the door at the end of the gangway. If you be wantin' some food or ale, there's a tap-room in the hold — just take the stairs on the right.’
If you wish to inspect your cabin, turn to 53 .
If you wish to investigate the tap-room, turn to 151 .
273
Stealthily you creep along an alley running beside the bowyery and return to the post where your horses are hitched. Muffled cries of alarm can be heard coming from inside the building: the body of the dead owner must have been discovered.
Without undue haste you remount your horses and head along an alley running north.
Turn to 63 .
274
Paido reveals the coin; you have chosen correctly. You decide to take the second watch and settle yourself down for some much needed rest. The grey earth is soft and spongy and provides an excellent mattress. You pull your warm Kai cloak around your shoulders and slip into a deep, dreamless sleep (restore 3 ENDURANCE points).
Four hours later you take over the watch. Your vigil passes uneventfully, and as the darkness of night gives way to the gloomy grey of dawn, you wake your companion and prepare to set off once more.
Turn to 138 .
277
The sinister monk is shocked by the speed and ferocity of your attack, but he recovers his senses in time to parry your first blow with his black staff. A splash of hissing sparks lights the room as your weapon scrapes along the jet-black pole and glances off its twisted tip. You raise your arm to strike again, but you are distracted by Paido's scream of alarm. His face is deathly pale and his hands and arms are trembling uncontrollably. With a groan he collapses, scattering plates and cutlery as he hits the table and rolls unconscious to the floor.
Turn to 238 .
278
Around a pool of slimy water are gathered a group of vine coils, hollow and funnel-shaped like gigantic rusty springs. They support a huge spider's web. There is no sign of the web's maker, although, judging by the size of the rope-like strands, it must be a creature of enormous size.
You give the pool a wide berth before finding your way back to where the starguider's signal is strongest. A creeping bank of mist rolls across your path and the maker of the web looms out of it. Paido stifles a cry as this hairy abomination scuttles towards you, its venomous maw poised to bite.
Illustration XIV —The hairy abomination scuttles towards you, its venomous maw poised to bite.
If you wish to stand and fight this creature, turn to 5 .
If you wish to try to evade it, turn to 260 .
279
You exert your control over the approaching dogs, commanding them to ignore the trail of scent that leads to your hiding place. They stop and sniff the air, whining like hungry pups, frustrated and confused by their conflicting senses. You change your command and will them to attack their masters. Instantly their whining becomes an angry growl as they turn ferociously on their handlers. The leading monks throw up their hands in horror and fall against those behind as the dogs leap on them, biting and clawing at their throats. This unexpected attack throws the monks into a panic. They turn and flee the hall, desperate to escape the sharp, rending teeth of their own hunting dogs.
Turn to 328 .
280
It is late afternoon when you ride into Stia, a village comprising a score of cottages and a dilapidated hut which sits astride the Great North Road. As you approach the tiny thatched hut its stable door swings open and an old man steps out of the shadows. He is wearing an odd assortment of antique armour and regalia that clanks and rattles like a cart-load of rusty metal as he shuffles across your path.
Illustration XV —An old man wearing an odd assortment of antique armour shuffles across your path.
‘Hold there, strangers!’ he blusters, his croaky voice full of self-importance. ‘Proceed no further till you pay the toll.’ You draw your horse to a halt and stare down at the ridiculous-looking figure.
‘By what authority do you levy a toll on the
If you wish to inspect your cabin, turn to 53 .
If you wish to investigate the tap-room, turn to 151 .
273
Stealthily you creep along an alley running beside the bowyery and return to the post where your horses are hitched. Muffled cries of alarm can be heard coming from inside the building: the body of the dead owner must have been discovered.
Without undue haste you remount your horses and head along an alley running north.
Turn to 63 .
274
Paido reveals the coin; you have chosen correctly. You decide to take the second watch and settle yourself down for some much needed rest. The grey earth is soft and spongy and provides an excellent mattress. You pull your warm Kai cloak around your shoulders and slip into a deep, dreamless sleep (restore 3 ENDURANCE points).
Four hours later you take over the watch. Your vigil passes uneventfully, and as the darkness of night gives way to the gloomy grey of dawn, you wake your companion and prepare to set off once more.
Turn to 138 .
277
The sinister monk is shocked by the speed and ferocity of your attack, but he recovers his senses in time to parry your first blow with his black staff. A splash of hissing sparks lights the room as your weapon scrapes along the jet-black pole and glances off its twisted tip. You raise your arm to strike again, but you are distracted by Paido's scream of alarm. His face is deathly pale and his hands and arms are trembling uncontrollably. With a groan he collapses, scattering plates and cutlery as he hits the table and rolls unconscious to the floor.
Turn to 238 .
278
Around a pool of slimy water are gathered a group of vine coils, hollow and funnel-shaped like gigantic rusty springs. They support a huge spider's web. There is no sign of the web's maker, although, judging by the size of the rope-like strands, it must be a creature of enormous size.
You give the pool a wide berth before finding your way back to where the starguider's signal is strongest. A creeping bank of mist rolls across your path and the maker of the web looms out of it. Paido stifles a cry as this hairy abomination scuttles towards you, its venomous maw poised to bite.
Illustration XIV —The hairy abomination scuttles towards you, its venomous maw poised to bite.
If you wish to stand and fight this creature, turn to 5 .
If you wish to try to evade it, turn to 260 .
279
You exert your control over the approaching dogs, commanding them to ignore the trail of scent that leads to your hiding place. They stop and sniff the air, whining like hungry pups, frustrated and confused by their conflicting senses. You change your command and will them to attack their masters. Instantly their whining becomes an angry growl as they turn ferociously on their handlers. The leading monks throw up their hands in horror and fall against those behind as the dogs leap on them, biting and clawing at their throats. This unexpected attack throws the monks into a panic. They turn and flee the hall, desperate to escape the sharp, rending teeth of their own hunting dogs.
Turn to 328 .
280
It is late afternoon when you ride into Stia, a village comprising a score of cottages and a dilapidated hut which sits astride the Great North Road. As you approach the tiny thatched hut its stable door swings open and an old man steps out of the shadows. He is wearing an odd assortment of antique armour and regalia that clanks and rattles like a cart-load of rusty metal as he shuffles across your path.
Illustration XV —An old man wearing an odd assortment of antique armour shuffles across your path.
‘Hold there, strangers!’ he blusters, his croaky voice full of self-importance. ‘Proceed no further till you pay the toll.’ You draw your horse to a halt and stare down at the ridiculous-looking figure.
‘By what authority do you levy a toll on the
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