Free The Captives of Kaag by Joe Dever Page B

more than fifty of the enemy, but they receive a constant stream of reinforcements and, when finally your strength fails you, you are overwhelmed by the merciless denizens of Kaag.
    Tragically, your life and your quest end here.

162
    You unsheathe the sun-sword and hold it before your face. At once a golden halo of flame bursts from its polished blade, causing the Helghast to shriek in alarm as it recognizes the power you wield. It breaks off its advance and staggers back towards the bridge, desperate to flee its nemesis. Determinedly you chase after this evil being and, as it reaches the drawbridge, you come to within a sword's length of its spine.
    ‘Die, foul spawn!’ you cry, and with one fell sweep of your arm, you cleave the demonic creature cleanly in two.
    The sundered halves of the Helghast fall from the bridge to be consumed by the hungry flames. Open-mouthed, the two Drakkarim stumble to a halt and stare down into the moat. Nervously they glance at each other, fearful of suffering a similar fate; then they turn and run towards the open door. Determined not to let them escape, you give chase and catch up with them within a few yards of the entrance.
    Drakkarim: COMBAT SKILL  26    ENDURANCE  35
    If you win this combat, turn to 340 .

165
    You speak the words of the Brotherhood Spell Levitation and slowly you feel yourself rising out of the pool of dust. The moment your feet clear the surface, you reach out, take hold of the arched entrance, and pull yourself to safety.
    Your submersion has cost you your money pouch and one item from your Backpack, lost when you first fell into the dusty pool. Erase all your Gold Crowns, and the first item recorded on your Backpack Items list.
    As the effects of the spell wear off, you leave this sinister chamber and head off along the tunnel.
    Turn to 82 .

166
    The fireball skims your back before impacting against a distant wall. Your swift reflexes have saved you from injury but now you find yourself lying face down in the seething carpet of insects. You feel them creeping and slithering across your skin; then your psychic senses tingle with a sudden realization. These are no ordinary insects; in fact these are not insects at all. Your Sixth Sense tells you that they are merely a clever illusion created to panic and deceive you. Confident in this knowledge, you get to your feet, ignoring the mass of creepy-crawlies that are attached in clumps to your body. Then, in a matter of seconds, the insect horde fades and vanishes, the illusion dispelled by your disbelief in its existence.
    Turn to 281 .

169
    You throw yourself down to avoid the fiery missiles and the stream passes over your head, missing you by inches. They rip into a pillar supporting the tunnel ceiling, and sever it cleanly in two. Then there is a thunderous roar and, in the blink of an eye, a whole section of the roof collapses, burying one of the dragon-creatures beneath hundreds of tons of iron and stone.
    Illustration IX —The dragon leaps forward and lashes out with its fiery blade.
    For several seconds you stare at the remaining creature through a cloud of choking dust. Then, as if prompted by a silent command, you are both galvanized into action. The dust clears and a flaming sword appears in the dragon's paw. With stunning suddenness, it leaps forwards and lashes out with its fiery blade.
    Nadziran (in dragon guise, with flame-sword): COMBAT SKILL  46    ENDURANCE  40
    This creature possesses strong psychic ability. Unless you possess the Discipline of Kai-screen, deduct 2 ENDURANCE points every round you are in combat due to its relentless psychic assault.
    If you win the combat, turn to 76 .

175
    The guards see the approaching clouds of smoke and immediately they come thundering along the corridor. You step away from the door, expecting them to kick it open and come rushing in, but instead they skid to a halt and hurriedly pull the door closed to stop the fire spreading into the corridor. They