Marjan Gottlieb opened her eyes wide. In less than a second, she was fully awake, and perfectly alert. She listened, and smiled in the semi-darkness when she heard the commotion in the distance.
The rats are panicking, reinforcements are coming!
She crept up to Balin, the eldest of the little prisoners, and shook him gently by the shoulder.
- Wake up, Balin!
- Mhh?
The little ratboy sat up.
- What's happening?
- Listen! Can you hear?
Balin listened carefully, and perceived in turn the screams, the yelps and the sounds of running footsteps.
- What do they say? I can't understand anything!
- They are preparing to face the incoming army. Do you understand, Balin? The Prince's soldiers are at their doorstep!
Balin's heart started pounding.
- Is it true? So, are we going to be saved?
- I hope so.
- But… what if this Grey Seer decides to massacre us all?
The young woman turned her head towards the little ratboy who seemed paralyzed with terror.
- He won't, don't worry. Feral Skaven are way too selfish for that. Their life comes first. If Karhi sees our army entering his burrow, the only thing he will think about is saving his ass, no matter what.
- Are you sure?
- I can't be one hundred per cent sure, Balin, but I participated in many fights against the Feral Skaven during the Harvests, when things went wrong. They never attempted a dirty trick. Only a particularly evil spirit could surprise us, but I doubt Karhi to be that kind of spirit. He's too dumb for that.
Balin jumped as he heard the Grey Seer's voice moaning above them, behind the heavy gate.
- Come on, bunch of incompetent-idiots! Gather at the door to the surface! I will myself rip off the skin of the first one I see recoil-flee!
Marjan could see the White Skaven through the gaps in the grid. He was gesticulating.
- You and you, you stay here-here! Watch, guard, arrest fugitives!
Without saying a word, two Clanrats took their places on either side of the circular pit, and the Grey Seer withdrew. Marjan frowned when she spotted the eerie greenish glow emanating from their eyes.
- He left two of his four special guards, she whispered to Balin.
The little Skaven raised his muzzle, and shivered.
- They have a weird stare, it scares me.
- I wouldn't be surprised if they had undergone some sort of warpstone treatment.
- What is special about them?
- I don't know. If it is, they can blow flames and fart lightning, they may be faster, stronger... In any case, it is better to be wary of them.
- They won't do anything to us as long as we don't move, will they?
- I think so. But it is better to be prepared for action. Let's start waking up the others gently, and pray to Ulric our folks come quickly.
The twenty riders were in the tunnel. It only took a few minutes to reach the edge of the portal once erected by the Dwarves. Joop van Habron was one of the volunteers. Sigmund had designated him to lead this assault.
- We're close, guys! Watch out, I can already see warplock jezzails!
A few shots rang out from the top of the rampart. Bullets whistled in the dark, leaving trails of greenish dust behind them. The horses reared up.
- Come on, arrow those bastards!
The horsemen seized bow and arrows, and quickly, about twenty arrows fell on the Dwarven construction. Angry screams and squeals of pain echoed off the tunnel walls.
- Here we go! The bigger it is, the better it works!
And Van Habron began to shout in Queekish a few heartfelt insults that Captain Steiner had taught him. Those with a good ear repeated the clacks, hisses and whistles, and the others only giggled and booed.
A second salvo of warpstone bullets answered their mockery. Two of the horses were hit, and one of the soldiers fell from his saddle, his skull pierced by the projectile. Van Habron ordered:
- Finish them, now!
Aware of the terrible effects of the dreadful matter on living beings, the seasoned soldiers didn't hesitate for a moment. Four of them dismounted, and hastened to cutthroat the two unfortunate animals, while the Black Skaven drew his sword and pierced the chest of the soldier who was convulsing in the dust.
- Step away, and keep taunting!
Vereinbarung's fighters retreated, and sent another volley of arrows. Van Habron aimed more precisely at one of the shooters, and hit him in the shoulder. The Feral Skaven fell backwards. Perked up, Van Habron bellowed more insults.
Karhi was on the other side of the gate, at the foot of the rampart. Beside him was standing the huge Lennart Fireblood. The armoured Chaos Warrior, arms akimbo, growled impatiently.
- Well, Grey Seer Karhi, such a pitiful little gang makes you so ridiculous, and you do nothing?
