- The others will be here soon, the magister murmured.
- I shall welcome them, declared Provost Tomas.
As Tomas moved off towards the entrance of the building, Steiner became impatient.
- What others? I trust you, Steadyhand, but I'd like you to explain to me what all of this means?
- I will, your Majesty. Until now, for your safety and your family's, I truly have kept a lot of this intrigue under wraps. But now that the Purple Hand has been defeated, I can finally give you all the explanations you so rightly demand.
Brisingr Steadyhand, Ludwig Steiner and his daughter entered a small cabinet where seats were arranged around a small table on which cups and a teapot were waiting. Once they were seated, the Elf served tea to each of them, and told his story:
"About ten years ago, I was a mage affiliated to the College of Bright Magic in Altdorf. My studies were punctuated by some rather unlikely encounters. To earn a little money, I agreed to do some work that would be described as "mercenary work". For example, I practiced Orc hunt sometimes. It was on one of these outings that I met some other unusual individuals. One of them was Captain Hallbjörn Ludviksson, whom you know well – he was just a private back then – and Yavandir Palebough."
"During this period, I found myself unwillingly involved in an affair linked to Khorne, the God of Blood and Destruction. The Red Skull, a Chaos cult linked to this God, wanted to bring back Xathrodox, a former Champion of Khorne who had become a Demon. To bring him back to our world, the cult needed several artefacts – we learned all about them when we incidentally found the first one in Middenheim. It was a Brass Skull, and we learned that two other objects were linked to this Demon. There was the Dagger of Yul K'chaum and the Chalice of Wrath. We travelled across the Empire to find these two relics, and soon realised we were obviously not the only ones looking for them."
"The Red Skull, of course, coveted these objects, but the Purple Hand entered the dance. This branch was headed by a woman called Katarine Braun, a wealthy, idle heiress. She was a Tzeentch sorceress, and she needed some foolish people to help her find Khorne's artefacts so that she could destroy them, and thus damage Khorne's influence."
Heike smiled wryly.
- Typical of the Chaos Gods, they prefer to fight each other through their worshippers rather than stay united and more powerful together.
- I won't disagree you there, little mouse. Let them carry on, it'll down the number of corrupted fanatics.
"And so, Katarine spotted us, she anticipated our movements. The Dagger of Yul K'chaum was hidden in Altdorf, according to our investigations. Katarine faked her own kidnapping so that we could "rescue" her, to create a bond of trust with her. She helped us get our hands on the dagger, then she financed our journey to Nuln, where the last artefact, the Chalice of Wrath, was located. She pretended to fall in love with Yavandir, but in reality she used him."
"We knew nothing of her perverse little game and her manoeuvres, our group having had to split up to avoid attracting too much attention from the Sigmarite repurgators, she had gone off alone with Yavandir. Then, in Nuln, we prevented the Demon of Khorne from being summoned, but at the cost of many lives. By the way, little mouse, in Altdorf I lost my own master, who had also sold his soul to Tzeentch. It was him or me, and I'm not sorry I killed him."
"When we neutralised the Chalice of Wrath, it caused a powerful backlash of magic, which created a small tear in the fabric of reality. Me, Ludviksson, and other companions in misfortune were sucked up and imprisoned in another plane of existence, probably one of the regions inhabited by the Dark Gods. Yavandir wasn't with us. Normally, we should have found him before going to where the last artefact of Khorne was, but he never turned up. In fact, Katarine Braun had installed him in her Nuln residence, and they were apparently in perfect love. I suppose he was her prisoner? We didn't realise it at the time, and we took care of the Chalice without waiting for him."
"This backlash of magic had ravaged much of the area where the artefact had been hidden. The next day, our showman friend was found wandering the streets of Nuln, looking dazed, unable to speak a word, completely naked, his body covered in lacerations. The authorities have locked him up in an asylum."
Prince Ludwig the First reminded:
- It's true, at the time I was warned by one of my contacts. I gave the manager of the hospice enough money to persuade him to hand Yavandir over to me, and I took him home.
Heike remembered in turn. The year before her first meeting with Psody, the artist had lived for some time at the merchant's estate in Altdorf. She herself had already learnt to speak, and had done everything she could to comfort the elf, whom she had seen to be unsettled. She had trusted him because she already knew him, having met him at the same time as Brisingr. And yet, she had felt a little strange feeling, as if something had been whispering in the depths of her heart that Yavandir had been hiding a dark side ever since that trauma. This feeling had never entirely left her since.
