### 347

The shouts of the Drakkarim and the rain of their arrows unnerves the guards. They fear it is the prelude to a night attack, and when they see a black-clad figure stumbling towards them and hear him give the wrong password, they panic. 'Enemy attack!' they shout, waking a unit of crossbowmen stationed on the high ground behind. They rush to grab their loaded weapons and take aim at the enemy, but the only target they can see is you. 'Fire at will!' commands their sergeant.

A scything wave of iron bolts lifts you off your feet and a terrifying pain tears through your chest. You are mortally wounded and, although you fight to hold on to life, it is a struggle you cannot win.

Your life and your quest end here.

Text copyright © 1987 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1987 Brian Williams.