-xXx-
After traversing the wide streets of the temples, they finally arrived at the pyramid. The mountain of sandstone blocks was even more impressive up close, each one almost the size of the housings they'd seen just inside the city walls. While it didn't match the heights the Bell of the Horned Rat reached, it was a very close second.
"How do you suppose the skeletons made that?" Roderick asked, gesturing to it. The two were mounting the steps of a vast staircase leading up to the base of the structure, the pyramid built on an elevated plateau that overlooked the city. "Those blocks must weigh hundreds of pounds each."
"Hmm. Employed skavenslaves," Skyseeker answered after a little deductive reasoning. "dedication of slaves very optimal."
"I would guess it was magic," Roderick said. "I once saw a wizard lift a giant boulder and use it to crush a horde of beastmen. These skeletons must have some equivalent of mages."
At the top of the stairs lay more orcs, further confirming her suspicions that the pyramid had been their goal. Her warpsight confirmed the relic was nearby, visible as a swath of magical fog with an obvious centre ( though nto so obvious to the uninitiated like Roderick), but the fact the greenskins had failed to retrieve it troubled her. All evidence suggested the city had been wiped out during the siege, so what had stopped the orcs from stealing the relic away? Maybe the Horned Rat had manifested to help her in her mission? That seemed to be the most exciting explanation, so surely it must be the correct one?
There was another staircase on the far side of the platform, this one leading down to the pyramid's base. From this height, she could see that the pyramid was partially submerged into the plateau, with a long crevasse creating a channel leading towards the middle of the near face. The walls of the channel stretched a little higher than the ground level, stacked with reinforced bricks to keep the sand from spilling in.
At each of the four corners of this long entryway were ornate pylons, the same design as those they'd seen back in the first region of the city. While the channel was longer than it was wide, the breadth between the walls was spacious enough that five doomwheels could roll through side by side with room to spare. Was the relic paraded through this place before being sealed away inside? She'd be surprised if it hadn't been, these skeletons seemed the flashy type.
"I see more orcs down there," Roderick muttered, shielding his eyes as he looked into the crevasse.
"Alive?" she asked, using her goggles to zoom in on where he was looking.
"No, but there's at least two piles of them down there. Perhaps the city inhabitants left their worst traps and defences for last."
They proceeded down the steps, the walls tall enough to block out the sun as they reclined below ground. She felt physically colder as she stepped into the shadows, a feeling so unnatural after days of walking in the hot climes of this strange world.
As was becoming the custom, the walls here were painted over with elaborate markings, column after column of them stretching on towards the pyramid. They passed by pedestals mounted to either side of the crevasse, some occupied by tall monuments like the others, but smaller in scale. Others sported statues of figures that were larger than life, and it was here Skyseeker got a proper look at what the inhabitants of the city looked like.
They were humanoid, much like Roderick, but different in many other ways. The statues were chiselled to appear wearing robes, leaving only their five-fingered hands visible. Its arms were crossed over its chest, the hands a muted yellow colour. As her gaze wondered to its face, she flinched, meeting the empty sockets of a large golden skull. The visage was carved into an eternal grin, the skull's head tilted slightly down, as though the statue was tracking her as she walked beneath it.
There was another statue of its likeness on the opposite side, its stone figure chipped in places, an orc corpse laying by its feet. It almost seemed to be gloating over the dead greenskin, the way its tilted head admired the creature.
The next pair of pedestals sported more monuments, perhaps serving as decorations, or some ceremonial purpose, it was impossible to tell. After a bit more walking, they were halfway through the crevasse, the walls flaring out a little further to create a courtyard, a fountain that had long since dried up occupying the middle of the space.
Another two more pedestals flanked the area, one of which was occupied by something Skyseeker hadn't seen thus far. Leaning against the wall was a statue, not made from the stones like the others, but chiselled from some sort of dark material, like ebony or onyx. It stood on a pair of digitigrade legs, much like her own, only the three tows were long and fat, tipped with dull claws made from metal. The giant legs were as tall as Roderick, tapering into a lean torso that was obscured slightly behind a skirt, fastened to the statue by gold belts that hung loosely on its hips.
Unlike the figure, these belts were made from actual silks, not stone, the crimson ribbons contrasting against the blacks and golds. The stomach was bare, every ab and muscle carved with such perfection it was almost lifelike, each contour visible if one looked at just the right angle.
The torso rose into a pair of broad shoulders, a barrel chest obscured behind a decorative poncho, clipped together at the front by an ornate clamp that resembled the winged skull that was prevalent in this city – perhaps that was the coat of arms symbolising this place. Atop its shoulders sat a skull, but the bones didn't resemble a human face. The visage was pointy, like a beak, with thick teeth jutting from the upper lip. The lower jaw was missing.
Clutched in its massive hands was a pair of curved swords, the yellow blades stained and eroded, but still wickedly sharp. Its arms were crossed over its chest, standing to attention like the stormvermin who guarded Gnawdwell's tower.
"These skeletons enjoy their decorative flare," Roderick said as he eyed the statue. "I've never seen so much ebony carved into one statue."
"Those swords are bigger than I am!" Skyseeker added, noting that the statue was thrice Roderick's size if one didn't include the crown it wore. It was a simple piece, made from rock that branched into three sections, hardly worth stealing.
They circled the fountain, Skyseeker peering into the bowl just in case there was any water left behind, but the recess was as dry as the sand - if one didn't count the orc keeled over the rim, his lifeblood staining the basin.
Just as Roderick had noted, there were many more orcs in this courtyard, clustered around another of those battering rams. They must have brought it to breach the pyramid. The siege equipment lay destroyed, however, caved in as though someone had dropped a boulder on it from high above.
"Here's hoping we don't need a ram to get inside," Roderick mused as he crossed to the far side. "You coming lass?" he asked, when he noticed she was lagging behind.
"R-Rick rod?" she whispered. "Look!"
He turned, following her pointed arm back to the statue, his eyes going wide.
The head had turned.
For a horrific moment she stared into those empty sockets of its bestial skull, and then the rest of the statue slid into motion. It lifted those bent legs off the pedestal with a sound like two stones scraping together, turning its dark body in their direction.
"Gods," Roderick muttered, reaching over his shoulder and grabbing the hilt of his greatsword. "Living stone – what nightmare could create such a thing?"
She saw him swallow a visible lump down in his throat, but he bit his trepidation back as he drew his weapon, the long blade sliding against its leather scabbard. While the man-thing weapon was huge, it dwarfed in the face of the statue's dual blades, but Roderick's faith in Imperial steel was steadfast.
The greatsword glinted in the light as Roderick took up a stance, Skyseeker following suit as she drew her weeping blades. Her confidence scattered when she noted how woefully inadequate her daggers were compared to her counterpart, but she had to remember she had the advantage of warp-power.
