'Oh,' Alaric said. 'There.'
A large armed camp was spread out before them, its tents neatly arrayed in rows. For a second Dietz thought they had somehow circled back to Fatandira's headquarters, but that was impossible. They'd crossed the river and had not forded it a second time, and now that he looked more closely he could see the differences. This was someone else's military.
The first thing he noticed was the absence of horses. Most of Fatandira's men were cavalry, lightly armoured and fast. They wore leather, scale and some chain, and carried spears and short bows. They also seemed as comfortable on horseback as they were on the ground. He suspected, from what Alaric had said of the ruler's background, that her Arabyan heritage made her more inclined towards combat from horseback, certainly her people were known for their fast
horses and their lightning raids. The camp below had some horses but only a few, and even from here Dietz could tell they were larger and heavier than any of the sleek mounts in Fatandira's camp. They were too far away to make out details but it looked as if the men also moved more slowly, and he had the feeling they wore heavier armour.
The one thing that really caught his attention was the banner that flapped above the central tent. It bore the hammer of Sigmar, proudly displayed.
'You said Rorschach was muttering a prayer to Sigmar?' Alaric asked, mirroring Dietz's thoughts. Lankdorf nodded.
Then I think we've found the right place,' Alaric said. He grinned. 'Well, at least followers of Sigmar usually feed their guests. I'm starving!' he said, and began walking down the hill.
'Alaric, stop!' Dietz shouted, catching up with him in a few long strides and grabbing his young friend by the arm. This isn't a temple in Middenheim,' he pointed out crossly. That's an armed camp down there, and we're strangers! They'll most likely shoot us first and search our bodies for answers later.'
'I doubt that,' Alaric replied, pulling his arm free. 'You know as well as I do that, if they really do follow Sigmar, they'll wait to see if we share their faith.' He glanced around. 'They've probably already seen us anyway.' If we try to go around them or run it'll look suspicious, better to walk right up to them and say hello.'
Dietz looked at Lankdorf, who had caught up, and the bounty hunter shook his head. 'He may be right.' Lankdorf looked as if he hated saying those words. 'Skulking past a Sigmarite's practically a sign of guilt to them. If we approach them directly it looks like we've got nothing to hide.'
Dietz stared at both of them. 'You're both mad,' he said finally. Then he threw up his hands. 'Fine, what are we waiting for?'
Alaric grinned and led the way. After a few paces he started whistling again. Dietz and Lankdorf exchanged
another glance and then followed behind the young nobleman. Yes, the bounty hunter was fitting in just fine.
AT FIRST DIETZ thought whoever controlled the camp below must be lax indeed. He had not seen a single guard since they began their approach, and no one had called out to them or interfered with their descent in any way. Perhaps Alaric had been wrong when he'd guessed that they'd already been seen?
As they drew closer, however, he saw his mistake because four men rode directly towards them, stopping just shy of stepping on Alaric's feet. Clearly someone had been watching them, probably for quite some time, and had relayed that information back to the camp. Whoever was in charge must have felt they weren't a significant threat, and he'd let them get this close to make sure they were not an advance party for a larger force.
The four riders all wore heavy mail, the leader in full plate, and carried shields. Three of them had spears in hand, and their shields had a strange irregular cross. The fourth, who was in the lead, carried a massive warhammer across his saddle. His shield bore the sign of Sigmar's hammer, as did his battered but well-tended breastplate. A helmet hung from the saddle, and without it on they could see that he had rugged, almost handsome features, dark hair, and blue eyes lit with the flame of the fanatic. Great, thought Dietz, more religious fervour.
'Hold, strangers!' the man called out, his voice deep and resonant. 'State your names and your purpose here.'
'Alaric von Jungfreud, sir,' Alaric replied, sweeping into a bow. Dietz was surprised but pleased to see only a slight hitch in his friend's motion, a sign that he was all but healed. These are my companions, Dietrich Froebel and Merkel Lankdorf.' Dietz managed a rough bow, as did Lankdorf beside him. 'We are pursuing a man we must speak with, on a matter of great personal significance.' Alaric did not explain further, and Dietz was glad to see that his young friend was finally learning some tact. There
was a good chance Rorschach had come here, and accusing him of theft to his own people might not be the best way to make new friends.
