teeth as the bolt tears both the skin and muscle from your ribs (lose 5 ENDURANCE points). However, your sheer strength of will, heightened by your Kai training and discipline, helps you to overcome the shock of impact and remain upright in the saddle.
If you are still alive after this attack, turn to 234 .
176
You decline the offer and go in search of some other means of finding Cyrilus. The village stables are locked and guarded, but at the rear of the blacksmithy you discover just what you are looking for. A young stallion is pacing the paddock, its saddle and blanket slung over the gate. At first he is wary of your approach, but he soon senses that you mean no harm and you have no difficulty in preparing him for the ride. Once clear of the paddock, you canter around the blacksmithy and onto the highway.
Turn to 271 .
177
‘Ah! You're in luck, stranger. The dice favour you tonight.’ The man staggers drunkenly to his feet and points to an alley in the middle distance where a doorway is just visible in the shadows. ‘The city criers live there. They'll tell you the way to Brass Street.’
You nod your thanks and spur your horse along the street towards the darkened doorway.
Turn to 25 .
179
They will not let you touch any of the pontoons. If any go missing they will each receive 100 lashes as punishment for their negligence. They keep a watchful eye on you until you leave the camp. As it is now impossible to take one of the pontoons, you resign yourself to a long, cold swim.
Turn to 171 .
180
Trembling with pain and fury, the wounded lordling staggers back towards the door. ‘I shall have your life for this — mark my words,’ he cries.
The mocking cheers of the crowd echo in his wake as he turns and disappears into the night.
Turn to 281 .
182
You duck and weave as you race through the undergrowth. A charge of crackling power strikes a branch above your head; it narrowly misses you as it falls in a blazing heap by your side. You sidestep in time to avoid another charge which tears a hole in a tree trunk large enough to rest your head. You reach your horse and take off along the highway at a gallop, thankful to be alive. You have witnessed a secret ritual of the Cener Druids and survived the encounter — few can boast as much!
Turn to 102 .
183
A loud cheer shatters the silence as Altan's winning arrow hits the target. The villagers are thrilled to have witnessed such an exciting tournament and surge across the field, eager to offer Altan their praise and congratulations. As the tall woodsman disappears from view amid the teeming crowd, you take the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
If you have used a borrowed bow for the tournament, you must return it to the tent before making your way back to Cyrilus.
Turn to 33 .
184
The dagger shaves a lock of hair from your head before sinking inches deep into the wooden parapet rail. The shock of your swift move unnerves the pirate, and he is off balance when you leap to your feet and attack. Before he knows what has hit him, he is tumbling over the side into the cold deep waters of the Storn.
Turn to 254 .
186
You concentrate your Magnakai Discipline on agitating the particles of dirt that wedge the door shut. Gradually the stone begins to vibrate, and cracks appear around the jamb as the dirt begins to crumble.
Turn to 200 .
187
Twisting aside at the last moment, you manage to avoid one deadly pike head but cannot dodge the other. It rips into your tunic and scrapes your flesh (lose 3 ENDURANCE points). Your anger rises and you fight to free your weapon, which has become entangled in the straps of your saddle. The guards see that you are trapped and push forward before you have a chance to retaliate.
Turn to 22 .
188
Your immediate peril stops you dwelling too much on the reason why these riders should try to abduct Cyrilus. However, it does occur to you that he is neither wealthy nor powerful and so a poor prospect for a rich
If you are still alive after this attack, turn to 234 .
176
You decline the offer and go in search of some other means of finding Cyrilus. The village stables are locked and guarded, but at the rear of the blacksmithy you discover just what you are looking for. A young stallion is pacing the paddock, its saddle and blanket slung over the gate. At first he is wary of your approach, but he soon senses that you mean no harm and you have no difficulty in preparing him for the ride. Once clear of the paddock, you canter around the blacksmithy and onto the highway.
Turn to 271 .
177
‘Ah! You're in luck, stranger. The dice favour you tonight.’ The man staggers drunkenly to his feet and points to an alley in the middle distance where a doorway is just visible in the shadows. ‘The city criers live there. They'll tell you the way to Brass Street.’
You nod your thanks and spur your horse along the street towards the darkened doorway.
Turn to 25 .
179
They will not let you touch any of the pontoons. If any go missing they will each receive 100 lashes as punishment for their negligence. They keep a watchful eye on you until you leave the camp. As it is now impossible to take one of the pontoons, you resign yourself to a long, cold swim.
Turn to 171 .
180
Trembling with pain and fury, the wounded lordling staggers back towards the door. ‘I shall have your life for this — mark my words,’ he cries.
The mocking cheers of the crowd echo in his wake as he turns and disappears into the night.
Turn to 281 .
182
You duck and weave as you race through the undergrowth. A charge of crackling power strikes a branch above your head; it narrowly misses you as it falls in a blazing heap by your side. You sidestep in time to avoid another charge which tears a hole in a tree trunk large enough to rest your head. You reach your horse and take off along the highway at a gallop, thankful to be alive. You have witnessed a secret ritual of the Cener Druids and survived the encounter — few can boast as much!
Turn to 102 .
183
A loud cheer shatters the silence as Altan's winning arrow hits the target. The villagers are thrilled to have witnessed such an exciting tournament and surge across the field, eager to offer Altan their praise and congratulations. As the tall woodsman disappears from view amid the teeming crowd, you take the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
If you have used a borrowed bow for the tournament, you must return it to the tent before making your way back to Cyrilus.
Turn to 33 .
184
The dagger shaves a lock of hair from your head before sinking inches deep into the wooden parapet rail. The shock of your swift move unnerves the pirate, and he is off balance when you leap to your feet and attack. Before he knows what has hit him, he is tumbling over the side into the cold deep waters of the Storn.
Turn to 254 .
186
You concentrate your Magnakai Discipline on agitating the particles of dirt that wedge the door shut. Gradually the stone begins to vibrate, and cracks appear around the jamb as the dirt begins to crumble.
Turn to 200 .
187
Twisting aside at the last moment, you manage to avoid one deadly pike head but cannot dodge the other. It rips into your tunic and scrapes your flesh (lose 3 ENDURANCE points). Your anger rises and you fight to free your weapon, which has become entangled in the straps of your saddle. The guards see that you are trapped and push forward before you have a chance to retaliate.
Turn to 22 .
188
Your immediate peril stops you dwelling too much on the reason why these riders should try to abduct Cyrilus. However, it does occur to you that he is neither wealthy nor powerful and so a poor prospect for a rich
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