"Stay behind me, Skyseeker," Roderick warned, flipping the visor of his helmet down.
"Screw you and not in a good way-way!" she shot back, scurrying beside him. "We fight stone-thing together! Attack-Charge!"
She struggled to remain steady as the statue rumbled the ground with each of its strides, approaching the pair with a kind of slow caution, always stood in the same upright posture. The statue lowered its head, peering down its long, bone muzzle at Roderick, its massive feet cracking the tiles as it moved towards him. Only now did she see that the stains on its weapons wasn't a result of wear or erosion, but blood. Orc blood if she wasn't mistaken.
On its next step, it raised a one golden sword above its head, its movements unnaturally fluid. The fur on her arms ruffled as it brought its blade down towards Roderick, her partner stepping out of the arc in the nick of time. The statue remained gyroscopically stable from the waist down, only its torso moving as it bent its massive body down to reach him.
The construct cocked its bony head, then brought its second sword to bear, thrusting it towards Roderick's chest. Rather than step aside, Roderick raised his greatsword, knocking the strike aside using the flat side of his blade. The sudden change in momentum caused the construct to overreach, opening it up to a counter that Roderick took advantage of.
He chopped the statue across its giant forearm, but his blade bounced off its shining hide, the statue turning its head again as it pulled away, returning its arms to its chest. It seemed to be considering him, as though it was confused by his retaliation. Perhaps the orcs hadn't put up much of a fight to it.
Roderick had to crane his neck to meet its eyeless gaze, gripping his weapon tightly in his gauntlets as he began to walk over the tiles. The construct sidestepped to the right, mirroring his movements, the two drawing a circle between each other as they searched for openings.
The construct was the first to move, stepping in to slice its blade from right to left, throwing its considerable mass behind the blow. Not wanting to meet the attack, Roderick stepped back, but this time the construct followed through. It turned on its bent legs, bringing its two blades together as it whirled around, even Skyseeker's sharp gaze struggling to keep track of the weapons. At the end of its spin, it brought down its offhand blade in an upward strike, catching Roderick in the arm. The blow sent him tumbling backwards, his armour clanking as he fell to one knee.
"Rick-rod!" she called, fearing the worst, but the armour must have taken most of the attack, Roderick staggering to his feet a second later. The statue seemed drawn to Roderick, perhaps seeing him as the biggest threat, or maybe it was something about seeing a skeleton with flesh. Either way it was ignoring her, giving her the perfect chance to strike.
As the statue advanced on him, she scuttled in from behind, keeping clear from its line of sight as she approached. It was so tall, its immensity only accentuated by its slow, calculated steps. Fear gripped her, memories of being chased by the gryphon coursing through her mind – she was but a rat before the feet of giants, what could she do?
It took another lunge at Roderick, her mate dodging out of the deadly swipe. She swallowed back her fear - she could not let herself be afraid now. She had a friend to protect, a reputation to uphold. What would be the point of completing her mission if her one true ally died now, on her vigil?
Steeling herself, she darted in, daggers raised high as she approached its right leg. She formed an x in the air as she slashed it across the back of its calf, the corrosive points drawing green lines across its polished limb. She had summoned all the strength she possessed, but even with the help of warp power, her blades bad barely punched through the stone.
While the attack seemed superficial, it had drawn the construct's attention, the statue turning its gaze from Roderick to her, Skyseeker thankful that her goggles were obscuring the panic in her eyes. It bent its long legs, bringing her tiny body into range, holding one of its swords out horizontally and bearing it down on her, giving her barely enough time to react.
She leapt into the air, the statue's arm swiping beneath her feet, Skyseeker reaching into her cloak as she felt the air crack below her. Her paw gripped a pair of warp stars, and she thrust her arm out, landing in a crouch a moment later. The stars glinted in the light as they travelled, lodging themselves into the statue's muscular stomach. Such an attack would have sent most Skaven to their dooms, but the construct didn't even react, seeming to sneer at her with its wicked beak-face.
Keeping to a crouch crouched, the statue charged her, holding its arms wide and crossing the distance between them rapidly. She could feel the mass barrelling towards her, Skyseeker dodging for her life as its blades came at her from above, the statue intending to skewer her on the spot. Her back met the pavement as she rolled aside, the giant swords impaling inches into the ground and showering her in yellow dust.
As the construct yanked its weapons free, Skyseeker pressed the advantage, screeching a war cry as she raised a weeping blade, slicing the statue down the length of its forearm. Perhaps she was mistaken, but she thought she saw its stone hide flex like muscle as she cut it across the wrist. Was this thing truly made from stone, or flesh? Perhaps both?
There was a sudden movement to her left, the hilt of a golden blade coming straight for her. She tried to move aside, but she was too close, and the statue caught her in the stomach. She arched through the air, her lungs emptying of air as she was sent sliding across the courtyard.
She clutched her ribs as she struggled to her feet, a flare of pain pulsing up from beneath her paw. The blow had broken something inside her, but she had little time to worry about that now, the statue walking towards her, its gait stilted, slow. It was always lightning quick when its swords were in range, but came off as slow and sluggish otherwise, the contrast in speeds throwing her off from guessing its next move.
Skyseeker righted herself, her eyes darting to the side. Roderick was charging in, holding his greatsword like it was a lance, one hand clutching the blade tightly. He drove the point of his weapon into the statue's thigh, as it was the only thing he could reach. She expected his attack to glance off, the statue's armour resistant to even her corrosive blades, but instead, the tip of the sword slid into the stone, Roderick voicing a snarl as he thrust with all his strength. It only sank a scant few inches, but that was more than what she had done, and it proved the statue wasn't invulnerable.
"Don't slash, stab!" Roderick exclaimed.
The construct made no sound, but if its skull had eyes, they'd be full of fury as it redirected its attention. It swiped with both its swords, Roderick pulling his greatsword free and ducking away, taking up a defensive stance in the nick of time. The statue didn't morph into another attack, but rather turned on the spot as before, using its own momentum to chain into another cleave from the side.
Roderick countered, slashing the massive swords from below, sending them sailing overhead. The effort must be putting massive strain on his body, but the construct afforded him little chance to dodge. It harried him with furious blows, forcing Roderick onto the defensive, backing him up towards the passage they'd come down from.
Roderick panted beneath his helmet, the statue silent in contrast as it kept him on the retreat, preparing another of its overhead attacks. It tilted its wrists, lowering its swords until the tips glanced the ground. With a pronounced step, it lifted its swords off the floor, raising a curtain of sand and stone with it. The blades emerged through the falling dust, the human stepping clear.
Rather than follow through, the statue pirouetted, coming to an abrupt halt with its back turned to Roderick. It raised its arms above its head, bringing the hilts of its swords together and twisting. There was a loud, locking sound, and suddenly the two weapons became one, the statue holding the double-bladed staff as though it was some sort of holy relic.