'I am Mir Haflok,' the strange knight told them, bowing from his saddle. 'These are my lands, by the grace of Sigmar. Are you followers of his way?' The question had hints of impending judgement.
Fortunately Alaric was a noble, and when he chose he could be graceful both verbally and physically. 'I am not an adherent,' he replied, 'but I am a man of the Empire and I have only the greatest respect for Sigmar and his teachings.' He gestured to the two of them. 'My friends, also, are of the Empire, and thus we owe allegiance to Sigmar through Karl-Franz, his spiritual heir.' Dietz was surprised, not by this argument but by the identification of Lankdorf as a fellow Empire man. Upon considering it, however, he realised that Alaric was right. The bounty hunter's speech did bear traces of Empire upbringing, although he could not be sure which of the lands Lankdorf was from.
'Well met, then,' Haflok said heartily, apparently satisfied with Alaric's answer. 'Come, you will breakfast with us and we will speak of your business.' He turned and started back towards the camp. Alaric nodded and walked forwards, a safe distance behind the Sigmarite's charger. Dietz and Lankdorf shrugged and joined him. The other horsemen held back until they had passed. Then two of them urged their mounts into walks, flanking the trio, and the fourth moved in behind them.
As they walked through the camp Dietz saw several other differences between this and Fatandira's base. The other camp had seemed orderly and martial, but compared to this it was a swirling mass of colour and confusion. Every tent here was the same in size, shape, and colour. Most of the men had matching armour in one of three varieties. Weapons were consistent, as were hairstyles. Paths were perfectly straight and sentries were posted at regular intervals. This was a true military operation, and Dietz found himself both impressed and a little frightened. What was a
commander like Haflok, a true Sigmarite, doing out here in the Border Princes, playing at being a petty noble?
Alaric had obviously wondered the same thing, and once they were seated with their host in the command tent - a tent no larger or fancier than the others but with the Sigmarite symbol flying above it - and eating a simple meal of bread, cheese, and meat, he made a polite inquiry.
'I am surprised to find a Sigmarite knight so far from home,' was how Alaric put it, sipping at the cool water in his glass. There was no sign of wine, beer or ale, not just here at the table but anywhere along their way through the camp. 'May I ask your purpose here?'
'We seek to protect the holy Empire,' Haflok replied, lifting his glass. His hands, Dietz noticed, were surprisingly delicate, with long, tapering fingers. 'The best way to shield her from her foes is not to battle them within her borders but to stop them well short.'
'So you are securing the Badlands?' Lankdorf guessed, tearing a piece of bread in half.
'That is correct,' the Sigmarite agreed. 'My men and I hold the Blood River against the ores and other foul creatures that would cross it. We protect not only the Empire but the rest of these lands from their corrupt incursions.'
You hold the Blood River?' Dietz was so surprised he couldn't stop himself from speaking, 'With these men?'
Their host laughed. 'We hold it as best we can,' he amended. You are right, I would need a great many more warriors to secure its full length, or even the stretch between
the mountains and the Starnak, which is my chosen ground, but at least we drive them back where the danger is greatest and prevent more than a handful from crossing in one go.'
'You came to defend the Empire, yet you rule here,' Alaric asked. 'How is that?'
Haflok frowned. 'In truth, I know not,' he admitted. 'When we arrived my men and I were no more than warriors, set to guard the bank. Then people began sheltering with us, taking refuge behind our shields. More and more
arrived, forming towns and villages in our wake, and calling me their prince.' He shrugged, although his eyes seemed troubled. 'If Sigmar has chosen me to protect these people by ruling them, who am I to argue? Certainly he has not said otherwise.'
'Talk to him regularly, do you?' Lankdorf muttered, but the Sigmarite's hearing proved as sharp as his own.
'Of course.' Haflok looked surprised that anyone would even ask. 'He speaks to me in my dreams, guiding my hand. It was his will that I travel to this place and set myself here to deny his foes passage.'
'Truly you are blessed with his favour,' Alaric said quickly, cutting off any farther comments from Lankdorf. 'Now, if I might, this man we pursue?'
