### 79

A line of toa trees casts a shadow that hides your stealthy approach. The iron portcullis is down, and only a couple of soldiers stand guard inside where there would normally be ten times that number. Suddenly, there is the grate of metal as the portcullis slowly rises. The guards stand back to allow a troop of cavalry to leave the palace. As they gallop past, the horses kick up a huge cloud of dust, covering the luckless guards from head to toe. They cough and sneeze and run to a horse-trough to slake their dust-choked throats. The portcullis is still open, the archway unguarded.

If you possess the Kai Disciplines of both Camouflage and Hunting, turn to 170.

If you decide to attempt to sneak past the drinking guards, turn to 86.

If you decide to attack them while their backs are turned, turn to 119.

Text copyright © 1985 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1985 Gary Chalk.