; Dungeon of Dread - Page 37
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'"I'll stand here and watch" says the halfling stubbornly, "But I
$think you're crazy to attach that thing."
'"Laurus, I'm disappointed in you," you snap, stepping into the
$corridor.
'You have no sooner stepped into the passageway, when the minotaur
$spies you. Now you know why it is angry! When the bugbear rushed into
$the beast's lair, it brushed flames against the minotaur's body. One
$whole flank is scorched and burned. It bellows with rage and pain,
$then paws the ground and thunders at you. It's too late to flee.
'You brace your shield for attack, knowing it was foolish to face any
$creature that could so handily trample a huge bugbear. Within a
$second, the minotaur is on you, flailing you with its huge fists and
$biting you with its powerful jaws. You swing your sword in
$determination, but to little avail. Your sword strikes one of the huge
$beast's horns and breaks. The minotaur rips your shield from your
$grasp and hits you with its mighty fist. Everything goes black.
'Laurus stands transfixed, frozen with horror and shock. Then
$slowly, slowly, knowing he was right not to fight, he inches away from
$the horrible scene. The sounds of the minotaur are soon lost in the
$distance but it will be a long time before they fade from the
$halfling's memory.
'After a time, Laurus finds his way back to the opening in the rock
$and, stepping through, breathes in the cool night air.
\
'"Well," says the halfling, "I am sorry for the loss of my brave
$friend, Caric. I will return to my village and tell his story so that
$his memory will live. As for myself, I've been to the wizard's lair
$twice now and I'm still alive. That's more than anyone else can brag
$about. Maybe I'm not so little, not so frightened, after all. Maybe
$my friend Caric was right! I shall go home and tell my tale and if my
$wife and the others don't believe it, then that's too bad for them."
'Straightening his shoulders and giving his head a proud tilt, the
$halfling strides off into the night.
A* THE END *
)For another adventure, try this one again from the beginning
