26

Your advanced Kai Mastery reveals to you the whereabouts of the missing purse of gems. It is in the boot of the bargee, the lank-haired man who is siding with the merchant against the other. He is hoping to keep hidden his guilt by pointing the finger of suspicion at the man in the hide coat.

The bargee steps away from the table and, as he tries to move quietly towards the tavern door, he passes in front of your chair. Deftly you kick the top of his boot. The blow splits the purse and scatters gemstones all over the tavern floor.

‘Why you … ’ growls the guilty bargee, and, in the blink of an eye, he draws a dagger and lunges for your heart.

Bargee (master thief): COMBAT SKILL 36   ENDURANCE 25

If you win this combat, turn to 199.