With a speed that shouldn't be possible on such a giant creature, the statue whirled on Roderick, thrusting its staff out one-handed. The conjoined blades gave it the range it needed to catch him across his chest, the impact of metal-on-metal echoing through the crevasse, Roderick sent skidding across the ground.
"Rick-rod!" she called out. The statue unlocked its conjoined weapons, bringing its two swords back to its chest, holding them in a cross just like the first time they'd seen it. Yelling out, she charged the statue down, lifting one of her daggers high and placing her other paw on the hilt. She threw all her weight into the strike, aiming for wher she had cut it before. Just as Roderick advised, stabbing proved better than slashing, her blade sinking up to the midpoint into the stoneflesh.
The leg began to rise up, lifting Skyseeker along with it a few inches before she let her dagger go. Before she even touched the ground, the statue's three-toed foot turned, planting hard against her front, kicking her away like an errant pest.
She felt like she'd been struck by a hammer, once again sent flying across the courtyard, her journey coming to a painful halt as her back hit the fountain. Skyseeker tasted copper, spitting out a wad of blood that had formed in her throat, wiping her muzzle as she snarled up at the statue.
Between it legs she saw Roderick was slowly getting to his feet, recovering quickly despite the statue's surprise attack. He had that armour to protect him from the worst of the blow, but all she had was her flimsy cloak.
She was an easy target, sitting there in a daze, but the statue's stilted gait afforded her precious moments to scurry away, Skyseeker leaping into the basin to create distance. The construct severed the fountain top with a swipe, chunks of stone raining down on her head. She scurried out of the bowl, the statue ploughing through the fountain like an enraged ogre, smashing through all that stood in its way.
The air cracked, the sound chased by its own echo, a chip of stone shattering off the statue's elbow. The construct turned, flinching as a second gunshot rang out, ripping into the creature's neck and sending a puff of dust flying.
"Over here you blasphemous abomination!" Roderick shouted, holding his two pistols out.
The statue turned on the human, able to hear his taunt despite its lack of flesh. Slotting his handguns, he flourished his greatsword, the statue possessing enough intellect to see it as a challenge, bringing its attention back to him.
Once more it interlocked its blades, forming a towering staff. With its free hand it reached down for its leg, pulling the weeping blade she'd lodged in it free. There was no blood on it, just a thin layer of dark dust. She felt a pang as the construct formed a fist around the dagger, the sound of crunching metal reaching her ears. It opened its giant hand, letting small shards of green metal fall between its fingers.
It lunged for Roderick, but he was ready for it, dodging out from the path of another long stab. He had the stamina and the strength of a warlord, but she could see he was tiring, and she doubted a being made of stone was limited by energy. If the fight came down to attrition, they would both be dead.
She wanted to rush in and help, but she was now down a dagger, and attacking it head-on again would only add to her growing wounds. She needed to exploits its weaknesses, attack it when it least expected, but what could she do?
Her eyes were drawn to the spot her weeping blade had penetrated its thick hide, creating a small wound. They could only reach its legs at this height, which would only reward superficial wounds at best. If they wanted to hurt this thing, they needed to reach its torso, or the head, but the statue was careful to keep itself upright as it duelled with its tiny, human adversary.
Her gaze flicked to the side, then up. The walls of the crevasse were not smooth, full of gaps and divots, withered away by time and heat. She grinned as a scheme began to formulate, Skyseeker slotting her dagger into its scabbard as she took off in a run.
"Rick-rod!" she exclaimed. "Keep stone-thing busy!"
The construct must have thought she was coming in for an attack, unlocking its staff and swiping a sword at her like a giant meat cleaver. She dropped onto her butt, extending her legs out and sliding over the pavement, right between the statue's long legs. She scuttled back to standing, rushing past a confused Roderick.
"What are you doing?" he called. "Where are you going?"
"Lure stone-thing this way-way!" she said, gesturing with a paw. "Towards wall! Don't worry, there is madness to my methods!"
"Alright!" he replied, his trust in her causing her heart to flutter despite the circumstances. Every movement caused pain to shoot up her spine, but she ignored it, the sounds of the duel subsiding a little as she approached the wall.
She picked the sheer façade on the left as her choice of approach, reaching up to clasp the lip of the lowest sandstone block. She hugged the brickwork like a pup clutching its mother, Skyseeker gritting her teeth as it added pressure to whatever rupture lay in her stomach.
She scaled one layer of blocks, then another, and soon the ground was a harsh fall below her. She didn't need to go all the way to the top, just enough to enact her plan. Ten or so meters should do it.
The heat combined with her prior exertion caused her progress to slow, her heart rate rising as she heard the clanging of crossed swords somewhere beneath her. Each delayed second added to the chances Roderick would slip up, make a mistake.
She was almost too afraid to look, worried that as soon as she peered down, that would be the moment Roderick would perish, but she summoned up the courage to see that he was following her plan, backing up towards the passage, the statue putting more pressure on him.
The construct afforded him no time to recover, always switching from duel-wielding its swords, to joining them in its deadly staff, always keeping the human guessing to where the next attack would come from. Just a little closer, that was all she needed…
She gripped the block with one paw, turning away to watch the pair draw further into the passage. Swords the size of fully grown Skaven sliced though the air, Roderick raising his weapon to block. The curved blades should have cleaved through Roderick's steel, but the Imperial weapon held strong, clanging metal ringing out as they clashed. Roderick tried to hold fast against the blow, but he was fighting the strength of a literal statue, and he cried out as the construct leaned forward, prying his weapon out of his hands through force alone.
The weapon rattled across the ground, the sound drowning out over Roderick's shouts as the statue hit him with an upward slash of its sword. Rather than bounce off his armour, it sliced clean through, starting from below his arm and ending dangerously close to his neck, the metal rending in twain.
She shouted his name, never hearing herself so scared before, her eyes going wide as he stumbled onto his back. The wounds hadn't killed him outright, but they'd obviously pierced flesh. If he'd been any closer…
Unarmed and wounded, Roderick could barely scramble away as the statue advanced, locking its weapons into its staff form once more. It planted its feet to either side of his prone body, raising the staff above its head. She was out of time, she had to act now.
Casting her sense of self-preservation aside, she let go of the wall, using her feet to propel herself into freefall. For a horrible second she thought she wouldn't make it, that Roderick hadn't brought the construct far enough into the passage for her to reach. She was going to splat straight into the pavement next to him!
She gripped her weeping dagger in her paw, trusting that her aim was true. Time seemed to slow as she reached the halfway point of her freefall, Skyseeker watching the statue bring its staff down, the pointed tip aimed at Roderick's chest. It was already in motion; she wasn't going to make it.
