- All is well now, you can relax-relax, Gab. The battle is over, for sure.
The three Skaven arrived at Valaya's temple. The little light grey Skaven widened his eyes at a singular spectacle: a whole group of soldiers were surrounding ratchildren, some of them really young. The youngest were in the arms of children who seemed as aged as he was. All the children present looked exhausted, but reassured by the presence of the adults who had come to save them.
Someone walked briskly to meet them. Gabriel recognized one of his mother's best friends.
- Lady Marjan! Are you... are you fine?
- Yeah, Gab, I am. Ah, I see you found the one you were looking for!
- Yes, I… I don't know how I did it.
- No doubt with courage, you had not to lack for it. Psody, we have the situation under control!
- I see-see. I knew our troops were the best.
Some of the soldiers who knew Psody didn't hide their surprise at seeing him alive and well. Ickert approached.
- Master Mage? But… how?
- It's a long-complicated story, young man. Just know that you were there where-when you needed to be.
- What about Karhi? Marjan asked. Where did he go? Did you find him?
- Karhi is on his way to be punished-corrected by the Horned Rat.
The tall blonde Human smiled vengefully.
- Good, this little asshole got what he deserved! Did you use a lot of your magical resources to defeat him?
- No need, Marjan. This idiot wanted to use Cuelepok's mask to strengthen the Under-Empire magic. A bad mix that exploded in his face.
- What a jerk! the woman sneered.
These words didn't escape the surrounding soldiers. One of them, a brown Skaven sat on the steps of the temple, grumbled:
- Yeah, in other words, it would have been enough to let things happen! Today or in a month, he would have killed himself! We did all that for nothing, our guys died for squat!
Marjan sat down next to the soldier, and slowly but firmly grabbed his jaw. She made his head turn, and when their eyes met, articulated:
- Who do you think you've dealt with? This is the Under-Empire; unlike the Orcs who run away as soon as their leader dies, and who need several days to replace it if it has not been done according to the rules of the duel, the Skaven quickly resolve questions of succession. Blokfiste would have immediately taken control, and the children would have remained prisoners. We came here to save our kids, and that's what we did.
She released the pressure, got up, and addressed the crowd:
- That's what you all did, and I thank you! All parents in Vereinbarung will be forever grateful to you!
The young woman addressed the master mage again.
- Psody, we found and collected all the children still alive we could. The little ones were with the breeders.
- What have you done to these breeders?
Marjan didn't answer, her smile faded.
- I will never-never get used to it completely, the master mage continued.
- This is what makes you a Human, my friend. Unfortunately, I have even worse news: there were losses among children, too.
Gabriel swallowed, and looked nervously at Emil, to make sure that the little White Skaven was still alive. Psody's brow furrowed.
- Where is Siggy? Didn't you cross his path?
- Siggy? I thought he was with you?
The master mage felt his heart tighten painfully. It was then that Ickert pointed at something.
- Lady Gottlieb! Look!
An armoured rider was trotting toward the group. He was tall, his equipment decorated with colourful coats of arms, and his helmet was adorned with a leaping deer shaped crest. This unreal, almost fantastic spectacle left Gabriel completely captivated. He stopped in front of the group, and asked in a powerful voice:
- Greetings, good folks! Who's the person in charge?
- It's Lady Marjan Gottlieb, here, the master mage replied.
- Me, are you sure? the Human woman asked. We both have noble blood!
- We do, but you were in the army, I'm just a magician, Psody reminded.
- So be it. Yes, you could say it's me. May I ask to whom I am speaking?
- I am Reginald de Villefort, aide-de-camp for Lord Horace de Vaucanson, my Lady. I came at the request of one of your men, Sergeant Kürbis. He and his subordinates keep a band of Chaos thugs at bay. Your presence is essential to put an end of the problems caused by these villains once and for all.
- Thank you for the information, Sir de Villefort. Have you heard, fellas? The break is over, we have to go help them! Cheer up, children! We're almost out!
On the instructions of the most experienced, the whole group prepared to leave. But as Villefort turned his horse around to leave, Psody stopped him.