'Ah, yes,' Haflok said, draining his glass and setting it down. 'Tell me of him. You say you must speak with him?'
'Yes, about a piece of armour,' Alaric replied. 'It has great... personal value for me.' Dietz was certain that he alone heard Lankdorfs snort. 'I believe he may know its whereabouts. We still had it when we encountered him, as guests of your neighbour, Fatandira.' Dietz was impressed. His friend had managed to say 'this man stole something from us while in your rival's camp' and made it sound like a casual, friendly encounter.
An unreadable expression crossed the Sigmarite's face, followed by another that Dietz could make out: guilt. 'Ah, you speak of Rorschach,' he said softly.
'The very man,' Alaric agreed. 'You know him, I take it?'
'Indeed, he is a devout follower of Sigmar,' Haflok admitted, 'and I set him to observe Fatandira and inform me of her movements. She and my other neighbour, Levrellian, attack from time to time, although I have told them that I have no interest in their lands. I seek only to guard the borders and protect such people as have placed themselves in my care.' I Ie shrugged. 'Alas, my peers often fail to appreciate our motives and misinterpret our actions. I was forced to send Rorschach there if only to avoid any further damage to my own lands and any distractions to my men.'
'Shouldn't he still be there, then?' Alaric asked. 'It doesn't do you much good if he's here instead of there.'
Haflok looked genuinely displeased. 'He was indeed instructed to remain in her camp,' he rumbled. 'He arrived a few days past, saying he had urgent news for me, but he took ill crossing the river and has been in his tent since.' He gestured, and one of the guards stationed by the tent flap approached. 'Bring Rorschach to me,' the Sigmarite leader commanded, 'regardless of his health.' The man saluted and departed.
'Thank you, sir,' Alaric told him. 'This armour is important to me, and I appreciate your aid in recovering it.'
'Of course,' Haflok said, waving one hand absently. 'If this armour is yours it is only right for you to reclaim it, and if my man knows anything about it I will insist he tell you of it.' Then he lapsed into silence.
A moment later a different guard entered the tent and whispered something to Haflok, who nodded and said something in return. The man saluted and left again.
'Is there a problem?' Alaric asked cautiously.
'Nothing to concern yourself with,' their host replied, 'only a status report from my men.' He glanced up at them. 'Tell me, which way did you travel? Before encountering Fatandira, I mean.'
'We came from the east,' Alaric answered, 'from the mountains. Why?'
Haflok had lost interest the minute he'd heard the word 'east' and only shook his head.
Trouble from the west?' Dietz asked, and started when the Sigmarite's head whipped aroung to study him, his blue eyes narrowed.
'How did you know that?' Haflok demanded.
Dietz shrugged, trying to look unruffled. 'You wanted to know where we'd been,' he answered. 'It had to be north, east, or west to reach Fatandira's camp. You didn't care about the east and the north is on the other side of her lands, so are nothing to you, but the west butts up against you at the river.'
That is correct/ the Sigmarite agreed, relaxing slightly. 'My concern lies just above my own lands, at the edge of hers, where the halves of the Howling join.' He leaned forwards. 'There is a town there, a place of true evil and infamy.'
'Vitrolle,' Alaric offered, and held up a hand when Haflok's gaze swept to him. 'We were warned against it by a fellow traveller, a Sigmarite named Heim.'
'Jurgen Heim?' Haflok's eyes widened. They all nodded. 'He is here, in the Border Princes?'
'In the mountains,' Dietz told him. 'Or he was a week or more ago.'
'Ah, truly, his aid would be most welcome now,' Haflok said quietly, 'for truly his deeds are mighty and his faith unassailable, but Sigmar has said nothing of his presence here, and thus Heim must be sent upon a separate mission. This task remains mine alone.'
'You're going to destroy the town,' Dietz guessed, and this time it was the Sigmarite who nodded agreement.
Truly it is a blight upon the land,' Haflok proclaimed, his words ringing. 'They practise foul rituals there, and spread filth by their very touch. Sigmar himself has ordered them destroyed and their town razed, and it shall be done!' His eyes blazed with determination and piety, a combination Dietz had always found unsettling.
Haflok's declarations were interrupted as a guard burst into the tent. 'He is dead, lord,' the man blurted out.
