Chapter 11:  Bang in Albrook
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"What is it?" Hao asked sleepishly.

"I'm not sure," Maru replied.  "I just sensed something was watching us."

"Where?" Hao said as he leapt out of bed and reached for his sword.

"I'm not sure," she answered, turning from the window.

In that instant she was turned from the window, a crossbow bolt slammed
into the window jamb, passing right through where her head would have
been.

Racing across the room, Maru grapped a bag of grenades from off the table
and fled from the room.  Following suit, Hao grabbed his bag and belt and
followed her.  Seconds later several more crossbow bolts rained in
through the window.

On the stairway leading to the lobby, Maru stopped so fast that Hao
slammed into her.  Coming up the stairway were two shadowy figures.  In
the darkness it was impossible to make out anything other than the
vaguest of shapes.

Regaining her balance, Maru shot Hao a angry look and they hurried back
up the stairs.  Stopping at the top, she pulled the pin on a grenade and
tossed it back down the stairs.  Seconds later it exploded.

Coming back around the corner, Hao and Maru saw the remains of the
creatures mixed in with the remains of the stairs.

"Oops," Maru muttered.  "Guess we have to jump."

"Guess so," Hao said with a shrug as he leapt over the banister.  Once
they were both in the lobby they glanced quickly around for a back
entrance.  Finding one, they quickly fled through it.