Free The Eye of Winter's Fury by Michael J. Ward Page B

might have caused offence. Sylvie’s eyes glint mischievously, her lips twitching into a playful smile. ‘Ah, you’re still such a babe. Grew up behind safe walls, I daresay. You’re not ready for the wilds quite yet, are you?’
    You find yourself confused at her manner. ‘I wasn’t given a choice,’ you reply sourly.
    ‘Hmm, that’s as maybe. Well, seeing as you’ve asked, I work for the Botany Society. Actually, I used to – before I decided to focus my efforts in other areas. I’ve had to live in some very remote places, boy, in order to conduct my studies. You learn quickly to fend for yourself when you don’t have nothing between you and the great outdoors.’
    Sylvie lifts her hand, displaying a band of silver around her wedding finger. ‘I was married once. He was a good man. Randal. We were posted here together by the society. Perhaps it was always inevitable we would fall in love.’
    ‘What happened?’ You venture. ‘If you don’t mind me . . .’
    ‘He died,’ she interjects, before you can finish. ‘It’s painful, but it happened and there’s nothing I can do about it. Sometimes, the hardest part is learning to let go, to say goodbye.’ She looks up, meeting your gaze – then smiles once again. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. Ihaven’t spoken about it for a long time. That’s one downside of being alone – no one to talk to. Well, except for the plants.’ Her grin widens. ‘But they’re really not the same now, are they?’
    Return to 191 to ask another question, or turn to 207 to end the conversation.
    43
    You find yourself in a cobwebbed cave chiselled out of the black rock. One wall is lined with barrels, and another contains a rickety-looking wine rack filled with coloured bottles. Stairs at the back of the cave lead up to a trapdoor, which you assume provides access to the main taproom of the Coracle.
    If you have the word Bowfinch on your hero sheet turn to 148 . Otherwise, turn to 380 .
    44
    The lightning bolts lance into your transport, causing serious damage. (You must lower your transport’s toughness and stability by 2.) Thankfully, you manage to reach the far side of the island without sustaining another barrage. With an extra boost of speed, you quickly outdistance the towers’ range. Turn to 492 .
    45
    Your weapon splinters the Skard’s javelin, your foot catching him in the chest and driving him back to the ground. He reaches for his belt, fingers closing around the black wand. ‘Min eld!’ he hisses, pointing it towards you.
    Then Henna’s sword comes slicing down in a brilliant arc of steel. You turn away from the blow, not wishing to see it land.
    ‘Funny,’ she pants, dropping to her knees. ‘With a face like yours, didn’t think you’d be so squeamish.’
    You grunt at the joke. ‘Is that the last of them?’
    She nods. ‘I think so. Took down the other hunter. His dogs too.’ She winces as she works her shoulders. ‘Think I may need a healer, though – and a good bath.’
    You take a moment to search what remains of the Skard. If you wish, you may now take one of the following rewards:
Bone smile
Red gutter
Atataq
(necklace)
(main hand: dagger)
(main hand: wand)
+1 brawn +1 magic
+1 speed +1 brawn
+1 speed +1 magic
Ability: reckless
Ability: bleed
Ability: sear
    When you have updated your hero sheet, turn to 108 .
    46
    The einherjar are quick-footed and strong – and more used to fighting on the shifting uneven banks of snow. Despite your strength and magic, you struggle to fend off their brutal attacks. It becomes a battle of attrition, which quickly wears you down. As you fall to your knees in the deep snow, your weapons are knocked from your hands. With nothing left to defend yourself, you resort to clawing and biting, letting Nanuk’s spirit rise to the fore.
    For an instant you sight the shock on the faces of the warriors, then they back away. Aslev is the first to lower his blood-stained axe. The others look to him, muttering angrily