Vladimir's eyes flew back to the window, but the woman had moved farther down the street. He hurriedly got to his feet, tossing a coin on the table as he left. Out the door he went, casting his eyes about, desperate to find the young woman, for if she was the one the letter described, the bounty would be far more than he was used to earning.

A bobbing dark head in the crowd captured his attention, and he made his way towards it, soon sure it was her. He dropped back, keeping her in sight, but getting no closer. She was meandering about, visiting different stalls, and then he saw his chance. Manoeuvring his way ahead of her, he picked a fruit stand, then stood beside it, examining the vendor's produce. Soon, the black-haired beauty came into view, stopping to taste a strawberry. He saw the hand extend out with the ring on her finger, and knew instantly he had identified her. Shifting his attention to the vendor, he negotiated the sale and then left, dropping back in the crowd to follow the woman as best he could.

She seemed to be constantly on the lookout, and he wondered at first if she had seen him, but years of being a bounty hunter had honed his skills, and he came to the conclusion that she was just being cautious, a reasonable action considering the bounty on her head.

It took her all day to make her way back to her place of lodging, but Kurzak didn't mind for he would gladly spend a week following her if he could secure the reward. She entered the Green Leaves, making her way through to the back of the common room. It only took a few coins to ferret out her information. She had booked in for a further week, he was told, and that suited his plans perfectly. He left the inn, intent on finding his associates.

Natalia awoke in the middle of the night to the noise of thunder. It rolled in from the east, a forbidding sound that sent shivers down her spine. She rose from the bed, moving to the window where the rain lashed against the glass. A bolt of lightning lit the sky, illuminating the shadowy city beneath it. She had a strange sense of foreboding as if the Volstrum was seeking her out. Moving to the door, she checked the bolt, making sure it was secure. Her task complete, she returned to the comfort of her bed, pulling the thick blanket tightly around her, drifting into a fitful sleep.