Disclaimer: I do not own Warhammer or the Games Workshop franchise and I am not gaining any financial benefits from this story. Not that I couldn't use the money of course!

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When Katarina saw what had happened she quickly ducked back behind the wagon, signalling for the prisoners to remain where they were. Reaching up she handed the keys to the nearest prisoner.

"Unlock everyone. If anything happens run for it, but until then stay where you are, understood?"

He nodded. "Understood."

Katarina swept her gaze across the surrounding area. The newcomer lay where he had fallen, to all intents lifeless. At any moment she expected the rest of the force to materialise out of the darkness. To her surprise no one came. No movement could be discerned amidst the flickering shadows and no sound disturbed the night save for the crackling from the burning wagon.

Strange, where are the others?

Had Gerard's shot sent them into hiding-more than likely, for none of them would risk staying where the light of the flames would expose their presence. But why had she not seen any? Surely if the bandits had returned victorious from battle they would not have expected to meet resistance in their own camp. So why send only one of their group on ahead? It made no sense.

Could he have been sent back to get reinforcements? Possibly, in which case she had to move quickly before more of them came back. Placing a foot on the step of the wagon she checked its occupants. No sign of Kurzwiel, evidently the fugitive had made his escape.

"All of you get out of here. Are any of you from the village?"

One tall woman in a brown dress, whom Katarina recognised as the village healer, raised her hand.

"Your friends said they were heading for the caves, do you know where they meant?"

"I do."

"Then lead the others there; move quickly before the bandits return!"

As the prisoners made their escape Katarina moved to check on the fallen figure. Best to discover the man's identity and find out whether they were dealing with more bandits or with a new enemy. Her advance was slow and cautious, mindful that there could still be other enemies watching her movements. She just hoped that Gerard had realised the same thing.

The figure lay on its front, one arm flung out and the other clutched under its chest. Silver hair splayed out across its back, glinting in the light of the flames. Her curiosity quickly turned to horror as she recognised the scaled cloak worn by Joseph. Oh no!

Abandoning caution she rushed to the fallen elf's side, rolling him over to check the wound. The bolt rolled clear, the iron point glinting as it fell into a shaft of moonlight. Joseph's eyes flickered open, his cold gaze meeting hers.

"That bloody well hurt you know!" Brushing her hands aside he clambered to his feet.

"But...but aren't you..?"

"It will take a lot more than that to pierce this cloak woman," Joseph patted the point where he had been struck. Looking closely she could see that the scales were all intact, could see that despite its strength the iron-tipped bolt had failed to penetrate them.

"Impressive. Where did you find that? I've never seen anything like it before."

"You wouldn't have, this is fashioned from the hide of a sea dragon, and you won't find any of them near the Old World."

A sea dragon?

Joseph marched past her, moving towards the wagons. "Would you mind calling your friend off, I have no wish to be turned into a pin cushion."

"I expect he thought you were one of the bandits."

"Well he was wrong; they are all dead now including the leader. I gather that you have disposed of the rest."

"That is so. Gerard reckons that we accounted for all but three of the ones who pursued us. I don't suppose it was you who helped us escape with those burning arrows was it?"

"I merely wished to draw the bandits away woman, your escape was nothing but a coincidence."

Katarina snorted with contempt, "can't say I'm surprised, how many did you take out?"

"Ten of them altogether, between us I'd say we've accounted for them all save the two that escaped."

"Do you think they'll come back for more?"

Joseph shrugged, "not if they have any sense. Ah here comes my executioner." By this time Gerard had come into view, supporting himself on his crutch.

"I'm glad to see you're okay elf."

Joseph's eyes narrowed, "you could have fooled me, and you also know you could have pierced my heart."

"Look, I'm sorry for that but I couldn't see you properly and I thought you were one of them."

Joseph calmed himself with an effort. Human eyesight was much poorer than his own and it was quite likely that in the poor light his dress had been confused with the bandit's fur cloaks. And besides there were more important matters to attend to.

"Well warden, let us say all is forgiven, now to business. Tell me, do you have Kurzwiel in your possession?"

Katarina shook her head, "we have not seen him since before the escape. He was not in any of the wagons, which is why I came back here."

"So the quarry has eluded us it seems," Joseph paused for a moment and then shrugged, "no matter, I dare say I can track him come the dawn."

"Track him," Gerard's tone was disbelieving, "you don't even know where he has gone."

"I can guess where he has gone warden. You will recall that after I interrogated him I told you where he had hidden the stone? Well the morning after the village was attacked I took the opportunity to investigate that spot, which he described very accurately. As I suspected it was a lie and I found nothing. My guess is that he hid that stone somewhere near the village and it is there that I will find him," he glanced from Katarina to Gerard, "will you attempt to pursue him or will seek out the prisoners?"

Gerard traded looks with Katarina, "the villagers know where they are going, they say that weapons and stores are kept in some underground barrows south of the village in case of emergencies and with the bandits either dead or fleeing I doubt they will need our help. I will begin searching for him in the morning."

