Legion of Shadow (46 page)

If you manage to splat this over-sized bug, turn to
368
.

394

Despite your wound, you are able to expertly weave between the assassin’s flashing blades. At last, you strike him down. In his final moments, the albino grabs your arm
and pulls you close.

‘You are shadow born,’ he rasps. ‘I was hired to kill you . . . to stop you . . . you were following the knight . . . to kill him.’ His grip tightens, his gloved fingers
digging into your branded flesh. ‘His death . . . the arrow . . . it was meant for you. The fool died trying to protect you!’

With a final gasp, the assassin’s eyes close and his body becomes limp.

You drop to your knees, exhausted and sick from pain. For what seems like an eternity, you sit hunched in silence, dwelling on the assassin’s words. Were you really intending to kill the
knight? Was it your plan all along to steal his documents so you could enter Avian’s castle? You peel back your sleeve and gaze down at the purple brand. You wonder if it is the mark of a
killer. An assassin, perhaps?

You struggle to your feet, more determined than ever to find the truth about who you are – what you are. Perhaps Jenlar Cornelius will be able to provide the answers that you seek.

For defeating Logan, you may now take one of the following as your reward:

If you are a rogue, turn to
410
. Otherwise, after you have rested and bandaged your wounds, you resume your journey. Return to the quest
map
.

395

‘They are poachers,’ says the leader, eyeing the corpses with contempt. ‘They are trespassers in the grove and their foolish actions may have harmed the . .
.’

‘Enough! Do not speak of our secrets!’ This comes from the woman behind you. She presses her knife deeper into your neck. ‘This one must have seen something. Let me get the
truth out of them – my way!’

The leader looks displeased at being spoken to in such a way. There is a heated exchange in a dialect that you have never heard before. It ends with you taking a kick in the back, which forces
you down onto your knees. ‘There will be no grove and no magic unless we take action.’ The woman behind you grabs hold of your head, pulling it back – then places the blade of her
knife against your throat.

‘Hold! All of you!’

To your surprise, it is a man’s voice. From the corner of your vision, you see a warrior in forest green leathers emerge from the trees. He has long blond hair, braided with feathers and
cords, and about his neck hang a number of beaded charms. ‘Since when do the dryads hunt so openly,’ he scowls, ‘and without judgement or mercy?’ He starts forward into the
clearing, a yellow glow cascading down his arms to gather along the tips of his fingers.

‘Bern Farstrider,’ snaps the woman standing at your back. ‘This is none of your concern. Stand down or face the consequences.’

From around the circle, there is the creak of bowstrings as the archers nock arrows and take aim at the warrior.

He shakes his head sadly. ‘Has it really come to this – that my return is welcomed with an arrow in the back. Well, so be it.’ Turn to
474
.

396

You find yourself in a kitchen, filled with noise and steam as a number of cooks hurry around a set of bubbling pots. Your arm is grabbed by the coach driver, who proceeds to
lead you through the hot, noisy kitchen into a quieter side passage. You follow it into a small room where a number of chests and boxes are lined up along the walls. A guard in heavy chain mail,
stands by the far door. He glares at you from beneath his helmet, a halberd held across his chest.

‘Yer weapons,’ says the coach driver, holding out his dirt-stained hands. ‘Hand ’em over.’

397

Inside, you find a sack containing 50 gold crowns and a selection of rare treasures. If you wish, you may now choose one of the following:

You also find a small
stone tablet
, which you may take:

If you wish to take the
stone tablet
, then make a note of it on your hero sheet along with the number 19. Once you have updated your hero sheet, turn to
482
.

398

You must have the
Tiger’s fury
talisman equipped if you wish to learn the berserker career. As soon as this item is unequipped or you learn a new career, you lose
the abilities associated with this career.

The berserker has the following abilities:

Turn to
414
to return to the arena.

399

The count’s great hall stretches out before you, its long tables groaning with a succulent array of wild meats and fruit. The diners, all dressed in extraordinary finery,
are laughing and joking with each other – drinking wine and mead from large golden goblets. High above their heads, colourful banners and ribbons hang down from the ceiling, swaying back and
forth like hypnotic pendulums.

On a stage in one corner of the room, a group of musicians are playing to an attentive audience. Elsewhere, a jester is capering madly around the tables, his face covered in white paint and
rouge. He laughs and giggles as he juggles a set of knives with practised ease.

You scan the room for Lady Roe. At last you spot her, seated at the top table with several other gentlemen and ladies. Next to her sits a regal-looking man in a high-collared black cloak. His
thin, gaunt face is partly concealed behind a golden mask. On seeing your group enter the hall, he stands and claps his hands together.

Immediately, a hush falls over the room. The musicians stop playing – a few discordant notes hanging in the air – and the jester freezes in mid-step. All the diners put down their
knives, forks and goblets and rise to their feet. You notice that they are all looking at you and the other members of your group with an intense interest.

‘Distinguished guests,’ says the count, his deep voice carrying the full length of the room, ‘I promised you a night to remember.’

Your hands go to your concealed weapons as you quickly eye up the nearby tables. The diners standing around them all look tensed, as if awaiting a command.

‘Now is the time, my dear friends.’ The count raises his arms into the air. ‘I give to you . . . dessert!’

There is a howl and then a scream. Before you can register what is happening, you see the count’s diners descending on your group like a pack of wild animals. There are snapping fangs and
claws . . . a jet of crimson arcs through the air. More screams follow. Then a woman’s face swings into view, her fanged incisors dripping with blood. It is then that you realise the shocking
truth – the count’s diners are all vampires!

‘This is it,’ says Spink, drawing a stake. ‘This is war!’

You watch dumbfounded as he races towards the nearest diner, expertly staking the man through the heart. The vampire screeches in pain before exploding in a cloud of black dust.

Then you are hit by something. You are flung into a table, knocking over plates and food. Desperately you snatch up a nearby knife, as a vampire duke attempts to bite your neck. You wrestle
free, sinking your knife into its leg. But the vampire isn’t registering any pain. Of course, these creatures can only be harmed by the items that Spink gave you.

You draw out your concealed weapons, just as the vampire gives a shriek of pain. It falls forward, landing on top of you, the back of its head a smouldering ruin. As you push him away, you see a
man in a black coat and hat sliding down one of the banners. In one of his hands is a smoking flint-lock pistol.