"Mehbe," Natasha conceeded. Rampaging beastmen would explain the destruction of the silos, but she didn't see how word of it would not have reached Wolfenburg via the river. Perhaps things were different in the Empire. They rode on at a trot, the forest thining as they climbed a range of low hills. The sun was just begining to sink towards the horizon when they reached the powdermills. A small village was constructed on a culdesac where the river curvetted around a small outcropping. A pallisade fence topped a wall of mortared riverstone with two timber guardhouses atop two story ston bastions that mounted a pair of small cannons. Houses with steep shale roofs clustered around a trio of brick mills. A long interior stone wall seperated three stuckoed silos, one side faced with earth and gambions in whicker baskets in case of fire. A pair of long jettys projected into the river and workmen could be seen loading a pair of barges.

"Gunstat," Marius supplied.

"Vat?" Natasha asked in surprise.

"That's what they call the settlment," he explained.

They road down to the gatehouse. Unlike at Wolfenburg, the guards here were alert and their equipment was plain but in good order. The gate was closed as they approached but opened without comment. Inside the gate was a blind wall that was overlooked by two small block houses. The wall was covered with paper notices. Rules about open flames and trespassing near the silos were prominently posted.

"I sapose ve find samone to spake vith?" she suggested.