- Wait-wait, Sir de Villefort!
- What is it, citizen?
- You… Have you seen lately a Skaven with black fur, bigger and stronger than the others? A Skaven who left the place alive?
- I'm afraid I can't answer you, I need a more precise description.
- It is…
The master mage felt a burning sensation in his stomach. How would the Bretonnian react? On the other hand, the anxiety of not having news about Sigmund was greater.
- The one who was at the head of the troops who attacked Pourseille.
- Ah… You're talking about Captain Steiner, don't you?
- Indeed.
The White Skaven did not want to give Villefort time to respond.
- Look-listen, you have good reasons not to like him very much, but please, if you know something, say it!
- Is the health of a common captain so important to you?
- He's my son! Psody yelped suddenly.
Villefort felt his eyebrows raise under his helmet.
- What? Your... He defied my liege to avenge you! You're not dead?
- I pretended-pretended, he doesn't know! So?
- It's true, he was much too passionate to lie to us. Unless he's a very good actor.
The White Skaven's face tightened in panic.
- I beg-praise you, don't inflict unnecessary pain on a worried father! Speak-speak!
- Come on, Sire de Villefort, you're not amusing! Marjan added.
- I never had this pretention, my Lady. But you can be reassured, Captain Sigmund Steiner is alive. I saw him transporting my liege to your camp, accompanied by Lombard, the standard bearer.
Finally, Psody allowed himself to catch his breath. Gabriel cried with emotion.
- Siggy… is alive! After everything he's faced...
He snuggled up against his father, Emil still in his arms. Marjan clapped her hands.
- Come on, my friends! Let's leave this sewer!
The company set out, Villefort at the head. The few remaining Dwarves decided to follow the lead.
Gabriel felt the apprehension building more and more as they approached the main gate of the karak. A group of infantrymen accompanied by a few Bretonnian horsemen formed a circle around the band of Chaos barbarians. Lennart Fireblood was in the middle of his men, unarmed, but he didn't seem intimidated by the situation even though it was against him. His arms crossed, he challenged his opponents with his determined posture.
The little light grey Skaven still didn't know how to consider this big guy in red armour. On the one hand, he had saved his life, and had protected him for a long part of his escape through the tunnels. On the other, he was a servant of Chaos, a killer, undoubtedly with many lives on his conscience.
Maybe I should talk to Father about it?
When they were only a few yards from the crowd, Sir de Villefort, still on his horse, commented on the scene.
- As you can see, we have captured the Chaotese, my Lady.
- Nice work, Sir Knight! But weren't there more of them?
- Well, a few fell under the Feral Skaven's blows, Sergeant Kürbis explained. Since they attacked the ratmen first, we let them slaughter each other. When we clearly had the upper hand over the Feral Skaven, the survivors immediately surrendered on the orders of their leader.
- I say!
- Mind you, Commander Renata's orders – May Morr take care of her soul – were to capture them alive. At least we can follow his instructions.
- And so, Lennart Fireblood didn't fight back?
- Not in the least, my Lady, Villefort replied. As they decided to keep quiet, we haven't done anything to them yet, but we were waiting for you for that. On the other hand, he insisted on laying down his weapons at your feet in particular.
- Did he?
- Yes, my Lady. This scoundrel demanded you to be "mistress of his Destiny".
- I'll take care of him, then, muttered the tall blonde woman. Let him come to me.
The guards obeyed. The immense Chaos Warrior slowly advanced towards the young woman. Gabriel moaned in a trembling voice:
- Lady Marjan! Don't! Even without weapons, he's going to... crush… you!
The young woman turned towards the little light grey Skaven, and gave him a little wink. Then she turned again towards the figure in red armour, she approached in turn, then when a single step separated them, gave him a small smile. Lennart stretched out his arms... and hugged Marjan to his chest, bursting out laughing.
- What the… ? the young inventor gurgled.
- Look, his father whispered.
The Chaos Warrior removed his helmet, revealing Jochen Gottlieb's laughing face. Gabriel felt his head spinning again, and only Emil's babbling reminded him that he must not lose consciousness and let him go.
