Legion of Shadow (6 page)

Special abilities

19

The barman grunts as you approach, pushing himself lazily up off the counter.

‘Wha’ can I do yer for?’ he asks, scratching his rotund belly. ‘Need something to cool yer down? Ain’t got nothing cold, I’m afraid. Warm beer’s all yer
getting here.’

20

The man shows you the pouch dangling from his belt. You are more than a little surprised to see that it is heavy with coin.

‘Mercenary type, huh?’ he grins. ‘I got some gold to make you happy, if that’s what you’re after. It ain’t much mind . . . but this ain’t a good year,
not a good year at all.’ He looks up into sky, shielding his eyes from the sun. ‘Ne’er seen a spit of rain for weeks. It’s the witch I hears them saying – she’s
the one brought this on us. Hard times for us all in Tithebury, very hard times.’

21

You cut the girl loose, taking a small degree of satisfaction as she drops to the ground with a thud.

‘Ouch!’ she cries. ‘You could have done that a little more graciously.’ She gets to her feet, brushing the leaves and twigs from her clothes. ‘All day I’ve
been up that bloomin’ tree, and not a single sign of him. Not a single sign.’ She wanders over and picks up her basket. ‘I was sure that handsome huntsman would come and save me.
I screamed and screamed until I was hoarse. Oh, that would have been so perfect – for him to find me here, a maiden in distress.’ She gives a long, wistful sigh.

22

Quest: Best in show

As you leave the village of Tithebury Cross, you pass a small row of thatched cottages. One of them catches your eye, its garden abundant with brightly-coloured flowers and
sweet-smelling roses. An elderly woman is working in the garden, pruning a cherry tree with a small pair of shears. When she sees you watching her, she immediately straightens and waves you
over.

‘Good day to you traveller,’ she says, her chubby cheeks bulging with a smile. ‘I’m Beatrice Fletcher – how lovely to meet you. I see you’re admiring my
garden. Isn’t it a marvel, despite this wretched weather?’ The woman wipes her brow. ‘I don’t suppose you fancy some work, do you? Ha, don’t worry – I
don’t see you as the type to have green fingers. No, I got other work in mind for you. See that?’ She points to an area of the garden where several large turnips are starting to emerge
from the soil. ‘Those turnips . . . they’re prize-winners. Do you know I’ve won the prize for Best Root Vegetable in Tithebury five years running. Five years! People expect me to
win . . . but this year . . . this year is different.’ She sighs and shakes her head. ‘My little beauties aren’t doing so well. It’s the heat you see. But Martha Weevil, you
should see the size of her turnips. Witchery, I tell you. It’s outright cheating!’

The woman places a hand in her apron pocket and pulls out a small earthenware pot. ‘But this . . . this will even up the odds. I got it off that kind old witch, the one that lives out in
the woods – but don’t tell a soul. Wouldn’t want my good name to be associated with the likes of her. I’m sure you’ll understand.’ She holds out the pot to you.
‘Look, it’s simple. Do you fancy earning a bit of coin? I need someone . . . discreet – someone to accidentally spill a bit of this on Martha’s turnips.’ She shakes
the pot and you hear the sound of liquid, sloshing around inside. ‘What do you say?’

23

‘The woods always been safe if you stick to the path. Liselle always knew that – can handle herself that girl, I tell you; always visiting her kind old
grandma.’ The man runs a finger along the edge of his sharpened blade. ‘It’s been three days now and not a word. She should have been back by now. Liselle knows I would be
worrying. She’s all I got now, see.’ The man’s steely eyes settle on your own. ‘I’ll wager she’s still with her grandma. That old woman’s a glutton for
fanciful stories; fills my dear Liselle’s head full of ‘em. I daresay she may have tarried there. But goblins . . .’ He sniffs at the air like a wizened old wolf. ‘Their
taint is on the breeze. If goblins have taken her, I fear the worst.’ He looks down at the crutches, resting next to his stool. ‘If I wasn’t crippled so, I’d be out there
now, scouring every inch of that blasted wood.’

24

You are at a stalemate. To proceed further with the game you must put more money on the table. Decide how much gold you will add – and the gambler automatically adds the
same amount. You must bet at least one extra gold crown. (If you have no more money, then you have lost and lose all your gold. Turn to
11
.) Then roll a die. If the result
is
or less turn to
67
, if the result is
or more turn to
259
.

25

Quest: The stone circle

The sun beats down mercilessly, casting a shimmering haze over the fields and meadows. Feeling dizzy from the heat, you leave the trail and take shelter under a tree. As you
begin to doze in the cool shade, a voice suddenly startles you back to wakefulness.

‘Wake up! Wake up!’ A bird lands by your feet in a flurry of brightly-coloured feathers. ‘Please don’t tell me you’re as dim-witted as those farmhands. You look
like an adventurer, am I right? Am I right?’ Its head twitches from side to side, watching you with its beady black eyes.

Too stunned to speak, you settle for nodding instead. ‘Good, good – well that’s a start,’ says the bird, flapping its wings. ‘Come, my master is in danger and he
needs your help. Something terrible has happened!’

26

The giant bear gives a deep, bellowing cry, then crashes to the ground, dead. You may now take one of the following items as a reward for your heroism:

Once you have made your choice, return to the
map
to continue your adventure.

27

The man sniffs his clothes, looking surprised. ‘Well, can’t says as I ever had anyone telling me I pong before.’ He catches your eye and gives a dry, cackling
laugh. ‘I’m just a simple farmer, see. Not pretending nothing different. All’s me water used for crops and cattle feed. Think I can spare any for a bath?’ He shakes his
head, grinning. ‘I do knows one thing, though. That is a very nice looking blade you sportin’ there. Just about right for skewering those critters in me barn. You’ll make a nice
rat kebab with that, don’t yer think?’

28

‘Why, he’s the only reason I’m here in these horrible woods,’ says the girl, flicking a stray leaf from her shawl. ‘He lives up on the hills, to
the east of here. A traveller – and handsome . . . so very handsome. My, when I picture those big arms of his . . . all the better to hug me with.’ Her eyes glaze over and she starts to
sway from side to side, beaming like a love-sick child. It isn’t until you cough loudly, that she comes out of her romantic reverie. ‘Yes . . . well, I’m in love. Isn’t that
obvious? Oh, poor daddy – he thinks I’m always visiting granny. But gosh, who would want to travel these woods just to see that wrinkly old goat? No, it’s the huntsman I always
come to see. He has such fascinating stories to tell. One day we’ll leave Tithebury together and travel the world . . . just think of that!’ She looks at you intently, as if challenging
you to say otherwise.