Lair of the Skaven by Tom Huddleston

Author:Tom Huddleston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-27T09:04:52+00:00

‘Stay where you are, or lose your prize.’ He bounced on his heels and the floorboards groaned, the crystal rocking back and forth. It looked as though a few good kicks would take the floor out completely, sending the crystal plummeting to the cliffs below.

Kreech skidded to a halt, trembling with anger and shock. His soldiers crowded closer, drooling. Elio could see a purple gleam reflected in every eye, and one whispered, ‘Sweet-sweet.’

‘Back-back!’ Kreech ordered. ‘All of you. Do as I say or there will be punishment!’

But the Skaven didn’t move, they were utterly mesmerised.

‘Let my friends go,’ Kaspar said. ‘Or I’ll drop it.’

‘No-no, don’t be hasty,’ Kreech said. ‘Keep calm-calm and we can reach an agreement.’

‘Let them go!’ Kaspar demanded, slamming his heel into the floor. One of the planks snapped, tumbling into the darkness. The crystal lurched sideways, ready to fall.

Kreech gave a hiss of horror. Then he held up both hands, smiling from ear to ear. ‘Of course, they can go. Of course, of course.’ He waved to Lesh. ‘Back-back. Let them through.’

The Skaven warriors parted sleepily, opening a passage to the door. Elio took hold of Alish and they stepped into the corridor of fur, Thanis and Kiri following. The ratmen were so transfixed they barely seemed to notice.

Scratch crouched in the doorway, glaring at them in confusion.

‘We should take him back with us,’ Alish said. ‘Like we planned.’

Thanis nodded, taking the boy firmly by the arm. ‘We’re taking your pet,’ she told Kreech. ‘He’s one of us, remember?’

The packlord tore his eyes from the crystal. ‘But he’s mine. This wasn’t part of the bargain.’

‘It is now,’ Kaspar said, and gave the floor another kick. There was a groan and Elio heard three loud snaps. The crystal leaned further, and Kreech gave a shriek.

‘Take-take!’ he said. ‘The man-thing is yours. He’s no use anyway, not without your master.’

‘We’ll find him too,’ Alish said. ‘You’ll see.’

They backed into the corridor. Through the cluster of silhouetted Skaven Elio could still see Kaspar, poised in the alcove. ‘Wait,’ he called. ‘What about you? How are you meant to get out?’

But Kaspar just grinned. ‘This way,’ he said, and gave one last kick.

The boards broke. The crystal dropped from sight. And Kaspar fell too, dropping feet first into the dark. Through a gap in the floor Elio saw him for a moment, outlined in the crystal flare. Then the shadows claimed him and he disappeared.

Alish gave a cry, but it was drowned by a shriek of absolute horror as Kreech saw his crystal hit the rocks, exploding into a thousand shards like a violet firecracker. The fragments tumbled down the cliff face, spinning and sparkling as they fell. The packlord ran to the alcove, his mouth open in shock and despair. He looked down into the hole, unable to believe what was happening.

Then the other Skaven began to swarm towards the alcove, snapping hungrily. Kreech waved his arms, trying to hold them back. ‘No-no!’ he shouted. ‘Seize the man-things! Do

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