Spitting out a curse, she held her paws out, leading with her dagger. She punctured the statue between its shoulders, her momentum slowing to a crawl as she impaled the half-stone, half-flesh up to the hilt. Gravity did the work for her, Skyseeker moving down the statue's flank like she was sliding down a tightrope, the statue freezing up as she carved a channel into its torso.
Her momentum slowed to a halt when reached its waist, Skyseeker planting her feet on its hindquarters. She leveraged her blade free, what appeared to be sand spewing forth from the deep gash, the Skaven leaping free. Hitting the ground caused another shock of pain from her stomach, but that was nothing compared to the reward of her efforts.
The construct seemed confused as to the sudden damage she'd caused, its pensiveness allowing Roderick to scramble clear. It lowered to one knee, propping itself up on one of its swords, the impact forming a webbing crack in the ground.
Its skull tilted, but the statue did not collapse. Instead, its knee slid against the stones, its backward-shaped legs flexing as it made to recover. She had only seconds to act, but that was more than enough for her.
Flipping the blade into a reverse grip, she charged forward, grabbing the hem of its skirt, hoisting herself onto its back. The wound she'd slashed into its flank lay between her feet as she ran across the construct, its sheer size all the more obvious now that she was in contact with it. It felt like she was rushing across one of the rocky overhangs back in Skavenblight, but she soon made it to the thing's shoulders, the skull turning to peer back at her in what may have been confusion.
"How the tables turn!" she cackled, driving the point of her dagger into its head. She didn't have the momentum to match her prior attack, but bone was easier to pierce than stone, and her blade sank wonderfully deep into its cranium. She gave it a pointed twist, pulled her weapon back, then stabbed it in a different place.
The construct craned its neck, lifting its skull to the skies in a silent wail. Its grip on its sword loosened, and its belly hit the ground in a booming crash, Skyseeker still standing tall on its shoulders. Its left arm reached up to claw at her, but she danced out of the way before it could grab her.
Clanking metal drew her eyes up, and she saw Roderick striding over, weapon back in his hand. Blood dripped down his cuirass, but he had the strength to raise his sword over his shoulder. With a grunt, he smashed the statue across its muzzle, a visible crack forming down the bridge of its wide nose. The construct sagged, its head having trouble deciding which of them it should peer toward.
Roderick raised his weapon again, Skyseeker following suit with her dagger. Again and again, they drove their weapons into the construct's head, the stubborn creature refusing to die even as pieces of its skull were flung aside. Like warlords beating down troublesome clanrats, they hacked the construct apart, both of them seeing red.
The statue raised a trembling hand, groping for one of its discarded swords, but Roderick placed an armoured heel on its wrist. Uttering a warcry for Sigmar, he held his weapon by the blade, driving the point towards its eye socket. The plates of bone caved under the blow, the creature flailing against the ground.
At last, the statue's movements began to slow, its giant limbs settling. If a creature that was formerly a statue could die, then that was what Skyseeker was witnessing, its massive body going limp beneath her feet.
"I told you to… to lure thing!" Skyseeker said, her breathing hitching with every word spoken. "Didn't lure it far enough! Almost didn't make that leap..."
"And I told you… this was too easy," Roderick replied, and then he fell to his knees, his sword clanging as he dropped it. Jumping from the felled statue, she rushed to his side, her concern overruling her annoyance.
"Rick-rod!" she breathed. "You bleed! Remove stupid armour! Quick-Hurry!"
She helped him undo the clasps securing his cuirass, Skyseeker holding it by the neck and prying it off. A pungent scent of blood hit her in the face, along with a sight that made her grimace. The inlining of the armour was coated red, two slashes across his chest drawing her gaze. Once his tunic was removed, exposing his bare skin, she saw there was also a nasty bruise on his flank, swelling into a lump, and when he pried off his stifling helmet, there was a tickle of blood leaking from his nose.
"Rick-rod…" she said again, softer this time. He looked a mess, her heart racing when he moved an arm, but a lance of pain forced him to stay still.
"Fetch me a roll of bandages, would you?" he asked, nodding to his pack. "I think my shoulder is broken…."
She scurried to his flank, flipping open the leather flap and diving a paw inside. Rations, bullets, a waterskin… where were they? She was aware of every second wasted as she rummaged for the bandages, but eventually she found them, moving back to this front with a roll in hand.
She took one end and began to wound them around his torso, Roderick yelping in pain as she worked. He was hurt all over, no matter where she touched him she was causing him tremendous pain, but she had to stem the bleeding.
"Are you alright, lass?" he asked her. "That… thing… hit you pretty hard back there."
"Hurts to breathe, but don't worry about Skaven," she replied, walking another circle around him to make sure the bandages stayed tight.
"Probably a broken rib," he continued. "Anything else?"
"I said don't worry!" she snarled. "Skaven heal very quick-fast, not issue. Man-things do that too… right? Y-You will be good-fine?"
"I-I don't know. It all hurts. Help me remove these gauntlets," he grumbled.
The metal was crumpled in places, bent out of shape thanks to the forceful blows of the statue. Although it had saved him from death, the injuries he'd sustained were immense, Roderick barely able to move his right arm for some reason.
"Dislocated," he explained after she quizzed him. "I'm going to have to pop it back in."
"Know how to do that?" she asked.
"I've done it to others in the past," he replied, the uncertainty in his voice not doing wonders for her confidence.
Using his other arm, he reached over to the problem shoulder, his movements tentative. She wanted to help, but he knew more about man-thing anatomy than she did, and all she could do was stand back and wring her paws. He bit down on a leather belt from his gauntlet as he raised his limb, applying pressure on his shoulder from behind. There was an audible snap as something inside him rolled into place, Roderick growling through bared teeth as pain rocked him.
When he was done, he was just able to brace his wounded arm against his chest, Roderick wincing as he spat out the belt. From the waist up all his armour was discarded, laying in a heap nearby. He was still in a state, but at least he wasn't in risk of bleeding out.
"I… I think you'll have to go get your relic without me," he wheezed. "By the Gods, everything hurts…"
"Shut up," she muttered. "man-thing will heal," she added, the notion directed towards herself as much as it was to him.
"We can't tarry," he insisted. "I'll wait here for you, lass, just-"
"Skaven not come all this way just to leave Rick-rod behind, so just shut mouth!" she snapped.
He could see her mind was set, taking a moment to calm his breathing. Skyseeker peered over the courtyard, wondering how long that statue had stood guard, and if there were any others nearby…
"Should we go back to oasis?" she suggested. "Give Rick-rod time to rest?"
"No. No, the pyramid is right there, I can make it that far," Roderick said. "Help me up."
Skyseeker ducked underneath his better arm once she helped him to his feet, the human donning his tunic he wore beneath his armour, wincing as he raised his arms into the sleeves.
"You have my thanks, by the way," Roderick murmured. "That plan of yours saved my skin. If you hadn't thought of it…"
"I'm always scheming," she replied with a toothy grin. "Don't sell yourself short. Man-thing fought like a warlord," she added, wanting to return the compliment. "Even marvellous Lord Gnawdwell would have trouble holding own against… whatever that thing was."
