The fresh air hit him like a wall, he had forgotten how the wind had felt
through his hair, after so many years in the under world. The Skaven scout
besides him squeaked at him and bowed, before heading back down the tunnel. He
did not even have time to say thanks or goodbye before the scout was gone.
He felt his hand thorough his short hair; the rat that cut his hair had done a
good job... Considering everything.
His name before being captured all those years ago he had almost forgot, but he
had remembered it, if only for the horned rat priestess had called him by that
name, rather than just "human" or "slave", as the others had. Sebastian he had
to remind himself was his name.
Sebastian felt the document tube attached to his belt once more before starting
to walk out to the road. The priestess had been amendment that it be delivered
to the town's guard.
The road right lead to the a major city, and left to his home town. Memories
flashed into his minds eye as he walked. Memories of the day he was taken, how
afraid he had been, how the rats had beaten him, and poked him, a bag placed
over his head., dragged through the warren like tunnels of the small settlement
of the Under-Empire. Being dumped on the floor and having a clawed hand remove
the bag over his head to reveal a Skaven with green, sparking eyes and horns
looking down at him.
As he saw the last mile post before town he could not help but wonder how she
was doing... She had seemed stressed when she ordered him to delver the message
in the tube.
The guard house outside the city looked as he remembered it. There was two
people discussing something with guards. After a bit of back-and-forth the two
gave the guard a few coins and the boom opened and they could pass.
Sebastian steadied himself as he took the few steps needed to step up to the
guard. The Guard looked at him expectantly for a second before he tilted his
head and said "Passing through or staying in town?"
Sebastian swallowed "I come baring a message form the Skaven settlement due
south of here".
The guard looked over to the other guards who had unsheathed their swords,
"And I'm the emperors son" the guard barked a laugh.
Sebastian fumbled with the tube at his belt when he felt steel against his
neck. "No you don't." the guard said sternly "Alex, come here and take that off
him." Another guard came over and carefully unhooked the tube from Sebastian's
belt before examining it.
The guard named Alex weighed it in his hands and carefully shook it. "Seems
safe, sir."
The first guard took it and gave it to Sebastian "Open it."
Sebastian gulped, he carefully opened the tube and pulled out the paper, sealed
with lacquer and a seal he recognised but could not place.
The guard took the paper and looked at the seal, "That is the captain's seal...
How did you get hold of that seal?" the sword pressed harder against his chin.
"I didn't, sir, it must be the infiltrators that took it." Sebastian said with
fear.
A new guard came over and looked at Sebastian with scrutinising eyes "What is
your name?" he said sincerely, putting a hand on the first guards shoulder.
"S-Sebastian."
"What is your full name?" he gestured to the first guard to lower his weapon as
he stepped in front of Sebastian.
Sebastian froze... What was his name? It was somewhere in there, flashes of
green he remembered, the priestess hand-paw on his head. He grasped his head
before he finally said "Sebastian Albrekt son of Wilhelm Albrekt".
The guards eyes went wide "Sebastian Albrekt..." he took a breath and took the
roll of paper from the guard looking at the seal, before opening it. "May the
Emperor protect us..." he said under his breath, before addressing Sebastian
properly "Sebastian, come with me." He looked over the other guards and barked
at them "Be on the look out for Skaven!"
The guard, who Sebastian deduced was the Captain, lead him through the gate and
into a house just inside the walls.
The house was spartan in it's furnishing and decor, a rag-knit-rug lay on the
floor, lay on the floor, a table with four chairs in the middle of the room and
desk in along the inner wall, where a bed stood.
"I know it's not much... But considering where you have spend the last six-seven
years, this must seem extravagant?" The captain said and he sat down on a chair
and gestured to Sebastian to sit down.
Sebastian sat down on the chair and looked nervously at the captain. "You are
not afraid I might be a threat to you?"
The captain smirked handing over the paper roll to Sebastian "Have a read."