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"We have no choice!" Merlyn cries, as the waterwolf runs straight at you. "I have to try my firespell!"

She begins her spell-casting routine, crossing her arms in front of her and bowing her head. You and Deke position yourselves between Merlyn and the waterwolf, in case you need to stall for time...though you shudder thinking about what those fangs will do to you should you actually have to try to hold the animal back. You hear Merlyn begin chanting, this time shouting the words in her agitation. You shudder again as you hear the name of Vulkaro invoked.

The wolf is less than ten feet away. It leaps, mouth open, teeth and claws bared!

And just before you can turn away and cover your eyes in fear, a wall of flame erupts between you and the wolf.

You turn away and close your eyes anyway, to protect yourself from the blaze, and for a moment a cloud of heat envelopes you, baking your skin, burning your lungs as you take a single breath. But the cloud vanishes as quickly and mysteriously as it came, and you seem little worse for it.

The same cannot be said for the waterwolf, who lies on the ground at your feet, fur smoldering, lifeless. You look up, and see Deke and Merlyn also staring at the dead animal before you, panting from passing through the strange cloud of heat.

"You did it Merlyn, you did it," Deke congratulates her, but with less enthusiasm than usual after winning a fight.

"Yes," she agrees, her voice quiet. "But I did lose control of the spell, just a little bit. For a few seconds it affected us all. I hope that we don't have to do that again."

You wholeheartedly agree. Luckily Deke says then, "We're almost to the village. Just a few more miles."

So, keeping one eye on the wilderness around you, especially now that it's getting dark, you continue down the road and over the ridge. And just as the very top of the sun passes below the horizon, you see buildings! You feel like jumping for joy.

"Come on you guys!" you shout, and run ahead toward the village. Thoughts of a cool drink and a warm bed dance through your head.

"Be careful, Renn!" Merlyn warns. But she and Deke both run along after you, laughing, down to the village of Bray.

Breathless but happy, you reach the entrance to the tiny village. Night has just fallen. In a moment Deke and Merlyn catch up to you.

"Let's head to the inn," says Merlyn. "We can worry about a sword in the morning."

You nod in agreement, and Deke says, "Okay, follow me. I know the way." And you start off down the village street.

You gain 20 courage points and 10 luck points.
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