Page 71

"Come on!" you shout, grabbing Deke and running forward.

The two of you plant yourselves on either side of Merlyn, who scrambles to her feet.

"We don't want to hurt you!" Merlyn cries. "Please, stop destroying this place!"

"I never will!" the sorceror shouts. A burst of insane laughter follows, then a burst of orange flame erupts above the three of you. You cover your head and try to dodge the smoldering debris that falls from the ceiling.

"Merlyn," Deke says a bit testily, "I think we need to hurt this guy!"

Deke raises his fumball. "Do it!" Merlyn agrees, and Deke hurls the ball with all his might. It hits the sorceror right on, and rolls away. A moan escapes the man, and he falls over.

"That's it?" Deke asks, incredulous, stepping forward to reclaim his ball.

But suddenly three firesnakes appear, one racing for each of you. Merlyn is prepared and destroys hers in time, but you and Deke are both hit full force. It's like being punched in the stomach by a raging wind that's just swept down from an erupting volcano. "Oof," you groan, and you and Deke fall to the ground as the sorceror gets up.

You force yourself back to your feet nearly as quickly, not dropping your guard for a second.

"I think it's time to do this the old fashioned way," you say, and run at the sorceror, your sword waving. You reach him and swing the sword with all your strength.

Unforunately, as you've never swung a sword before and have no idea how to use one, your swing is wild. You completely miss the sorceror, and fall on your rear.

"Hahaha!" the sorceror doubles over with laughter. Your face goes as red as the flames around you...but the moment does give Merlyn a perfect opportunity to strike the sorceror with a wave of water. He stops laughing and staggers back, and you clamber away from him and back to your friends.

Incensed, the sorceror unleashes another spell, and this time a swarm of fiery darts comes rushing at you. There are too many for Merlyn to block, far too many for you to dodge. You cringe, turn away, and prepare for impact.

If you are wearing leather armor, turn to page 74.
If you have no armor, turn to page 76.