Having just dealt with one problem, Elder Ballfluff thought of the losses and his face darkened again.
They climbed out of the Great Pit and, surrounded by Champion Rats, went to the place where an Airship had crashed that night.
The fire had consumed everything. Nothing remained but a blackened patch of ground.
Elder Ballfluff insisted on searching the wreckage. After a long while, he dug a Magic Musket out of the charcoal, its metal barrel warped by the heat into something like a twisted staff.
Philos recognized it. It was a Magic Musket from Free City.
Elder Ballfluff recognized it too. He raised it like a human Musketeer and murmured, "An interesting weapon of the Human Things. Powerful, and it doesn't use magic... Why don't we copy it?"
Let the Ratfolk get their hands on Magic Muskets? That was no good idea...
Philos said nothing.
Elder Ballfluff tossed aside the melted Musket and looked at Philos. "Help me get one, and I'll help you keep your seat as Legion Commander."
The Minister told Annan a few secrets outsiders did not know.
For example, the Empire appeared strong but was stretched thin—not weak in the usual sense, but too occupied to spare more forces to deal with Chaos.
Of the Empire's Eight Legions, half had been sent against the Northern Chaos Forces. The other four had to remain stationed across the Empire, keeping an eye on petty criminals, disloyal Nobles, and trouble stirred up by hostile forces.
"I understand. The Empire is like a mighty Female Warrior, more than capable of hunting Orc Champions, but even she has moments of weakness. Right now, she's exhausted herself charging into an Orc tribe and ended up surrounded by Orcs..."
"Speak plainly!"
No one had managed to anger the imperial Minister in