### 185

You raise your right hand and call to mind the thoughts of the spell Lightning Hand as taught to you by Banedon, and focus the power of this spell upon the tips of your first three fingers. You feel a burning sensation and quickly it becomes almost unbearable: lose 2 ENDURANCE points.

You are sorely tempted to abandon the spell, but quickly you stifle this urge and release it at the middle of the fleeing druid’s back. There is a crackling sound, like the crumpling of dried leaves; then a bright blue light shoots from the tips of your fingers and hits the Cener like a hammer between the shoulder blades, sending him sprawling head-first into a tangle of thorny briars.

Stunned and groaning, the druid fumbles for his slender golden rod and quickly his spindly fingers locate it. However, before he can use it to retaliate, you sprint across the clearing, weapon in hand, and attack him as he lies on the ground.

Cener Druid (prone): COMBAT SKILL 20 ENDURANCE 28

If you win this combat, turn to 349.