- What? You?
Jochen approached Gabriel and knelt before him.
- Indeed, it was me! Sorry for scaring you so much, but I wasn't supposed to show up until it was over!
- I don't understand anything anymore! the young Skaven lamented.
- Kid, you were great. Don't worry, we'll go back to Steinerburg, and then everything will be clear. Right?
The Human patted the little engineer on his shoulder in a friendly manner. Gabriel could do nothing but nod vaguely.
Psody raised his hand towards the sergeant.
- Sergeant Kürbis, release-release the prisoners, they are all one of us!
- What? I hadn't been informed about that!
- Of course you hadn't, replied Jochen. Even Commander Renata didn't know we were infiltrating the Feral's place.
- You mean it was a comedy? It can't be!
- And yet, I've heard Master Mage died of poisoning a few weeks ago? Marjan responded ironically.
The sergeant was taken aback by the joke. He approached the dyed fur White Skaven, took a closer look, spotted the sawn horns on his head, and widened his eyes in supreme surprise when he recognized his interlocutor.
- Master… Mage? Haven't you been...?
- Poisoned? No-no, Sergeant, but we made people believe it.
- With the Purple Hand, everyone is suspect, Sergeant Kürbis, Lord Gottlieb reminded. We had to take even more precautions than with Schmetterling's betrayal affair.
- So that's why we had orders not to kill you, the sergeant, whose features tightened, replied. I understand, but could you still have told us why?
- And take the risk of informing the Purple Hand? Marjan retorted. My brother just told you, Sergeant; these bastards are everywhere, maybe there are even some of them among us right now?
This statement cast a chill, which the master mage was quick to try to dissipate.
- Calm down, don't begin to see enemies absolutely everywhere-everywhere! You all fought with bravery-strength, and we won because of you all. Plotters would have taken advantage of the opportunity to sow chaos in our ranks, which no one did. Congratulations to all!
The "Chaos Marauders" sincerely applauded the infantrymen and Bretonnians, who quickly returned the favour. Gabriel finally felt relieved. Everyone was happy, this horrible day of battle, blood, fear and flight was finally over, and most importantly, he was still alive, so was Emil.
He felt motivated enough to set things straight with one person in particular. He spotted Sergeant Kürbis, stood in front of him, and presented him the little White Skaven in his arms.
- That's why I took all these risks. Admit it was worth it, Sergeant Kürbis, don't you think?
The Human did not respond. On the one hand, he still felt that Gabriel wasn't at all fit for combat, on the other hand he couldn't approve of abandoning a baby.
This approach didn't escape the ear of the master mage, to the great dismay of Kürbis.
- What are you doing, bothering this soldier with this kind of question?
Gabriel realized he was probably about to cause problems for the sergeant. He held his breath for a short moment to think. Once again, he decided to take responsibility for his actions to the end.
- Father, this brave sergeant saw me disembark, he wanted to hold me back to protect me. I didn't listen to him, and when he tried to stop me from getting off, I broke away from him and ran too fast for him.
- Hum…
Psody looked up at the Human.
- Is that true, Sergeant Kürbis?
- It is, Master Mage, but I admit I could have done better.
- Can't you run faster than a child?
- I told him if he touched me, I would call for help, and I would have him punished by Opa Ludwig! Gabriel exclaimed. Don't punish him, he doesn't deserve it! Punish me!
The White Skaven looked carefully at his son, then at the sergeant.
- I will not punish-punish anyone. Sergeant, your orders were to fight against the Feral Skaven, not to play nanny to a disobedient brat. You can breathe, there will be no consequences. For you.
"For you"? But then… for me? the little light grey Skaven worried. Well, did he say "I won't punish anyone"? But then… what is that glint in his eyes?
Unaware of the speed at which the questions raced through the young rat boy's mind, the sergeant bowed with humility.
- Thank you, Master Mage. It's a pleasure to see you again with us.
- Not as much as for me, Sergeant. Dismiss.
- Come on, the break is over! Jochen exclaimed. Himmelstoss, tell your soldiers to get back on the road!
