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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit3YY9zBoN
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uYwXJFWFI
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJqdFq9Tls
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1RV4EtSxi
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX49KWhGpG
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BLCO2BxQv
Str 7470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEoDaFoAp6
Dex 4470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxCRnfr1x1
Con 8470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMKympS8Xb
Int 16470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKA6GUZLIf
Wis 16470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e84R3Ipwx
Cha 4470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH880XMj4n
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt73yQNpRpg
Skills470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbZcnXv9tu
Lunge 5470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UB4ZPPHRM
Parry 5470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYY1hftait
Wield Shortbow 3470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuVcvcEBuQ
Wield Rapier 5470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3XgaIvs2N
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhqZ0xRl2O
You have 1 attribute point to assign.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurqa4zA7CJ
You have 5 skill points to assign.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXiIqvEoL2
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XP 110/200
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I was heartened that the system awarded a new attribute point on levelling: one that further justified my risky decision to be a Fighter. The immediate question was not what attribute to increase but whether to spend it at all. If it proved relatively easy to get attributes to move up from very low scores, but very hard to say, train Strength from 17 to 18, then I should save all my level points until I'd achieved as much as I could from exercise.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDaylp9Jp3
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MKqtFy4qX
Then there was the question of skill points. From the speed at which skills increased, I might have made a mistake in my Min-Max approach. I tapped Carlena on the back and asked that she wait with me while I took a breather. The cleric, however, I gestured to continue towards the town walls, which were less than a mile away.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3DTbEfw0X
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcTF97IELi
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmZzj9TPl8
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXTGvRbMpk
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMp96MBWjT
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C4tkyvlR6
'I understand.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjroazUjbo
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'I believe that every time where you are in a situation where you have a chance to use a skill in earnest, there's the possibility you will increase your expertise in it. But you have to use a skill many times before you will be successful.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhrjxWUoYk
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEpHBPUSrl
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5NCIJpz0R
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDBEpvBdtQ
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtwJ3k7V3A
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLOtgni7Kq
It took a moment to find the right menu, then I reported them to her: 'Strength five; Dexterity eleven; Constitution nine; Intelligence seventeen; Wisdom seven; Charisma eight.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTPQi845Jk
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bDLPYaVdT
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBKlktsguE
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQl2NNWqoy
Although I felt reluctant to share this information for some reason, I reminded myself she was on my side after all. 'Strength seven; Dexterity four; Constitution eight; Intelligence sixteen; Wisdom sixteen; Charisma four.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0512vFLDwb
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvv4SShfXR
'By Miya's breath! Sixteen Intelligence and Wisdom? I never would have believed it!' Then she laughed. 'No offence, Sean, but I see the body of King Carlos and I see a very slow-witted man. It affects my perception of you.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj96lX25zx
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD3rcDr8fX
'None taken,' I smiled. It was the first time I'd seen the sorceress laugh and it all of a sudden, my doubts about her retreated.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLiK7GoPBp
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsF0OHoNT7
'That's the explanation: you will learn fast with those two attributes so high. They are extraordinary, I doubt there are more than a handful of people in the world with both Intelligence and Wisdom over fifteen.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyXiMvYbgB
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH07295vwFH
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWDcP809cW
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9wBl96Tlr
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnFvZxhoNy
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuhb1YbtBT
I resumed my slow walk back to the safety of the town walls. It was hard to force my thick legs into motion, but my morale was high and the aches didn't trouble me. If I could get my core fighting attributes to increase, to at least to around eleven or twelve, then I could bump them up with my level gains. Meanwhile, I had a very advantageous situation in regard to skills. Obviously, I should spread my points widely, trusting to my Intelligence and Wisdom to bring them up fast. In time, I would be a very versatile warrior, capable of using a wide variety of weapons and actions at a high level, instead of a specialist in just one or two.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSVB4kmpdz
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNrB4oZS5s
I put a skill point into each of Bash, Block, Deflect, Defensive Stance and Dodge, which would get me started in those. And I saved my attribute point for now.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigmOEGRwWs
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUftkNlRYK
By the time we reached the eastern gate of the town (a large metal portcullis that was already mostly down, I had to duck to go through), nearly four hours had passed. I hadn't forgotten the fact that the smithy was turning out pickaxes and as soon as the iron was all used up and I had twenty-four new pickaxes, I assigned them to the miners.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJlrGnP38Y
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW30scm9Pe
The Cleric was just beyond the gate, waiting for us. My instinct was to thank her, but conscious of the looks of the guards and the townspeople, I simply said, 'be ready to do the same tomorrow.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FLXmzR883
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnif5zIZfY
'Yes, sire.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7GbsSH0vq
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE5U0UjAMq
