Gotrek & Felix: Slayer by David Guymer

Author:David Guymer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Black Library
Published: 2015-03-19T17:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Flight

The wide leather chair aboard the bridge of Unstoppable was more comfortable than any bed Felix had ever lain in. At least it certainly felt like it just then. The vibrations of the deckplate seemed to massage the aches from his body. The low hum of the engines was a lullaby. The way whips of cloud struck across the forward window felt like the airborne equivalent of drawing a blanket over one’s head. Even the bickering of the dwarfs felt soothing in its familiarity.

‘This isn’t the way to Middenheim,’ said Gotrek, standing directly in front of the window with his arms across his chest and glaring belligerently into the clouds.

‘That’s cause we’re gaun tae Karaz-a-Karak,’ Makaisson snapped back. He had his coat buckled and the fur-lined collar pulled up. His goggles had been pulled down over his eyes and he gripped the wheel with thick, fingerless leather gloves, standing on tip-toes in order to see over Gotrek’s shoulders.

What they both hoped to see through such thick grey cloud Felix couldn’t imagine.

‘You didn’t have enough fuel to reach the Worlds Edge Mountains and you certainly don’t now you’ve got a belly full of men to weigh you down.’

‘At least ah huv yin less gyrocopter tae worry aboot,’ said Makaisson with a sideways tilt of that fierce, goggled head towards Felix. ‘But if ye can git us tae Middenheim withoot a compass then ahm all ears.’

Gotrek snorted. ‘I am a compass.’

‘Ah know ye think sae, but ye really arnae.’

Sensing an argument with no quick resolution and that Felix could not seem to trouble himself with the outcome of, he moved his gaze over Unstoppable’s bridge. Dwarf engineers moved purposefully between stations, arguing quietly in Khazalid. One had a section of deckplate off and appeared to be applying solder to the steering shaft even as Malakai flew. Dwarfs were never the most extroverted with their emotions, but they all looked worried to Felix.

‘How are you feeling?’ said Max. The wizard stood over him, unhooded. Bone-grey flecks silvered his hair and beard. His colourless flesh creased with concern.

‘I should ask you that.’

‘I was a wizard of the Light,’ asked Max, smiling for the first time in an age. ‘That was not the first daemon I have been called upon to banish, although it was certainly the strongest. I am fine, Felix, as I see you are. I suggest you get some rest now while you are still able.’

Felix rubbed his eyes and yawned. ‘Gustav and the other men? Did they make it aboard?’

‘Yes. Malakai was ready to leave them behind, but by destroying the bridge you bought time to evacuate the fortress. You’re a hero.’

‘You get used to it,’ Felix muttered drowsily.

‘Felix.’

‘Mmmm?’

‘It’s coming together, don’t you see? Do you remember the dream I told you about in which I was flying?’

It took Felix a moment to respond. His lids hung heavily over his eyes and his own body felt like a ponderous, distant thing. ‘Didn’t we all die in that dream?’

He was asleep before Max could answer.

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