Battle for the Soulspring by Tom Huddleston

Author:Tom Huddleston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-26T09:42:36+00:00

Chapter Seven

Lightning

Kreech stumbled to his feet as the sorceress descended between the buildings, her hands coiling. He tried to flee but Ashnakh loosed a second fire-bolt and he was tossed like a leaf, thrown head over claws to the edge of the chasm. He clung there, scrabbling desperately, then he dropped out of sight.

Thanis tugged at Kiri’s sleeve. ‘Come on, while she’s distracted.’

Alish and the others were already moving, heading for the top of the square where a row of houses had slumped into the crevasse, forming a rough bridge. They clambered over loose bricks, sending rocks and dust sliding into the chasm. But as Kiri reached the top she dared a glance back, to see Ashnakh land light-footed on the stones. Skeletons and Skaven stood watching in silence, the battle forgotten.

Elio pointed to an alley nearby. ‘This way,’ he said. ‘If Ashnakh comes after us maybe we can lose her in the backstreets.’

Kiri followed, Thanis and Scratch close behind. Kaspar brought up the rear, but before he’d taken three steps something snaked from the pit and lashed around his ankle, dragging him off his feet. Kaspar cried out, rolling over as Kreech rose from the crevasse, his fur black and smoking, his blistered tail yanking Kaspar backwards.

‘Not so fast, sneak-thing!’ the packlord hissed, baring his claws. ‘I will have my rev– aaagh!’

The words choked in Kreech’s throat, his eyes widening in fear. His tail was still tight around Kaspar’s ankle but across the crevasse Kiri could see Ashnakh turning towards him, one hand raised as waves of dark power filled the air. Kreech tried to lift his head but he was pinned in place, gasping for breath as the sorceress tightened her invisible grip.

‘I told you, treacherous creature,’ she said, her soft voice echoing. ‘I want those children alive. But the same is not true for you.’

There was a creaking, cracking sound and Kiri looked down. Kreech’s feet had become rooted to the ground, his clawed hands rigid in the air. A gurgling hiss escaped the packlord’s throat but he could not speak – his jaw was frozen.

His fur began to change colour, just the roots at first then the tips too, spreading like violet hoar frost. His eyes misted over, the black pupils turning purple along with his claws and his teeth. Kiri heard a groan like ice on a frozen lake, and Kreech let out a last, strangled breath as his body froze solid.

Then Ashnakh’s head tipped and she smiled briefly. Her hands coiled and she loosed another fire-bolt, the skull at its heart screaming as it came. Kaspar kicked, and Kreech’s tail shattered as he broke free. Then the fire-bolt struck the rigid Skaven and he exploded into a thousand shards, scattering like glass into the air.

Not glass, Kiri realised, warpstone. She had transformed him into warpstone.

The other Skaven watched as their master disintegrated, pieces of him flying everywhere. Then slowly, the fear in their eyes turned to something else. Hunger.

The first Skaven broke from its stupor, snatching up a piece of the purple crystal and jamming it into its jaws.

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