- We are repelling them, great-strong warrior, can't you see it?
- I especially hear they're poking fun at you, and not only a few!
- Watch out!
Karhi leapt up and wedged himself between Lennart's legs, as another hail of arrows bruised the ranks of the Sons of the Horned Rat. An arrow bounced off Lennart's heavy red armour. This one grabbed the White Skaven by his neck, and lifted him up.
- You order your Clan Warriors to smash those braggarts right now, or I'll craft a new pair of gloves with the skin of your ass, I swear!
Grey Seer Karhi gritted his teeth, groaned, but he remembered his rank, and decided to protest.
- If you want… we… to work with you… you have to… fight-fight… with my forces!
Lennart threw Karhi to the ground, then he called out:
- Fershitt! Where are you, you dirty little pot-bottom scrap?
The masked Skaven, who stayed a few yards behind, joined the armoured warrior at a run, and threw himself at his feet.
- I am here, o magnificent-wonderful Supreme Master!
Lennart kicked the warlock engineer away.
- Go find my men, round them up, and bring them back here! Now, let's fight!
- At your command, sublime champion of the Weird-Thing God of Carnage!
The masked Skaven fled backwards.
- And you, the white rat, move your troops! Get them out first!
- So, why should my Clanrats get killed first, and not yours?
- Because if you don't send your war rats right away, I'll pull out your horns and make you swallow by your ears!
The Grey Seer Karhi squealed:
- Blokfiste! Come here-immediately!
When he saw the big ochre Skaven approaching, he didn't wait to see him in front of him to gesticulate and order:
- Blokfiste, call the troops and send a battalion to deal with these pathetic man-things and Horned Rat traitors!
- I hear-accept your orders, o Messenger of our one and only God.
It took only a few minutes, punctuated by barking and threats, for the Warlord to gather in front of the heavy gate a hundred Clanrats – just as many troops were needed to ensure victory. Along the way, some Clanrats were pierced by the invaders' arrows, which further angered Karhi. The fat White Skaven, sheltered behind a wall, stamped with rage.
- Come-come on! Jezzails unable to kill-kill archers! Hurry up!
Then he raised his muzzle.
- Slaves, open the door!
The opening device was at the end of the rampart, installed in a reinforcement dug into the rock, and therefore protected from external attacks. It was a vertical wheel with four handles, around which was wrapped a heavy chain. Three miserable Skaven, practically naked and with their left ear cut off, turned the wheel with all their meagre strength. The mechanism rattled loudly, and the two huge sections of the door slid open.
On the horses, the soldiers could see everything. Van Habron raised his fist.
- Hold on, get ready to gallop! Sikkov, take Zorzi's horse! Kalev, come up behind me!
The two soldiers whose horse had been shot hurriedly obeyed the order.
As soon as the portal was fully opened, a tide of teeth, claws, hair, and aggression surged forth in an odious concert of raging squeals. The Black Skaven was violently assailed by the fumes of panic emitted by his comrades.
- Retreat!
The riders galloped towards the exit, pursued by the hundred Skaven Savages. Van Habron turned his head briefly to make sure his entire regiment was following him. Horror! One of the horses was shot in the side with jezzail and rolled over the rocks, along with its rider – a middle-aged Human. This one got stuck, his leg crushed by the poor beast.
The only smart thing to do, according to Van Habron, was to close his heart and focus his mind on one thing: run away. He concentrated his attention on the small light at the end of the tunnel, and heeled his mount more.
The unfortunate soldier didn't suffer long. The Feral Skaven only needed a few seconds to turn him and his horse into a bloody pulp.
The remaining horsemen burst out of the tunnel at full speed. Upon seeing them, Commander Renata raised a second flare gun she had prepared. This one was painted green. A green-coloured flare streaked towards the heavens, and exploded at the height of the Brave Griffin.
The Dwarves had received and understood the message. Master Barisson shouted:
- Bombers, get ready! Full speed ahead!
His order was immediately relayed by his assistants. The flying ship moved forward until it was directly above the large hole.
- Stop!
The Brave Griffin came to rest just above the gaping opening. Barisson slowly raised his arm.