With a promise she would join me for dinner, Carlena bid me farewell soon after and set off towards her tower, the one I had arrived at just two days ago (though it felt like I'd been here a week at least).470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxdJF8jsYz
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ723v68tLKe
As I entered the keep, my thoughts were entirely on a bath and even a nap before dinner, when they were jolted into focus by the presence of Chancellor Parrin. My scout had been waiting in one of several chairs that were set outside of the solar for that purpose. My heart leapt. So much depended on his report. What did his face convey? Bad news, I thought, there was unease in the way his eyes caught mine.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJqIMjwQJx
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLFqm83g03
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88NJfgBhG3
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'Well?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEMVXCWOuk
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'They are moving an army towards us.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaAaF0WqXR
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'How many troops?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24IuqOF4P6
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppok1wmBwd
'Sixty spearmen, twenty axemen, forty archers, thirty light cavalry, ten heavy cavalry…' he paused, 'with them are two commanders, one from each faction, and a Shaman with a sabre-tooth tiger pet, I couldn't determine their levels.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubcB9mAihM
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZsbzmY7VJ
They had about twice the number of troops we did. And strangely that gave me some hope. Given Greyland's tiny army, it could have been a lot worse.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhBm3RKyEK
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'How long have we got?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITIMCjBaBN
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsifCWWZt3
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKuqt96bmJ
This was happening too fast. If I could have even had just a couple more personal levels, I could make a real difference to what happened in the melee. It was unfortunate too that the tower machicolations wouldn't be in place for this battle, one day and eighteen hours remained on that timer.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMLj60xOlb
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Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg51V3TpayN
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCp1IBJE9c
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdybYyE4S3a
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'No, this is about half.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLBTOHFw2q
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXCKaS640J
That really did feel like a mistake. If they had risked everything on overwhelming us, that would have been far more dangerous. Perhaps they were worried about losing control of our farmland in the event of being thrown back. Or perhaps the two rulers were not entirely of the same mind. Whatever the reason, the encouragement I offered the chancellor was not at all bluster. 'A lot will depend on how you, Lord Arval and Carlena perform, but this will be a battle we can win. We have a ballista, they don't have anything with the same range?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnojFWIoq8
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38hZOOQrFV
'No.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR7i8cLXth
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhdPDfRUNz
'Because of that, they won't be able to mass their archers to eliminate ours and then drive us from the walls. They will have to come on fast and try to storm the fort while we are on top of them. And that's a big advantage to us.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbTL8Nq4Ds
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYeSHUekNv
'True enough sire.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNBZLvWtcB
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0fbOmC51A
'Send a messenger on a fast horse with those figures to Lord Arval and tell him I'm coming; order a horse and cart big enough to carry me; let Carlena know to meet us at the fort tomorrow, early, and the cleric too, and any of the archers in the hospital able to fire a bow.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOz3FyhokP
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3VwnEmLZ0
We shared a look – for my part I tried to convey confidence and determination – and then he was striding out of the hall, his rapid footsteps echoing in the empty room. One day I would lead my armies from the front. If we survived this attack. But even if I couldn't fight in a battle effectively, I could be there to encourage the soldiers and give orders.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPnoh78clp
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0RPEtxO69
After a wash and change and a meal (fish again) I went outside the keep to where a man sat on a long cart, which was drawn by two horses. I was going to have to travel through an uncomfortable night on those bare planks and over a bumpy road.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVmNsp3Ozw
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59DOj60Yt2
It really was a painful journey, several times I was jolted so badly even my bulky body rose off the planks. As best I could, I distracted myself by reading up on the game menus, giving particular attention to the stats on the soldiers. It was possible to get details on each soldier type, so our 33 archers, for example, read as follows:470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUh3rIxUt3
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Greyland Archer470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyEjNa1Agk
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Fighter level 0470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM39q8aaxvv
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Ranged attack: 15470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYcJl86gS1
Melee attack: 8470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1BAPMfIpL
Armour Class: 2470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FJYUihz16
Hit Points: 5470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjiym7lDvG
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Skills:470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPaMkE3Wnz
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ785TASD58D
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMblL63AKUh
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Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
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I had also been keeping an eye on the town menu and just after dawn, 4 iron ingots appeared in the resources area. That was excellent, it showed that applying steel pickaxes to mining really was an effective way to increase production. I allocated the ingots to the smithy, meaning I would have 48 new pickaxes in due course. Assuming we survived the day ahead.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfzGfAoNbZ
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mkvnHJ7ii
Lively birdsong accompanied the spread of grey light across the sky. Because we were making our way down a valley, I didn't see the rising sun, only a pink glow that became a bright yellow sun by the time it rose high enough to cross the shadows of the horizon. It was a beautiful day and I was struck by the realisation that it might be my last. Unlike a game, this could be the end for me. I was placing myself in proximity to 160 or so enemy soldiers who wouldn't hesitate to kill me if they could. And there was no possibility of escape if it all went wrong, not with this body.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu65FIwZnS6