- What happened to Master Palebough to make him lose his sanity so badly?
- You'll soon find out. But I must get back to what happened to us against Chaos. The trouble was just beginning.
"During our brief stay in the Demonic plane of existence, we met our real enemy, the master of Katarine Braun. He was a particularly powerful Tzeentch sorcerer, who had spent years devising a complex plan to harm Khorne. From the beginning, he had multiplied the clues, the manoeuvres, and the protagonists, to encourage us to find the artefacts and destroy them. We had been his instruments, as were Katarine and my own master. Even if we have hindered the influence of one Chaos God, we have done a service to another. I must confess, little mouse, the thought still sends shivers down my spine every time I think about it. And Tzeentch was so pleased that he offered this sorcerer the supreme reward by turning him into a Daemon Prince in front of us."
"This new Daemon Prince thanked us well. He told us all about his plan, from the beginning to the end, right down to the involvement of Katarine Braun and my teacher. Then he offered to make us his servants, so that we could gain some of his power. Of course, Ludviksson refused; you know the feelings Norse feed about Chaos; when they're not part of it, they fight it relentlessly. Fortunately, and he was proved right, he didn't try anything stupid. I also declined the offer, because despite appearances, you never win anything by allying yourself with the Dark Gods. Sooner or later, they always end up making you pay beyond your means. There was a Dwarf Slayer with us, Kilvitt Fimliksson. He gave his answer by attacking the Daemon Prince. The poor bugger didn't survive for more than a few seconds."
"We faced a true personification of villainy. But while we were in the Realms of Chaos, Yavandir Palebough suffered a definite martyrdom of his own. His reason was shattered because of he suffered. He too was confronted by Tzeentch. That day, something happened to him that changed him completely, for the worse."
The young Skaven woman then detected a clear crack in Brisingr's voice. For a moment, she thought she fully perceived the gravity of the horror that the magician and his companions had experienced that day, and by extension what Yavandir had undoubtedly endured. The Prince's voice reached her ears with difficulty.
- Romulus repeated me what Yavandir explained to him: Katarine Braun disappeared overnight, and it broke his heart. Was it because of this "backlash" of magic following the destruction of the Khorne artefacts?
- Exactly, your Highness.
- By Shallya's tears... Heike murmured. I'm sorry I didn't know. Even without knowing what they were, I could have helped him to overcome this terrible ordeal!
- Your kindness is honourable, little mouse, but these matters didn't concern you. I've always done everything to protect you. You had nothing to do with it, and you have nothing to reproach yourself for.
"If you don't mind, let's get back to the rest of us, then prisoners of another reality. The Daemon Prince showed himself merciful, and let those who had done nothing against him go, despite our unanimous refusal to serve him. When we regained consciousness, we were back in Nuln, minus the Dwarf Slayer. But time had not passed in the same way. Our stay in the Realms of Chaos had lasted a few hours for us, but six months for the Empire. We were found by Ludwig Schwarzhelm, the Emperor's champion. He asked us for explanations, and urged us to make ourselves forgotten."
"We heeded Schwarzhelm's advice and returned to Altdorf. Hallbjörn Ludviksson was so disgusted by the cynicism of the imperial bureaucracy that he left the army to become a mercenary. Your father was relieved to see us again, after six months without any news from us."
Heike glanced at the Prince, who nodded slightly in agreement. The magister continued:
"He made us so a proposal: he had bought a derelict trading post in the Southern Lands, and needed someone to make it prosper, so we took it on. I left with Yavandir, who had more or less recovered his senses, Ludviksson and other mercenaries, Norscan compatriots. That's how we met Nedland Barnrooster, who was part of this expedition.
"Hallbjörn and I promised ourselves we would never tell Yavandir what this Daemon Prince had told us. The disappearance of his great love had affected him too much, we shall not tell him she was in fact a member of the Purple Hand, and that she had made him her puppet. I think he'd found out, or understood, somehow?"