- Yes, my Lord. You heard? Everyone gets out, it's the home stretch!
And the whole troop set off again. In the distance, the light from outside appeared.
As he walked alongside his father, a small detail came back to Gabriel's memory, which made him wince.
- How did you know I had broken in your chapel?
- Nedland has installed a homing pigeon perch a few miles from the edge of the White Wolf Forest. He would send me messages every day about what was happening at home, and one of Jochen's guys would pick them up.
Finally, they left Ysibos' burrow and found themselves in the open air. Humans and Skaven welcomed the beneficial warmth of the sun with relief and joy. The little prisoners uttered exclamations of wonder when they saw the Brave Griffin floating a few miles away in the sky.
- Yes, children, this flying boat came especially for you! Marjan declared happily. You will all be able to go home on board!
- I'll make it come-land, Psody added.
The master mage waved his eight fingers, muttered a few words in the language of the Empire's licensed magicians, and formed a sphere of green light a foot in diameter. Then he threw it into the air. The sphere flew away, and when it reached the same high than the Brave Griffin's, exploded in a cloud of crackling lights.
The flying ship, suspended in place, skewed in the direction of the camp, and advanced slowly. With a loud engine noise, the Brave Griffin descended, and hovered about ten feet above the ground, over an open space, a few dozen yards from the tents. Some Dwarves on board dropped anchor, then jumped overboard, attached to ropes, which they planted in the ground to hold the ship. The Brave Griffin touched land, and the engines stopped. The propellers slowed, then stopped.
All able-bodied people approached the Brave Griffin. The children cried out in wonder as they admired every detail of this incredible blend of Human naval know-how and Dwarf technology. The foghorn honked, then a long wooden ramp unfolded under one of the segments of the safety guardrail. Once the ramp was in place, the safety guardrail opened like a gate.
A first person got off the Brave Griffin, with a quick and confident step. Gabriel felt his heart stop when he saw his mother set foot on the ground. Psody ran towards her, and threw himself into her arms. They then exchanged a long and fiery kiss. The little light grey Skaven saw that they were crying uncontrollably.
- Everything worked as planned, my love-love.
- I've been so scared, Psody!
- And I've been so hurt, Heike. If only I could have been with you-all of you! You have no idea how much I blame myself for being absent!
The young mother's gaze then fell on her youngest son.
- Gab…
- Uh… I…
- Come here.
He felt his sweat freeze when he heard the coldness of her voice. He obeyed with difficulty, and shivered again when she raised her tune:
- I strictly forbade you to leave the ship!
- I could not…
- You could have been killed!
- I wanted to save Emil!
She walked slowly in turn, calmly, towards the young engineer. When she saw that there was little left to hold him up, Heike didn't know whether she was going to give him the hardest spanking ever, or release the pressure on her heart and forgive him. She chose the second option, hugging the little light grey Skaven against her.
- I should lock you in your bedroom and reduce you to dry bread and water for a whole week, you little imp! she said, shedding tears of relief again.
- But... Father is alive, and you don't tell him anything?
Heike knelt down and placed her hands on her young son's shoulders.
- I already knew that, my darling. From the beginning. Opa Ludwig too. Romulus and the Twins too.
Gabriel grew impatient.
- Everyone around me knows everything that's going on and no one tells me anything! I'm tired of being taken for a fool!
- Calm down, Gab, Psody replied. We'll come back to your brothers-sisters, and we'll explain-tell you the whole story, I promise. Be patient a little more.
Romulus arrived in the meantime.
- Psody! Are you doing well?
- Yes, my friend, I had a narrow escape several-several times! What about you?
- Everything is fine for me. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Horace de Vaucanson. Your son did everything he could to bring him back here, but there was nothing that could be done.
The White Skaven just let out a sad sigh. Gabriel looked around for the tall Black Skaven, but he couldn't find him. Once again, he felt his heart rate increase dangerously.
- So, where is Sigmund, Prior? The Knight of Bretonnia said he was here? Where is he?
- Calm down, my child, the Shallya priest replied. He's fine, but he's gone to guide the wounded ones who won't board your flying boat. You'll see him in Steinerburg.
