Page 31

"All right, all right," Deke grumbles. "But I get to pick the next one."

You continue down the eastern road, with Deke now lagging sullenly behind. "Hey, Deke," Merlyn shouts back, "Keep up, will you? You heard Sharalinda � there's no telling what monsters are lurking around this place!"

You look down at the road and see that it's dwindled to barely five feet across. Trees are still sparse, but there are tall, thorny shrubs everywhere. You suppose this is close to being wilderness. You wonder what monsters you'll likely encounter.

"Hah!" Deke scoffs. "Anyone comes near me and I'll pound 'em with my fumball! I got the best arm Gundal's seen in years!"

You notice Merlyn roll her eyes, but she says nothing.

"Hey Merlyn," Deke continues, "What else can you do? With your magic I mean? Besides cure headaches and all?"

"Lots of things!" Merlyn says, skipping ahead. "Well, actually not that many yet," she confesses, and stops skipping. "I can do a basic spell calling on the power of each of the four gods. A windspell from Zephiro, a waterspell from Kuaro, a firespell from Vulkaro (though I'm a bit uncertain about using that one now), and the healing spell is from Kalyro."

"Why don't you want to use the firespell?" Deke frowns.

"Well, with Vulkaro becoming a demon and all...its spells can take on strange effects. I don't know how well I'd be able to control a firespell right now. It might hurt people whom I don't intend it to."

"Ah," Deke agrees. "Okay, let's stay away from firespells."

"Sharalinda says those four spells are all she'll teach me for now," Merlyn says. "But she's promised to teach me more when I'm ready."

"Um, guys?" you speak up. "I think something's crawling around in those bushes over there."

Deke and Merlyn look to where you are pointing.

"It's a fireshrew," Merlyn says, "A minion of Vulkaro. I can see its nose poking out."

"Let's go get it!" shouts Deke.

If you want to fight the creature in the bushes: give up 5 courage points, and turn to page 42.
If you have less than 5 courage points or you don't want to fight, turn to page 29.