Moonrise Towers stood solitary on the banks of the Chionthar River, looming over the surrounding region. Its stern defenses had the rigid order of an arsenal. Fully equipped soldiers lined both sides of the long stone-paved road. The general himself led the way, with Aaron and the Harper leader Brusnan behind him, followed closely by Eleanor and the others.
Having reverted from his Daemon Prince form, Annomyn was getting a feel for his new power-the Eye of Tzeentch beam Aaron had bestowed on him had mutated among the Skaven Clanrats. Tzeentch's power manifested less in devastating bombardment than in distortion, evil, and mutation.
Annomyn desperately wanted to turn his father, Selim VII, into a lump of Chaos Spawn. But Selim VII was exceedingly cautious. Six shifts of guards maintained round-the-clock protection, leaving Annomyn no opportunity for revenge.
That alone would have been tolerable. Annomyn had already prepared himself to fight Selim VII to the bitter end, even if it meant mutual destruction.
After all, revenge was the whole reason he had become a Daemon Prince.
Recently, however, while sorting through his mother's belongings, Annomyn had unexpectedly discovered some records she had left behind.
Not only had his mother borne Selim VII no resentment, she had loved the Grand Pasha to the very end. In her eyes, receiving his favor had been a stroke of luck, her supreme glory. A lowborn maid who did not even deserve to be a concubine had conceived Selim VII's child-was that not proof enough of her honor?
His mother had always loved his father.
That realization caused Annomyn immense pain.
His mother had been the justification for his revenge. For her sake, he had killed his three older brothers without the slightest guilt, publicly carrying out what he considered a righteous execution.
But now he