### 243

Before you lies a huge chamber. Its walls are hung with silk and fine tapestries and its sunken floor is piled high with glittering treasures. As you enter, a perfumed breeze ruffles your hair and the sound of song-birds fills your ears.

Sogh leads you past a bubbling pool of crystal-clear water into an antechamber. Here, lying on a couch of vivid scarlet, rests the ruler of this sanctuary, dressed in an extravagant costume of many colours. His large, squarish face is framed by a hood trimmed with a strange purple fur. He stirs from his slumber and opens his coal-black eyes.

‘Sogh! Who is this man?’ he shouts, angrily. ‘Why have you brought him here?’ The thief tries to offer an explanation but it only serves to anger him even more. ‘Sogh, you snivelling fool!’ he bellows. ‘You know it is forbidden to bring outsiders into the secret enclaves of the guild. I should have you flogged for your stupidity. For all we know, this Northlander could be a spy, or even … ’ he pauses, staring up at you fearfully, ‘an assassin.’ He snatches a gem from his pocket and holds it in the air. ‘Kad-dul da-nar Li-ook!’ he breathes, and a vivid green flame engulfs the sparkling jewel.

If you have the Magnakai Discipline of Psi-screen, turn to 101.

If you do not possess this skill, turn to 64.