Free Dawn of the Dragons by Joe Dever

break free from his grasp. She runs towards you, cradling the sobbing child in her arms.
    ‘Thank you, thank you … ’ she cries as she falls to your feet. Gently you lift her, assuring her with kind words that her ordeal is over. She smiles, reassured, but her expression quickly changes when she spots something moving behind you.
    ‘There he is, that cur Holkar!’ she spits. ‘He's the murdering leader of these bandits. All this chaos is his doing.’
    You turn to look at the object of her hatred, and see a swarthy brigand dodging between the gravestones that line the abbey grounds. He has a sack full of loot slung over his shoulder and he is hurrying towards his horse which stands close to the abbey's perimeter wall. Determined not to let him escape, you rush into the grounds of the abbey and give chase.
    Turn to 206 .

84
    ‘Grand Master, let me introduce you to Captain Cearmaine,’ says Elector Manatine, formally presenting the tough-looking officer to you. ‘I have chosen him to see you safely to Holona. He will do all he can to help you through the battle zone so that you may press on with your urgent journey to Casiorn.’
    You recognize the captain's name and recall having heard tales of his bravery during the Darklands War. His acts of heroism turned many battles to the favour of the Freeland Armies and earned him a respected reputation throughout Northern Magnamund. You could not have asked for a better man to escort you on the next, difficult stage of your vital journey.
    He offers you his hand in friendship and you are mildly shocked when your fingers close around a palm crafted from cold steel.
    ‘A keepsake from the Battle of Vellino,’ he says, smiling at his metal hand. ‘Sadly, the first was stole away by a Drakkar's axe.’
    Turn to 130 .

85
    As the last of the Eldenorans falls to the ground, you turn and vault onto the freed horse's back. With a flick of your heels, you urge him to gallop and steer him into the woods. You keep to the trees and head south in a wide arc around the Eldenoran settlement at Fabri. During your ride through the timberland, you discover the following items in the bags and blanket roll which are attached to the horse's saddle:
Sword
Rope
Tinderbox
Blanket
Bow
Quiver containing 5 Arrows
12 Lune (equivalent to 3 Gold Crowns)
Spyglass
    If you wish to keep any of these items, remember to adjust your Action Chart accordingly.
    Shortly before sunset, you emerge from the trees at a place where three trails meet. A wooden signpost propped against a boulder indicates three directions, destinations, and distances:
    Chod: 250 miles North
Holona: 50 miles West
Tenzha: 20 miles South
    You are anxious to leave hostile Eldenoran territory as soon as possible and, after checking your map , you set off to the south, towards the Slovian border town of Tenzha.
    During your ride, unless you possess Grand Huntmastery, you must eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE points.
    To continue, turn to 343 .

86
    You ride to Scade with all the speed your exhausted horse can muster and return at once to the Lucky Bucket Inn where the remaining members of the troop are billeted. The news of your encounter at Castle Tranius comes as a shock, both to the troopers and to the innkeeper who fears for the safety of the real Knight Tranius.
    ‘I haven't seen him in the town for near-on a week,’ he says, anxiously rubbing his many chins. ‘We 'ere had no inkling that somethin' bad was happenin' up there at the castle. It's right put the shakes up me, I can tell you.’
    In the warm comfort of the inn, you use your Kai healing skills to mend the Lord Constable's injuries. He is carefully testing his weight on his newly-mended ankle when suddenly there is a commotion outside in the street. An angry mob of hard-faced men, many clutching torches, staves, and coils of rope, are marching down the cobbled avenue towards the inn.
    ‘Hang the Talestrian thieves!’ they shout. ‘String up the murdering