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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2008 All Rights Reserved
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451
 The fight is short, and bloody. When you are done the two men lay crumpled on the roadway, no longer a threat to yourself or anyone else. For a moment you stand quiet and try to regain your breath. This was a fight you did not seek out, but you take no pleasure from the violence that has left you standing and these two men dead. As a thief yourself you know that both of these bandits will not be missed or mourned, but for your sake they must not be seen either.
Quickly you look up and down the road. No-one has been witness to the fight and you cannot afford the complications that will follow if these men are discovered. Within the cover of the trees you drag both into the undergrowth and search the bodies for anything of use. At first your initial assumption that they were in dire need of money is born out by the lack of any personal possessions. As you search one of the bodies however, you find that the older of the two holds a treasure of surprising value. In a small cloth bag you discover a nicely crafted lockpick set and four rials, but it is within a thin paper wrapping that you uncover a shard of white stone, smooth to the touch and very familiar to you. Immediately you recognise it as a piece of Stonewood, a remnant of the Silvan Tree, and one of the most sought-after relics of the ancient world.
Carefully you inspect the stone then turn to the prostrate body of the Kalborean you took it from. Where the bandit might have found it is beyond your knowledge but he could not have known the true value of what he held. Through the right traders this piece of Stonewood could have been sold to the Kalborean authorities for enough silver coin to buy a large home in Miller's Crossing. The Dwarvendim would have given him enough to buy half the town. Without knowing it he had his fortune in his possession all along, and instead lost his life for the promise of a few rials. No matter how you looked at it, it was a pointless waste of a life. (The piece of Stonewood is a valuable relic that cannot be left behind. Record this acquisition on your character sheet. If you wish to take any of the other items record them on your character sheet as well. The money does not count as an additional carry item as the coins can be placed into your own money pouch.)
Carefully you cover the bodies with bracken and return to the road. Pallenten is nowhere to be seen but as you retrieve your pack she trots out from beyond the bend ahead. Calling her to you, you mount and take one last look at where you have hidden the bodies. You take no pride in what you have done but it was necessary, and you cannot afford to delay any further.
Turning the corner in the road puts you at the eastern end of the bridge, looking across at the town of Miller's Crossing and its formidable fortifications. As one of the more important commercial centres in northern Kalborea the entire town is surrounded by an impressive stone wall some 15 metres high and 10 metres thick. Upon this wall stands a series of manned watchtowers, and more gaudily coloured flags than you have seen on the battlements of any other fortified community. It is a good sign that even with war brewing in the north Miller's Crossing is doing very well indeed.
The bridge does not take long to cross. It is about 200 metres long, built as a series of immense stone archways that span the width of the Laneslem. You have to admit that crossing this bridge is a new experience for you as previously you have always crossed on foot. On Pallenten's back it is quite unnerving. From the height of this vantage you can see over the high stone walls of the bridge, and it is a long way to the river below. One look at the length of the drop is enough for you. For the remainder of the crossing you find yourself focusing on the end of the bridge, and the more welcoming entrance to the town. As you approach its far end you are met by a number of guards grouped loosely near the main gates. They do not seem to have the slightest interest in stopping you and to your relief you are soon trotting down the centre of Miller's Crossing's main thoroughfare. Here within the walls the noise of commerce and town life is overwhelming. The crowds are heavy, and it is difficult to navigate through the throng of the early afternoon markets. Giving up, you dismount from Pallenten then push and shove your way through to the centre of the town square. It is there that you spy a food stall loaded with a wide variety of fresh provisions.
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Do you wish to purchase more rations? If you do turn to section 240. If you believe it will be better to continue on through the crowded market turn to section 259. If you would rather seek out fresh water for Pallenten and perhaps a pint of ale for yourself, turn to section 385.
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This book, and its associated books and other documents in the Chronicles of Arborell series are the intellectual property of the author, Wayne F Densley, and all rights are reserved by him. Windhammer is best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution. Any questions regarding the Chronicles of Arborell can be answered by emailing the author at densleyw@shoal.net.au
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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2008 All Rights Reserved
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