He was deep underground in a chamber in a ruined dwarf citadel, somewhere deep in the Chaos Wastes. And he had a hangover. Surely there were few worse fates that could befall a mortal man, he told himself. He pulled himself up off the sumptuous but rather fusty smelling and too short bed, pulled on his boots and strode out into the corridor to find something that would settle his stomach. As he did so, he was greeted by one of the king's armoured guards who informed him that his presence was required in the throne room. Immediately.

Felix realised that he had indeed found a worse fate. Not only was he stuck in this terrible place but he had to face an old and irascible dwarfish tyrant on an empty stomach. Stifling a groan he followed the guard.

"We cannot leave this place," said King Thangrim Firebeard. There are too many of us. According to what you have told me there is not enough room in your ship for more than an extra dozen people at most. There are several hundred of my people here. It would be unfair to chose some to go and some to stay."

Felix had to admit the old dwarf had a point. He had arrived in the ruler's chamber only to find the others already being grilled by the old despot. Apparently Varek had suggested that the people of Karag Dum should leave their ancestral home. Thangrim had raised a few cogent objections.

"It would only be a temporary measure, your majesty," Varek said. "Once we had flown those people back to the Lonely Tower we could return with a skeleton crew and take more. We could continue to ferry them back until we had taken everyone. It is possible."

"Maybe. But you have told me that even flying across the Chaos Wastes is perilous. Perhaps your ship will crash."

"Surely, your majesty remaining here with the forces of Chaos pounding upon your doors is more perilous. It is only a matter of time before you are hunted down and destroyed." Varek was becoming impassioned and flustered. His eyes were large and round behind the lenses of his glasses.

"You do not understand, youngling. We have here wives and wounded. We cannot simply abandon them or send them away with but a small escort. You know how perilous the halls are. You have seen them. It would take many warriors to guard them, and there is not enough room on your ship for them and the escort."

"The escort could return to your halls," Varek said. "They are warriors. They have done this before."

"Your point is a fair one but eventually we would have to move our ancestral hoards. These are no small treasures, and not a gold piece or trinket will I leave behind for the despoilers."

Felix spoke up for the first time. "But surely gold means nothing when the lives of your people are concerned, your majesty."

Every dwarf present looked at him as if he was either deranged or profoundly stupid. No one even bothered to answer him. Felix wished the floor would open up and swallow him. He should have known better than to try and make such a rational argument to dwarfs when gold was being discussed.

"Could we carry away our father's treasures on your one small ship?" Thangrim asked.

"From what I have heard about your hoard, may it ever grow and prosper, I doubt it."

"Then how can you expect us to leave this place while we have blood left in our veins?"

"Perhaps we could return with more than one airship, great king," Varek said. "Perhaps we could return with enough craft to carry all your people and all your hoard."

"If you could, I would see that you were suitably rewarded. Let me think on what you have said. You may go."

Varek rose to go and Felix moved to join him. He felt a vague sense of relief at being about to leave the king's presence—and at the prospect of getting some food.

"Thangrim Firebeard," Gotrek said. "I crave a boon."

Tell me what it is, Gotrek Gurnisson."

"I wish to seek out this creature you call the Terror, and either slay it or find my doom."

King Thangrim smiled down at Gotrek and appeared to consider his request.

At that moment, however, a distant horn sounded. A few heartbeats later a dwarf raced through the entrance of the throne room and advanced at once to the king. Thangrim gestured for the messenger to come closer and then listened to his whispered words. When the new arrival had finished speaking, his face looked grim indeed.

"It appears it will not be necessary for you to seek the monster out, Gotrek Gurnisson. It is coming here now—and it brings with it an army."

Wonderful, thought Felix, and I haven't even had a chance to grab my last meal.

NINETEEN

BLOODTHIRSTER

"The hordes of Chaos come again," King Thangrim said. "Sound the war-horns. We muster for battle."

The king raised himself from his throne and lifted his great warhammer up high. In that moment Felix could see a glittering aura like lightning playing around the head of the weapon. The air was filled with the smell of ozone.

The king's guard cheered heartily but Felix sensed a deep uneasiness behind their show of courage.

"This is good," Gotrek said.

This is very bad, thought Felix, contemplating the oncoming hordes of Chaos, led by a daemon of unspeakable power. He wondered how he could ever have thought things were bad when he got up this morning. All he had to worry about then was a hangover. Now he had much worse things to concern himself with.

The king strode down the steps accompanied by his priests, and made his way out into the hall. His guards fell into step behind him. Outside in the Hall of the Well, dwarf folk were hastily assembling. Warriors rushed out of every entrance. Some buckled on shields and weapons. Others had breastplates half-strapped to their chests and were hastily tightening fastenings as they assembled. As Felix watched, he saw one old warrior jam a helmet onto his head, spit on the floor and make a few practice swipes with his axe. Seeing Felix looking at him, he gave him a thumbs-up sign.

Out of the corner of his eye, Felix saw Hargrim assembling his tunnel fighters. They too were strapping on heavier dwarfish armour. It seemed that the time for stealth was over and now they wanted the heaviest protection they could get. Felix did not blame them. His own chainmail shirt suddenly seemed woefully inadequate when he remembered the vast mass of bestial warriors he had seen during the approach to Karag Dum, and when he thought of the legendary deadliness of the Bloodthirster.

But what else was there to do but fight? He drew his own enchanted blade from the scabbard and strode over to where Hargrim stood. "How did they find us?" he shouted to make himself heard over the din of dwarfs preparing for battle.

"I know not. Perhaps they found the place where we killed its hounds. Mayhap others of his foul pack found our scent What does it matter? It is the Prophesy. The Last Day is upon us."

"Try not to be so cheerful," Felix said, and glanced around to see where Gotrek, Snorri and Varek were. He could see the Slayers standing near the king. Varek was nowhere to be seen. Felix wondered where he had gone. He realised that whatever happened in this battle, his place was beside his companions. If nothing else, he knew he had no chance of finding his way out of these halls on his own. Any of the others could probably manage it blindfolded.

On the other hand, he was probably being far too optimistic imagining there would be any chance of escape whatsoever. Snorri and Gotrek would never leave while the Bloodthirster was present, but he doubted that even those two formidable warriors could prevail over so mighty a daemon.

"Good luck!" he shouted to Hargrim and raced over to where the Slayers stood.