### 254

You scramble to your feet and see Captain Vagel lying trapped beneath the overturned chariot. Arrows thud into the ground as you hurry to his side and attempt to drag him free, but your brave efforts are in vain; he is mortally injured and close to death. You place your hands upon his chest and transmit your healing skills in one final attempt to save his life. Briefly he responds. His eyelids flicker open and he raises a broken hand to point towards the north wall of the quarry.

‘Go that way … throne chamber … ten miles … ’ he gasps. These are his final words.

At first you can see nothing but a featureless quarry wall. But then you magnify your vision, and you are able to make out the entrance to a vertical pit shaft at its rocky base, partially hidden by a heap of sawn timbers.

Turn to 161.