---- Interlude ----

Helmut,

It is rare for a man in my position to admit that he is wrong, perhaps especially when he knows it is true. In this great Empire of ours, the administration of Justice must be seen to be both impartial and infallible. The events in Kennenburg winter last are a case, I choose to believe, of justice choosing to run on its own course. Afterall, what could be simpler than some poor deluded fool, Karl Hockendorf as I believe you know, being caught dabbling in the forbidden Lore of Chaos. That the lad had formerly been so highly decorated in the service of Ostland only made a tragic situation worse. We have both of us known too many veterans to whom the horrors of war have served as a spur into darkness.

The evidence was incontrovertible and the boy himself admitted his guilt. I was quite ready to consign him to the flames even without the official sanction of the Templar, none of their order being available in such a forsaken place, when events forced me to stay my hand. Afterwards of course many facts would come to light which forced me to question how often the instruments of justice are perverted....

[i]Justicar Thaddeus Mortigan Von Eikenhouser - Collected letters[/i]




[i]Herr Becker,

I pray this letter finds you and finds you quickly. My name is Eloise Hockendorf you do not know me but you served with my brother Karl against the Norscan's three years ago. He told me that if he were gone and there was trouble I should write to you. There is trouble Herr Becker and I fear that it is more than my brother can survive.

I do not have money but if by some miracle this finds and you come to Kennenburg all that we have is yours for the asking. I wish I could give you more details but I am afraid to commit any more than this to paper. I have taken a great risk to write even this much. Please in the name of Sigmar, help us.

Eloise Hockendorf - Kennenburg - The Third Day of Ulriczeist[/i]




The winter wind blew a steady sheet of slushy rain across the road. It coated the shivering pine trees and the stones that jutted from the roadside with sheet of wet ice that would harden to a deep freeze by the time Morslieeb rose into the blustery sky. Camilla pulled the fur lined cloak tighter around her as they trudged up the winding mountain road. It was a miracle it was passable at all, although definitions of passable were fairly wide ranging. This was more of an optimists passable the sun kissed Tilean thought as did her best to say in the footfalls of her larger companion.

Cydric Becker was a big man and hailed from the wild province of Ostland, doubtless he had dealt with his share of blizzards. The wolf pommeled sword he had won at Middenhiem hung at his belt, the golden scrollwork gleaming in the dying light. Camilla had not known Cydric long before he came to possess the sword but it seemed to her that he seemed less and less bothered by the cold of winter since he had began wielding it. The thought was subtly disquieting to her, though she couldn’t imagine why.  In the distance there was a muted howl of wolves, mostly deadened by the incessant hiss of the freezing rain.

“Myrmida sanguinamento del seno,” Camilla cursed as she brushed at her eyes trying to clear the ice from her eyelashes. She pulled the grey woolen scarf up around her nose till only her eyes peeked beneath the hood but there was no helping it. At Cydric suggestion they had abandoned their horses, scrawny nags liberated from some bandits who were now very sorry for their lack of judgement, at the inn in Rothenbach. No doubt the innkeeper was anticipating selling them as a windfall when the two of them failed to return. Only a complete idiot would try to travel the twenty miles to Kennenburg in this weather but Cydric had been insistent.

A week ago Cydric had received a letter from the sister of a friend of his that vaguely stated that her brother was in very serious trouble. The very vagueness of the missive had seemed more troubling to Cydric than the contents seemed and the pair had set off for Kenneburg at the best speed they could manage. On icy bandit infested roads that wasn’t very fast, but Camilla highly doubted the Imperial House Cavalry could have covered the distance as quickly. Not without using gryphons which would have been cheating in any event. Camilla moved up beside Cydric, gazing at the snowy crags to which the winding road climbed. She cuped her hands to shout over the wind.

“How much further? If this muck freezes and we don't have a fire…” she left the statement uncompleted.