterling pouted.
- Well, well... The Master Mage is the adopted son of the Prince, I agree he has his confidence. On the other hand, I am rather surprised to see his Highness preferred to put in this confidence a foreign Magister come from Altdorf for obscure reasons, and a Halfling mercenary who willingly fled the justice of his native country. Besides, I see that Magister Steadyhand was not summoned to this tribunal?
- He is in the midst of negotiations for the reconstruction of the Wüstengrenze bridge, replied Prince Steiner.
- Too bad, I wish I would hear his opinion. Thank you for your honesty, Master Clarin, I have no further questions for you.
Clarin returned to the bench without adding anything. He sat down next to Sigmund, who gave him a discreet little nod. Brother Arcturus spoke again:
- I call Captain Marjan Gottlieb to the bar.
The tall, young woman dressed for the occasion in an ornate tunic and striped hose. A precious brooch bearing the Gottlieb family coat of arms held her cloak. Her ensemble let show her femininity while allowing her to fight without being hampered by long fabrics if necessary. She settled down confidently at the desk, raised her hand, and declared:
- I promise, on the honour of the Gottlieb Family, to tell the whole truth in this court. Let Ulric punish me if I lie.