City of Secrets (Warhammer Age of Sigmar) by Nick Horth

Author:Nick Horth [Horth, Nick]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-11-21T15:29:02+00:00

Act Three

The men of the fighting Eighth roared across the stone cobbles, screaming their battle-oaths and prayers to Sigmar, brandishing swords, axes, maces and spears. These were hardened killers, men and women who had travelled the length of the Coast of Tusks, and battled almost every one of its myriad horrors. They would not be intimidated, even amidst the calamity that had fallen upon their city. Synor rode a chestnut warhorse at the head of the column, urging his men on with bellowed oaths of vengeance and promises of slaughter.

Streams of fleeing citizens filtered past them as they marched. There were hundreds of them. Thousands. Parents clutching bawling infants. Thin-limbed street urchins, eyes wide with fearful excitement. Many were limping, held up only by their fellows. Callis saw horrific burns, gashes and cuts from shattered glass. The pitiful figures flinched and cowered at every gunshot and explosion that echoed out across the city. In the distance, through the haze of fire-lit smoke, a formation of duardin gyrocopters arced over the city, the ear-aching, percussive thud of their rotating blades almost fading as they disappeared into the distance.

‘The Air Corps will deal with as many of the enemy’s flying monsters as they can,’ shouted Synor above the commotion. ‘But they are few. We cannot count on their presence.’

The cobbles flickered with the shadows of dancing flames, and the smoke was thick about them. Pitiful hands clawed at the soldiers as they passed. Bleeding, dust-covered figures staggered out of the smoke and fell to their knees in front of the advancing warriors, begging for salvation. There was no time to help them. No time to quell the fires that raged through the city, or to guide the innocent to safety.

Explosions echoed in the distance, along with the percussive blasts of heavy cannon and the shrieking whine of rockets arcing through the air. Above the cluttered rooftops the sky flashed orange, and smoke rose from the harbour. Apparently Captain Zenthe had made her choice. The Iron Bulls were not the only force that was fighting back.

‘If we push through to the docks, we can join up with General Revard’s Firewolves,’ General Synor said.

‘No,’ said Toll, shaking his head. ‘It will divert us from our target, and we cannot afford the delay.’

Synor stared at the conflagration in the distance, clearly torn.

‘If we do not stop Kryn,’ the Witch Hunter continued, ‘it won’t matter how many regiments we have fighting with us. The city will burn.’

The General nodded, grim-faced, and wheeled his horse around, urging his warriors forward.

Something sleek with iridescent scales flitted through the billowing blackness overhead, hissing and screeching. Something struggled beneath it, clutched in wicked talons. As the thing passed overhead, it released its burden. The half-naked man fell, screaming in terror, and was dashed to pieces on the cobbles. More shapes dropped out of the smoke. Callis saw myriad eyes mounted upon crescents of shimmering azure scales, rows of razor-sharp fangs and three-pronged tails that flitted gracefully behind as the shapes dived towards the column.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.