The Heart of Fire (20 page)

114

You add the ingredient to the liquid. However, it only takes a few minutes of stirring for you to realise that you have made a mistake. The liquid is now giving off a bitter
smell, having turned lumpy and sour. You will need to start again.

If you wish to try and create another potion then turn to
361
. Otherwise, you can leave the laboratory and visit the reverend’s house (turn to
210
) or the herbalist’s cottage (turn to
224
).

115

‘He is known in these parts as Jolando: an assassin, a sword for hire.’ Anna takes an oil lamp from the table and holds it closer to the man’s face. You
notice white scars cutting vivid lines across his cheeks and chin. ‘This man is a thief . . . and a murderer.’

You step away, momentarily startled. ‘This is an assassin and you would have me help him? Why?’

Anna places the lamp by the bedside. ‘He was doing a job for the Wiccans. I made the contact myself.’ She glances at you, nervously gauging your reaction. ‘I happen to believe
in their cause, as do many others in Carvel.’

You shrug your shoulders. ‘You helped me; that is all that matters.’

Anna nods. ‘That is good. I am putting a lot of trust in you.’

116

Many of the male warriors are stripped to the waist, their muscled bodies displaying a dazzling array of painted patterns. A female notices you and strides over. Her lithe body
is wrapped in thin bands of black cloth, leaving little to the imagination. Like the men, her pale skin is daubed with intricate designs.

‘The runes make us strong,’ she says, pointing to one of the women who is crushing berries and powder into a bowl. ‘If you fight with us, Sanchen, then you become real
Wiccan.’

117

‘Hopefully, about to fill my stomach with rabbit stew,’ the old man replies. You flinch as he leans closer to his pack, his hand passing over the jewelled sword.
But he doesn’t take it. Instead, he simply lifts a pouch from a side pocket. ‘Salt,’ he grins, bouncing it in his hand.

Suddenly, you hear a bellowing roar coming from somewhere deep inside the rock. It is followed by a cry and a loud ground-trembling boom. The man hesitates for a second, glancing up at the rock
behind him. Then he sets about adding salt to the stew as if nothing untoward has happened.

‘What was that?’ you ask worriedly.

‘What was what?’ asks the gentleman, stirring the stew. ‘Would you like some tea? I brewed some earlier. Silver Grey, the finest.’

There is another monstrous roar, dislodging stone and dust from the rock walls. The man moves around the fire and settles down on a blanket. ‘You can join me if you like,’ he says,
raising a cup of steaming tea to his lips. ‘I plan on being here for a while.’

118

‘Stop gawping and get searching this ship,’ barks the captain, glaring at the remnants of his rag-tag band. ‘I want some answers to this sorry mess!’ He
stabs a finger in the direction of the poop deck. ‘What yer waiting for, a cannonball up yer rear? Move it!’

You must now decide which search party you will join.

119

‘My name is Polk,’ says the bearded warrior, glancing back over his shoulder. ‘And I’m the chatty one, trust me.’ He stops next to the curtained
alcove, gesturing to his full mugs. ‘Any chance you could do the honours?’ he asks. ‘I think I spilled enough beer in this place already.’

You reach forward and pull back the curtain. Turn to
135
.

120

(If you have the word
hallowed
written on your hero sheet, turn to
161
.)

A bell rings as the door is opened, revealing a small room littered with crates and sacks. Squeezed in amongst the clutter rests a narrow table, covered in various pastes, liquids and
powders.

An elderly woman appears from a side room, wiping her hands with a cloth. She is short and stocky, with long grey hair twisted into dreadlocks. ‘I’m very busy,’ she adds
curtly, peering at you over her spectacles. ‘Everything’s labelled, so no need for dawdling.’

The following are available for 10 gold crowns each:

If you have the
household spirit
, then you can hand this over. Turn to
88
. Otherwise, you may now leave the shop and head to upper town (turn to
77
) or to lower town (turn to
36
).

121

You add the ingredient to the liquid. However, it only takes a few minutes of stirring for you to realise that you have made a mistake. The liquid is now giving off a bitter
smell, having turned lumpy and sour. You will need to start again.

