Stefan Kumansky 01 - Star of Erengrad by Warhammer

Author:Warhammer [Warhammer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Warhammer
Published: 2011-07-24T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Awakening

They descended, single file, into the belly of the cold earth. The noise of the assault hammering the ground above their heads grew steadily fainter until they had only silence for company. For all that it was quiet, Stefan sensed none of the peace of final rest in these chill Halls of the Dead.

“It makes my flesh crawl,” Elena commented. “Like something cold running the length of my spine.”

“It is an ill-favoured place,” Andreas agreed, sombrely. “Many troubled souls are here laid to earth. Their mortal lives have ended, but I doubt that their spirits have found repose.”

Bruno exhaled and watched his breath extend like slow coiling smoke in front of him. “Seems calm enough,” he said, not entirely convincingly. “And safe enough for you to have visited these tombs before, evidently.”

Andreas laughed. “As few times as possible,” he said. “I must bless this joyless place as I bless all the Houses of Morr. Do not think that I outstay my welcome, though.”

Stefan found himself shivering. It must be colder than he had realised. “How much further?” he asked.

“Just here,” the priest said. “The roof drops steeply and then we enter the great hall.”

Stefan followed the priest, stooping below the low ceiling. Further ahead the space around them opened out, and he was able to stand upright in a wide, open chamber. The place they were standing in, he now saw, was in fact a hub off which other corridors radiated like spokes from a wheel. Although there seemed to be no source of ventilation, Stefan could feel a faint breeze rippling around his face. The same musty, slightly sweet, smell wafted upon the air.

“This is where the dead are entombed,” Andreas explained. “Each of the six passages leads to a chamber containing their remains.”

“But the chambers are sealed?” Elena asked, anxiously.

“Oh yes,” the priest assured her. “Sealed with stone and mortar. There are rooms here that even I do not enter.”

“And this space?” Stefan asked.

“This is the great hall of the dead itself,” the priest replied.

Stefan gazed around, taking in his surroundings. The great hall was a circular chamber thirty or forty feet in diameter, with a domed ceiling rising to about twice the height of a man. Runes paying homage to the god of death were carved upon the walls, giving the place the look of a simple chapel. Set in the very centre of the chamber was a low platform or table hewn from the same grey stone. Placed at intervals across its surface were six unlit candles.

“This is the place where their spirits come to give worship to the great god Morr.” He smiled, gently, at the group around him. “Of course, that’s just a story.”

“Well,” said Elena at last. “At least we’ll be safe enough from those monsters up above.”

Stefan took the priest to one side. “What of the monsters below?” he asked, quietly. “The monster who may be among us even as we speak?”

Andreas looked around, and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Stefan,” he said.

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