'Who?' Haflok was on his feet in an instant, one hand reaching for the hammer at his side. Dietz and the others rose as well.
'Rorschach,' the guard replied, eliciting a groan from Alaric. 'We found him in his tent.'
Haflok was already moving, and Dietz was right behind him as they exited the tent. The Sigmarite strode quickly past a row of tents, stopping at one whose flap had been tacked back. The stench of blood was overpowering.
'Who would do such a thing?' Haflok demanded, ducking inside. If the smell affected him he gave no sign.
Dietz and Lankdorf entered as well, but Alaric waited at the entrance.
Rorschach was certainly dead, that much was obvious. He had been carved open, and the tent walls all but painted with his blood. Several of the splashes seemed to form patterns, and Dietz heard Alaric gasp as he saw them.
'Runes,' the young noble said quietly.
'Runes?' Haflok whirled and confronted Alaric. 'You say these are marks of the Dark Powers?' Alaric nodded. 'How could such horrors have crept into my very camp, here beneath Sigmar's watchful eye?'
'The gauntlet,' Alaric asked softly, 'do you see it anywhere?'
Dietz and Lankdorf both looked. The tent had few furnishings so it was not hard to search, except for the blood and gore everywhere. The gauntlet was nowhere in sight.
'Gone again,' Alaric said with a sigh. 'What is it about this thing? It just won't stand still!'
'Clearly there is more to your story,' Haflok said with a trace of annoyance. 'You will tell me the rest, that I might be better apprised of the evil loosed among my men.' He gestured to one of the nearby guards. 'Marshall the men and check them against the rosters. If any are missing, or anyone has appeared unannounced, I would know of it at once.' The guard nodded and hurried away with two others, and Haflok returned his attention to Alaric.
'All right,' Alaric said, taking a deep breath. 'You want to know what's going on? Well, it all started in Ind...'
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BY THE TIME he had finished the tale Haflok's face had paled, and his wasn't the only one. Lankdorf also looked a bit green.
'You faced all that,' the bounty hunter asked, 'and you're still going after this thing?'
Dietz nodded. 'Somebody has to,' he answered.
Alaric had worried that the Sigmarite comman
der might not believe them, but that turned out not to be a problem. Truly, you serve Sigmar well,' Haflok announced, clapping him on the back hard enough to rattle his teeth. 'This Kleiber of yours was correct: you are noble men and well worthy of praise!' Alaric had made sure to mention Kleiber, knowing the Sigmarite would value the Witch Hunter's opinion.
Thank you,' Alaric replied modestly, 'but we are just doing what is necessary.'
This foul artefact has passed through my camp, and beneath my very nose,' Haflok muttered, 'and I knew nought of it!' He was clearly upset, but didn't seem angry
with them at all, just at himself for not knowing, and perhaps at his god for not telling him.
'Sigmar must have wanted your full attention on Vitrolle,' Alaric suggested diplomatically. 'He did not want you distracted with our problems.'
Yes, that must be so,' Haflok agreed with the ready acceptance of the fanatic. 'For the Jade Sceptre must be stopped, and I have been granted that task!'
'Did you say Jade Sceptre?' Lankdorf asked. He had gone from green to red in an instant.
'Yes, for it is the foul cult that holds the town in thrall,' Haflok said. 'I know little of them beyond their name and the depravity of their deeds.'
'I've heard of them,' Alaric admitted, shuddering as he remembered the stories. 'They were in the Empire several years ago. Many of their members came from the noble class, and several of my fellows at school belonged, although only to the outer fringes.' He winced. 'A few even tried to recruit me, saying it wasn't about worship, only about pleasure, but I didn't believe them. I'd heard even those casual members saying mumbled prayers to the Prince of Chaos.' He refused to say the name, but he thought it: Slaanesh. 'They were strong in Middenheim, if I remember right,' he said with a glance at Dietz, 'but I'd heard that a rival cult destroyed them.'
His friend nodded. 'I remember some of the stories,' he said. 'People would disappear and their bodies would be found days or even weeks later.' He shook his head, and Alaric could hear the bitterness in his voice. They say only nobles belonged to the cult, and that they preyed upon us "lesser folk".'
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