Page 140

"We'll take the ride," you say, and thank the man, handing over 25 shrin.

"Great," the stranger agrees. "City life's been tough lately - any chance I have to make a few extra shrin is a help. See that carriage over there?" He points across the street, where two horses and harnessed to a wagon. "That's mine. We can leave as soon as you're ready."

You reply that you're ready now, and want to get to Kalokathir as quickly as possible.

The man smiles. "That's great. I've only got the two horses, but they're some of the fastest in the business."

So you climb aboard the wagon and the journey begins. The ride along the road is fast-paced, but a bit bumpy and uncomfortable, and once you leave the city the scenery becomes very dull.

"Hey, wanna hear a joke?" asks Deke. "So this man says to a doctor: Help, doctor, I keep thinking I'm a chicken! So the doctor asks him: How long has this been going on? And the man says: Ever since I was an egg!"

There is little other excitement on the trip, until, around midafternoon, you reach the city of Ambra.

"I've got some business here," the driver says. "Shouldn't take me more than an hour. Have a look around and enjoy the city a bit, if you'd like."

You decide to do that. It's good to stretch your legs, as well as to see the sights of the city. Antrejar had seemed a pretty big place, but Ambra made it pale in comparison. Before long you find yourselves in the middle of a bazaar of vendors.

"Fresh pastries!" shouts one.

"Bracelets, jewels, fine trinkets!" calls another.

"Blades and weapons!" a third voice shouts.

"Hey, let's go there!" says Rial.

You turn and look. A man dressed in leather, with blades of all sizes strapped about his person, stood next to a booth with swords leaning against it and knives and daggers hanging from it. Shields were stacked in piles on the ground nearby.

"What do you care about weapons?" you ask Rial.

"I don't really...but they're kinda fun," he answers.

"Well, I've got a sword but I'm not very good with it," you reason, "which means I could use a shield. I wonder if I've got enough to buy one."

You approach the vendor and ask him about a shield. "How much does it cost?" you ask him.

"Well, how much have you got?" the man asks you.

You glance at your money bag. "Not much," you tell him.

"Hmm, let's see what I've got," he tells you, and rummages around behind his booth a bit. He returns with a fairly ugly, worn-looking, wooden shield. "I'll give you this for 50 shrin," he says.

He hands you the shield. Hey, it matches my sword, you think. But the sword is light and feels strong, despite its appearance.

"I like it," you tell your companions.

"I don't know, Renn," Merlyn comments. "50 shrin for another piece of equipment you don't know how to use?"

You lose 25 shrin for the ride.
If you want to buy the shield, turn to page 154.
If you don't have enough shrin or don't want the shield, turn to page 157.