| 410 The guard stands directly ahead of you. He is not calling you by name but wants you to stop. For a second you consider your options then decide it will be best to bluff your way through, even if that means having to talk to this Kalborean. As you get closer you see that he is young, smartly uniformed and far more interested in your horse than in you. "By the gods this is a fine horse!" he says admiringly, "In all my years I have never seen such a powerful looking steed. What is her name?" As the young Kalborean looks over Pallenten you answer his questions as best you can and learn that he was once employed as a stablehand far to the south, long before being drafted and posted here as a guardsmen. You can tell by the boy's enthusiasm that he would much rather have remained as a lowly stablehand, his knowledge of horses and obvious love for them at odds with his current duties. Carefully you keep your face hidden and after a short exchange of goodbyes he sends you on your way, holding two silver coins he has given you to buy apples for Pallenten. (Record these coins on your character sheet. If the opportunity arises you can use them for this purpose in the future.) With a sigh of relief you keep to your path and soon approach the south gate. As you near the stone arch of the gate, with its massive iron portcullis, you can see a number of guards searching travellers as they enter the town. It would appear they are taking no interest in those wishing to leave. Pulling your hood further down over your head, you position yourself between two wagons heading for the archway, there is a chance that you will be able to slip out unnoticed. Suddenly from the crowd behind you, a guard runs for the gates, shouting commands and pointing urgently towards the town's centre.
| Turn to section 373.
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