Berthold's Beard - By Joshua Reynolds Page 0,3

of mould clinging to the walls undulate in the breeze and he repressed a shudder.

‘Of course the beasts set the fire,’ Aldrich said. ‘Who else could have?’

Felix caught sight of something out of place in the debris of the room. He strode over and drew Karaghul, using the blade to lift the object in question. ‘Perhaps whoever owned this?’ he said, showing his companions the boot.

‘It’s a boot,’ Aldrich said.

‘It’s got blood on it,’ Felix said.

‘Bah, the beasts probably killed some traveller,’ Gotrek said. ‘Not everyone is as lucky with a blade as you, manling.’

Felix ignored the backhanded compliment. ‘But first forced him to light a fire?’

‘I’ve heard stranger things, manling,’ Gotrek said with a shrug. ‘It doesn’t matter. Whoever set the fire is gone and the beasts are dead. And if there are more, well, we’ll soon fix that.’ He ran his thumb along the edge of his axe for emphasis.

As the fire curled to life, the sky, just visible through the gaps in the roof, turned dark. Felix watched the smoke rise through the gaps. Gotrek sat staring into the fire, his attentions turned inwards, as ever. Sometimes Felix wondered what it was the Slayer saw in his mind’s eye on such occasions. But only sometimes – for the most part, he was glad that such things were hidden from him.

Aldrich, on the other hand, only seemed to get more nervous as the night went on. From the way he had coolly potted that beastman earlier, Felix had assumed that the man wasn’t easily rattled. But then, Felix couldn’t fault him for being a bit out of sorts. The fire cast weirdly dancing shadows on the walls and the sounds didn’t help. Every creak and sigh set Felix’s hackles to bristling. And there was something else... A steady sound, distant but unceasing, like the beat of a drum.

Finally, he said, ‘Gotrek, do you hear that?’

Aldrich started at the sound of his voice, nearly dropping the piece of jerky he was chewing on. Dried meat and cheese were all they had brought in the way of supplies. Felix had assumed that they could catch a rabbit or a bird, but the signs of wildlife had dwindled the closer they’d come to Star Hall, though he blamed that on the beasts. But it was strange how even the grass and trees seemed to shy away from this place.

‘Hear what, manling?’ Gotrek said, shaking himself from his reverie and turning.

‘That,’ Felix said, gesturing. ‘That sound, whatever it is... Do you hear it?’

‘It’s water,’ Gotrek said dismissively. ‘Water beating on stone; these mountains are the worse for water, with weak roots and too much limestone.’ Gotrek knocked his knuckles on the stone of the fire pit. ‘Soft stones these. That is why you men could shape them as you did. No need for skill.’

The echo of Gotrek’s knuckles was loud in the silence. It bounced from pillar to post, growing louder and quieter in turn. Felix felt a chill that had nothing to do with the night. ‘Why did they call this place Star Hall anyway?’ he said, more to fill the oppressive silence than from any real curiosity.

‘The usual reasons, I’m told,’ Aldrich said absently. ‘A star fell here. Its landing created the clearing the house occupies.’

Gotrek was suddenly on his feet, and there was a look on his face that Felix didn’t like. He sniffed, suddenly alert to the stench he’d smelt all night. He’d put it down to the stink of the dead beasts, but he wondered if that were the case. There was a persistent dampness to the smell, like wet hair, he thought.

The sound was back as well, and louder. Not just the dull thudding but the scurrying. Felix’s suddenly sweaty palm dropped to Karaghul’s hilt. Aldrich hadn’t moved, but it was clear that he heard it as well.

In the shadows, shapes moved. Gotrek gave a triumphant bark and leapt on one, his big hands snapping out to grab a flapping limb. With a roar, he tossed the figure into the light. ‘Ha! Caught you,’ he shouted. Felix leapt to his feet, his sword in hand. ‘Watch him, manling, I’ll take care of the others,’ Gotrek said, grinning wildly.

‘Gotrek–’ Felix began, looking in horror at Gotrek’s captive. Gotrek snatched up his axe and bounded into the shadows, ignoring him. Felix looked back at the body that Gotrek had dumped at his feet. The man was dead, and had been for several days, by the look of the