If you wish to try and create another potion then turn to
361
. Otherwise, you can leave the laboratory and visit the reverend’s house (turn to
210
) or the herbalist’s cottage (turn to
224
).

122

The tunnel eventually becomes a ledge, overlooking a vast subterranean lagoon. Its banks are littered with the bodies of dead ant-men – most of them little more than
charred husks. From across the waters you see torches flickering on the deck of a pirate galleon, its black masts rippling in the chill wind.

‘Well, would you look at that,’ grins the captain, scratching his stubbly chin. ‘How’d that end up here? Must have drifted in from the sea.’

‘At least they look like they’re on our side,’ says Surl, skidding down the slope to investigate. ‘Woah, this is a lot of bugs!’

Suddenly there is a flash of light from the ship, accompanied by a loud bang. Something is hurtling towards you, whistling through the air.

‘Cover!’ shouts the captain, dropping to the ground. Everyone scatters as an iron cannonball slams down onto the muddy bank, throwing up a thick plume of dirt and sand.

‘They fired at us!’ shouts Surl, staggering back to his feet. ‘Why’d they do—’

‘Goblins,’ growls the captain angrily. ‘Can’t you smell ’em?’

‘But the waters,’ pleads one of the party, a young warrior who looks dwarfed in his ill-fitting heavy armour. ‘I can’t swim. I’ll sink like a stone.’

‘We don’t need to! Follow me!’ To everyone’s surprise the captain starts running, following the ledge around the far side of the cavern. You scan ahead, to see that the
ledge ends in a jumble of rocks that jut out into the dark waters. It is there that the pirate ship has run aground, its stern raised up on the rocks.

Another cannonball hums through the air, landing in the water with a thunderous splash. Its aim may have been off but it provides all the incentive you need to throw yourself into a sprint,
following the captain. The others take your lead, hurrying towards the outcropping.

At last, after scrambling over the sharp rocks, you see the deck of the ship only metres ahead of you. The captain was right; it is crawling with goblins. One of their number, wearing a
pirate’s tricorn hat, is trying to issue orders to the chaotic rabble. Archers are scrabbling up the rigging, whilst another group are struggling to turn a cannon, to aim it towards the
rocks.

The captain doesn’t slow, flinging himself through the air to land on the deck. He then quickly sets to work with his axe, battering away the defenders. You hastily consider your
options.

123

You push open the door, your breath escaping in a surprised gasp as you look upon your new surroundings. The room, if room you could call it, is domed and circular – and
carved entirely from wood. Its single, curving wall depicts an intricate, almost lifelike scene, showing a cart laden with toys travelling through rolling hills. A line of children run after it,
giggling and laughing. The painstaking sculpture continues across the floor, where leaves and grasses have been carved out of the wood – and there, seemingly growing from its centre, is a
column of oak, sculpted to look like a tree. Branches spread out towards the lofty ceiling, where you see a children’s tree house perched on its highest limbs.

Moving closer to the tree you notice holes cut into its side, forming gnarled nooks and crannies. They are large enough to put your hand inside. Across the other side of the room, a white portal
shimmers against the carved backdrop, inviting you to continue your journey.

124

As the knight topples to his knees a column of sunlight breaks through the fog, streaming over his glistening armour. A voice whispers in your ear –
I am delivered.
May the maker forgive me.

The knight’s armour falls to pieces, rattling across the hard black rock. Of his body there is no trace, save for a faint blue shadow, which rises like smoke into the sparkling light.

Congratulations, you have defeated the ghostly knight. Searching the remnants of his armour, you find 50 gold crowns and one of the following special rewards:

If you have the words
fallen knight
on your hero sheet, turn to
276
. Otherwise, with your opponent defeated, you decide to leave this bleak region. Return to
the quest map.

125

‘The prince is back in town for the All Saint’s celebrations. Word is he’s digging into his own coffers for this year’s festivities –
they’re going to be the best ever. Street entertainers, fireworks . . . it’s what the people need to take their mind off the troubles.’

126

You ascend the stairs to the rocky ledge. Golden sunlight floods the walls and ceiling, pouring in from an opening to the east. As you approach, you see that the ledge juts out
from the side of the dark mountain, affording you a breath-taking view of the moorlands below.