The Great Betrayal (55 page)

EPILOGUE

Sevekai awoke in
a feverish sweat. The nightmare was already fading, evaporating in the chill night like the heat from his cooling skin.

A darkling forest. A frantic flight into a barren glade filled with such a terrible gloaming. The trees alive, and the chittering, snapping refrain of their pursuit…

‘
Hush, my love…’ soothed Drutheira. Her hands upon Sevekai’s half-naked body were like pricks of fire against his icy skin.

‘Did you see it again?’

Sevekai nodded weakly.

‘It is always the same.’

‘Visions always are.’

Sevekai turned to face her, lying naked next to him under their furs.

‘You believe it is real? That the dreams are prophecy?’

Drutheira was playing with her hair, more coquettish and much less the viper than she had once been. Strange, Sevekai thought, that their alliance had brought them to this place in their relationship. ‘Perhaps,’ she conceded, but was unconcerned. ‘It was a vision that brought us here, was it not?’

They had left Athel Maraya several months ago, bound for the mountains, when the dwarfs had begun to amass near its borders and their subterfuge as refugees of Kor Vanaeth had started to slip. For one, Sevekai was glad of it. By the nature of their work, spies and assassins needed to blend in to their surroundings, to escape notice, to become nothing more than backdrop. For twenty years, since the dragon rider had left them alone, he and the others had done just that. Asleep until their dark master chose to wake them again. If ever.

Escape was unconscionable. Malekith was silent and travel almost impossible without armed escort. Even for a warrior as gifted as Sevekai, the passage south would have been difficult. They would lie low until summoned again, and if not they would try to endure until the war ended or Malekith attacked and conquered Ulthuan.

The dark dreams had been recent. Drutheira believed they presaged the will of their lord and that he would make himself known to them again soon. She was right, at least about the latter. One night, as they were sleeping fitfully in their bed, Malekith had returned. Seemingly possessed, Drutheira had risen from slumber. She had gone off into the night and killed the innkeeper of their lodgings, slit his throat wide until it painted the wall in the dark lord’s image.

Malchior and Ashniel had risen too to form the blood communion with their mistress.

Orders were given, and they had all left that night, meeting at the outskirts of Athel Maraya.

‘There are times,’ said Sevekai, as his breathing slowly returned to normal, ‘that I wish we could have stayed.’

‘Stayed where?’ asked Drutheira, carving out a graven rune upon the floor of the cavern. She had left the warmth of their bed to do it and was crouched naked in the half-light.

‘In Athel Maraya, or perhaps some other city.’

‘After the ritual slaying of that slave, that would have been unwise,’ hissed a voice from the shadows.

‘Kaitar.’ Sevekai didn’t even try to hide his vitriol.

The other dark elf nodded. He looked to Drutheira.

‘Are you close?’

The sorceress had finished her malediction and spoke words of power unto it.

‘It is here, the creature we seek. Deeper in the bowels of the earth, it slumbers.’

Sevekai glanced around at the cavern, the endless rock surrounding them. He had forgotten how deep they had already penetrated in the mountain.

‘We must go further into the dark?’

‘Yes, but Bloodfang is near.’

Sevekai was on his feet, getting dressed. ‘I’ll rouse the others.’ He looked over to Kaitar but the shade was already gone. In all the years they had been travelling together, he couldn’t remember ever seeing him sleep.

‘I have not forgotten our pact,’ he said to Drutheira.

‘Nor I, my love,’ she purred, uncoiling to reveal the curves of her sinuous body.

‘We will still kill him, and the dragon rider?’

‘Why else do you think Lord Malekith has brought us to this place?’

‘I honestly don’t know.’

‘Yes,’ said Drutheira, slithering to her feet. She padded over to touch Sevekai’s arm, sliding her hand behind his back and whispering in his ear. ‘We shall kill them both. Soon, my love. Very soon.’

