by Nathan Long
She leapt down to the mast of the ship, only a few yards below the bridge, and clung there, silent, listening for raised voices or alarms. There were none.
As the boat came out the other side, she looked back to the balustrade, but Gabriella’s face did not appear above it. She made a silent goodbye anyway, then turned and looked down the river.
Though guilt and grief and regret for all she had done and those she had hurt crushed her chest and made her wish that she could weep, she felt a strange elation as well. The world was before her, and though she didn’t know what she would do or where she would go, she was glad to be on her own. She had spent enough time in the nest, and far too much time seeking another nest after leaving the first. From here on there would be no more mistresses or masters, no more lovers or nemeses. She would not follow the dreams of others, or rebel against them. She would walk her path alone, until she discovered what she really was – human or monster, hero or villain.
The first rays of the sun touched the top of the mast only inches above her head. She edged down behind the sail, and looked ahead again. The smouldering remains of von Messinghof’s wrecked barges were just coming into view around a bend in the river. Only a few hundred yards and she would be able to drop to the deck, bound to the shore, and make for the trees.
With so much blood lost, she would need to feed soon, but she knew where to go. Von Messinghof had told his followers to make their rendezvous just a little way down the river. There would be Sylvanians there, and Sylvanians had strong blood.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nathan Long hails from Los Angeles, California, where he began his career as a screenwriter in Hollywood. He has written a wide selection of Warhammer fantasy novels, including the Blackhearts trilogy and more recently the adventures of Ulrika the Vampire. To many fans, he is best known for his work on the hugely successful Gotrek & Felix series, including five full-length novels and the first Black Library fantasy audio drama, Slayer of the Storm God.
A BLACK LIBRARY PUBLICATION
Published in 2012 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd., Willow Road, Nottingham, NG7 2WS, UK
Cover illustration by Winona Nelson.
Map by Nuala Kinrade.
© Games Workshop Limited 2012. All rights reserved.
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A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978-0-85787-652-2
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