They're all cowards without the big bully-boys to put fire in their bellies. Pity! Nothing beats the slaughter of a few gobbos for working up an appetite. Healthy exercise is good for the digestion."

Felix gave him a jaundiced look. He jerked a thumb towards a covered wagon from which Kirsten and a tall middle-aged woman descended. "I'm sure the wounded in that cart would disagree with your idea of healthy exercise, Gotrek."

The dwarf shrugged. "In this life, manling, people get hurt. Just be glad it wasn't your turn."

Felix had had enough. He clambered down from the seat of the wagon and dropped off onto the muddy ground.

"Don't worry, Gotrek. I intend to be around to complete your saga. I wouldn't want to break a sworn oath, would I?"

Gotrek stared at him, as if suspecting a hint of sarcasm. Felix made his expression carefully bland. The dwarf took the idea of Felix's composition seriously; he wanted to be the hero of a saga after his death, and he kept the educated Felix around to make sure of it. Shaking his head, Felix walked over to where Kirsten and her mistress stood.

"Good day, Frau Winter. Kirsten." The two women surveyed him wearily. A frown crossed the sorceress's long face, although no expression seemed to flicker in her hooded reptilian eyes. She adjusted one of the raven's feathers pinned in her hair.

"What's good about it, Herr Jaegar? Two more men dead from wounds. Those arrows were poisoned. By Taal, I hate those wolf-riders."

"Where's Doctor Stockhausen? I thought he would be helping you."

The older woman smiled, a little cynically, Felix thought. "He's seeing to the Baron's heir. Young Manfred got his arm nicked. Stockhausen would rather let good men die than have little Manfred injured."

She turned and walked away. Her hair and cloak fluttered in the breeze.

"Pay no attention to the mistress," said Kirsten. "Master Manfred lampooned her in one of his plays. She's always resented it. She's a good woman really."

Felix looked at her, wondering why his heartbeat seemed so loud and his palms so sweaty. He remembered Gotrek's words back in the tavern, and felt his face flush. All right, he admitted, he found Kirsten attractive. What was wrong with that? Maybe the fact that she might not be attracted to him. He looked around, feeling tongue-tied, trying to think of something to say. Nearby, children were playing soldiers.

"How are you?" he asked eventually.

She looked a little shaky.