### 143

You steer your horse away from the highway and set off across the fields, threading your way slowly through Vorka encampments and clusters of parked baggage wagons. The glowing eyes and the vile smell of the cold-blooded reptilians make your skin crawl. It also disturbs your horse, and it is only through the swift use of your Magnakai skill of Animal Control that you are able to prevent him from rearing up and bolting away.

The clear night brings with it a sharp frost that sparkles in the starlight, but only a few campfires have been lit. The Vorka have little need of heat, and these fires are solely for the benefit of the humans assigned to command them. You sense that the Eldenorans dislike being in the company of their Vorka troops, and those who are encamped with them harbour a bitter envy of their luckier comrades who are billeted in Tekaro.

As you are riding past one of the campfires, a disgruntled Eldenoran sergeant looks up from the burning embers and calls out for you to come and join him and his two companions.

If you wish to ignore the sergeant’s request and continue your ride through the Vorka encampment, turn to 188.

If you decide to do as he requests, you may join him and his men at the campfire by turning to 249.