psychic command subdues their trained and natural instincts. Their handlers, the Eldenoran archers, curse them under their breath, thinking that their outburst may have given away their position to the enemy. While they are berating their dogs, you slip through their line and move deeper into the woods.
Turn to 220 .
48
The Lord Constable is an imposing man with a proud and noble countenance. At your approach he removes a white leather gauntlet and welcomes you with a formal salute.
‘Greetings, my lord,’ he says, his voice deep and resonant. ‘Welcome to Garthen. I am Nathor, Lord Constable of the Royal Citadel. It would be an honour if you would allow me to escort you and Lord Ardan to an audience with Queen Evaine.’
Turn to 238 .
49
The defenders on the tower fight like lions. The battle is fierce and bloody throughout the monastery, but the struggle is soon won and the shaken remnants of the winged attackers are repelled with heavy losses. A great cheer goes up as the last of the battered Lavas limps into the air and makes its escape towards the Durncrags.
You leave the Tower and tour the battlements, offering words of comfort to the wounded and praising those Kai who have shown exceptional bravery. You are returning to the Grand Hall when you see Banedon approaching from the other direction.
‘The time is ripe for you to begin your mission, Grand Master,’ he says. ‘The enemy have lost a great number this night — it is unlikely they will return before the dawn.’
‘Yes, my friend,’ you reply, touching the pocket of your tunic which contains the Sun-crystal, ‘you are right. The time has come — I will leave for Raven's Eyrie at once.’
Turn to 40 .
50
You draw your weapon and slay the first guard to come within arm's length of your horse. The others freeze in their tracks, stunned by the speed of your attack, but then the sergeant screams at them like a wild animal and they rush forward again. They are more scared of their sergeant's wrath, it seems, than they are of your battle skill. You must fight them.
Illustration III —The sergeant screams at the guards like a wild animal and they rush forward.
Duadon guardsmen: COMBAT SKILL 42 ENDURANCE 42
You may evade this combat after four rounds by turning to 335 .
If you win the fight, turn to 290 .
51
You rush into the forest and glance overhead to make doubly sure that you are not being tracked by the winged Lavas. The darkening sky is clear of the enemy and confidently you press on through the trees, sure in your ability to remain undetected now that you are in your natural environment of the forest.
Soon you reach the clearing and hurry to a boulder which bears the imprint of a human hand. You place your right hand upon it and the imprint fits around it like a glove. Silently a hinged stone slab rises up from the ground revealing a stair that leads down into a brick-lined passageway. You enter and hurry along this familiar tunnel, covering a mile before you come to a door that opens automatically at your approach. Beyond lies the Vault of the Sun, your personal stronghold. It radiates a warm golden light: it is the rays of the Lorestones of Nyxator. Once safely inside your underground lair, you pause to allow the radiant light of the Lorestones to wash over your tired and aching limbs and, within the space of a few heartbeats, the fatigue of your long journey home is melted away (restore all lost ENDURANCE points).
Revived and revitalized, you throw open the door to the vault and see a young Kai Master standing guard at the foot of the tower stairwell. He is Sabre Fox, one of your most gifted students.
‘Gr … Grand Master!’ he stammers, hardly daring to believe his eyes. ‘You have returned. Praise the gods! Our prayers have been answered!’
You smile at the young Kai Master who now has tears of joy in his steel-grey eyes.
‘Yes, Sabre Fox,’ you reply, ‘I have returned. Now let us vanquish this foe and
Turn to 220 .
48
The Lord Constable is an imposing man with a proud and noble countenance. At your approach he removes a white leather gauntlet and welcomes you with a formal salute.
‘Greetings, my lord,’ he says, his voice deep and resonant. ‘Welcome to Garthen. I am Nathor, Lord Constable of the Royal Citadel. It would be an honour if you would allow me to escort you and Lord Ardan to an audience with Queen Evaine.’
Turn to 238 .
49
The defenders on the tower fight like lions. The battle is fierce and bloody throughout the monastery, but the struggle is soon won and the shaken remnants of the winged attackers are repelled with heavy losses. A great cheer goes up as the last of the battered Lavas limps into the air and makes its escape towards the Durncrags.
You leave the Tower and tour the battlements, offering words of comfort to the wounded and praising those Kai who have shown exceptional bravery. You are returning to the Grand Hall when you see Banedon approaching from the other direction.
‘The time is ripe for you to begin your mission, Grand Master,’ he says. ‘The enemy have lost a great number this night — it is unlikely they will return before the dawn.’
‘Yes, my friend,’ you reply, touching the pocket of your tunic which contains the Sun-crystal, ‘you are right. The time has come — I will leave for Raven's Eyrie at once.’
Turn to 40 .
50
You draw your weapon and slay the first guard to come within arm's length of your horse. The others freeze in their tracks, stunned by the speed of your attack, but then the sergeant screams at them like a wild animal and they rush forward again. They are more scared of their sergeant's wrath, it seems, than they are of your battle skill. You must fight them.
Illustration III —The sergeant screams at the guards like a wild animal and they rush forward.
Duadon guardsmen: COMBAT SKILL 42 ENDURANCE 42
You may evade this combat after four rounds by turning to 335 .
If you win the fight, turn to 290 .
51
You rush into the forest and glance overhead to make doubly sure that you are not being tracked by the winged Lavas. The darkening sky is clear of the enemy and confidently you press on through the trees, sure in your ability to remain undetected now that you are in your natural environment of the forest.
Soon you reach the clearing and hurry to a boulder which bears the imprint of a human hand. You place your right hand upon it and the imprint fits around it like a glove. Silently a hinged stone slab rises up from the ground revealing a stair that leads down into a brick-lined passageway. You enter and hurry along this familiar tunnel, covering a mile before you come to a door that opens automatically at your approach. Beyond lies the Vault of the Sun, your personal stronghold. It radiates a warm golden light: it is the rays of the Lorestones of Nyxator. Once safely inside your underground lair, you pause to allow the radiant light of the Lorestones to wash over your tired and aching limbs and, within the space of a few heartbeats, the fatigue of your long journey home is melted away (restore all lost ENDURANCE points).
Revived and revitalized, you throw open the door to the vault and see a young Kai Master standing guard at the foot of the tower stairwell. He is Sabre Fox, one of your most gifted students.
‘Gr … Grand Master!’ he stammers, hardly daring to believe his eyes. ‘You have returned. Praise the gods! Our prayers have been answered!’
You smile at the young Kai Master who now has tears of joy in his steel-grey eyes.
‘Yes, Sabre Fox,’ you reply, ‘I have returned. Now let us vanquish this foe and
Similar Books