Katarina nodded. "I will come with you. We should use this time to gather weapons and horses from the camp. If we secure the rest then the villagers can return for them later."

The warden nodded, "I agree, we will set off at first light, and you," he turned to Joseph, "will you come with us?"

"No," Joseph retrieved the crossbow, which had discharged when he had dropped it, "as I told you before I work alone. I may have helped you when the occasion demanded it but the bounty is mine and if I am to claim it then I must find our quarry first." He swung the weapon over his shoulder and turned to leave, "I wish you both luck."

"Wait," Gerard pulled him up short, "you evidently escaped the village, did...anyone else escape with you."

Joseph saw the real question behind those words. "I am sorry Gerard, your partner is dead. I placed his body with the others in one of the huts; you will have to do the burying yourself though."

"There were some guards left at the village."

"Yes but I took care of them, now farewell."

"Now just a minute," Katarina strode after Joseph and angrily and seized his shoulder, "if you think I'm going to let you take my prize you've got another thing coming!"

Joseph struck out with one hand, pushing her back and breaking her grip. Angrily Katarina reached for her scimitar, but Joseph was faster. One minute he was standing there with the crossbow slung over his shoulder, the next there was a flash of metal and the tip of his sword was resting against Katarina's throat.

"That's right reach for it warden!" the elf's tone was cold.

Gerard paused, hand resting on the hilt of his dagger. "I swear if you harm her."

"I have never harmed a woman save in self-defence, am I going to need to do so tonight?"

His gaze locked firmly with Katarina's glare. After weighing up her chances she lowered her hands. "No, I will not try to impede you elf."

"Pleased to hear it woman," he returned his sword to its scabbard. "You know you could always try to track him tonight, just to be fair I could put you on his trail. If you start now you might even be able to beat me."

"I do not require assistance from you." Her gaze returned to Gerard, who was now leaning heavily upon his crutch, "and I cannot set out right now, his leg needs medical attention."

Joseph studied her carefully, a curious expression on his face. "If I may venture some advice I would not entangle yourself further with him until this is over, it is not a good idea to develop emotional ties with someone when you are on a hunt."

Gerard's eyes widened at this, and if looks could kill then Katarina would have sent Joseph on his way to the realm of Morai-Heg.* "You imbecile! I am merely keeping my word, I promised that I would assist him and that is what I will do. In return I will expect him to assist me in achieving my goal!"

The elf shrugged indifferently, "if you say so, now please excuse me," he turned to go, hesitated, then turned back to face Gerard, "when I left Rhinehardt he was alive and well-in the company of that traitorous constable. And it from the look of his wound he was struck down with an axe." With that he strode away and was soon lost from sight.

Katarina watched him go. Blast that elf!

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Aelfrith paused for breath, leaning heavily against a tree trunk, "come on Alfred let's take a breather. We must have outrun them by now."

"We can't stop long. If they have pursued us they won't be far behind."

"Alright but just give me a minute."

"Very well." Alfred hefted the crossbow in his hands, scanning the forest for signs of pursuit. In truth he was feeling just as breathless as his friend but he knew they had to put as much distance between themselves and the camp as possible if they were to escape. Once clear they would have to obtain some horses somehow and make their way to the nearest town. From there they could work out what to do next-either return and report to the baron or strike out for somewhere else. Personally he was favouring the second option right now-the baron would not be pleased to learn of his recent loss in both men and profits, or of their failure to accomplish their mission to retrieve the stone. "Say when your rea..."

His words died in his throat as, glancing around their position, he suddenly caught sight of a pair of eyes looking directly at them from the shadow of a nearby bush. He could not make out their owner, just the eyes themselves-eyes that glowed bright red in the pale moonlit forest.

"Who goes there?" he trained the crossbow on the eyes, heard the snap as Aelfrith slipped the safety catch off his own weapon, "answer me!"

The only reply was a nervous chittering sound. For a moment all was still, and then the eyes began moving towards them.

Both men squeezed their triggers and the thing screamed with pain as both bolts struck it, the red eyes vanishing from view. Shouldering their crossbows, both men drew their swords.

"Alfred, let's get the hell out of here."

"Aye, right now."

The two of them turned to run, only to freeze in their tracks as the wood seemed to come alive around them. A dozen pairs of eyes suddenly appeared in their path. Glancing around they saw that they were now surrounded, surrounded by a wide circle of glowing red eyes.

And the eyes were closing in.

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OOC: Author's note:* Where the men of the Empire have Morr, God of Death, the High Elves have Morai-Heg the Crone, goddess of the Underworld and Keeper of Souls. She knows the future and holds fate within her palm. It is she who decides when it is time for an individual to live or die and her servants are Banshees whose wail is said to foretell death. The High Elves believe that an elf who withstands this wail will find immortality. This information was published in one of the old editions of the High Elf army books-I forget which edition it was, but it was published by Games Workshop in 1997 and introduced a great deal of information about the history and culture of the High Elves. I find that its chronology remains one of the most useful in terms of dates.

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TBC.