- Hold…
Commander Renata and Sigmund waited side by side, each on his steed. The Steiner son gritted his teeth when he heard the screeching of the sons of the Horned Rat. However, he couldn't decide whether it was fear or anger that was clenching his jaw.
Finally, the stream of Feral Skaven sprang into the open air, eager to do battle.
- Drop everything! Barisson ordered.
The Feral Skaven were cut off in their tracks by the daylight. They slowed down, some blinked or rubbed their eyes. But what disturbed them the most was the sight of the Brave Griffin. None of them had ever seen such a vehicle. They didn't have the opportunity to question themselves for long; small sparks of golden light twinkled around the flying boat, and the sons of the Horned Rat soon discovered the true nature of these lights. Indeed, it was a myriad of yellow glass globes. Dozens of them crashed into the regiment of Feral Skaven, some broke on a skull or a back. Plumes of mustard-coloured smoke rose from the midst of the Ratmen.
There were surprised grunts, then cries of panic. The soldiers of Vereinbarung, a few dozen yards away, could see the Feral Skaven collapsing, falling to their knees, coughing loudly, and rolling in the mud. Coughing and yelps became weaker and weaker. Then… nothing. Silence fell over the battlefield.
The yellow smoke dissipated, revealing the entrance to the tunnel, and a whole bed of inert Feral Skaven, sprawled on the ground, snoring more or less loudly.
The Humans and Freed Skaven shouted with joy and applauded in the direction of the Brave Griffin.
Some more enduring Feral Skaven seemed to have resisted the effects of the gas, but they were so few in number that they fled everywhere as soon as they realized their numerical inferiority. Three of them, closest to the tunnel, ran for cover in their base.
Commander Renata turned to Sigmund.
- Captain, care to do the honours?
- At your orders, answered the Black Skaven with a carnivorous smile.
He waved Heart of Unicorn forward, and bellowed:
- Charge!
He firmly heeled Okapia, who ran at full gallop towards the tunnel. The horsemen followed suit, as well as the few dozen infantry who made up the first battalion. They zigzagged between the bodies of the sleeping Feral Skaven, then redoubled their ardour once in front of the immense opening towards the tunnels of Ysibos.
- Come on, friends! At work! Prior Romulus ordered.
Quickly, the twelve people in charge of reducing the Feral Skaven to impotence began their neutralization operation.
Since his time in Friedrichsdorf, Sigmund was eager to commit carnage among the Feral Skaven. None of them frightened him, unlike the peasants who had suffered their attacks. He was determined to reverse the situation and make the facies of each Feral Skaven contract under the effect of a powerful fear before ending its life.
Okapia fully approved this desire for revenge, and didn't slow down her gallop.
The tunnel was long and dark, lit here and there only by rays of light visible through a few holes in the vault. The Humans, unlike the Skaven, couldn't see the way so well, so they had to rely on the advance of their furry comrades to avoid tripping. Gradually, however, they could make out in the distance the lights of the braziers that framed the great gate of the stronghold stolen from the people of the karaks.
Sigmund twirled his sword, the sine blade hissing through the air.
- Show no mercy!
Warlike cries echoed his invective.
On the rampart, above the huge gate, Grey Seer Karhi's eyes widened.
- What is that?!
- A battalion, your immensity-greatness, replied Blokfiste, standing beside him.
Furious, the White Skaven slapped the Warlord.
- I can see it's a battalion, indeed, you triple idiot-cretin! Do something!
Without losing his temper, the tall ochre Skaven pointed a menacing finger at the slaves assigned to the wheel.
- Close!
One of the slaves threw himself on the stop lever, and dropped on it with all its weight to release it. The chain rewound loudly, and the doors snapped back into place in seconds, before slamming with a thunderous crash. Blokfiste hurried down the nearest ladder, while the Grey Seer stood at the top, sneering.
- Stop! Wait!
Sigmund tugged on his mare's reins, forced her to slow down, before stopping her progress completely. Beside him, Joop van Habron didn't hide his impatience.
- What are we waiting for, Captain? We rush, and we demolish them!
- That is exactly what they want us to do, Private Van Habron! They closed the doors, you can see that! When we're stuck in front, what do you think they'll do?
- Let's break down the doors! Like in Pourseille!
