The grey seer was mad and incompetent. He deserved to die and be replaced by someone better. Someone not unlike Lurk, in fact. He knew now that it was not only his body that the warpstone had altered but his mind and spirit. He had become smarter and his eyes had been opened to many things. He knew now he was cleverer than Thanquol, and could lead far better, if given a chance. For the moment though, he decided that prudent skaven caution was the best course.

“Where are you, mightiest of masters?”
I am below you in the human fortress, waiting to spring a trap on those stunted fools. Now report to me! Where have you been? Why have you not responded to my potent spells of communication?
Because they never reached me, you overbearing clod, thought Lurk. “Perhaps my feeble brain was incapable of encompassing such potent sorceries, most masterful of mages,” he replied.
Report! Are there many dwarfs on the airship? Is it damaged? Where have you been? Do you have many treasures on board?
What is this mad skaven on about? Treasures? What treasures could there possibly be? Grey Seer Thanquol had no idea what had been going on up here, that much was obvious. Did he think that Lurk had the run of the airship? That the dwarfs gave him a cheery greeting and an answer to all his questions? His disrespect for Thanquol increased with every passing moment. His mouth said: “Which question should I answer first, wisest of leaders?”
Answer as you will but answer quick-quick! We may not have much time before…
“Before what, most perspicacious of potentates?”
Never mind. Just be ready to act when I give the order.
“As always, most commanding of commanders.”
If he closed his eyes, Lurk could visualise Grey Seer Thanquol standing before him, red orbs gleaming with mad knowledge, the froth of the warpstone snuff to which he was addicted clinging to his lips. Lurk wished the grey seer was here right now so that he could reach out and wring his scrawny neck. He flexed his talons in anticipation.
Soon the airship will dock and our trap will be sprung! Prepare to spread as much chaos and confusion among the stunties as you can, but be careful not to damage the airship!
Prepare to get myself killed furthering your crazed schemes, you mean. Lurk had no intention of endangering his life for the greater glory of Grey Seer Thanquol. It occurred to him that he had done this quite often enough already without adding to the tally of misdeeds that Thanquol owed him for. “Of course, master. I live to obey,” he said.
Good-good! See that you do and you will be well rewarded! Fail me and—
“Say no more, most persuasive of pontificators. I will not fail you.”
Now answer my questions! Are there many dwarfs on board?
Lurk answered the catechism, being careful to overstate the strength of the dwarfs in every respect. It was as well to have your excuses prepared in advance with Grey Seer Thanquol. It was something he had learned from the master himself.

Felix peered down at the mansion. It was as bad as he had feared. There was no sign of life. No! Wait! What was that? Was it movement at the window? He focused the spyglass on it but by the time he had done so it was gone.
“I suppose we had better go down and investigate,” said Gotrek testily, pulling the sling from his arm and flexing the muscles experimentally.
“What if it’s a trap?” Felix asked.
“What’s your point, manling? What if it is a trap?”
Felix considered his words carefully. The Slayer was still determined to seek his doom, that much was obvious. But for once Felix was keen to accompany him. He needed to find out what had happened here. He desperately needed to know what had become of Ulrika. And her people, he added as a guilty afterthought, though he admitted to himself there was only one person down there whose fate he really cared about.
“We’ll go down together,” Felix said.
“Snorri will come with you,” said Snorri.
“I think the rest of us should stay with the airship,” Borek said. “No sense in risking everything and everyone at this late stage.”
The old scholar at least had the grace to look embarrassed as he said it.