Legion of Shadow (84 page)

You may purchase any quantity of the following for 50 gold crowns each:

When you have made your choices, turn to
597
to ask Lansbury another question, or
553
to leave the tent.

698

The swordsman is one of the most skilled opponents that you have ever faced. However, by studying his technique you notice that he often over stretches himself in his eagerness
to push his attack. On one such occasion, you manage to sidestep him, bringing your foot behind his and pulling him across your body to throw him to the ground. Nyms hurriedly tries to regain his
footing but it is too late – your main weapon is already held to his throat, your knees pinning down his arms.

‘I believe that makes it a win,’ you grin triumphantly.

There is a cheer from the crowd. Even Caeleb is joining in, banging his sword against his shield. ‘Bravo!’ he calls. ‘A magnificent win!’

You climb off Nyms, allowing him to get back to his feet. The swordsman brushes himself down with a sour expression. ‘Yeah, OK, you got lucky.’

‘Come on Nyms,’ laughs Caeleb, walking over and slapping his friend on the back. ‘It was a good fight – acknowledge that at least.’

Nyms grudgingly offers you a nod of approval. ‘Well, I did say I would teach you some new moves,’ he glowers, raising his twin swords once again. ‘You ready?’

If you are a rogue, you may now learn the swordmaster career (turn to
611
). Otherwise, you continue to spar with Nyms until you are both exhausted from the work out. Having gained
valuable experience, you thank the warrior, before leaving the training yard. Turn to
553
.

699

You ride east at a furious pace, the horses’ hooves leaving billowing plumes of dust in your wake. At last, you find yourself reining in at the edge of a bone-littered
ridge. The rest of the force are gathered along its length, their faces struck with fear and awe.

Below you, across a grey plain of ash, a mighty battle is raging. To the far south you can make out the banners and standards of Ravenwing’s army – a tiny force already outflanked by
the undead horde that is spilling out of the valley. There are thousands of skeletons making up its front lines. Amongst their ranks, you can see bone giants and immense abominations of flesh,
created by the dark magics of Zul and his mages. Above them, buzzing like flies, are bone wyverns. They shriek and holler as they wheel through the sky, dodging the fireballs and other artillery
that are flung their way from the beleaguered defenders.

Redguard raises his sword high into the air. ‘Courage and honour. For the king! For Valeron!’

The chant is taken up by his soldiers. You join in, raising your weapons to the sky. There is an answering rumble from the gathering storm clouds, as if the heavens themselves are adding their
own voice to your impassioned cry.

Then, you are riding forth, following the others as they gallop towards the nearest flank of the undead army. The odds stacked against you are vast, but you realise what is at stake. If
Zul’s army destroys the resistance and the shield over Talanost, then nothing will be able to stop the Legion of Shadow from obliterating everything in its path. Turn to
705
.

700

Mathis is convinced that you are now his enemy. Unable to control your actions, you trade blows with the mighty inquisitor, the two of you performing an elaborate dance of
thrusts, parries and blocks:

Special abilities

If you break control of Zul’s spell, turn to
745
. If you are defeated, turn to
732
.

701

When you try and grab the crown, you curse angrily as your hand passes straight through the clever illusion. It was a trap – just as you had suspected! You hear a creaking
sound and immediately turn, fully expecting the stone statues to have come alive, ready to attack. Instead, the floor gives way beneath you, dropping you ten metres into a murky-smelling pit.

There is a rattling hiss from the darkness. As you quickly clamber to your feet, you notice a large pair of snake-like eyes circling around you. There is another hissing snarl . . . then a
reptilian beast leaps out of the shadows, landing on its bowed legs only inches from you. You reel back, tugging your weapons loose, as the tall lizard makes a number of clicking sounds at the back
of its throat. An answering call comes from behind you. Spinning around, you see another of the creatures baring its gleaming fangs. You sprint to the nearest wall, putting your back against it as
the two predators stalk towards you, their clawed feet clicking against the stone:

Special abilities

If you manage to defeat these deadly predators, turn to
709
.

702

The beast rears up onto its hind legs, then topples backwards, crushing scores of skeletons beneath its spiked carapace. You may now help yourself to one of the following
rewards:

You turn your attention back to the battle, which continues to rage around you. Turn to
601
.

703

There are several minutes of tense silence, then you hear the rising din of the approaching undead, their snarls and howls echoing along the stone-lined passages. It gets louder
and louder, until it breaks against the hilltop in wave after wave of undead.

To the north, Witchfinder Gull is facing off against a force of sinewy white creatures with haggard, drooping faces and grey spiky hair. With a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other, Gull
weaves gracefully between the clawing monsters, driving them back with the fast dance of his sword and the force of his smoking gun.