"I hope it will stay dead," Roderick grumbled, glancing at the fallen statue. "If dead is the right word."
"Should have brought cannon and balls to make sure."
Her comment got a laugh out of Roderick, the human leaning down to embrace her, Skyseeker wrapping her arms around his stomach, careful not to apply too much pressure.
"We're so close," he said, releasing her. Skyseeker straightened her cloak as she returned to supporting him, keeping her tail coiled around his leg just in case he lost his balance. "Let's keep moving, I wish to finally see this relic with my own eyes."
She shared the sentiment, reminding herself that although the fight was over, her mission was not. After retrieving his sword, they skirted the fallen statue, Skyseeker sparing it one last glance before they pushed ahead. Roderick's legs were spared the worst of his injuries, so walking him along wasn't too much of a struggle.
They left the courtyard behind, delving into next passage beyond, the walls lined with more pedestals mounted with decorative urns and monuments. There were more statues, but her racing heart calmed when she noted they weren't the alive kind, their weather-beaten figures extruding from the walls themselves.
The crevasse sloped lower into the earth, the air taking on a chill as the sun lowered behind the pyramid's peak. The passage terminated in a dark archway, built into the base of the pyramid's sloped flank, held aloft by a pair of ornate pillars.
They paused before the arch, peering into the darkness within. It was pitch black inside, the narrow hallway leading into the heart of the pyramid.
"A moment," Roderick said, reaching for his pack. He produced a lantern, flicking a little switch on the side, a yellow light flicking on inside the glass casing. Of course, he possessed no goggles or warpsight like she did, his kind couldn't see well in the dark. "Let's go."
An eerie silence hung over them as they stepped inside, the walls narrowing until they could barely walk side by side. The lantern's aura cut through the gloom, reflecting off walls that may not have seen light since the pyramid's construction, each step of her feet and clank of his armour echoing three or four times around them.
Her sense of distance became distorted in the darkness, what might have been ten minutes of walking passing them by. She could no longer see the outside light when she turned to look back the way they'd come, her fur crawling as she considered if some hidden mechanism hadn't tripped and sealed them inside.
Just when she was starting to think the passage would never end, it did. The wall opened up into a circular chamber, too vast for the light of the lantern to illuminate it all, but with the help of her goggles, she was able to get a better look at its scope. It was about twenty meters deep, the walls culminating into curves rather than sharp points, a bit like a giant dome of sandstone. In the centre of the room was a platform, ringed by a step that raised it slightly off the ground. Sitting on the platform was a rectangular foundation, the edges trimmed with golden reliefs, the face on the near side covered in runes.
Something was laying on top of it, and as they approached the step, the lantern's light allowed them to see it. It was a stave, the haft made from what appeared to be a pole of solid gold, covered over in contrasting black wrappings. One end terminated into a small block of stone, carved into the shape of a pair of skulls not too dissimilar from that horrible statue she'd bested.
"The relic!" Skyseeker breathed, her warpsight rife with magical energy. The object of her mission, right there in front of her. She could hardly believe it.
"Why just… leave it out in the open?" Roderick asked, glancing around the chamber. "Are there no guardians? Or traps of any kind?"
"Stop jinxing!" Skyseeker chided. "Not want to fight another stone-thing again…"
They circled the platform, but they could see no pressure plates, no tripwires, or any discernible features that would hint at any defences in place. There was only one other thing worth noting. A throne stood on the far side of the relic, and slumped upon it was the shape of a figure, its body clad in a flowing, gilded robe not unlike what the construct had been wearing. This place was full of statues, though why the builders would carve one here, she had no clue.
Deeming it safe, Skyseeker and Roderick stepped onto the platform, her gaze locked on the relic. It really was just sitting there, ready to be plucked by her paws.
"My guardians have failed."
She almost dropped Roderick in alarm when there was movement in the corner of her eye. The figure in the throne was moving. As the lantern's light washed over it, she noticed its hands and feet were actually made from skin, far more sunken than should be possible. Its flesh was literally clinging to it in scraps, exposing pale bone at the wrists, but despite that, the figure rose to its feet, so tall that it towered over the both of them despite the platform being raised off the ground.
She took a step back, Roderick following suit as it opened its eyes with two fleshy clicks. Its features were the colour of rot, the skin on its cheeks flaky, parts of it peeled away to expose red patches. It had no ears – those had withered away with time – instead possessing two dark holes on the sides of its head. It didn't have a nose either, just an upraised cleft with two vertical slits, and below that was its jaw, one half of it shaved away to expose its teeth. She wasn't sure whether she was looking at a face or a skull.
Standing out against its decayed features were its eyes, glowing an icy shade of blue, made all the more prominent in the surrounding shadows. They seemed to flicker every now and then, like warp fire dying in a forge, those blue points fixing on the pair of interlopers.
"The pyramid has been breached," it mused. Its voice was like dust, course and strained, yet there was an underlying power to it that made her fur crawl. "And by pitiful vermin no less. Pests such as thee do not suffer the sands for long."
"That's no way to talk to the lady," Roderick replied, but the creature wasn't looking at her, its cold eyes were pointed solely on him. First the statue, now this pestilent creature, everything in this city seemed to ignore her and focus on Roderick! Did nobody here recognise Skaven significance?
"D-Do we have to kill-fight you too?" she asked, trembling when the creature shifted its gaze to her. Roderick may have been acquitted to the undead, but seeing what should be a corpse moving and speaking had shaken her. This was just like how Skretch was described, all horribly mutilated, cursed to unlife.
"It would seem so," Roderick said, clasping his greatsword in both hands. Even with his battered arm, he was taking up a stance, Skyseeker sucking down her fear as she followed suit. Before they could act, however, the undead creature raised a leathery hand, the last two of its fingers missing their flesh entirely.
"Stay your weapons," it commanded in a booming voice. "I would not exchange blows, but words with thee."
"You wish to talk?" Roderick asked, lowering his sword a little.
"What are you called?" it demanded, the way its dusty voice echoed making it sound like there were two of them speaking. "The peace in this temple has reigned absolute, I would know of the ones who would break it."
Skyseeker shared a glance with Roderick, shrugging up at the human. If this thing wanted to have pleasantries before doing battle, that was all the better for her nerves.
"My name is Roderick Erdmann of Altdorf," her friend began. "Son of Hedmar and Agatha Erdmann. Sigmar's Heir and – former – Imperial General."
"Barbarian," the guttural creature scoffed. "You have come far from your discordant lands. How arrogant the flesh are, to dare call their fractured lands an Empire."
Roderick narrowed his eyes, the creature turning its gaze on Skyseeker, giving her an expectant moment to begin. She swallowed, mustering up all her bravery as she addressed the zombie.
