Sands of Blood (2 page)
Authors: Steve Barlow
“Return to Alba and fly to Barrsa on the gryphon. Our enemies know we are on our way, there is no point trying to conceal ourselves.”
“I do not know the answer,” you say. “I need another clue.”
In reply the sphinx lifts its great stone paw. It hovers above you for a second. By the time you realise what’s happening, it’s too late.
Tonnes of stone crash down on you and Olderon, crushing your bodies. Your blood seeps between the sphinx’s toes and into the hot desert sand.
Try to remember clues as you go along. Start your adventure again –
go to 1
.
As the firebird screeches towards you, the skeleton rider pulls back his arm and hurls the spear at you.
You dodge the spear, but the distraction is fatal. The firebird’s razor-sharp talons tear into your chest. You feel your ribs being ripped apart. The creature grips you and wraps you in its wings of flame. You scream in agony, but soon pass out. The firebird releases you and you hit the stone floor, dead.
What a disaster! Begin your quest again –
go to 1
.
You and Olderon draw your swords as the men head towards you. There is a clash of metal as their blades meet yours.
You score some direct blows but there are too many of them. Hergal knocks some down with her talons, but more men appear from a building nearby.
The attackers press forward and surround Olderon. You hear his cries as the men’s swords find their mark and he drops to the floor, dead.
The attackers turn their attention to you. You are fighting for your life!
“We are just poor travellers seeking rest,” you answer.
“You are a liar!” snarls the captain. “We know who you are and why you are here. We saw your gryphon flying over the city and our mistress, the Red Queen, has warned us about you!”
If you wish to continue to talk to the guards,
go to 30
.
If you want to fight the guards,
go to 22
.
You know that you have to stop the troll’s attack.
“Hold on!” you shout at Olderon. With one movement you reach for your bow and notch an arrow. You aim, pull back the bowstring and send the arrow flying into the troll’s chest.
The troll drops the boulder and staggers, before plunging over the cliff. You leap from your horse and dive forward, grabbing Olderon’s wrist just as he loses his grip on the rocky cliff face.
You grit your teeth and hang on. But his weight pulls you towards the edge of the cliff.
“Let me go,” he says. “Save yourself…”
If you want to do as Olderon says,
go to 5
.
If you want to try to pull him back up,
go to 48
.
“We have to fight back,” you tell Olderon, urging Hergal towards the genie.
You draw your sword. It is almost impossible to see anything through the stinging sand that tears at your body, but you can just make out the dark outline of the genie.
With one movement, you leap off the gryphon, hurtle through the air and plunge your sword into the genie’s chest. Holding firmly onto the hilt, you slide down the monster’s body, cutting open its chest. Sand pours from the gaping wound and the creature cries out in agony.
You hit the ground and leap out of the way as the genie’s body crashes downwards.
A cloud of sand engulfs you and you close your eyes and cover your mouth.
The storm subsides and all that remains of your foe is a giant sand dune. Hergal lands and Olderon hauls you back onto the gryphon. “Well fought! Now let’s find this lost temple!”
“There is no point trying to conceal our journey,” you say. “The Red Queen knows that we seek the rubies. It will be quicker to fly.”
“Very well,” says the queen. “May good fortune be with you.”
Soon you and Olderon are flying on the gryphon over the sea towards Barrsa.
The gryphon’s great wings cut through the air and hours later you see land ahead. You point out the port of Barrsa with its sandstone walls with watchtowers.
“Where should we land, inside the city or outside the walls?” asks Olderon.
If you wish to land inside the city,
go to 45
.
If you would rather land outside the city,
go to 27
.
You and Olderon put away your swords and sit down on the carpet.
The woman stares at you and a strange smile breaks across her face. A feeling of unease passes through your body.
“How did you know we were coming?” you ask the woman.
“My mistress told me!” she says and throws a yellow powder onto an oil lamp. There is an explosion and the room is filled with fire and smoke.
Olderon’s clothes burst into flames and he cries out in agony.
As you are engulfed by the flames, you hear the sound of maniacal laughter. Peering through the fire you see the old woman for what she really is
–
a ghoul!
It is the last thing you see as the monstrous creature moves towards you, mouth wide open, revealing sharp deadly teeth that will feed on your cooked flesh.
You have failed to find the Ruby of Power. To begin your quest again,
go to 1
.
“I will tell you of the legend of the Blood Crown,” says the queen. “Back in the mists of time, Solmor, the world’s greatest Spellcaster created the Crown of Rubies for the High King.
“This magnificent crown was made of pure gold, and the rubies set into it were no ordinary gemstones
–
each held a special power. Together, they helped to create the most powerful object in the world, giving the High King control over others.
“But rulers across our world became greedy for this power. The High King was the first to die in battle as he fought for the crown against rival lords. Many more bloody wars were fought over the crown, and so it was renamed the Blood Crown.”
“I have heard of this story,” you say. “But doesn’t the legend say that the crown was broken up?”
The queen nods. “Indeed. Realising that the Blood Crown was a force for evil, just before his death, Solmor broke it up and had the rubies hidden across the world. We have asked you here because
–
”
Before the queen can finish, there is a huge crash as the doors to the great hall burst open and a giant flaming bird flies inside. On its back sits a skeleton, holding a silver spear. The firebird swoops towards the queen.
You have to act immediately!
To attack with your bow,
go to 28
.
To attack with your sword,
go to 36
.
“We have to trust the astrolabe,” you tell Olderon. “But just in case something happens to me, you stay here.”
Holding the astrolabe, you take a deep breath and step into the flaming lake. The flames immediately die down and you wade safely through the oil to reach the island.
You enter the golden dome. A staircase leads down into its depths. Holding your sword, you carefully make your way down the stairs and into a dark, vaulted room.
“I was expecting someone,” a voice says. A torch bursts into flames, and standing before you is an old bearded man. He is holding a bow. The arrow is pointing at your chest! Around his neck is a golden amulet. In the middle sits a large red ruby.
“Yes, it is the Ruby of Power,” he says, as if reading your mind. “And you will not take it!” He draws back the bowstring.
If you wish to attack the man,
go to 37
.
If you want to talk to the old man,
go to 43
.
You and Olderon draw your swords and begin your attack.
You strike at a guard and your blade pierces his body. To your amazement the guard turns into a giant cobra. The creature spits deadly poison at you, which you just manage to avoid. With lightning speed, you spin around and chop off the cobra’s head.
You and Olderon continue the battle, but the other guards also turn into snakes when they are hit. “I’ll strike the guards, you take care of the snakes,” you tell Olderon.
Olderon’s swords swings, chopping off the heads of more snakes, until they litter the ground. You hack into the soft snake bodies until they stop thrashing around. Soon the snake guards are all dead. You lean on your sword and turn to Olderon. “The Red Queen knew of our plans,” you say. “We must be careful.”
You pass through the gate and head into the city to find the Spellcaster.