More or less reassured, Gabriel remained silent. Heike quickly looked around at everyone around her, soldiers and children, then she shouted over her shoulder:
- You can come, my Sisters! I warn you, there will be work!
Half a dozen priestesses of the Order of Shallya hurriedly descended, Sister Judy leading the way. The Dwarves who had remained on board during the battle followed them, carrying bags, knapsacks, and crates full of medical supplies. The sisters already on the spot welcomed these reinforcements with relief.
Marjan and Heike counted the children, and noted the names of the villages from which they came, when possible. Without daring to admit it out loud, the ratwoman already knew that some of them would never see their families again.
A few yards further on, Gabriel saw the soldiers bricking their weapons. He walked slowly among the Human and Skaven warriors, in a daze. He was so exhausted he could barely hear the moans of Emil who had started crying again. It was then that one of the priestesses approached.
- Well, little one? You're not going to let this baby scream all day, will you? Come on, give it to me.
And she leaned forward, and stretched out her hands toward him. This gesture caused a sudden nervous outbreak in the little rat boy. He jumped back, and held Emil tightly against his chest.
- No! I don't want ! I keep him! Leave me alone!
The scene attracted attention. Poor Gabriel's nerves were on edge, and he was perceiving sounds and images with increasing difficulty. All the faces around him seemed hostile, eager to tear Emil from his arms. He saw no friendly presence to support him or help him.
Fortunately, Sister Judy, who had seen everything, intervened quickly and judiciously. She first called in a soft voice:
- Gabriel?
The comforting warmth of Shallya's priestess' voice took effect. Gabriel froze in her direction, without calming down. Sister Judy took a step forward, stopped, then continued in the same tone:
- Can I talk to you, Gabriel? I won't come any closer, right?
As the little light grey Skaven didn't react, she continued her attempt. She knelt down to put herself at Gabriel's height, and explained to him:
- Gabriel, you are still shocked. You can see it by yourself: you're trembling, your eyes are moving very quickly, you're breathing hard... I understood you had gone down into the Feral Skaven burrow to go look for Emil. You've spent the scariest day of your life when you wanted to help us, and you succeeded. You were very brave, you took big risks. But it's over. You are safe, among your friends and family. Now, look at Emil: he needs care. If he's crying so much, it's probably because he's very hungry, or because he's sick. Who knows what these Feral Skaven could have done to him? You will be able to return him to his family, but before that, I have to make sure he is fine. I don't want to take him away from you. It must be you to give me this baby. Will you let me take care of him, please?
Sister Judy had found the right words. Gabriel shook his head, closed his eyes, and concentrated with all his might. He took several deep, slow breaths, and felt his heart rate gradually slow. The little toddler's cries seemed clearer and clearer to him. He felt his fear and his pain. Tears slid down his cheekbones. He slowly raised his eyelids. Sister Judy was patiently waiting, a small reassuring smile on her lips. He looked at Emil again, muttered something unintelligible, then he in turn walked towards the priestess, very slowly and held out his trembling arms towards her. She gently picked up the little White Skaven, and whispered:
- You're acting with great wisdom, Gabriel.
As she walked away, the young engineer extended a clenched hand forward.
- Emil! EMIL!
He was about to move forward to catch up with the priestess, but he held back when she turned towards him. She smiled at him and reassured him:
- Don't worry, you will give him back to his parents yourself. Trust me, I promise it's for his own good.
His father joined him at this moment. He patted him gently on the shoulder.
- Besides, you need to be taken care of yourself too-too. Look at you ! You looks like you've been run over by a Clan Skryre Doomwheel!
He turned to another priestess, a little dark-haired girl with a ruddy complexion.
- My Sister?
- Come then, the young Shallean replied, inviting Gabriel to follow her under one of the large tents.
The little light grey Skaven joined the priestess. She placed him on one of the camp beds and examined him quickly.
- Well, you were very lucky! You have no serious injuries. On the other hand, I'll give you a little something.
She rummaged in a box, and took out a small vial which she gave to Gabriel.