"I am Sk- Wait! Let me start again!" she quickly added, placing a paw on her chest. "Ahem. I am Zral Skyseeker of Skavenblight. Son – I-I mean daughter – of… parentrat and Queek Headtaker. Possibly. Maybe. The sneakiest assassin of all Clan Mors, and Gnawdwell's champion, yes-yes. Also a clawcpatain – temporarily, hehe..."
"Your name is Zral?" Roderick asked, Skyseeker nodding. "You never mentioned it.
"Man-thing never asked!" she replied, but the truth was she'd forgotten it. Zral was one of the few things her parentrat had said to her right before saving her from the ratwives. It had only come to mind after she told Roderick of her mother.
"A snivelling rat, calling itself otherwise," the undead creature interrupted. "Does your stagnant kind still gnaw on the bones of the dead? Hoping to consume ambition, rather than learn it yourselves?"
"Bones as barren as wasteland," she explained. "not much nutritional value."
The creature scrutinised her, giving her the impression she had not answered his question correctly. Shrugging, she turned to present matters, gesturing at the zombie with her weeping blade.
"Look, dead-thing, we've come for-"
"I know why you are here," it said, cutting her off. "All intruders share the same goal as thee."
It walked up to the platform, Skyseeker noting the bones on some of its toes were visible. Despite its size and decrepit appearance, its movements were oddly swift, like it was hovering just above the ground rather than walking across it, its flowing robe trailing along behind it.
It paused behind the pedestal, raising a disfigured hand. "The Stave of Ankhili, an obsession of the living and dead alike."
"Ankhili?" Roderick asked. "What does that mean?"
"All things within Nehekhara serve their creators. The Stave is one of many of Ankhili's constructs, sealed within these walls until called upon."
"Sealed?" Roderick echoed. "It's just lying there."
"Its power was required," it replied, sneering at him as though his comment had offended it. "The orc raids had become a nuisance, and the Stave's seals were broken. Its power was meant to thwart, yet it only served to encourage their assaults."
"The relic didn't work?" Roderick asked.
"It served its function, but the Gods had other plans. The unbinding ritual summoned a tremendous amount of energy, and we were exploited. An echo was projected through the Warp, one felt among all the known World."
"That must be what made Council have vision, and started my mission!" Skyseeker exclaimed, driving a fist into her paw. "Echo-thing was felt by Grey Seers!"
"Plus Wilfred and the College of Mages." Roderick added. "And whoever else with a keen sense of magic, such as the orcs. How'd this 'echo' happen?" he added, turning back to the creature. "You said you were exploited? By who?"
"Perhaps it was Tzeentch," it replied. "manipulating the unbinding from the shadows. Or it was Khorne, his influence grows on bloodshed, he would have reason to revel in the slaughter as invaders carried our walls. It could have been some lesser deity of the Aethyr, who sees our peril as nothing more than a show of amusement. Who are we to fathom the reasonings of Gods of Chaos?
"Horned Rat did it," Skyseeker tittered. "Sounds like thing He would do."
"It matters not," the creature continued. "You've fought through my massacred city, and now thee is ready to claim the Tomb King's spoils."
"Those statues are your guardians?" Roderick mused.
"As Ankhili's Keeper, it is my sworn oath to the Kings to guard this pyramid from the living. My Ushabti are an extension of-"
"Blah blah blah, you letting us have relic-thing or not?" Skyseeker interrupted. "you talk a lot for a thing that should be DEAD."
The creature, or Keeper as it called itself, scowled at her before straightening its shoulders. "Naïve child," it muttered. "Do what you will."
"So… we can take relic?" she pressed, glancing at the stave.
"My oath confines me to this room," the Keeper continued. "Only to be fulfilled on my King's word, or my failure to preserve its contents. I have no means of which to stop you from absconding with my charge."
"Uh, what?" Skyseeker asked. "Not answer question."
"I see what you're implying," Roderick mused. "You want us to take it, which will in turn free you from this oath?"
"Free?" the Keeper huffed. It was the first time she'd heard the thing speak in a tone that wasn't borderline comatose. "The cursed dead are never free, Barbarian. My failure will result in my bones turning to dust. A dust that will be forgotten, but not forever. One day I will serve again, under a new King, in a new dynasty, perhaps."
"So… you won't fight us?" Skyseeker asked.
"My oath binds me to protect the Stave, which I have fulfilled, with my constructs still roaming the streets above. A fact thee can attest to, it seems."
"And… that means you won't fight us? Correct?" she pressed. She couldn't be sure of its intentions until she had a definitive answer.
The Keeper sighed, a sound like that of a dying Skaven taking its final breath.
"No," it said, seemingly done with its roundabout way of talking.
"Splendid!" she said, clapping her paws. "Now, if THEE could just get out of THEE way, we can take THEE relic off your paws."
The Keeper gestured to the Stave, but did not touch it. It seemed she and Roderick would have to take it themselves.
"I'd doubt your intentions, Tomb King," Roderick began. "but, your Ushabti already tried to stop us before. Just know that I'll release you from your oath prematurely if you try anything."
The Keeper said nothing, giving them one last piercing stare with its blue eyes before turning around, returning to its throne, leaving just her and Roderick on the platform. They watched it sit down, then Roderick turned to face her.
"Well then. Moment of truth, eh lass?" he asked. "We're finally here."
"Indeed," she replied, wringing her paws together. As easy as it would be to reach out and seize the Stave, they both stayed rooted to the spot, not quite meeting each other's eyes as they waited in tense silence.
She knew this moment would come ever since he'd admitted his mission mirrored her own, yet for all the time she'd had to plan it out, she wasn't sure what to do. They'd come so far together, and now they stood on the proverbial precipice, her heart and her brain in conflict over her next move.
The silence persevered for only a few fleeting moments, but to Skyseeker they seemed to dwell in the crypt for an age, until she sensed a shift in Roderick's demeanour, the human looking down at her. Perhaps he too was having an internal debate, one that he seemed to conclude after a moment, opening his mouth to speak.
"Well what are you waiting for?" he asked. "Take it."
"W… What-What?" she stammered. "How you mean?"
"It's yours," he added, gesturing to the Stave. "You've earned it. Go complete your mission."
She tried to speak, but a string of random noises was all she could manage. She wiped a paw down from between her eyes to her nose, trying to compose herself.
"B-But Rick-rod! Thought YOU wanted relic-thing?"
"I did, and a part of me still does," he admitted, looking to said object. "But, just like Wilfred told me, perhaps it's about time I started thinking about someone else's needs, rather than my own. Besides," he added, placing a hand on her shoulder. "you've come too far to walk away empty handed."
"Not as far as Rick-rod has," she pointed out. "What about man-things exile? Thought you needed relic to clear name-name?"
Roderick hesitated, but his resolve quickly returned.