"As Yavandir was among us, I was able to keep an eye on him, though I never fully understood what was wrong. His personality was different. He was no longer the happy, joking fellow we knew, but a cold, scornful individual who thought more about social success. The theatre was no longer the meaning of his life, but a means of extracting money from naive patrons. I observed him as best I could, but I couldn't identify the problem. After this expedition, our group split up. I returned to the Bright College in Altdorf while Ludviksson founded another company, which went to Lustria, to Capatec Hanahuac, with your companion. You know that story well. Meanwhile, I finally understood. But it was already too late. After one last visit to Altdorf, where he came to say hello at your father's request, Yavandir suddenly disappeared from view."
"He reappeared finally, this time in the Rat Kingdom. Under cover of his job as a travelling artist, he returned as Tzeentch's agent. And that's where things went seriously wrong: in order to carry out the plot he had hatched, someone entrusted him with fearsome magical powers. He hadn't yet received them before his return, which is why I hadn't previously felt the magical Winds of Dhar circulating around him while we were working together on the Southern Continent. And you'll note he did everything to avoid me while he was sowing death and suspicion in Steinerburg, I could have found him out."
Heike swallowed.
- That's why he plotted in order to put you in prison, didn't he?
- Among other things, little mouse. But we outsmarted him. We neutralised him, and I won't do the same mistake twice. I'm not letting him go until we've solved the problem once and for all!
Three knocks sounded on the wood of the door. It was Provost Tomas.
- Your Highness, my Lady, Magister, we are waiting for you.
- The Magister hasn't quite finished his explanation, retorted the Prince. I'm tired of being kept in the dark. Who has arrived? What do you intend to do about it?
The Provost pouted.
- Sigmar and Rhya priests have come to give us a hand, your Highness. We're going to eliminate the leader witch of this Purple Hand enclave.
- A witch? Who is she? Steiner, annoyed at the idea of another nasty surprise, asked Steiner with impatience. Speak up!
- We're dealing with Katarine Braun, of course, Steadyhand replied.
- Katarine Braun? Didn't she disappear in Nuln?
- Yes and no, your Highness. It is true we lost track of her at the time, but Katarine Braun hasn't disappeared completely. She's still there, and still exerts her influence on Yavandir. She's no longer the person who seduced our comedian friend, and he no longer considers her as his true love, but she's still there. To get rid of her, the help of the new arrivals will not be superfluous, I assure you.
One minute later, the Prince, his daughter, the Elf and the provost had returned to the contention room. As well as Psody and Romulus, Heike saw two other people.
The first, whom she already knew, was Prior Arcturus, the priest in charge of the temple of Sigmar in Steinerburg, and the main manager of the monks linked to this God in Vereinbarung. The other one was a tall woman. Her dress, sewn from brown and green fabrics, was ample but not enough to hide her obesity. Her face, crumpled with age, showed with difficulty beneath an anarchic blanket of white hair. Wooden and bony trinkets were attached on her dress.
- Mother Luanne has replaced Morgana as head of the Temple of Rhya, explained the provost of Verena.
The old woman bowed her head politely. Her trinkets rattled slightly.
- I shall ensure the commands of Taal and Rhya are always respected at Vereinbarung, without going to the extremes of my predecessor.
- I wish you won't take decisions that would be so costly, Mother.
- Master Mage Prospero has given us a brief summary of what you expect of us, Magister, continued brother Arcturus. We are ready.
- Right!
Brisingr Steadyhand made a few gestures to capture the general attention, then with a theatrical gesture, pointed to Yavandir Palebough.
- Here we are, Your Highness: I accuse Katarine Braun of having conspired with Lord Horace de Vaucanson. I accuse Katarine Braun of trying to kill Master Mage Prospero Steiner by poisoning him, and then blaming Prior Romulus, in order to destabilise the kingdom and allow Vaucanson to lead his invasion. I accuse Katarine Braun of trying to slander me and make me considered as heretic. And for last, I accuse Katarine Braun of having stolen a particularly powerful and important magical artefact for your kingdom, and of having given it to the Feral Skaven of Grey Seer Karhi to encourage them to go to war against you. And all these accusations will have a common basis: all these crimes were committed through the intermediary of his slave who is now before you, namely Yavandir Palebough, an honest performer who became her stooge against his will.
A great silence followed this statement. Yavandir Palebough spat on the floor and grumbled:
- You haven't understood a thing, you fools.
- I've seen worse defences, ironized the vigilant magister.
Worried, Heike asked:
- What are you going to do to him, Brisingr?
- Nothing to him. On the other hand, the little parasite in his head won't stay there a minute longer!
