100

"What ho, poison! Stop that man!"

Your trained voice cuts through the kitchen noise, sending all heads swiveling to you. You stab your finger furiously towards the black-clad man, who has already slipped out of view into the hallway.

"Stop him, stop him, stop the man in black!" you shout, trying to decide what to do.

You continue to shout for help as you run, after barking quick instructions to the kitchen staff that by no means is the poisoned casserole to be served to the King and Queen, or anyone else.

The man's long strides have given him a significant lead. You just espy him at the end of the hallway, rounding the corner to a staircase out of your view. Gritting your teeth, you put on as much speed as you can.

You fling yourself around the corner, only to realize that the man is lurking in the shadows at the top of the staircase.

You try to steady yourself as the man grabs at you and makes to push you down the stone steps. He is larger and stronger, but with your well-toned muscles and fine reflexes you're at least able to latch a death grip on his cloak before he pitches you towards the ground below.

You tumble together, alternately slamming into each others' bodies and the placid stones.

Onward