The Heart of Fire by Michael J. Ward Read Free Book Online Page B

Gerard, it was the perfect
solution.’
    ‘How could you know this?’ you ask, sounding sceptical. ‘Allam is revered. Pilgrims flock to Carvel because of him. He was sanctified by the church.’
    Lazlo gives a nonchalant shrug. ‘That’s just my opinion.’ He slips the blade back into his sleeve. ‘The outcome, I think you will agree, benefited the king and the church
more than it did poor Allam.’
     
Will you:
Ask what he thinks about prophets? — 149
Enquire as to your whereabouts? — 9
Ask about Carvel’s ‘masked crusader’? — 39
State you wish to leave? — 167
    22
    The tinker, a young woman in a grease-stained shirt and breeches, looks up from polishing a set of greaves. She smiles at you cheerfully. ‘Good day, traveller. Might I
interest you in one of my special deals?’ The tinker turns and gestures to a rack of weapons and armour. ‘Faith can only go so far in protecting us from the evils of this world. Oft
times I prefer a good blade and some chain between me and my enemy. What d’you say?’
    You peruse the items on offer, noting that many of them, despite the obvious ‘spit and polish’, have certainly seen better days. However, a few notable bargains catch your eye. The
following are available for 100 gold crowns each:
     
    Head splitter
Silver streak
Inscribed mantle
(main hand: axe)
(left hand: dagger)
(cloak)
+1 speed +2 brawn
+1 speed +1 brawn
+1 magic +1 armour
Ability: savagery
Ability: feint
Ability: iron will
    After viewing the items, you turn back to the bustling streets of lower town. Turn to 36 .
    23
    The blacksmith swings the mighty hammer as if it weighed no more than a roll of parchment. However, despite its obvious strength the creature is slow-witted and clumsy, the
cramped room making it hard to benefit from the range of its weapon. Using the close quarters to your advantage, you step around the demon’s ungainly attacks, hacking and blasting at the
scaly body. At last, dripping with sweat from the intense heat, you finally fell the monster, bringing its mighty hammer crashing to the ground.
    You may now help yourself to one of the following rewards:
     
    Forger’s hammer
Dread forge gauntlets
(main hand: hammer)
(gloves)
+2 brawn
+1 brawn +1 magic
Ability: pound
Ability: retaliation
    You may also take the sheet of
enchanted iron
that the forger had been working on. (Simply make a note of this on your hero sheet, it does not take up backpack space).
Keen to leave this sweltering heat behind, you are grateful to discover another portal tucked away inside an arched alcove. Without delay, you step through it – wondering what will await you
on the other side. Turn to 46 .
    24
    Dawn finds you out on the moors, frost still crisp on the ground as you trudge across the undulating hills. Joss sets a brisk pace, her bow slung over her shoulder, quiver
resting at her hip. You can’t help but marvel at her single-minded devotion – to have waited nearly a lifetime for the return of the tower, dutifully keeping her husband’s memory
alive when all hope must have been lost. With the tower’s sudden reappearance, you can understand her urgency as she pushes through the coarse brush, barely stopping to draw breath.
    Behind her is the paladin, Anse. He is now wearing a white surcoat over a padded blue jerkin. His silver crucifix hangs across his back, his other weapons bristling from the numerous belts and
wraps about his body.
    And rattling along at your side is Polk. The rugged warrior is struggling to keep up, huffing and puffing through his beard. A crossbow is cradled in his arms, loaded and ready for action.
‘Are we there yet?’ he gasps for the umpteenth time that morning. ‘I swear, when this is over I’m retiring . . .’
    You have stopped dead in your tracks, letting Polk trudge on for several paces before he looks around, confused. ‘It seems we have arrived,’ you reply, pointing ahead. Polk puts a
hand over his eyes, squinting over the next