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOJSIzEAhD
Did every soldier feel the same, the morning before battle? A heightening of all the senses? An appreciation of the sky, the breeze, the birdsong? Even of the breaths I was taking. Yes, I felt a certain amount of fear, but it was very much in the background. I had to do what I had to do.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukNvivLDcA
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH3JkeMH6U
Three Ways was the area at meeting of two valleys at the confluence of two small mountain rivers with a bridge over the emerging river. The fort was a wooden tower on a rocky outcrop to my right, the river I was following was on my left. Extending from the tower and all the way to the riverbank where there was another, much smaller, tower was a wooden palisade. There was a gate where the road passed through the wall.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXYCFPD0He
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE0OviklOZ
My first impression was positive. We had control of the main route up towards Carrick. In theory, you could march along the other side of the river, in the narrow strip of rocky ground before the hill began to rise steeply. That would let you bypass the fort, but it would be slow going and we could harass the enemy from our side of the river. The walls of the hillside were even steeper near the main fort tower, including slaps of sheer rock in places. There was no way an army could skirt around us.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOsFEs3x72
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kBquXWQ2Y
A picket of a dozen light infantry called on the cart to stop and as soon as they saw me, they stiffened to attention. With some difficulty I got myself out of the cart and over to the soldiers who looked at me with solemn expressions.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3O1tRtSeJ
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kOhidqQ0B
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A guard saluted and led the way towards the main fort tower; before we were half way there, a cluster of soldiers came out of it, Lord Arval at their head, body armour shining silver in the morning light.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIAIXoIcK2
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD39DnyXR9
'Well met, sir, well met!' Lord Arval offered his hand and shook mine earnestly. 'I have made my dispositions, but I'm glad you are here to check them and lead us in the battle.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUXtJasqdo
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8xzzgWNqq
'Thank you, Lord Arval. I don't suppose this world has invented coffee? No. Some hot water then if you can, while you explain your set up.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLSZb0EpuS
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaKYobitmg
'Certainly sire.' He gestured an aide to obtain my drink, then began his account. 'Our light cavalry, twenty-four of them, are scouting further down the road. They will bring us word of the enemy advance.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhavQCVgCr
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I nodded.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCHJu4zCYi
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOvFBesA8N
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'What's the maximum range for it?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnFXWljptn
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXlRiHwH17
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UYfmAAYvr
It took some effort, and I nearly had to ask for a push from behind, but I got up a narrow wooden staircase and stood with the Paladin above the gate. Ahead of me, the road turned left to cross the bridge and then follow the river downstream on its left bank. That valley was where our opponents would arrive from. From here I could see the other stream and the mouth of the other valley, which was around the corner to the right of our main tower, with the stream running across the ground ahead of us to the main river about four hundred yards from where I was standing.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFIHvQDgpK
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4vAVzcnCc
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'Yes?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmGlEvReq7
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC43PpBR8y
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGgeNiiizz
While it was good that we could be shooting at the enemy as they crossed the bridge, I wasn't sure about placing the ballista crew in a position where they could be fired upon once the enemy was over the crossing. Not at all.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQARlqgwq5c
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFHp0rjdyM
'All along the palisade will be our light infantry. They have been hauling rocks up ever since we heard the news. Also about half the archers. Only fifteen can fit alongside the ballista crew on the top of the tower.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2gIFETRxM
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJbikvmpJg
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQT3TJsiw6
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIjdEps6Fd
'I was thinking that the twelve heavy infantry and four heavy cavalry should be there on that rise, as our reserve.' He pointed back the way I had come from.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4uUiB36tk
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIozPXpnVG
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RBnCBnse1
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvybVpdGhD
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZqvCxgZU9
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNchdUIP9n
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x774YfKwe
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutQwSgUtDK
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVpgC26QPx
Lord Arval looked thoughtful and rubbed his bald head slowly as he considered the ground ahead of us. 'I'd probably rush my archers to the main tower and try to silence the ballista, maybe having prepared screens first, so as to protect from incoming arrows from the walls. If I succeeded, I'd clear the palisade next, as much as I could.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHQd2ToBrv
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A5nzrluBl
'I think the same. So would you consider putting our ballista with the reserve? Too far for their arrows to reach but within range of them?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSwZ0K6VL8
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ytMFcpQjj
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWc8WaXDDK
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8nF1KDIbX
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0so8Imz6g
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'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBumChvSWL
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'We could put Carlena here, she has a fire dart spell that would do a great deal of damage or drive them off if they come close.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkIR4hz07Q
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62pMXUjKb9