The ratwoman put her hands to her mouth to hold back a frightened cry.
- A... parasite?
- Indeed. The imprint of Katarine Braun's soul taints his mind. It has taken refuge in the back of his skull. For all these years, she's been pushing him to act for Tzeentch, even if it means compromising his ideals and endangering the lives of the people he cares about. She is no longer the ravishing heiress of Altdorf who had suddenly disappeared, but had been profoundly transformed by the effects of magic.
Heike imagined the worst. What could the young woman who had seduced the Elf now look like? The creatures of Chaos had so many faces. A grotesque mountain of flesh? A miserable abjection, stunted and truncated as if it had come out of a cereal crusher? The personification of divine beauty, impossible to contemplate without burning your eyes? The prospect terrified her.
- And so that's why he's done... everything he's done all this time? the Prince recapitulated.
- That's why, your Majesty. But I've clearly identified the problem, and I have the solution to resolve it.
The fiery-haired Elf glanced at the jester, still smirking. Heike became even more concerned.
- If she's bonded with Yavandir, won't your operation harm him?
- Maybe a little, but not enough to endanger him, little mouse. You see, when we fought last night, I put a magic lock on his heart. It wasn't enough to separate the two vital essences, but I did isolate Katarine's soul. Although she is still inside Yavandir's head, she can no longer perceive the magical winds and come to his aid. She's been reduced to impotence, and we're going to be able to extract her and detach her completely from our friend's mind without having to use too much force. Now, let's take our places according to the instructions of the Rupture Ritual.
Slowly, solemnly, the priests and priestess formed a circle around the prisoner, their feet resting on the mosaic demarcation. Psody himself took his place between Romulus and Provost Tomas. Yavandir Palebough raised his head and growled like an animal furious at being held captive.
- Pay no attention to anything that might come out of our friend's mouth, and above all, stay focused.
The bright mage turned to Heike and her father.
- First, I'm going to open the door to his mind. Then, while the priests chant to contain the evil energies emitted by the Daemonette, Prospero and I will drag her out of hiding.
Brisingr raised his arms. Immediately, his face froze into a grave expression. In a powerful voice, he uttered a magic formula:
- Yatimamoumalabe, Kolastoloul, Ahoumasistola, Oumadaletoul, Baminu, Oudana!
Flames shot from the magister's eyes. Psody held out his hands in turn, and his dyed hair stood on end as jade sparks crackled around his sawn-off horns.
- Koulasta, Kouaz'oudala Koudala, Koulouloumpi!
Yavandir, who had remained stoic until then, twisted round sharply, his face bruised. It wasn't long before he was screaming. Brother Arcturus, Mother Luanne, Prior Romulus and Provost Tomas chorused another incantation.
- Hana, anamana! Hana, anamana! Hana, anamana!
The winds of magic summoned by the two mages swirled around the room. Soon, the scrolls on the table were flying, the jars and phials were shaking, until they fell and shattered on the tiles.
Hugging her father tightly, Heike tucked her muzzle under his cloak. The monarch looked away in turn.
Yavandir Palebough was struggling with all his might, shaken by unimaginable pain. He hadn't been able to see anything for some time now. All was darkness, and he could hear nothing more than a vague humming noise mingled with the voices of the priests, the whistling of the wind and the crackling of sparks. And then the flaming mage clapped his hands twice.
- Oume nahe made ra tourous!
A thunderclap deafened the entire audience.
Yavandir Palebough felt like he was floating in nothingness. All around him was an ocean of diffuse darkness. He no longer felt the slightest sensation. Apart from these grey swirls in which he was suspended, there was no sound, no touch, no smell.
Maybe this is what death is all about...
He closed his eyes and let himself be carried away by the current. Little by little, he accepted the idea of staying like this for eternity. After all, wasn't that everyone's lot in this cursed world?
It was then that he heard Brisingr Steadyhand's voice break the silence.
"Hang in there, Yavandir! We're not here to punish you. We're doing what we can to save you!"
This call left Yavandir surprised, to say the least.
Save me? From what? You really haven't understood a thing! Tzeentch chose me! Tzeentch enlightened me! Tzeentch has...
And then the artist remembered.
