skills of palmistry, you inspect the configuration of the creases of her delicate palm. Paying careful attention to those parts of her hand which refer to her offspring, you swallow hard when you see that the lines reveal a disturbing prediction for her young son.
Turn to 101 .
63
You draw upon your mastery of Elementalism to cause the flap of the tent to ignite. Soon an entire panel is ablaze, filling the tent with clouds of dense grey smoke. When the Bhanarian commander and his four bodyguards come staggering out of the tent, gasping for breath, you lead the attack with your stirring battle-cry: ‘For Sommerlund the Kai!’
Bhanarian Cavalry Command: COMBAT SKILL 48 ENDURANCE 50
You may add 3 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this combat, for you have three Chai troopers fighting by your side.
If you win the combat, turn to 150 .
64
During the afternoon of the first day out of Rakholi, a heat wave sweeps across the trade road from the north. For three hours the caravan is slowed to a walking pace as everyone, man and beast, is brought near to exhaustion by the heat (lose 3 ENDURANCE points).
By dusk the stifling heat has eased and a night camp is pitched on the open plain. While you are rigging a simple shelter for yourself, with rope and a canvas sheet, you hear something that causes you concern. It is the distraught sound of a woman crying. You detect that it is coming from Princess Mitzu's carriage and you hurry there to investigate what is wrong.
Turn to 78 .
66
Late in the afternoon, Sergeant Yeng and his scouts return to report that no bandits have been sighted on the highway ahead. The sergeant and his men also report that they have found a good campsite for the night, at a place where the highway fords a spring. You continue your ride and arrive at the ford shortly before dusk.
Chan orders that the carriages of the caravan be positioned so that they form the points of a large triangle, with the horse teams parked at their centre. You approve of his order, for it will make a good defensive formation, one that will be easy to maintain if the encampment is attacked during the night.
You tie your horse to the rear of Princess Mitzu's carriage, and then you walk over to the spring and bathe your face and drink your fill of its crystal-clear waters. You are about to return to the encampment when Captain Chan and Sergeant Yeng approach you on horseback. Chan tells you that his scouts have reported sighting movement in the nearby woodland. He wishes to investigate it, but night is closing in and soon it will be dark. Aware that you possess the ability to see in the dark, he requests that you lead Sergeant Yeng and his party on this scouting mission.
If you wish to agree to Captain Chan's request, turn to 157 .
If you refuse to lead the scouts, turn to 264 .
67
You inform Chan that you believe the man is telling the truth. The captain frowns. He is now faced with a difficult dilemma. He considers Yankin to be one of his most loyal troopers and would like to believe his account, yet the evidence against him is compelling. Then Shavane steps forward and demands loudly that justice be done.
‘This man tried to kill our Prince,’ she cries, ‘and he must be made to pay for his treachery.’
Her emotional outburst elicits some support from a small crowd of courtiers who have gathered to watch.
If you possess Kai-alchemy, turn to 220 .
If you do not possess this skill, turn to 14 .
68
Chan refuses to dismount and, no matter how hard you try, you cannot persuade him to abandon his favourite stallion. Reluctantly you agree to his plan to attempt a breakthrough and an escape westwards along the forest highway.
Turn to 211 .
69
As you strike your final crushing blow, the portal suddenly unleashes an explosion of hissing sparks. Quickly you turn your face away and save yourself from being caught by its searing flash.
Your destruction of the trapdoor has triggered a booby trap that was
Turn to 101 .
63
You draw upon your mastery of Elementalism to cause the flap of the tent to ignite. Soon an entire panel is ablaze, filling the tent with clouds of dense grey smoke. When the Bhanarian commander and his four bodyguards come staggering out of the tent, gasping for breath, you lead the attack with your stirring battle-cry: ‘For Sommerlund the Kai!’
Bhanarian Cavalry Command: COMBAT SKILL 48 ENDURANCE 50
You may add 3 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this combat, for you have three Chai troopers fighting by your side.
If you win the combat, turn to 150 .
64
During the afternoon of the first day out of Rakholi, a heat wave sweeps across the trade road from the north. For three hours the caravan is slowed to a walking pace as everyone, man and beast, is brought near to exhaustion by the heat (lose 3 ENDURANCE points).
By dusk the stifling heat has eased and a night camp is pitched on the open plain. While you are rigging a simple shelter for yourself, with rope and a canvas sheet, you hear something that causes you concern. It is the distraught sound of a woman crying. You detect that it is coming from Princess Mitzu's carriage and you hurry there to investigate what is wrong.
Turn to 78 .
66
Late in the afternoon, Sergeant Yeng and his scouts return to report that no bandits have been sighted on the highway ahead. The sergeant and his men also report that they have found a good campsite for the night, at a place where the highway fords a spring. You continue your ride and arrive at the ford shortly before dusk.
Chan orders that the carriages of the caravan be positioned so that they form the points of a large triangle, with the horse teams parked at their centre. You approve of his order, for it will make a good defensive formation, one that will be easy to maintain if the encampment is attacked during the night.
You tie your horse to the rear of Princess Mitzu's carriage, and then you walk over to the spring and bathe your face and drink your fill of its crystal-clear waters. You are about to return to the encampment when Captain Chan and Sergeant Yeng approach you on horseback. Chan tells you that his scouts have reported sighting movement in the nearby woodland. He wishes to investigate it, but night is closing in and soon it will be dark. Aware that you possess the ability to see in the dark, he requests that you lead Sergeant Yeng and his party on this scouting mission.
If you wish to agree to Captain Chan's request, turn to 157 .
If you refuse to lead the scouts, turn to 264 .
67
You inform Chan that you believe the man is telling the truth. The captain frowns. He is now faced with a difficult dilemma. He considers Yankin to be one of his most loyal troopers and would like to believe his account, yet the evidence against him is compelling. Then Shavane steps forward and demands loudly that justice be done.
‘This man tried to kill our Prince,’ she cries, ‘and he must be made to pay for his treachery.’
Her emotional outburst elicits some support from a small crowd of courtiers who have gathered to watch.
If you possess Kai-alchemy, turn to 220 .
If you do not possess this skill, turn to 14 .
68
Chan refuses to dismount and, no matter how hard you try, you cannot persuade him to abandon his favourite stallion. Reluctantly you agree to his plan to attempt a breakthrough and an escape westwards along the forest highway.
Turn to 211 .
69
As you strike your final crushing blow, the portal suddenly unleashes an explosion of hissing sparks. Quickly you turn your face away and save yourself from being caught by its searing flash.
Your destruction of the trapdoor has triggered a booby trap that was
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