T

 
he Hell-black hound snatched the bloody piece of meat out of mid-air, jaws snapping it, and tore at it hungrily, bolting the morsel down as if there was chance of it escaping. In mere seconds it was gone, the only testament to its existence staining the muzzle of its fate. The dog licked its chops, where unearthly flame crackled, erasing even that small token. It looked back with eyes like fiery coals, sure sign of its supernatural origin, at its master, who, sitting at the head of a long, oaken table, threw further tender tidbits to his beast in sanguinary bemusement. The hound was said to be spawn of Garm, guardian of the hell-gate; entrance to the realm of the dead. It had been a gift to him from a grateful patron to whom he had done service, and none knew whence it had been gotten before.
      Sieghard of Schürstab chuckled heartily, obviously enjoying his pet's bloodthirstiness. He was a large man, with stout features and a sardonic look in his eye. Unlike his fellow Teutons, he wore his mane of ebon hair long. Only the white streaks at his temples and

 
 
corners of his beard denoted he might be of the Fürsten, the lesser nobles of the Holy Roman Empire. He dressed in evident opulence, sporting the dividends of a successful bandit career.
      He stuffed one final piece of roast boar into his mouth, and began chewing with abandon, then licked the bloody juices from his fingers. His guest at the table watched him, making no comment, carefully concealing her disgust; at his manners or mere existence, she was not sure. She pushed away the platter in front of her, and took a sip from the half-empty wine cup.
      She was a strong looking woman, with hard features, telltale marks that gave evidence to her lineage from the Scandinavian peoples of the far north. Blond hair, its length flowing easily to the mid of her back, was pulled away from her face and tied into a single, thick braid. High cheekbones accented a calculating face, with thin, canted eyebrows arcing above. One eye was covered by a black woolen patch, result of an old injury, but the other was

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