rest. You awake the following morning feeling invigorated: restore 3 ENDURANCE points.
To continue, turn to 285 .
208
Through a gap in the boulders you see a pack of eight ridge-backed Jackals feeding on the carcass of a Durncrag Scavenger, a vulture-like bird of prey. They are engrossed in their meal until they detect the scent of their most favoured food: live horsemeat.
With another frenzied howl the wild Jackals abandon the feathery carcass and come streaming through the gap in the boulders, drawn by the scent of your horse. They seem to know that he is in a weakened state and this fuels their fury. Your horse takes fright and tries to pull away, his hooves flailing the air perilously close to your skull, and as the first of the Jackals make its attack, you find yourself struggling to hold on to the reins with one hand and fight off the Jackals with the other.
Vorndarol Jackals: COMBAT SKILL 42 ENDURANCE 38
Unless you possess Grand Weaponmastery and have reached the rank of Sun Knight or higher, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 5 for the duration of this combat.
You may evade combat after four rounds by turning to 222 .
If you win this fight, turn to 347 .
209
You gallop down the muddy track towards a cleft in the gully which is protected by the overhanging ledge. Here you command Bracer to halt, but he does not respond as you would wish. He paws at the ground and refuses to stand still. You feel sure that the lightning flashes, the burning trees, and the deafening cracks of thunder are the reasons why he is so unsettled. In an attempt to calm him down, you draw on your innate Kai skill of Animal Kinship. In doing so, you suddenly discover the real reason why he is so agitated.
Turn to 319 .
210
You pull your horse back from the body of the dead corvayl and gallop away in case there are others of its kind lurking nearby. Beyond the plateau, the trail descends steeply towards a thick pine wood. Milky-white pools of water punctuate this section of the track, some deceptively deep, making the descent difficult and tiring. By the time you reach the wood your horse is in need of rest.
You dismount to take the weight off his back, and as you gather his reins together you notice that the flap of your Backpack is undone. On checking the contents you discover that one of your possessions is missing. (Erase the second item on your list of Backpack Items. If you have only one item on your list, erase that one instead.)
As soon as your horse is rested, you remount him and set off through the pine wood heading east.
Turn to 300 .
211
Your mastery of the Kai camouflage skills makes you virtually undetectable. The Vakovarians search the inn thoroughly but they fail to find you, even though one passes so close that he treads on your foot.
You wait until they have gone; then you leave the inn and make your way down through the ruins towards the lake, taking care to avoid those other Vakovarians who are out looting. The burnt-out shell of a meeting hall offers you an unobstructed view of the quay and its flagstoned square. You hide here, invisible among the charred roof timbers, and watch as a curious scene unfolds on the quayside outside.
Turn to 163 .
212
You focus on the brigand leader as you whisper the words of the Brotherhood Spell Mind Charm . You will him to send away his henchmen and, when he is alone, you close in on him from behind without making a sound.
Turn to 119 .
213
You level the Deathstaff at the Arch Druid, and say, ‘This is the key to the resurrection of Vashna; without it your Demoness will be powerless to summon him.’
Cadak laughs, sneering at your words. ‘And how long do you think you will keep it from her, Kai Lord? Did you think that the Demoness Shamath will have difficulty taking it from you? No, she will not. You are doomed, Lone Wolf. Why don't you admit it? You were doomed the moment you returned from the great arch.’
Your hatred for the evil druid wells up and
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