'Aye.' He had a distant look, probably I did too. We were trying to imagine what the battle might look like. Though as any writer on warfare would tell you, no plan survives contact with the enemy. 'Aye,' he said again, more decisively, 'I think you are right.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fercSJlq6
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'And the advantage of my idea is that we keep everyone under cover for the duel between ballista and their archers. Your way, we might win, but are likely to lose a lot of troops.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo541hfkgu
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkM3LmQBpu
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRTqRfmnoC
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'Go ahead.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFIw1krpbT
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It took over an hour before the ballista was set up on the rise behind the palisade, even with a pulley to lower the equipment down the side of the tower. Not long afterwards Carlena arrived with Chancellor Parrin, the Cleric and two more archers, who had recovered enough in the hospital to participate.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVT37kVBjm
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The Cleric was put in the reserve and then the four of us: Arval, Parrin, Carlena and myself went to the small tower while we talked over the plan. In short, it was to win the artillery duel and therefore be able to have the infantry throw rocks and spears from the palisade without fearing incoming arrows.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BPmxRwrE7
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Time moves slowly before battle. It was still early in the morning and I wondered if it was worth feeding our soldiers in the near future or not. I asked Lord Arval.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GDacbR8ai
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'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5IUcgXPK9
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'No one knows sire. There is a story of an emperor who had the same question. So he took two groups of twelve soldiers and had them fight. One group did so after a hearty meal, the others with no food inside them.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfflntEkYL4
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWdQTV4SOr
'And?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNAjJxqCfO
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'Inconclusive, sire, I believe the no-food side won, but only by a man. Personally, I find a small amount of food, especially fruit, optimum.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AvwYbskJC
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7fftGT3dV
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Ztf8AEVM
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE10jtE4ctd
Our opponents did not, however, arrive until after a long, long wait, the sun well past midday. Then time began to move rapidly, beginning with the return of our light cavalry: a distant dust rising into the clear blue sky, then the sounds of their hooves and finally the sight of them clattering across the bridge.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELi2IWOEpS
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When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFnR7rJJYP
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'Ready sire?'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmyTeuwYui
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'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2SkDy0u1y
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPAfKTt5yH
Lord Arval nodded approvingly, while Chancellor Parrin's long, bearded face was inscrutable. He probably had years of practice at hiding his feelings from Carlos. Carlena, however, was clearly sceptical.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg49RDJKMqY
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From a rock on the rise, with a good view of the cavalry to my left and the infantry below, whose faces were tipped up towards me, I tried to remember some of the rousing speeches I'd heard in films.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT7NYXgXWy
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'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOh9KDl4Cf
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'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfFRAvvu8l
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'Soldiers of Greyland!' I began, my big body proving good for this purpose, with my voice strong and echoing from the rocks. The men looked at me with hopeful expressions. 'This day, the twenty-fourth of the month of Abya, is forever going to be remembered in the history of our realm. For it is on this day that we will turn the course of this war.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS9rAg3jlL
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Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGYiFuL8MI
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'And you are the lucky ones. There will come a time when vast armies under my command will conquer the twenty-five kingdoms. And they will all know that it began here, with just a few of us, a lucky few. A band of warring brothers.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfxBiBmxXX
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'You will be able to say, with pride, I was there that day. With King Carlos, with Lord Arval, Chancellor Parrin and Sorceress Carlena, when we smashed the army that tried to invade our mountains and sent them fleeing back down the valley.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSIOJXokOj
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'It will be a tough battle, they have more soldiers; but we have much the better position and the advantage of the ballista. Let no one think of retreat. Either we hold this fort or the enemy capture Carrick and enslave your families.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GLg0boMhY
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlozSlE4SY0
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuDwD4c3uN
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'Those recruits in years to come who were not here will think themselves cursed. And listen in silence when any of you speak. You who fought at the battle of Three Ways!'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUheKWZNvJ
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Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q3t5H07jN
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv6Dtkiyuj
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiAAhjydGB
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'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc8lWOuvuo
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Passing me a small bottle of turquoise liquid, she said, 'just drink and name the creature. Make it one around your size or it might fail. You will have eight minutes.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPQ3fAqQkT
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'Good luck.'470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tg3ptV9JO
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'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09K1ppkar8
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Before Lord Arval had returned, a new sound came from the valley beyond the bridge, an ominous deep series of thuds. The enemy were coming, marching to drums of war.