CHARACTERS

The Dwarfs

Karaz-a-Karak

Gotrek Starbreaker – High King

Snorri Lunngrin ‘Halfhand’ – Prince

Morgrim Bargrum – Thane and Snorri Lunngrin’s cousin

Ranuld Silverthumb – Runelord and one of the
Burudin

Morek Furrowbrow – Runesmith and Ranuld Silverthumb’s apprentice

Elmendrin Grimbok – High Priestess of Valaya

Forek Grimbok – Reckoner

Thurbad Shieldbearer – Captain of the Hearthguard

Furgil – Pathfinder and Chief of Rangers

Barak Varr

Brynnoth – King of Barak Varr

Nadri Gildtongue – Merchant Guildmaster

Burgrik Strombak – Engineer Guildmaster

Heglan Copperfist – Engineer

Nugdrinn Hammerfoot – Sea Captain of Barak Varr

Northern kings

Grundin – King of Karak Kadrin

Thagdor – King of Zhufbar

Luftvarr – King of Kraka Drak

Bagrik Boarbrow – King of Karak Ungor

Hrekki Ironhandson – King of Karak Varn

Southern kings

Varnuf – King of Karak Eight Peaks

Aflegard – King of Karak Izril

Brugandar – King of Karak Drazh

Hrallson – King of Karak Azul

Lesser dwarf lords

Valarik – King of Karak Hirn

Drong – King of Krag Bryn

Borri Silverfoot – Lord of Karaz Bryn

Drogor Zarrdum – Thane of the Lost Hold of Karak Zorn

Runelords

Feldhar Crageye – Runelord of the
Burudin

Negdrik Irontooth – Runelord of the
Burudin

Durgnun Goldbrow – Runelord of the
Burudin

Agrin Fireheart – Runelord of Barak Varr and
one of the
Burudin

Ungrinn Lighthand – Runelord of the
Burudin

Jordrikk Forgefist – Runelord of the
Burudin

Kruzkull Stormfinger – Runelord of the
Burudin

Hill dwarfs

Skarnag Grum – ‘High King’ of Kazad Kro

Rundin Torbansonn – Champion of the Skarrenawi

Kruk – King of Kagaz Thar

Orrik – King of Kazad Mingol

The Elves

The Asur

Caledor II – Phoenix King

Imladrik – Prince of Caledor

Liandra – Princess of Caledor

Hulviar – King Caledor’s seneschal

The Druchii

Sevekai – Shade

Kaitar – Shade

Verigoth – Shade

Numenos – Shade

Hreth – Shade

Latharek – Shade

Drutheira – High Sorceress

Malchior – Sorcerer

Ashniel – Sorceress

Dragons

Draukhain

Vranesh

KHAZALID

The Language of the Dwarfs

Az – Axe

Az un klad – Donning one’s weapons and armour, readying for battle

Bar – A fortified gateway or door

Bozdok – Unhinged as a result of constantly banging one’s head on low roofs and pit-props; ‘cross eyed’

Brodag – A festival of worship to honour Grungni and the art of brew-making

Brodunk – A festival of worship to honour Grimnir and the art of battle

Brozan – A festival of worship to honour Valaya and the bonds of brotherhood between the clans

Bugrit – An invocation against ill-luck uttered by a dwarf who has banged his head, hit his thumb, stubbed his toe or some other minor misfortune; usually repeated three times for luck

Bruz – Gold that has a purplish tinge only visible by twilight

Bryn – Gold that shines strikingly in the sunlight; anything shiny or brilliant

Brynduraz – Rare mineral, a stone that glows in darkness

Burudin – The sacred order of runelords of the dwarfs

Chuf – Also ‘chuff’; a very old piece of cheese a miner keeps under his hat for emergencies; a declaration of exasperation, usually in response to foolish, stupid or remarkable behaviour

Dammaz kron – The Great Book of Grudges

Dawi – Dwarfs

Dawi zharr – Fire dwarfs

Dokbar – Gate of ‘seeing’; a runic artefact of the elder ages used to commune with dwarfs from distant kingdoms

Dongliz – Nethers; the parts of a dwarf’s body impossible for him to scratch

Drakzharr – A potent dwarf beer, a special reserve

Drek – Wastrels or bandits; also far, a great distance; great ambition or enterprise

