The ashes ran through their gauntleted claws as they looked down upon the empty husk of red armour. Had their beaks the capability to smile, the two-headed Tzaangor would have.
“Conrad! Come down here darling, I have cornered their leader in the cave!” Xshaeta cried out, in the slain Vampiress’ voice.
Without making any sound, the vampire gracefully jumped down into the cave’s entrance, his wavy white hair flowing in the cave’s noticeable draft.
He was a good duelist, very good, so he was halfway turned into their direction when Isthubar rammed his axe deep into his exposed arm.
Xshaeta’s flail rammed into his armoured leg, sending waves of pain into Conrad’s body.
Meanwhile, the vampire’s elegant sword glanced off the Tzaangor crusaders’ heavy armour.
His face was a grimace of pain and indignation as he cursed at them.
“Vile vulture-scum!”
Conrad scrambled backwards to get some distance between and the Templar towering over him, but the flail looped around his leg made him fall down, where the sacred axe bit into his armour for a second time.
“Why so rude, darling?” the left Tzaangor head purrer in his beloved’s voice, while the right cackled at him in amusement. “Where are your manners?”
The vampire nimbly rolled out of the flail’s grasp, and brought his sword forward, aiming at the monstrosity’s unprotected necks and heads, but his sword was parried easily by the axe’s blade.
Pure hatred was in Conrad’s eyes as he glanced behind the Tzaangor, his gaze lingering upon the empty armour of Victoria for a second, while he was pushed back step after step by the Tzaangor’s powerful assault.
It was as if he fought two opponents, which in a way, he was.
His back collided with the cave’s wall, and once again Xshaeta painfully wrapped their flail around Conrad’s body, while Isthubar brought down their axe upon the vampires sword, sending tremors up his undead arm.
With their unnatural strength, the Tzaangor held the vampire in place at the wall while he struggled against them, trying to bring his superior fencing skills to bear; which was rather difficult in this enclosed space.
Isthubar’s long neck shot forward in an instant, the sharp beak burying itself deep into the vampire’s neck as he screamed in pain and terror.
“Such a delicious feast!” in Victoria’s charming voice was the last thing Conrad ever heard before Xshaeta’s beak also tore into his neck from the other side, and his whole world turned to ash.
________________________________
As the two-headed Tzaangor reached the surface, they could see the combined force of Fyreslayers of the Karvul lodge and Templars had shattered the last of the Vampiress’ graveguard escort.
Gelvan Brazenmantle strut about the battlefield, his muscles body covered with many fresh wounds, but seemingly unbothered by it.
As the Templar Champions threw the Vampiress’ two silver circlets before him, Gelvan nodded approvingly.
“A hard-earned victory.” he said, in a gruff voice. Nearby, his followers dragged their fallen to one side.
“Neither of us could have overcome the vampires on our own. United, we may just survive this one.” The Duardin turned towards the looming Spire of Vexshik. It was close, chillingly and dangerously close. The end of the road was at hand.
“Our Burning Saviour has blessed Our alliance.” Xshaeta replied, still in Victoria’s voice, which caused Gelvan to do an uncomfortable double-take, before resting his gaze back upon the Skaven Spire.
“Let’s bring this abomination down.” he finally said, shuddering.
“Yes.” Isthubar spoke. “Let’s.”