- The doors of Pourseille were made by Humans. That's Dwarf work, I can guarantee you that a few kicks in it won't damage it!
- So what do we do? Ickert asked.
Sigmund thought for a moment.
- Nobody move. Let's stay out of range of their jezzails. As long as we're here, they won't dare move, which will buy us some time. Himmelstoss?
- Aye, Captain!
- Return to the surface and ask Kürbis to bring the catapults.
Himmelstoss raised a surprised eyebrow.
- Do we have catapults?
- Commander Renata told me before our assault; the Brave Griffin brought some, these are small models that we can assemble and use in this tunnel. As I'm speaking to you, Kürbis's guys should be unloading them. Execution!
- At your command, Captain!
- That's good! It was the last crate! Gunnar Simensson's voice rang out from the cornet.
- All right. May Grungni help you take back what is ours!
Then, Aghnar Barisson shouted over his shoulder.
- Come on, guys, turn on that engine again, let's take off!
He reinstalled himself at the helm.
- Don't worry, Lady Heike, in less than a minute, we'll be completely out of reach of the Thaggoraki!
The Dwarves combat volunteers who had come aboard the Brave Griffin had just finished unload the equipment. The flying ship, suspended a few feet above the ground during the operation, began to move, and rose slowly. The mist clouds would provide good cover.
Heike didn't seem reassured though.
- Was it necessary, Master Barisson? Your workers didn't need to put their lives on the line!
- With all due respect, my Lady, it's part of our religion. This is one of Grungni's commandments: never miss an opportunity to retake a citadel that has fallen into the hands of an enemy. This is the case for Karak Helliglys today; there are Thaggoraki in it, and the Thaggoraki are the third sworn enemy of our people, after the Grobi and the Dawi Zharr.
- The what?
- The Chaos Dwarves. I wish you never to meet them, my Lady, they are the vilest creatures that haunt the tunnels! There is no worse! The Thaggoraki and Grobi outnumber us, but they will never surpass our technological genius. The Dawi Zharr pervert the Dwarven science and soil it with their dark magic!
- You remind me of what Master Brisingr Steadyhand once told me about the Dark Elves.
- Yeah, you have to believe that makes at least one thing in common between my people and his. I hope there won't be more!
The Brave Griffin was again above the clouds. Heike got up and wanted to look out the bay window. Far below, she could make out the small, white-clad figure of Prior Romulus, giving directions to Sergeant Lescuyer and her aides.
There are many of them, I'm not sure there will be enough rope to tie them all?
She shook her head, and returned to her seat. She had just remembered that her son was in the tunnel, and didn't want to think about it anymore. She couldn't hold back a few tears from welling up in her eyes. The tears of fear.
If only Psody was by my side!
She opened her eyes, and sighed. Without the White Skaven, she would have to settle for…
Huh? Where is Gabriel?
- Put the crates under the big tent!
The Dwarves obeyed Sergeant Kristian Kürbis. Alerted by the sound of a horse galloping, he turned on his heels.
- Himmelstoss? What's going on?
- Captain Steiner orders the catapults to be brought in, Sergeant!
- Prepare the transport carts, Commander Renata ordered. I will lead our troops.
The tall Tilean put her hands up as a loudspeaker.
- Sergeant Lescuyer?
The sergeant hastened to join the commandant and stood to attention. Renata mounted her steed.
- I know it's not very appealing, but you'll have to clear the road to allow our carts to pass. Stop tying up the Feral Skaven, and carry them to open the way for us. I don't mind rolling over them, but I don't want to take the risk of seeing a cart get stuck. Open a way thirty feet wide. When it is finished, you'll resume the neutralization operation.
- At your orders, Commander!
Lescuyer returned to Romulus. Kürbis entered the big tent, and looked at the collected crates. There were several sets of boxes with runic poker-worked letters burnt into the wood, the sergeant supposed these were the wooden and metal parts of the catapults. Further on, several canvas bags contained the ropes. Reinforced boxes housed the ammunition. Kürbis opened one of them, and smiled at the contents. During an exercise, he had the opportunity to see this kind of projectile: they were small barrels filled with an explosive liquid. The Feral Skaven would pay dearly!
Kürbis was about to leave the tent to summon a cart, when a rustling noise behind him stopped him short. He turned around, and saw one of the canvas bags moving as if something alive was inside.
