War for the Mortal Realms (Warhammer Age of Sigmar) by Josh Reynolds & Darius Hinks & Chris Wraight

Author:Josh Reynolds & Darius Hinks & Chris Wraight [Reynolds, Josh]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Dark fantasy (FMT)
Publisher: Black Library
Published: 2024-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

REFUGE

Inside the Grand Tempestus, all was quiet.

Few people spoke, beyond muffled prayers or the coughing of the injured. The Glymmsmen and duardin tended their wounded, while keeping wary eyes on the visible entrances. The citizens had gathered in bunches throughout the nave, or against the walls. Some moved aside as Balthas led Quicksilver down the nave, away from the main doors.

His warriors split up into smaller cohorts composed of Sequitors and Castigators, towards the twelve entry-points. Helios and his Evocators sat in a watchful line before the main doorway, their weapons across their knees and corposant dancing across their armour. Gellius had set his ballista up on the altar – shaped like a massive, twelve-pointed star – where he had a clear view of the entirety of the nave and the main entry hall.

Calys Eltain’s Liberators still held their posts, at the doorways. He saw no reason to pull them from that duty – twelve warriors more or less would make little difference. They would act as alarms, just in case the wards were breached and the dead managed to get inside. When he said as much, Miska frowned. ‘She – they – deserve better than that, I think.’

Balthas didn’t look at her. ‘We all do.’

‘Especially the mortals.’ Miska looked around. Her face was set in a frown. ‘I suspect you used Fosko and Juddsson to absorb the brunt of the enemy – to gauge their strength. We should have pulled them back from the beginning. I knew that and said nothing. Too many died that need not have.’

‘You disapprove of my strategy?’

‘You are lord-arcanum.’

‘I am. And I saw fit to preserve my troops for as long as possible.’ Balthas sighed and looked at her. ‘The mortals had their duty, as we have ours. Now we must concentrate on what comes next.’ He gestured to Fosko, and the Freeguilder trotted over, followed closely by Juddsson. The duardin thane was pale and moved slowly, but seemed to be on the mend. ‘Status?’ Balthas asked, without preamble.

‘Most of my men are walking wounded,’ Fosko said, bluntly.

‘Bitten?’

Fosko grimaced. ‘No, thank Sigmar. But we’re checking, even so. If we find one… we’ll deal with it, quietly.’ He looked as if he wanted to spit, but refrained. ‘I left the best part of my command out there, lord-arcanum. The dead were on us too quick – we’re used to dealing with single nighthaunts, or just a handful. Never seen this many in one place.’ He swallowed. ‘Never wanted to.’

Juddsson nodded grimly. ‘We weren’t prepared. Too many manling promises of impenetrable walls lulled us. And now we’re trapped.’

‘Feel free to leave,’ Fosko said.

‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’ Juddsson sneered.

‘No. You would have to open the doors,’ Balthas said. ‘That would not be ideal. We are not trapped,’ he said, after a moment. ‘This place is sturdy. It can be defended, if not easily.’

‘A siege might last days, or weeks. If we’re cut off from the rest of the city…’ Fosko let the thought hang, unfinished. ‘We should ask Obol about supplies.

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