‘Good fortune to us all, and we will meet again when the battle is done,’ said Romilla, raising her hammer amulet and tracing it through the air in blessing.

Bartiman gave a dry chuckle. ‘And for those who don’t make it,’ he said, ‘we’ll be sure to meet again in the Land of Endings, where Hendrick, Olt and Varlen wait.’

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

LURKING

In the event, it took several hours to send out runners, receive replies and ready the city’s meagre forces for their last fight back. Crouched in the gloom of the safehouse, the Swords of Sigmar could do little more than watch the damp creep up the walls, stand their turns peering out of the windows and watching for danger, and try not to think too hard about what came next.

Aelyn was relieved when, at last, Marika’s team of signalmen slipped out of the safehouse’s side door with their armful of alchemical rockets. When the projectiles exploded in bright red and green starbursts a few minutes later, she was standing in the house’s hallway amongst the press of watchmen and her few remaining comrades, her weapons in hand. Aelyn did not show her feelings as the humans did, but the creatures that had attacked this city had cost her much and caused her great pain and sorrow. Now those feelings turned to a cold and furious determination. Bartiman had been right, their plan was a desperate one and liable to fail, but Aelyn vowed that it would not do so on her account. She would honour her distant Wanderer clan with her deeds this day, even if word never reached them of how she had fought and, likely, fallen.

‘That’s the signal,’ said Watchman Shen, who stood at the fore. ‘Thackeray, you and your men get her to the pipehouse no matter what, understood?’

‘In the name of Sigmar and Draconium,’ replied Watchman Thackeray.

‘No harm will come to Eleanora while we draw breath,’ added Romilla. Looking at her comrade’s shaved, scarred and tattooed scalp, her broad shoulders, heavy warhammer and look of absolute determination, Aelyn could well believe it.

‘We do this now in Captain Morthan’s name,’ said Shen, and the assembled watchmen gave a murmur of approval. They would not shout, or cheer, not yet while they still wished to remain unseen. Soon, though, thought Aelyn. Soon.

Hoods were raised, gloves and cloth masks adjusted to ward off the filthy moonlight and the choking spores. Pistols were checked one last time and halberds hefted.

Shen opened the safehouse door, pistol drawn, and led the way out into the twilight.

Watchman Thackeray led the way through the city’s winding streets, and Romilla followed with Eleanora close on her heels. Their bodyguard of watchmen maintained a loose cordon around them, alert for the slightest sign of danger.