- Hey, what is that?
The knot that tied the bag loosened – it didn't look particularly well tied, by the way – then a small hand came out and finished untying the cord. The bag opened, and a strange little Skaven with a light grey coat, dressed in a leather jumpsuit with a handyman's satchel, found himself in the open air.
Gabriel's brown eyes blinked twice, then found themselves directly in front of the stunned ones of the tall Human. Immediately, the little ratboy felt his sweat freeze on his back.
- I say! What are you doing here?
- Uh… I…
Gabriel was already starting to shake. But suddenly, he felt something click in the bottom of his skull. As if he had just understood the importance of his mission prevailed over a soldier whose name wasn't even known by him. He looked the Human straight in the eyes, and mouthed:
- I shall fight with you.
- What? You're serious, are you, son?
Gabriel gritted his teeth. It wouldn't be easy to convince this man! But he held on.
- I have a vital mission to accomplish within the walls of this fortress, Soldier!
- You are completely crazy!
- My honour and the life of an innocent victim are at stake.
- You have nothing to do on the battlefield! There, outside, they're all enraged fellas who won't hesitate to gut you!
- My honour and the life of an innocent victim are at stake! Gabriel repeated.
The Human rolled his eyes.
- You're nothing but a kid! And besides… I recognize you, you are the son of the Master Mage! Your mother gave strict orders: you had to stay on board!
- Are you sure? I haven't seen you. You are trying to trick me.
- Oh, come on! Anyway, you're just a kid, and my job is to protect kids.
- I'm not a kid, I'm Gabriel Steiner, son of the Master Mage, grandson of the Prince, and I have to fix a big mistake, and you won't be able to stop me, I bet!
- You believe so? Can you imagine if I let you get squared off, and the Prince finds out?
- He won't never. But if he learns you have prevented me from fulfilling my duty, he won't be happy.
- "Your duty"? Kürbis repeated, incredulous. Are you kidding me?
Again, Gabriel felt a surge of nerve whipping his spine. He almost felt like wings were growing on his back.
- I am not. You, on the other hand, seem to be mocking me, and that's not nice. I designed the Brave Griffin, as well as the sleeping gas, it's thanks to me the battle will be less deadly, you owe me more respect!
Kürbis was stunned. Anger soon replaced stupor.
- Be careful, little vole… Do you know who you are talking to?
- To one of the soldiers of the army of my grandfather, Prince Ludwig Steiner the First!
- Not a soldier, but a sergeant. Who could bend you over to teach you how to be polite!
Again! Well, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!
Indeed, this time, Gabriel wasn't facing a noble-born family friend or an intimidating Dwarf.
- If you do that, my grandfather will have you quartered! You know it very well!
- Only if someone sees me. But there's only you and me in this tent.
Quick as lightning, the little ratman pulled out his whistle.
- Take a step towards me, and everyone will hear me.
Kurbis stopped.
- You're playing with fire, kid.
- And you're playing with your life. Now step back. Let me out, or I'll call for help, and I'll say you tried to hit me. Which of the two will be taken seriously between the grandson of the Prince and a soldier among many others?
- A sergeant! Not a common squaddy!
- What's the difference for the Prince?
The sergeant didn't answer, he didn't move either. Seeing his inaction, Gabriel put the whistle in his mouth and took a breath. The Human raised his hands.
- Ho! No, wait! All right, you won!
And therefore, Kürbis backed down. Gabriel removed the whistle, and exhaled deeply. He looked the Human straight in the eye, and calmly ordered:
- Let me out of this tent.
- Alright, alright. After all, if you really want to be eaten alive, I don't give a shit!
Gabriel just shrugged. The Human emerged from under the thick canvas. Without taking his eyes off him, the little light grey Skaven followed him.
- Watch your bottom in the future, son. Next time, I'll kick it to compote!
- With your career, Soldier?
- "Sergeant", it's "Sergeant", you little brat! Pray Sigmar your brother doesn't see you, because otherwise he'll tan your skin so much you won't be able to sit down for a whole week!
- That's my problem.
Then he spun on his heels and sped towards the forest. Kürbis shook his head.
- You're right, that's your problem. Poor little fool!