### 62

The guard fires as you run at him, the sneer on his face boasting his confidence that you will soon be a dead man. You twist aside to avoid the lethal bolt, escaping with nothing more serious than a torn sleeve, and shattering his confidence. You attack and he attempts to parry your first blow with his empty crossbow; you knock it from his trembling fingers, leaving him without a weapon to hand.

Throne-hall Guard: COMBAT SKILL 14 ENDURANCE 22

If you win the combat, turn to 282.

Text copyright © 1986 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1986 Gary Chalk.