8

You spur your horse down the slope and gallop along an overgrown track that leads to the ford. The log huts are shrouded in silence, but as you draw level with them, a gruff shout shatters this illusion of peacefulness and a hail of arrows cuts through the air.

One of the black shafts buries itself in your horse’s neck. He shrieks in pain and crashes to his knees, hurling you into the river. You gulp a mouthful of the icy water and struggle to your feet, coughing and cursing, just in time to see your ambushers pour out of the nearest hut and advance towards you. Some are reloading their bows as they run.

If you have a Bow and wish to use it, turn to 131.

If you wish to try to escape by wading across the ford, turn to 166.

If you wish to draw a hand weapon and prepare for combat, turn to 251.