>TM 4 >LS 2 >PS ON >PL66 >SM6 >CP ON >FO OFF >------L-----------------------!---------------------------R â323â While the horses are drinking, you laugh with Karvas Š when you recall the startled faces of the militiamen Š as you galloped through their dithering ranks at Š Bakhasa's east gate, and you take the opportunity to Š give him the sword and belt that you took from the Š sleeping guard at the Tehda stables. He smiles as he Š buckles it on his hip and then he unsheathes the Š blade to gauge its weight and balance. "Not the best Š steel I've ever handled," he muses, "but better than Š no steel at all. I'm indebted to you, Grand Master." It is an hour past midnight and the passing of Š another day rekindles thoughts of the road ahead. Š With only nineteen days to Harvestmas, the city of Š Seroa still seems a very long way away. But you draw Š some comfort from the fact that you now have two fine Š stallions. They are sure to make the long road seem Š far shorter. You are admiring them when suddenly they Š stop drinking and become agitated. You scan the Š surrounding trees yet you detect nothing untoward. Š Then you hear the sound of approaching hoofbeats and Š you curse yourself for being complacent. "I should Š have known they would not let us get away with two Š horses as fine as these," you say, as hurriedly you Š and Karvas climb back into the saddle. You urge your Š horses across the ford and, as you take to the trail Š beyond, you look over your shoulder to see half a Š dozen armed Bakhasians come galloping along the trail Š towards the stream. They are led by a warrior who is Š sheathed from head to toe in shiny black armour and Š he holds a metal staff raised in his gauntletted Š hand. Beyond the stream the trail narrows as it Š ascends into the forested hills. As you reach the Š crest of a ridge, you glance back to see that your Š pursuers are gaining on you. The leader aims his Š staff and a ball of flame hurtles from its tip to Š come streaking between you and the prince. This fiery Š missile fails to strike its target, but the heat and Š noise of its passing startles Karvas's horse. The Š prince controls his mount with admirable skill, yet Š in so doing he loses speed and is soon left trailing Š over a hundred yards behind. You wave to him, urging Š him frantically to catch up, and he signals to you to Š ride on. When you turn to look at the trail ahead, Š you are shocked to see that it is now blocked by a Š burning tree. The fiery missile has struck and felled Š a pine and ignited its inflammable sap. As you gallop Š towards this blazing trunk, your heart sinks when see Š that it blocks the narrow trail: there is no clear Š way around it. If you wish to attempt to jump your horse over this Š blazing pine trunk, turn to â204â If you decide to rein in your horse and turn to face Š your pursuers, turn to â60â