Camilla stared in horror as Cydric raced into the fray, certain he was about to be struck down and even more surprised when he reached the grey seer and cut it down as easily as one might swat an annoying insect. Eloise was obviously equally shocked and was staring open mouthed at Cydric. Finally managing to force her shocked muscles into action, darting from behind the pillar she whipped her rapier through the air and deflected the descending blade of one of the rat things, which had been aimed at the wizard’s back. Her hand yanked the dagger free from her belt and she spun without slowing allowing her momentum to drag the razored blade across the rats stomach, slicing flesh and spilling yards of slipper grey entrails.

[b]“Cydric!!”[/b] she screamed seeing him go down with the Chamberlain’s dagger still protruding from his armor. Either the injury the old heretic had suffered had been less severe than he had let on, or some sort of regeneration had occured that was allowing him to move with a speed and power of a much younger man. He leapt down atop Cydric, driving his boot into the Ostlander’s face.

[b]“Meddling swine!” [/b]he roared, [b][b][b]“You will not thwart the Changer!You will not thwart Tzneech!”[/b][/b][/b]

Camilla felt her feet start to go out from under her as a wave of nausea swept over her. Seductive thoughts buzzed in her mind, whispering half realized promises of what she could be if only she would submit and speak the name. All she wanted at this moment though was to reach Cydric and she staggered on. Osfurth was raising one hand over Cydric and she realised in horror that his hand was pulsing with the same reality distorting energy which had twisted the noblewoman into the unrecognisable pile of flesh. Her ankle twisted painfully under her as her shoes betrayed her, not meant to be used for running but she was already commited. Her lungs burned and she was unable to take a breath as her mind screamed at her simply to speak the ruinous name and taste relief. 

With faltering strength she swung the rapier at Osfurth, it was a clumsy blow, not the clean thrust for which the weapon was designed. It caught the Chamberlain across the hand and though it wasn’t a mighty blow the weapon was razor sharp. The man screamed, severed fingers dropping away from the twisted stone, he screamed in pain and fury and lunged for it with his other hand but Camilla reversed her stroke and batted to stone off into the pack of skaven, most of the nobles having found refuge in corner that the surviving soldiers were forming a screen for. Camilla dropped to her knees and was horrified to see worm like purple tentacles growing from the stumps of Osfurth’s severed fingers, a sight curiously reminiscent of pasta being pressed.
[b]
“Now you will die bitch, a shame for one so sensitive but…”[/b] Whatever Osfurth’s objection might have been it was lost in a roar of flame as a lance of fire as thick as Camilla’s leg bifurcated the man from crown to crotch in a blast of heat so intense that it singed the silk sleeve of her dress. Eloise had evidently been waiting for a clear shot. Osfurth’s charred and burning remains collapsed in a pile. Squirming purple larvae being consumed by the heat as they fell from his rotten flesh.

[b]“Help!” [/b]cam a girlish scream. Camilla pushed herself to her feet, studying the room drunkenly, head still reeling. One of the Skaven had hold of Jisele her Swords of Ulric dead or missing. With fumbling hands she drew her dagger and hurled it into the back of the Skaven. The thing screamed and clawed at its back and the girl scampered free of the thing darting over to where Camilla stood over Cydric. In her peripheral vision she saw the Rat Ogre go down as a trio of Great Swords stuck simultaneously, one amputating the things taloned hand and the other two thrusting their six foot blades into its chest like vast spears. Leaderless and under attack from two sides the rats broke, scurrying back towards the tunnels that had bought them. To her utter astonishment the Greatswords broke into a charge, thundering into the Skaven rear in an avalance of men and metal that shook the few chandeliers the mystical duel hadn’t destroyed.

[b]“Shall we go after them Lady Vivvienne?”[/b] Jisele asked her little hands wrapped around a crude Skaven sword she had recovered from… somewhere. Camilla knelt down over Cydric pulling his head into his lap. He was still breathing. Thank Myrmidia for her protection of Fools, Whores and Orphans, maybe some had rubbed off on brave Ostlander’s too.

[b]“If its all the same with you your Ladyship,”[/b] she murmered. 

[b]“Ill be just as happy to wait here.”[/b]
[@POOHEAD189]