"And deny your freedom in the process? I'd rather live the life of an exile, than one with a guilty conscience," he replied. "Why do you argue with me, lass? You've spoken of little more than the relic since the day we met – don't get cold feet now. Go on."
The relic drew her eyes, its glory no doubt reflecting in the lenses of her goggles as she stared. This was not what she thought would happen. She expected turmoil, she expected their alliance to break under the weight of their shared mission, but instead he was giving her permission? How was he always undermining her? It was so frustrating, but so exciting at the same time. No one ever outsmarted her, nobody.
Gnawdwell's mission, Clan Mors' future, her place within Skavendom. So many layers within layers were battling inside her. Yet, there was one thing that stood out among the others, one that held far more value to her than all others. She couldn't believe it, but she'd come to care for the man-thing during their time together. Not just for the breeding – though that certainly played a major factor – but her feelings for him were undeniable.
Taking him up on his offer now would doom him. His Empire would shun him, as would Wilfred, and it was all for her sake. Such heights of consideration were unreachable to her… or were they?
"No," she mumbled, a new scheme coming to fruition. There was still a way out of this that saw them both win (her a little more so), and her boundless intelligence had thought of one. "No!" she said, louder this time. "Relic is for you, Rick-rod!"
He flashed her a concerned look. "Lass," he sighed. "You've said some… fairly unhinged things before, but perhaps that statue rid you of a few marbles? This is what you've always wanted!"
"You're all I've wanted, Rick-rod," she snapped. "All Skaven's life has been spent looking over shoulder, casting suspicion, being target of death-schemes. Rick-rod is first thing ever to treat otherwise! Journey-mission has been only time I've let guard down around other thing. Can't go back to life without that, without you!"
"But what about your mother?" he pressed. "You told me that with this Stave, you planned to free her."
"Not logical!" she replied. "One Skaven not enough to raid breeding pits, even with relic. Most guard-protected place in all Skavenblight! Only told man-thing that to dissuade it from Stave."
"You… mean you were lying when you said that?" he asked.
"No-No! This was before Rick-rod's riddle, before things changed between us-us! Thought you were planning betrayal, take Fredwil's side! Skaven has always wanted to save Broodmother!"
"Then why can't you now?" he asked. He didn't seem angry at her, but his voice was firm, his eyes narrowed.
"You not understand, you not seen breeding pits. You think Tilea invasion had lots of rats? Think again! Vermintides within under-empire uncountable, and Broodmothers are the heart of all under-empire. Nothing touches them. Parentrat cannot be free, but mother made sure I could be. Will not squander chance by going back!"
He rubbed his temple, considering her words.
"And what about your Lord?" he asked. "If you returned to him empty-handed, I doubt he would grant you your freedom."
"Rick-rod, is like you said before, Skaven is free," she said. "Gnawdwell cannot touch Skaven from so far, and I don't need Lord's protection or permission anyway-way. Since leaving Skavenblight I've gained more allies than I can count on paws. You, Fredwil, Kessel-man, all man-things on wolfship. Empire will see me as friend if I gift relic to Rick-rod!"
"If this is about repaying me again, banish the thought," he replied. "I didn't do everything up to this point expecting to whisk the relic from you in the end. You're the closest friend I've had in what's felt like an age, lass. You deserve to succeed."
"Success means nothing if Rick-rod has to fail," she said, intentionally mirroring his own words. "I can't have relic. If that were so, Skaven would have to go back to Skavenblight without you… and thinking about that hurts chest. Don't know what the man-thing word is, but becoming right-paw assassin would be… lonely without you. Man-thing part of my life, can't go back to before. Just can't."
He fell silent, as did she. She was all too aware of the Keeper watching them from his throne, but he didn't show any sign of impatience. How could he, sitting in this darkness for however long up to this point?
"I think I know what word you're looking for," Roderick began, lowering to a kneeling position. "When humans can't go on without someone, that means they're in love with them."
"Then put me inside this love," she insisted. "because I need you, Rick-rod! Forever-ever! If relic is price for that, then I accept deal-bargain!"
"Perhaps… we should decide on this later?" Roderick suggested. "Sleep on it?"
"Time for delays has passed! We decide this now-now."
"It won't be a simple matter, you know," he sighed. He was starting to come round to her way of thinking, that was good. "If you wish to stay with me, and return to the Empire, I don't think I have to tell you how dangerous it's going to be. Wilfred and I will watch over you, that goes without saying, but every other human will be out for your blood. You'll have to be constantly on your guard, ever vigilant, not just from the common folk, but witchhunters, sorcerers, even magicians like Wilfred who aren't so forthcoming. Walking about freely will be a rare commodity for you, there'll be no one else you can trust."
"Brilliant!" she exclaimed, Roderick quirking a brow at her. "New enemies to track, plus new schemes to craft? Check and mate! Can I have place for burrow? Not like sunlight very much, plus need private place to make plans."
"You can have whatever you want, lass." He paused for a moment, scratching the stubble on his chin. "Perhaps with my rank restored, I could afford to buy you a nice plot of land for you to dig your own little under-empire. Would help keep you out of sight. That sound reasonable?"
Skyseeker shrieked in excitement, looping her arms around his neck and leaping into his embrace, Roderick reaching out to catch her.
"Easy, easy!" he said. "Watch the arm!"
"Sorry!" she said, pulling away a little. "Of course is reasonable! As long as man-thing visits!"
"Trust me, I'll never leave your side. You're certain on this course of action?" he asked. "There was a time not long ago you spoke very highly of your victory. You really want to throw it all away for… me?"
There was nothing left for her to say, so she nodded, a look of determination on her face.
"Very well," he relented. "I shall claim the relic, in Sigmar's name."
He got to his feet, passing her his greatsword, Skyseeker struggling to hold the giant weapon aloft. He turned to the Stave, making his way over to its podium, one arm bundled against his chest. In the inky shadows beyond, the Keeper regarded him with its cold eyes, not uttering any advice or words of caution.
Roderick paused before the relic, his last footstep echoing off the walls, reaching out with his good arm. As his fingers inched towards the haft, the words Wilfred spoke to her on her first night aboard the wolfship echoed through her thoughts.
While the Conclave has theorised it can influence people's intents, its mind-control properties may go both ways. Do you truly believe your Lord will be able to use it, or will it perhaps use him as soon as he lays a finger on it? Will it control you, if you were to touch it?
"W-Wait, Rick-rod...!"
Too late, his fingers had curled around the leather wrapping, Roderick lifting the Stave off the slab. It seemed to weigh more than it looked, Roderick grimacing as he held it out in front of him, peering at the two skulls that topped the weapon. She felt the air grow thick with energy, the tendrils of magic visible in her warpsight redirecting to the relic's new wielder.
