At times like these he was glad his father had insisted that riding be part of the education of a wealthy young gentleman of means.

"Come no closer, stranger, or, white banner or no, I'll have you filled full of bolts." The voice was coarse but powerful. Its owner was obviously used to giving commands and having them obeyed. Felix wrestled his steed back under control.

"I am the herald of Gottfried von Diehl, Baron of the Vennland Marches. We mean no harm. We seek only shelter from the elements and to renew our supplies."

"Well you can't do that here! Tell your Baron Gottfried that if he's so peaceful he can march on. This is the freistadt of Akendorf and we want no truck with nobles."

Felix studied the man who shouted at him from the gatetower. Beneath a peaked metal cap his face was keen and intelligent. He was flanked by two men whose crossbows were pointed unwaveringly at Felix. Felix felt his mouth go dry and sweat run clammily down his back. He was wearing his mail shirt but he doubted it would be much good against quarrels at such close range.

"Sir, in the name of Sigmar, we seek only common hospitality..."

"Begone, boy, you'll get no hospitality in Akendorf nor in any other town in these lands. Not travelling with twenty armed knights and fifty men-at-arms."

Felix wondered at the quality of scouts the freistadt must have, to know the numbers of their force so exactly. He saw the pattern of things in this land. The Baron's force was too powerful for any local warlord to open his town gates to them. It would be a threat to any ruler's position in these isolated towns. Yet Felix doubted whether the Baron's force was strong enough to take a walled fort against determined resistance.

"We have wounded," he shouted. "Will you at least take them?"

For the first time the man in the tower looked apologetic. "No. You brought those extra mouths here. You can feed them."

"In the name of Shallya, mistress of mercy, you must help them."

"I must do nothing, herald. I rule here, not your Baron. Tell him to follow Thunder River south. Taal knows, there is enough unclaimed land there. Let him clear his own estate or claim one of the abandoned forts."

Felix dispiritedly brought his horse around. He was keenly aware of the weapons pointed at his back.

"Herald!" the lord of Akendorf cried. Felix turned in the saddle to look at him. In the fading light the man's face held a look of concern.

"What?"

"Tell the Baron on no account to enter the hills to the south. Tell him to stay by Thunder River, I would not have it on my conscience that he ventured into the Geistenmund hills unwarned."

Something in the man's tone made the hairs on the back of Felix's neck prickle.

"Those hills are haunted, herald, and no man should dare them, on peril of his immortal soul."

"They will not let us past their gates. It's that simple," Felix concluded, looking round the faces that circled the fire. The Baron gestured for him to sit down with a faint movement of his left hand, then turned his rheumy gaze to Dieter.

"We cannot take Akendorf, at least not without great loss of life. I am no expert on sieges but even I can see that," said the grey-haired man.