### 99

The Jackals are gaining too quickly for you to outrun them; your only hope now is to fight them off. You rein your exhausted horse to a halt and slip out of the saddle, drawing your weapon as you touch the ground. The Jackals spread out and surround you, howling maniacally as they savour the scent of your frightened horse. Then, as if responding to a silent signal, they slink forward to tighten the circle. Your horse rears up and tries to pull away, his hooves flailing the air perilously close to your skull.

As the first of the Jackals makes its attack, you find yourself struggling to hold on to the reins with one hand and fight the Jackals off with the other.

Vorndarol Jackals: COMBAT SKILL 42 ENDURANCE 38

Unless you possess Grand Weaponmastery and have reached the rank of Sun Knight or higher, you must reduce your COMBAT SKILL by 5 for the duration of this combat.

You may evade combat after four rounds by turning to 222.

If you win this fight, turn to 347.