She rushed forward, but the air was so heavy it was like she was wading through molasses, her progress frustratingly slow. She moved around his side, noting his eyes were clamped shut, his arm trembling.
She called out to him, even her voice sounding distorted to her own ears. She glanced to the Keeper, brandishing her weeping blade, expecting a fight, but the creature was still content to sit on its throne, gaze solely fixed on Roderick.
Her eyes shifted, first to the Stave, then to her dagger. Roderick wasn't answering her, and the Stave was obviously responsible. What else could it do if she didn't act right this instant?
She raised her weapon, but Roderick's eyes blazed open at the next instant, fixing themselves upon her.
"No!" he yelled, and a strange sensation washed over her, one that compelled her to do as commanded. Her paw fell to her side, sliding the blade back into her belt before she even had time to realise what she was doing.
That thick, soupy feeling in the air began to subside, Roderick gasping as though he hadn't taken a breath in minutes. She couldn't be certain in the dim light of the lantern, but Roderick's face had taken on a slightly withered appearance, a few strands of his brown hair losing their colouration.
"Rick-rod?" she whispered, taking him by the arm. There were goosebumps all along his skin. "You alright-right? What happened?"
"I felt a… rush," he replied, turning the stave over in his hand. "as though all the power in the world was mine for one fleeting moment. Everything is… tingly…"
"You better not be mind-controlled," she grumbled.
"No, I am well," he replied, giving her one of those little grins of his. "It tried to compel me, though," he continued. "I heard a whisper. It told me that… all will bend, or fall before me. Staring with you," he added, a solemn look on his face.
"You nearly did," she murmured. "Actually that's not true. Man-thing made Skaven sheath dagger."
"My apologies," he replied. "I-I didn't mean to do that, lass. It just…"
"Skaven is fine," she insisted. "So how is relic? Good as the tales tell?" she added, trying to lighten the mood.
"I… don't like it," he murmured. "It reeks of Chaos, and I don't think touching it is the best course of action."
"It is done," a gravelly voice breathed, the pair turning to the Keeper. "Leave this place, the remaining Ushabti will be drawn to my resting place in time."
"… Hey, Rick-rod, question," Skyseeker began. "Can you use relic-thing on dead-thing?"
"No," the Keeper answered, a touch of annoyance in its dusty tone.
"Why not?" she asked. "Pass it here Rick-rod let me have a go."
"I think we've tarried long enough," Roderick replied. "It's over. Let's leave this place, I feel like I've not seen the sun in hours."
They turned to the stone passageway they'd entered from, passing through the threshold and out into the confined entryway beyond. She stole a look back at the Keeper, noting its arms were reclined against the armrests of the throne, the blue light from its eyes slowly going out. It hadn't been lying about its oath releasing it from this world.
Hoping to never see another creature of its ilk again, she turned her back on it, she and Roderick leaving the chamber behind for good.
-xXx-
Skyseeker helped Roderick lay down among the grass, placing his greatsword down nearby. They'd walked out of the crevasse and back into the city proper, returning to the oasis, as it was the more hospitable option as opposed to the empty temples.
"Rick-rod sure you feeling fine?" she asked, taking a seat beside him, dipping her feet into the cool water of the pond. "Stumbled a few times back there."
"That fight with the statue has caught up with me is all," he answered, laying his head on the ground and staring at the sky. "It's done," he added. "Our mission is over. I feel as though I could sleep for a day straight."
"We've earned at least THREE days of nap time," she said, laying down with him. She draped an arm over his chest in a silent request to cuddle, Roderick obliging without pause. "How's… How does being relic-thing owner feel?"
"I feel its weight upon my shoulders," Roderick replied. The Stave was clutched in his opposite hand, his grip on it tightening after a second. "I've resisted the corrupted call of Chaos before, but this feels wholly different. No more whispers, though, fortunately."
"Maybe whisper saw Rick-rod's faith in mar-sig and scurried away," she suggested, Roderick grinning at her.
"It's Sigmar," he chuckled. "How do you always manage to reverse everyone's name?"
She shrugged, settling in on the soft grass.
"Would you like to hold it, lass?"
She cocked her head at him. He had not let go of the relic since claiming it back in the temple, and now he was offering it to her? She sat up, looking the Stave over, the way it gleamed in the light only adding to its allure. She reached out a paw, but before she could touch it, something made her hesitate. Her people were a fickle one, and her obsession of the relic wasn't entirely gone just yet. She doubted she would ever be able to let the Stave go once she touched it.
"No," she answered, resting her paw on his stomach. "Not my prize any more."
Roderick looked like he wanted to argue, but she shook her head.
"My mission is complete," she continued after a few moments, watching a cloud drift by. "Skaven has recovered relic – just as masterminded Gnawdwell asked, but maybe not in way he intended," she giggled. "Won't be glad-happy once he knows of my betrayal."
"You don't sound very concerned."
"That's because my mate is Rick-rod, Controller of Minds! With you in my possession, and a ship of man-thing allies as backup, nothing can stop me! I am now a free rat!"
"Funny of you to think you're the one in control of this relationship," he said, smirking at her. "You do realise I have the literal power to bend wills with this staff."
"That power is mine-mine too," she replied coyly. "Allow me to… demonstration."
She swung a leg over his knees, loosening his belt with practiced speed. Roderick immediately set the Stave aside, running his hands up her furry thighs, shifting beneath her into a more comfortable position.
"See?" she chuckled, batting her tail against his leg. "You can't resist Skaven wiles."
"Apparently not," he replied. Placing a hand on the small of her back, he bent her forward, snatching the tip of her muzzle with his lips, joining with her in a gentle kiss. She'd been concerned about his shift in demeanour after he'd claimed the Stave, but all those worries were soothed by his warm embrace.
She believed in his willpower, his strength absolute. He would resist whatever force lurked within the relic, perhaps even learn to control if given time.
Could he dominate the will of all their enemies one day? Raise an army, found an Empire of his own, perhaps? She reigned in her ambitions. Small steps first, worry about the big changes later, and changes there would be, for her life was about to take a steep curve.
"You think we have time for a breed or two?" she asked once they'd parted. "Will Kessel-man wait for us?"
"Wilfred will keep him there as long as he wishes," Roderick replied. "He knows our trek across the desert will be long, so I think we can afford to spend a little while just… relaxing."
"Among other things," she cooed, reaching down to pull her loincloth to the side, her movements slow, but deliberate, Roderick's eyes falling to her nethers. "I'm so glad I did not kill-stab you during fight-tussle, Rick-rod."
"Love you too, Zral."
-The End-
Thank you so much for reaching the end of Warp Token. If you liked it or hated it, chuck me a review I read all the comments on here. And thank you to my patrons for voting on a warhammer fic, it was a lot of fun making a skaven oc. If you want to support me, or read my other works that aren't available on fanfic (cough cough, AVP) then visit my website for all the links: scbmstories dot com.