Dreng tromm – A lament, usually in response to some terrible act or misadventure; literally ‘slay beard’ in that it refers to the act of a dwarf pulling out the hairs of his own beard

Drengudrakk – Dragon slayer or honoured title bestowed of any dwarf who has killed a dragon

Dunkin – Annual bath traditionally taken whether needed or not

Elgi – Elves

Elgongi – Elf friend; a mild insult

Frorl – Dusty gold with a farinaceous layer obscuring its brilliance

Galaz – Gold of particular ornamental value

Geln – ‘Get gold’ that is borrowed from others but not returned

Ghazan-harbark – Paddle-driven dwarf sea vessel

Ghuzakk! – Imperative shouted to mules, goats or beardlings to get them to move faster

Gorl – Gold that is especially soft and yellow; the colour yellow

Gorlm – ‘Green’ gold, which has achieved a patina of age

Glam – Especially shiny or silven gold whose appearance belies its actual meagre worth

Gronti-duraz – The stone giants, runic golems of the dwarfs; literally meaning ‘enduring stone’

Grunti’s – Dwarf undergarments (usually soiled)

Grobi – Goblins

Grongaz – Runic forge

Gronti – Giant

Grubark – Oar-driven dwarf sea vessel

Hnon – ‘Rainbow gold’; in certain subterranean light this gold captures a myriad of hues

Hruk – Breed of dwarf mountain goat

Kalans – Clans

Karadurak – Enduring stone through which the most potent of runes can be crafted

Karaz Ankor – Mountain Realm, the lands of the dwarfs

Karinunkarak – Gesture of protection and farewell, usually invoked when a dwarf is about to go to war

Klad – Armour

Klinkerhun – Common runes or ‘chisel runes’

Khazuk! – War cry of the dwarfs, ‘the dwarfs are going to war, the dwarfs are on the warpath’

Konk – Gold that is ruddy in colour; a large and bulbous nose

Krut – A discomforting disease contracted from mountain goats

Kruti flu – A discomforting disease contracted from mountain goats

Krutting – A ‘practice’ frowned upon by all dwarfs

Kurz – Pitted gold, very dark in colour

Ngardruk – A heinous beast of dwarf legend

Rhun – Rune, word of power

Renk – Gritty gold, often veined with lesser minerals

Ril – Gold ore that shines brightly in rock

Rinkkaz – Gathering of dwarf kings at the behest of the High King

Rinn – A lady dwarf or king’s consort

Runk – A one-sided fight; a sound thrashing!

Skarrenawi – Hill dwarfs; literally dwarfs of the sky

Skaz – Thief

Skryzan-harbark – Dwarf airship or zeppelin

Thaggi – Treachery or murderous traitor; sometimes also spelled ‘thagi’

Tromm – Beard, but also used in respectful greeting or as a way of showing respect to another dwarf

Trombaraki – The act of cutting another dwarf’s beard during a duel of grudgement; a weakling gesture; a cowardly act

Ufdi – A dwarf overfond of preening and decorating his beard; a vain dwarf; a dwarf who cannot be trusted to fight

Unbaraki – An oathbreaker, the very worst insult a dwarf could level at another dwarf

Urk – Orc or enemy; also fear, to be afraid of, to retreat

Uzkul – Bones or death, usually to the enemies of the dwarfs

Uzkular – Undead.

Uzkuzharr – ‘Dead fires’, the unquiet spirits of slain dwarfs

Wanaz – A disreputable dwarf with an unkempt beard; an insult

Wattock – An unsuccessful dwarf prospector; a down at heel dwarf; an insult; a credulous dwarf

Werit – A dwarf who has forgotten where he has placed his ale; a state of befuddlement; a foolish dwarf

Wazzock – A dwarf who has exchanged gold or some other valuable item for something of little or no worth; a foolish or gullible dwarf; an insult

Wutroth – Wood from ancient mountain oak.

Zaki – A crazed dwarf who has lost his sanity and wanders above and below the mountains aimlessly

Zharr – Fire

Zonzharr – Potent dwarf incendiary; highly volatile, often used in sieges and blasting tunnels