Katarine Braun. So beautiful, so magnificent, so... perfect! Witty, intelligent, with a voice that could make the most melodious birdsong sound like the groans of the most grotesque creatures of Chaos. Their meeting in Altdorf, when she had been held captive by an individual with unspeakable sadistic tendencies. And all the fireworks of happiness that had followed. Walks through the beautiful districts of the capital, then Nuln. The banquets, the social evenings in the most prestigious theatres, with the promise of performing there one day. And those passionate nights when there was nothing but Katarine. Her face, her graceful body, her eyes more sparkling than a river of diamonds in full sunlight...
Is it worth living without her? Could I survive even without Ari?
Of course, he'd always known that. Ari was a projection, an extension of Katarine. It was what had enabled him to keep his head on his shoulders, when others less willing than himself would have taken their own lives.
Brisingr's voice rang out again.
"Concentrate on one happy event in your life. Something that will strengthen your heart and diminish the power of the Demon."
Yavandir still felt like he was floating between two currents of magical wind. The voices continued to whisper, sweeter and more tempting than ever. Could he really give up all the knowledge in the world, and beyond? Besides, he had never been truly happy. Before meeting Katarine, the actor had not had a very enchanting life. True, he had always been free, and more than once, the stage, the theatre and the show had brightened his days... but never in a sincere way. Life was just a bad joke, a bland play, with a clumsy director. No, it was just a dingy, uncomfortable theatre that he had entered without paying.
Suddenly, an image appeared.
He was in a small, simply furnished chamber. The walls were covered in precious red fabrics. A rumour rose to his ears, the characteristic sound of a room full of people exchanging their impressions of the show that had ended a few minutes earlier. There was laughter, gruff exclamations and criticism.
Altdorf... Yes, I remember!
In the corner of the room, Yavandir could make out the figure of Ludwig Steiner, a tender smile on his lips, with at his side Magdalena, one of his faithful servants, publicly posing as his adopted daughter. And right in front of him was Heike.
She was still very young, just emerging from adolescence, and for the moment seemed literally transported. For the first time in her life, her father had taken her to the theatre. Of course, exceptional arrangements had to be made: he had hired one of the theatres where the Emperor used to go for the evening. And in this theatre, a small room had been set aside for guests who wished to remain discreet. Heike had stayed there, in the presence of Prior Romulus, who had quickly disappeared once Steiner had arrived.
An opening had been made in one of the partitions to allow guests to watch a show without mingling with the crowd. The opening was well hidden on the side of the auditorium, in the shadow of a wall sculpture.
The show played that evening had been a triumph. Detlef Sierck's romantic comedy had made the whole audience laugh and cry, from the front row to the farthest back seats. And the young ratgirl was not stingy with her compliments.
- You're a magician, Master Palebough! I've never been so dazzled in all my life!
- That's the nicest compliment anyone could ever pay me, little mouse. But remember this magic only works if shared. I could be the greatest actor of all time, it would have no effect in front of an audience deprived of emotion.
The Skaven even had the audacity to place a peck on his cheek.
Why? He asked himself. Whi did I give all this up? This… this… this isn't me! It can't be!
It was then that another voice echoed in his head. More aggressive. More juvenile, too.
- You stupid donkey! Can't you see they're destroying you? They're about to turn your brain into beaten cheese!
Heike... is my goddaughter.
- Goddaughter? You don't say! One giant rat crap among many! Don't tell me you'd give up Tzeentch for...
What did you just say?
There was no reply. Yavandir felt his whole soul catch fire.
HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT, YOU SMALL POX?
Yavandir Palebough screamed again, but this time it wasn't just pain, it was a terrible rage. Heike felt her heart being crushed by compassion, but her ears pricked up in surprise when she heard another, much higher-pitched scream coming from his mouth at the same time. She looked back towards the circle and widened her eyes. There was no doubt: above the Elf's head, there was a translucent shape that vaguely resembled a figure. The ratwoman distinguished two wide eyes, spiky hair and a huge mouth.
- Come on, it's biting! Pull on the line! joked Brisingr.
Psody and Brisingr raised their hands to the ceiling at the same time. There was a crackling sound, blinding lightning and an explosion of smoke.
Then everything stopped.
The wind died. There was no sound whatsoever.
- Hooray, we've done it! It's a success!
- Are… are you sure, Steadyhand? Steiner asked.
There was an answer, but not the one the Prince was expecting.
- You bunch of old, killjoy… fogies!
