The Serpent Queen

by Josh Reynolds

  He looked up. Khalida was watching him, her head cocked to the side. ‘I don’t think it’s working,’ he croaked.

  ‘It hasn’t worked in four centuries,’ Djubti croaked from behind him. The liche-priest looked as tired as a dead man could, and leaned on his staff. Behind him came Rhupesh and Kharnak, the latter cradling Zabbai in his arms. Felix smiled as he saw her. The smile faded as Djubti continued. ‘Poison dries up quickly, after a few years.’

  ‘What?’ Felix said, not understanding.

  Gotrek frowned, but not for long. He gave a loud guffaw. ‘Ha!’

  ‘What?’ Felix demanded.

  Khalida reached towards him and tore the bracelet from his wrist before he could pull away. ‘I needed to ensure that the Doom-Seeker did as I bade.’

  ‘But-but you said…’ Felix began. ‘You lied!’

  ‘Yes,’ Khalida said. ‘I am queen. It is my prerogative to lie to barbarians, and to my enemies.’ She looked at Gotrek. ‘I could not trust you to do as I asked. So I had to ensure that the game was played the way I wished.’

  ‘But-but… you didn’t even need the sword!’ Felix said. ‘I almost died – we almost died!’ he shouted. Gotrek put a restraining hand on his arm.

  ‘Leave it, manling. We got a good fight out of it, at least,’ Gotrek said. He rubbed his wounded shoulder. ‘Not much of one, mind, but good enough.’

  Before Felix could reply, drums thundered, and chariot wheels rattled. Felix turned, and saw that the horizon to the west of Lybaras, where the Devil’s Backbone stretched, was occupied by an army of the dead. Not zombies these, but skeletons clad in bronze, and bearing standards in the shapes of scorpions. Their approach had been hidden by the distraction of the battle.

  The drums continued to roll, and as he watched, the newcomers lowered their spears, set their shields and began to advance. ‘Mahrak,’ Khalida said simply.

  ‘Are they here to help, or…’ Felix trailed off.

  Khalida didn’t look at him. She watched the assembling legions. Behind them, the Lybaran forces began to form up, readying themselves to meet this new threat. They had just finished one war, but didn’t seem too bothered about starting another. He recalled Antar’s words about war being a game, and the interminable battle in the crater and shuddered. Was battle all that there was in these lands?

  His heart sank as he considered it. It seemed that even if the poison had been nothing more than a ploy, he was still going to die. Khalida held up her remaining hand as Kharnak and the other ushabti stepped forwards, stopping them from racing towards the enemy. Behind them, the Emerald Sentinels stomped into position, and they too froze at Khalida’s command.

  A trio of chariots rumbled out of the newcomers’ ranks and towards Lybaras. Felix shook his head as he recognized one of the riders. Gotrek laughed. ‘Look, manling. He survived after all.’

  ‘Yes, I see that,’ Felix said, as Antar descended from his chariot. The tomb-prince, like Zabbai, looked much the worse for wear from his travels. How he had managed to survive the Temple of Skulls and make it back to his city, Felix couldn’t say, but it was clear that it had taken a toll upon him. Antar was rattling worse than ever as he strode towards them, accompanied by his driver. The driver stepped forwards, as if to speak, when Antar shoved him aside.

  ‘Antar, Most Beloved of the Sun, Moon and Stars, sees that you have defeated the charnel rabble, O Queen of the Serpent’s Vengeance. He is pleased! Your victory is Antar’s victory, for it was he who helped you achieve it!’ He gestured towards the waiting army. ‘Antar thought you might need aid, and thus, he mustered the Scorpion Legions of Mahrak to come to fight at your side.’

  ‘Indeed, son of Mahrak, you did,’ Khalida said. ‘And Lybaras thanks you, and asks that, since our enemies have been routed, you take this army you have so thoughtfully brought and remove it from our demesnes.’

  Antar cocked his head. ‘Ah. The Helpful Lion regrets that, having roused the Scorpion Kings of Mahrak, he must provide them with battle. If it be not with the enemies of Lybaras, then it must be with Lybaras itself. Such is the will of King Tharruk, who has himself come to witness the battle.’ He gestured back at a splendidly adorned chariot, and its regal rider. Antar looked at Khalida. ‘Of course, Antar did convince the king that, in lieu of open battle, a contest of champions would be a most fitting decider for the grievances between our cities.’

  ‘Oh?’ Khalida said. ‘And who fights for the City of Decay?’

  ‘Who else?’ Antar said, spreading his arms. ‘Antar, Mightiest and Most Magnificent of All Princes, Whose Glory is as the Sun, will fight for Mahrak. For is he not Mahrak Embodied? The question, mighty queen, is who shall fight for Lybaras? Your Herald is crippled,’ he said, gesturing to Zabbai.

