Legion of Shadow (50 page)

Special abilities

(Note: You cannot heal after this combat. You must continue this quest with the
health
that you have remaining. You may use potions and abilities to heal lost
health
while you are in combat.)

430

You follow Bern back into the forest, following a narrow trail that takes you up into the black mountains. After an hour of trekking through the barren, rocky foothills you
arrive at a small stone cabin, almost invisible against the dark cliffs that loom behind it.

‘Cornelius likes his solitude,’ grins the ranger. ‘Can’t say as I blame him. Nice vacation spot, I suppose.’ He points to the breathtaking view, that takes in the
whole of Mistwood and the misty fenlands to the south.

However, your attention doesn’t waver from the cabin. Something is wrong. Your arm is tingling, where the mark is concealed beneath your clothing. It grows stronger, the closer you get to
the small building. Bern appears to have sensed something also. He is sniffing the air, his eyes scanning the nearby rocks.

‘Do you . . .?’

Bern puts a finger to his lips, stopping you in mid-sentence. Stealthily, he approaches the door of the cabin, which you notice is standing slightly ajar. Golden light flickers along his arms to
pool in the palm of his hands. He is preparing a spell. You follow suit, readying your own weapons with an increasing feeling of unease. Turn to
466
.

431

When you awake, you find yourself on a pallet bed inside a smaller tent. Sahna is sat by your side, a basin of water and a cloth resting on her knees. ‘How do you
feel?’ she asks tensely.

‘Like I just swallowed a lamprey worm,’ you scowl, sitting up on your elbows.

‘I know,’ she says, putting the basin and cloth aside. ‘I hope you forgive me. The truth is, without that thing inside you, you would never make it down to the city.’

‘Wait a moment.’ You slide your legs off the bed, suddenly alarmed. ‘How long was I out?’

Sahna grins. ‘Don’t worry. Only half an hour. You still have plenty of time to make it there and back. Are you ready?’

You nod and agree to get going. The more time wasted, the less time you will have to find the crown and get back before the worm . . . You wince, not wanting to think about that.

Sahna escorts you to the shoreline. ‘The lake is deeper than it looks. We think there might be channels that lead out into the western ocean – it’s the only explanation for
some of the things reported down there. Big sea monsters.’ She shivers. ‘Good luck. I hope, for all our sakes, that you’re the one to finally make it.’

You strap on your pack and then wade out into the chill water. ‘Yeah, me too,’ you mutter under your breath. Turn to
569
.

432

The old man’s eyes twinkle. ‘Why yes – yes I do. Bah, forget those old things,’ he waves his hands dismissively at the junk that litters the room.
‘I’ll show you some real beauties; treasures that I found in these here halls.’ He reaches underneath his pallet bed and pulls out a small, gilt chest. Opening the lid, he holds
it out to you.

‘Take your pick,’ he grins, licking his toothless gums. ‘But for these beauties I want 400 gold crowns a piece, or no deal.’ When he catches your look of surprise, he
scowls. ‘Hey, don’t gawp like a gutter fish. I gotta save for my retirement ain’t I? This is my personal pension fund right here.’

The following items are available for 400 gold crowns each:

When you have made your choices, return to
626
.

433

‘You don’t remember anything do you,’ sneers the assassin, circling around you like a predatory wolf. ‘I thought you would have worked it out by
now.’ The assassin’s face begins to ripple and change, shifting into the pale features of a young man. Then they shift again, becoming a woman’s face, with angular cheeks and
almond-shaped eyes. The body follows suit, narrowing around the waist and broadening at the chest. ‘There,’ says the now-female assassin, admiring her new slender form. ‘Always
did prefer this one. It was one of your favourites too, once upon a time.’

The assassin sheathes her weapons, before pulling back the sleeve of her left arm to reveal a branded mark identical to your own. ‘We are the Nevarin,’ she says, spitting out the
words with gusto. ‘The shadowborn generals who led the legion into this world a thousand years ago.’

‘That’s impossible,’ you snap angrily. ‘A thousand years . . .?’

The assassin’s expression sours. ‘We are immortal. We do not age like the humans on this primitive planet. Have you never stopped to wonder why you cannot die? Why your body heals
faster than any normal human’s? Why others fear you?’

‘But . . .’ You shake your head, not wanting to hear the truth.

‘When the gate was closed, we were cut off from our kin. Since then we Nevarin have searched for the Nexus. It has been a mission that has spanned a thousand years . . . but at last the
keystone has been remade. No thanks to you!’ She gives a snort of derision. ‘A shame that a little blow to the head gave you a conscience all of a sudden. If the master hadn’t
stepped in and taken control of you at Avian’s castle, all would have been lost.’ The assassin raises a finger in the air and extends it out towards you. ‘You know, I can remove
that little memory blockage if you want me to.’

‘No!’ you growl between clenched teeth. ‘I don’t want to remember. I don’t want to know what I am . . . what I was.’

‘So be it.’ The assassin draws her twin swords with a ring of steel. ‘Please tell me you haven’t forgotten how to fight as well.’ In a blur of grey and black, the
woman dives past you. You can barely keep up with her speed as she rolls and then somersaults back onto her feet, landing in a battle-ready stance. Turn to
442
.

434

You find the body of a dead mage, lying amongst the refuse at the bottom of the pit. Some of the man’s items and clothing are still salvageable. You may take up to two of
the following:

You also find a purse of gold. (You have gained 50 gold crowns). As you scan the rest of the pit, looking for any other chance treasures, you discover a small circular grill in
one of the walls. A quick examination reveals that it is protecting a pipe outlet. Relieved that you have finally found a way out, you tug the grill free and then enter the tight crawl-space. Turn
to
453
.

435

To your surprise, you find yourself face to face with the jester. His painted lips pull back, revealing long white fangs. As he reaches forward to bite your neck, you lift up
the items that Spink gave you. The jester draws back, emitting a chilling, high-pitched laugher.

‘Oh, you want to play do you!’ he cackles.

Special abilities