The wizard drew his ash-stained cloak about him as he walked. No, not entirely helpless. We've our wits. More, we can sniff out a feint — at least I can, anyway. And this is a feint — the whole Pannion Domin and its infectious influence. Somehow, the Chained One's found a way to open the floodgates of the Warren of Chaos. A conduit, perhaps the Pannion Seer himself entirely unaware that he is being used, that he's no more than a pawn thrown forward in an opening gambit. A gambit designed to test the will, the efficacy, of his foe. We need to take the pawn down. Fast. Decisively.
He approached the squad's firelight, heard the low mutter of voices, and felt he was coming home.
A thousand skulls on poles danced along the ridge, their burning braids of oil-soaked grass creating manes of flame above the bleached death-grimaces. Voices rose and fell in a wavering, droning song. Closer to where Paran stood, young warriors contested with short hook-bladed knives, the occasional spatter of blood sizzling as it sprayed into the clan's hearth-ring — rivalries took precedence over all else, it seemed.
Barghast women moved among the Bridgeburner squads, pulling soldiers of both sexes towards the hide tents of the encampment. The captain had thought to prohibit such amorous contact, but had then dismissed the notion as both unworkable and unwise. Come tomorrow or the day after, we might all be dead.
The clans of the White Face had gathered. Tents and yurts of the Senan, Gilk, Ahkrata and Barahn tribes — as well as many others — covered the valley floor. Paran judged that a hundred thousand Barghast had heeded Humbrall Taur's call to counsel. But not just counsel. They've come to answer Trotts's challenge. He is the last of his own clan, and tattooed on his scarred body is the history of his tribe, a tale five hundred generations long. He comes claiming kinship, blood-ties knotted at the very beginning. and more, though no-one's explaining precisely what else is involved. Taciturn bastards. There are too many secrets at work here.
A Nith'rithal warrior loosed a wet shriek as a rival clan's warrior opened his throat with a hook-knife. Voices bellowed, cursed. The stricken warrior writhed on the ground before the hearth-fire, life spilling out in a glimmering pool that spread out beneath him. His slayer strutted circles to wild cheers.
Amidst hisses from those Barghast near by, Twist came to the captain's side, the Black Moranth ignoring the curses.
'You're not too popular,' Paran observed. 'I didn't know the Moranth hunted this far east.'
'We do not,' Twist replied, his voice thin and flat behind his chitinous helm. 'The enmity is ancient, born of memories, not experience. The memories are false.'
'Are they now. I'd suggest you make no effort at informing them of your opinion.'
'Indeed, there is no point, Captain. I am curious, this warrior, Trotts — is he uniquely skilled as a fighter?'
Paran grimaced. 'He's come through a lot of nasty scrapes. He can hold his own, I suppose. To be honest, I have never seen him fight.'
'And those among the Bridgeburners who have?'
'Disparaging, of course. They disparage everything, however, so I don't think that's a reliable opinion. We will see soon enough.'
'Humbrall Taur has selected his champion,' Twist said. 'One of his sons.'
The captain squinted through the darkness at the Black Moranth. 'Where did you hear this? Do you understand the Barghast language?'
'It is related to our own. The news of the selection is upon everyone's lips. Humbrall's youngest son, as yet unnamed, still two moons before his Death Night — his passage into adulthood. Born with blades in his hands. Undefeated in duel, even when facing seasoned warriors. Dark-hearted, without mercy … the descriptions continue, but I tire of repeating them. We shall see this formidable youth soon enough. All else is naught but wasted breath.'
'I still don't understand the need for the duel in the first place,' Paran said. 'Trotts doesn't need to make any claim — the history is writ plain on his skin. Why should there be any doubt as to its veracity? He's Barghast through and through — you just have to look at him.'
'He makes claim to leadership, Captain. His tribe's history sets his lineage as that of the First Founders. His blood is purer than the blood of these clans, and so he must make challenge to affirm his status.'
Paran grimaced. His gut was clenched in knots. A sour taste had come to his mouth and no amount of ale or wine would take it away. When he slept visions haunted his dreams — the chill cavern beneath the Finnest House, the carved stone flagstones with their ancient, depthless images from the Deck of Dragons. Even now, should he close his eyes and let his will fall away, he would feel himself falling into the Hold of the Beasts — the home of the T'lan Imass and its vacant, antlered throne — with a physical presence, tactile and rich with senses, as if he had bodily travelled to that place. And to that time. unless that time is now, and the throne remains, waiting. waiting for a new occupant. Did it seem that way for the Emperor? When he found himself before the Throne of Shadow? Power, domination over the dread Hounds, all but a single step away?