  Zabbai began to squirm in Kharnak’s grip. ‘Crippled, am I? Let me down, honoured one! I shall take his yattering jaw,’ she hissed.

  ‘Be at peace, Herald of Heralds,’ Khalida said. ‘You have done all I asked, most faithful one. Djubti shall make you whole, and you shall serve me anew. But our guests appear to be the impatient sort, and likely will not deign to await your restoration.’ She looked at Antar, who inclined his head, and waved disparagingly at Zabbai. The latter reached for him with a throttling motion, and Kharnak was forced to tighten his grip to keep the broken Herald from squirming out of his grip and going after the prince of Mahrak.

  ‘As you say, most puissant queen,’ Antar said, backing away from Zabbai, who filled the air with curses. ‘Though I would happily await the Herald’s pleasure, we are here now, and spears rattle and swords are raised. Battle! Battle calls to us! The gods watch and champions must clash! Yes? Yes! Antar is but the game-piece of fate, and he is burdened by glorious purpose!’

  ‘Then it seems that I require a temporary herald.’ Khalida looked at Gotrek. ‘Have you any wisdom to offer, Son of Stone?’

  The Slayer was silent for a moment. Then he smiled and looked at Khalida. Felix looked back and forth between them, hoping that the next words out of Gotrek’s mouth weren’t going to be what he expected. ‘You didn’t give me the doom I was promised, but it’s not every day I get to kill a queen. I owe you for the fight, by my reckoning, High Queen of Lybaras. And I always pay my debts, one way or another,’ Gotrek said.

  Khalida examined the Slayer. ‘You are not bound, Gotrek Gurnisson. You have done all I required. You are free to leave, to go where you wish.’

  ‘I always was,’ Gotrek said with a huff. ‘Aye, and I will, by and by. But this mouthy crow’s leavings and I have a fight to finish before I and the manling take our leave of your lands. A debt of honour stands to be settled, between the folk of Mahrak and mine.’ Gotrek grinned and looked past Antar, where King Tharruk watched from his chariot. ‘I want that hammer back, you sun-bleached oaf!’ he roared, shaking his axe.

  ‘Hammer?’ Felix blinked. ‘Oh, oh no, Gotrek, really?’

  ‘Of course, manling. The Hammer of Algrim! I bet that buzzard vomit has it on him,’ Gotrek said, waving his axe at the distant chariot. ‘One of them does, at any rate. Better to shave my beard than let an opportunity like this pass. I’ll silence this chattering numbskull,’ he hiked a thumb at Antar, ‘and I’ll return Algrim’s hammer to Karak Azul. That alone will make this trip worth it, doom or no.’ He looked at Khalida expectantly.

  She examined him for a moment, and then inclined her head. ‘Will you lend me one final service, Gotrek Gurnisson, before you depart for the lands of the living?’

  Gotrek grinned. ‘I thought you’d never ask.’

  Felix groaned.

  ‘Good!’ Antar barked. ‘It is our time come around at last, cheating monkey. Now shall Antar have his vengeance and he shall have King Alkharad’s as well! Antar shall await you between the armies! Come and die, one-eyed ape!’ He spun about and trotted away, still shouting and gesticulating.

  ‘This’ll be fun,’ Gotrek
said, and slapped Felix on the back. Felix took in the enemy army and swallowed. It was massive. Drums crashed as Antar bellowed something to the troops who’d come with him. They raised a clattering cheer. Behind them, the Lybaran forces began to form up into organised lines. Zabbai inclined her head as he met her gaze. Djubti fussed about her, realigning her cracked bones and poking at her wrappings. She’d be up and around in no time. He was glad she’d survived. He realised that he would miss her, when all was said and done.

  ‘Cheer up, manling. I’m almost positive I won’t survive this one,’ Gotrek said cheerfully. He gave his axe an experimental swing. Felix looked at him.

  ‘Here’s hoping,’ he said.

  Gotrek guffawed.

  ‘That’s the spirit!’ he said. Then, with a laugh, the Slayer hefted his axe and went to meet his waiting opponent, as Felix watched the rising sun, and thought of Tilea and sandy beaches.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Author of the novels Knight of the Blazing Sun, Time of Legends: Neferata, Time of Legends: Master of Death and Gotrek and Felix: Road of Skulls, Josh Reynolds used to be a roadie for the Hong Kong Cavaliers, but now writes full time. His work has appeared in various anthologies, including Age of Legend and several issues of the electronic magazine Hammer and Bolter.

  For Noah, who probably won’t read this

  A BLACK LIBRARY PUBLICATION

  Published in 2014 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd., Willow Road, Nottingham, NG7 2WS, UK

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