THE ADVENTURERS

"By Sigmar, these mountains are sore on the feet:" thundered the noble Heinrich Lowen, red-faced from the exertion of making his way up the steep, mossy path.

Sven Hammerhelm gave him a flinty stare, "Marling, Karak Azgal is but a gentle hillock compared to the uppermost peaks of the World's Edge. When you have gazed down from the snowline of Karaz-A-Karak and seen all the lands of the eastern Empire spread out beneath you then you will have climbed a mountain."

Heinrich looked at the Dwarf and shook his head. "I was joking Sven. Sigmar knows our position is precarious enough. Stuck halfway up a gentle hillock, pursuing murderous Ratmen to avenge a halfcrazed mage. We could use a little humour."

"My Master was a great and wise man," said Magnus seriously. He stroked his beard and looked grim. "We seek not only to avenge Jervais but to prevent the Amulet of Solkan falling into the claws of the Sorcerers of Clan Skryre. If our quest fails the world will be in peril."

His tone brought home the gravity of their position. Heinrich had never seen his friend so obsessed. Finding his teacher dead amid a deserted battlefield of butchered retainers and slaughtered Skaven had changed him. Magnus was no longer the carefree young wizard he had met in Parravon: he was a driven man, possessed by a need for vengeance worthy of angry Solkan himself.

Heinrich envied Magnus his certainty. The fear that gnawed at him increased with every laborious step. Every pace carried him nearer to deadly danger. As the shadows lengthened under the brooding peaks he wondered why he had ever exchanged the safe life of a nobleman for the perils of adventuring.

The Elf Torallion returned from scouting ahead. "The Skaven's trail leads onto a Great valley," he said softly. "I found traces of blood on the rocks. Some of them must be wounded."

"You don't say, oh mighty hunter," said Sven sourly.

Torallion ignored him. "At the end of the vale is an entrance. It must lead down to their lair."

Over the shoulder of the mountain was a deep hollow. In its centre brooded a mist-covered tarn. Around it claws of rock groped skyward.

"I do not like the look of that water," said Sven, tugging at his beard.

"You feel that way about all water, bathwater included," said Torallion airily. The Dwarf gave him an angry look.

"Enough bickering." said Magnus. "We must all work together if we are to survive. The servants of the Horned Rat lurk below. Warriors of Clan Mors have already killed twelve men to aquire my master's piece of the Amulet. They will show us no mercy if they discover us."

The Elf bowed to the Dwarf then turned his gaze to the lake. "You are correct, child of Grugni. I have travelled far since leaving Athel-Loren's fair glades. From the Chaos-tainted woods of the Empire to the salt marshes beyond Sith Rionnasc'namishathir, which men call Marienburg. Never have I seen a more gloomy place."

"You've never stood on the Northernmost peak of the World's Edge Mountains and watched the dark aurora dance over the blighted Chaos Wastes then," said Sven.

Heinrich felt a crawling between his shoulder-blades as they advanced. Blotched and unhealthy trees loomed out of the mist. As they approached the stone arch of the entrance he thought he heard chinering voices and the scrape of claw against stone.

"What was that?" he asked aloud. Torallion laid a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"I heard it too," he said. "We are being watched."

"It doesn't matter," Magnus said. "We must go on."

They exchanged fearful glances. Even Magnus was pale a nervous tick pulsed far back on his jaw. They stood immobile. Heinrich felt an urge to run from this haunted place. The prospect of wandering through the dark. Skaven-infested tunnels below the mountain filled him with dread. His companions looked no more keen than he was.

Eventually Sven hawked and spat. "Doubtless the Ratmen will hunt us down on the mountainside if we turn back."

Torallion nodded. "We swore to recover the Amulet against the day of Praznagar's return."

"My master must be avenged," said Magnus. Heinrich realised that they were waiting for his response. He screwed his courage to the sticking point.

"We must go on," he said, trying to keep his voice from shaking. "For if we do not, who will?"

As one they turned and made their way through the entrance. They passed beneath the rune of the Horned Rat and descended into the waiting darkness.