The prior frowned. Like the others, he had clearly heard a new voice. Fluid, almost childlike. A tune that was not entirely unfamiliar to him. He'd heard it before, but where?
The smoke cleared completely. Yavandir was on the ground, unconscious and motionless. A strange little silhouette was lying on its stomach beside him. It was a small being, the size of a Human child, probably no taller than three feet. The entire surface of the skin of its naked body was as black as ebony, with white patches appearing here and there on its trunk and face, hidden under a pack of bright orange hair. Patterns emitting a soft cyan light were tattooed on its arms and legs.
The little creature propped itself up on its hands, lifted its head with great difficulty, revealing two wide yellow eyes. The words escaped with difficulty from between its sharp little teeth.
- You... you're no fun at all.
- By Shallya's Tears, I recognise you now! cried Romulus. You were with Yavandir when he gave the golden mask to the Feral Skaven!
- You've got it, Prior, Brisingr agreed. Here's the "good magician friend" who watches over him and encourages him to commit crimes! She's the one who incited him to provoke a civil war by masterminding this assassination attempt on behalf of Vaucanson, just as she's the one who uses him to sow as much disorder as possible with clever plots wherever he goes!
The Elf approached the little apparition. He took out a pair of Ulthuan copper cuffs and tied her hands behind her back. She yelped in pain. The mage, unaware of this, did the same with her feet, while continuing his explanation.
- Just before knocking out our friend Yavandir, I heard him call someone. He said: "Ari". Ari... As luck would have it, the witch from Tzeentch who tricked Yavandir was called Katarine Braun.
The magician had emphasised the second and third syllables of the witch's name. Ludwig Steiner gave a surprised grunt.
- So there's a connection between the woman who manipulated everyone all those years ago and this... it?
- Not just a connection, your Highness. That day, when the magic backfired in Nuln, Katarine was with Yavandir, probably torturing him... or having a good time with him. Maybe both. In any case, at that moment, Katarine Braun's body, linked to the energies of Chaos, turned to dust, but her spirit materialised in the form of this Daemonette, then took refuge in poor Yavandir Palebough's head. To his misfortune, he found himself linked to the soul of a servant of Tzeentch, the God of Magic and Change, which provoked his character to change. His memory was more or less intact, but the way he used to consider life was no longer the same. That's how and why he became like he was until now. It wasn't the psychological shock of losing his love that changed him so profoundly, but the influence of that small horror. When Yavandir first used the Magic of Tzeentch in front of me during our confrontation, I sensed the presence of his dominatrix, and the name "Ari" confirmed my suspicions.
- Yavandir was aware of the presence of this Daemonette in his mind, and was no more worried than that? Arcturus asked. How could he not understand its true nature? Or did he refuse to face reality?
- Could he, Brother Arcturus? I think she influenced his mind in such a way as to appear to him as a kind of "good conscience". In any case, this miniature calamity will very quickly return to the plane of existence it should never have left! My Mother, my Brothers, it's time for punishment!
- At last, here's a language I fully understand and approve! exclaimed Steiner. In your opinion, Steadyhand, better to be the pyre or the axe?
- Neither, Your Majesty. This Daemonette undoubtedly has more power within it than the creature that chased Bianka into the greenhouse; destroying its carnal envelope may not be enough. Don't forget that it has already escaped death by taking over Palebough's body, so she shouldn't do it again.
- So what do you recommend? We shall not let it go, shall we?
- Of course we won't, your Highness. I've already thought of the solution: I'll open a portal to its world, and we'll throw it in before closing it.
The Prince's eyes widened with displeasure.
- You're proposing to open a portal to this creature's reality, when we did everything we could to prevent it yesterday?
- This is different, your Highness. I'm proposing to send Ari back to her world. I know a formula for opening a small one-way door – a sort of "hole" that will create a draft, and a suction that could swallow our prisoner. No Demon will be able to use it to enter, the resonance won't allow it. I've performed such an operation in the past, so I know what I'm doing. You priests and priestess can use your prayers to strengthen the effect of my spell and prevent harmful waves from entering the room.
Steadyhand allowed himself a little dance.
- Combining the calculations of profane magic and the conviction of divine oaths to make the greatest danger the Rat Kingdom has ever known disappear forever, isn't that the height of concord?
His gaze fell on the little Daemonette, still on the ground, fidgeting.