- What is this?
- It's a small dose of Esmeralda's Calming Nectar.
- But… I heard that it can make… how Kit used to said … "addicted"?
- If you take it too much and too often, it's possible, but in this flask, there is just enough to help you calm down, you risk nothing.
Gabriel wisely drank the contents of the vial, and indeed, he quickly felt a kind of beneficial warmth emanating from his stomach and spreading throughout his body. He heaved a blissful sigh.
- Now, you shall wash and change, you're really disgusting! the priestess joked. Don't worry, we have planned everything. Look at the back of the tent, there is a screen. Behind there is a basin with hot water and soap. We have provided a change of clothes for the child prisoners. I'll fetch you an outfit. Wash and dry yourself before I come back with.
The priestess left the tent. Gabriel looked around him. He was now alone in the tent. Around him, the camp beds, around ten including his, were all empty. A thick blanket covered a pile of rags on the bunk to his left. Outside, outbursts of voices regularly broke the calm. The battle was over, and the chaos of sounds and movements that usually punctuated its progress had calmed down.
The little light grey Skaven lowered his eyes, and looked at his clothes. He realized what a filthy state he was in, after all these misadventures. The priestess was right: disgusting. No, that word was already insufficient. He got up quickly and walked towards the screen, behind which a basin, a soap and a towel awaited him. Gabriel undressed, gathered his filthy clothes into a small bundle, and dove without hesitation into the tub to wash himself thoroughly, for a long time and with energy.
When he finally felt clean again, he got out of the water and rubbed himself vigorously with the towel. Then, once dry, he stuck his head beyond the screen and made a grimace. There were no changes of clothes on his bunk.
The priestess must be overwhelmed... I'll wait for her.
He completely wrapped himself in the towel, which was large enough to cover him, and zigzagged over to the cot where he sat down. He got his head out of the wrapping and sighed deeply. He reviewed all the events he had experienced over the past few hours.
- What a day…
Suddenly, his left ear swivelled nervously, listening to a fabric rustling. He turned his head, and saw the pile of rags moving, and straightening up. For a split second, fear squeezed his heart again. What if it was a killer from Clan Eshin which had escaped the vigilance of the entire garrison to find him and slit his throat? Paralyzed, the young ratboy no longer dared to breathe.
- Hi! a small, shrill voice then said to him.
Gabriel found himself speechless in the face of a completely unexpected vision. A head with large, bright eyes had just emerged from under the blanket.
- I didn't hear you, I was sleeping. How are you?
The little ratman could not articulate a single syllable. It was too unreal, and yet, he was indeed in the presence of a girl of his kind, and who had just spoken to him directly. He looked down nervously, and when he remembered that he wasn't wearing anything under his blanket, he clutched his head between his shoulders. The apparition laughed nervously.
- Don't worry! I'm completely naked, too.
Gabriel swallowed. Sweat was already soaking all of his fur. He barely dared to look at the girl out of the corner of his eye. However, this sight was not unpleasant, especially after all the horrors that had followed one another during the battle.
- My name's Branwen. What's yours?
- G…Gabriel.
Branwen was a young ratgirl about Gabriel's age. Her eyes sparkled with amber, her light brown fur gleamed in the rays of sunlight that slipped through the gaps in the tent fabric.
- Did they kidnap you, too?
- Wh... who? What?
- The Feral Skaven. Did they capture you?
- Uh… no. It was me who went down into their hole.
Branwen oscillated between catastrophe and admiration.
- What? You mean you went to fight them? You?
- Um… yes.
- You don't look like a warrior, though! You're small and scrawny!
- I know.
- So what? You're completely crazy!
Gabriel noticed that she spoke with a slight country accent. That explained, perhaps, her frankness? He didn't want to seem too intimidated.
- I had to do it.
- Why?
Devoured with curiosity, the little girl got up, still wrapped in her blanket, and sat down next to Gabriel.
- Tell me, tell me!
Blood heated the young light grey Skaven's cheeks red when he felt Branwen's touch through the wool. Confused, he thought quickly. Where to start?