- When I give the word, I'll need someone strong to push it through the opening. We'll have to be quick, as Prospero and I won't be able to keep the door open for more than a minute.
With an air of determination, the Prince took a step forward.
- It's up to me. I'm the Prince, I'm protecting my fief!
Heike threw herself at him.
- Father, no!
He replied with a knowing smile:
- Just trust me on this.
- Even with your... injury?
- You have faith in your old father's strength, haven't you?
The ratwoman swallowed her saliva, but stepped back. The bright mage swivelled to a corner of the room.
- My friends? I ask you to form a quarter circle around this corner. You will continue to contain the demonic energies. Psody, come with me, please.
The men and women of religion obeyed. Brisingr cracked his knuckles with the delighted smile of someone about to conclude a good day's work.
- Wait! Wait! I want to know!
Heike leaned towards the Daemonette. Brisingr raised his hand.
- Careful, Heike.
- I won't come any closer. I just want to ask her a question.
Aware that they were talking about her, Ari slowly raised her eyelids. She saw the ratwoman's face looking at her nervously.
- Why? simply asked Heike.
A small, mischievous smile played across Ari's lips, and as a tear beaded on her cheekbone, she answered simply:
- Well... it was funny, wasn't it? I had a good laugh.
The young ratwoman went from bewilderment to indignation. She didn't add a word, but her look loaded with reproach was eloquent enough. She stepped back and wedged herself into the opposite corner of the containment chamber.
Once again, the two mages raised their arms and pronounced their incantation, while the priests and priestess repeated the fortification mantra. Winds of magic swirled around the corner of the room.
- Moliviasibi, Moliviasibi!
Sparks crackled. The Prince and Heike saw with stupefaction a distortion gradually appear. Steiner shuddered with apprehension when he noticed the resemblance of this tear to the one caused by Cazarras. But he was determined to keep faith with the bright mage. The latter turned his head towards him.
- Now, your Highness! Quickly!
Steiner leapt forward, grabbed the little creature by its hair and dragged it past the opening, which was three feet high. Ari shouted at the top of her voice:
- You old bastard! You like hurting the weak, don't you? Slaanesh will send a couple of whores to skin you alive, you filthy pig!
Steiner grabbed her jaw, raised her to eye level and articulated in a voice full with all the contempt he could muster:
- Get off my Kingdom!
And with a firm movement, he threw Ari across the tear. The Daemonette let out a shrill cry that was soon lost in the limbo of the Warp. Brisingr lowered his arms, followed by Psody, and the opening faded completely.
Once again, calm returned to the containment chamber. The two mages caught their breath. Heike threw herself into her father's arms, relieved.
- So, is that it? the ratwoman asked weakly. Is she gone?
- We sent her back to the Chaos plane, my Lady, provost Tomas explained. If I'm to believe the work I've read by the Lorekeepers, she's been much weakened and won't be able to return here for several centuries.
The new Mother Superior of Rhya held up her finger.
- If she comes back, which I don't think she will, her God will punish her.
- Do you think-believe, Mother Luanne?
- Of course, Master Mage: she has failed in her enterprise, something that Tzeentch will not let pass, the old priestess asserted. He can destroy her, and something tells me he will. As far as I know, the Chaos Gods do not tolerate failure.
All eyes turned simultaneously towards the circle, attracted by a groan.
Yavandir Palebough had regained consciousness.
The entertainer toughly rose up, dropped to his knees and blinked. Gradually, all his memories of the events of the previous years came flooding back. But he no longer saw them in the same light. It was no longer a complex, skilfully and masterfully orchestrated plan that would cover him in glory while serving a just cause. No, everything seemed to him to be a succession of betrayals, each more horrifying than the last. Ever since Ari had appeared to him and taken over his soul, everything had been manipulation, treachery and backstabbing, all to satisfy Tzeentch, and all to the detriment of the few people who really mattered to him.
He looked down at his fingers, stained with blood from rubbing against the stone, and saw them clench, clench painfully. He grabbed his head with both hands and a short, high-pitched scream tore through his throat. Then another, then another again. He emitted so half a dozen shrill squeaks.
- What have I done? What have I DONE?
He put both hands on the mosaic and smashed his forehead to the ground. Then he raised his head and did it again. Blood spurted out. Brisingr, brother Arcturus and Prior Romulus rushed at the Elf to prevent him going any further.