During the night I must have been dreaming about the food crisis, because I woke up having made two decisions. As soon as I was dressed and sat in the great hall, eating my breakfast, I acted on them. Firstly, I sent a messenger to amend Chancellor Parrin's mission. He was not simply to scout for the enemy dispositions, he was to obtain information about when and how the ripened grain from our former lands was to be transported. Then he was to liaise with Lord Arval in using our light cavalry to intercept it. Assuming we had cleared the enemy from the valley that descended to the farmlands, the way should be open for such a raiding operation. If so, I'd leave the details in Lord Arval's capable hands.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kDj9XlQ4I
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bBan7o2pv
Secondly, I would ask the Necromancer for a delivery of food on account. I hated having to beg, but couldn't see an alternative. This was a job for Figus, which was a shame, because I also wanted the charismatic Bard to negotiate for the release of the prisoners. They were a burden and as soon as I could get them off my hands for any kind of recompense, the better.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wUHMSw1pN
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvSVniR6IV
While drinking a mint tea (thinking that I'd give a chest of gold for a bag of coffee), I checked for the new supply of ingots. The menu showed me I had 4 now in the stores. The new picks were making a difference but I was slightly disappointed that the daily yield wasn't 5. I allocated 3 to the smithy, to finish off upgrading all the miners and was glad to put aside 1 towards my first trade with the Necromancer.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVezmyeSrC
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL8PXKzT64
Next, I called up my character sheet.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vmD8hs1XV
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5RYTx8Gkb
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVSSg24018
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2STrhvQugq
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuTKgAvtdK
Str 7283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs58b4ksEH
Dex 5283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6GCYPHppi
Con 8283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx8cP2BKWy
Int 16283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqYnQqRd7C
Wis 16283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q7sRDPuOD
Cha 5283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlASmSzLszH
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT34ktDlMF
Skills283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl95cnxLai
Bash 25283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUnYVLe77u
Block 1283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXePvwqydqJ
Defensive Stance 1283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BuYxy1elZ
Deflect 1283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBO5J9Nwzp
Dodge 1283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhHNa8IZcJ
Impale 25283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGr2kvALPb
Lunge 5283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDubXaRfa0v
Parry 5283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfvcTlAohj
Wield Rapier 5283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxDBSpobic
Wield Shortbow 3283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLJRQuSdO0
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ELf62fUtq
Feats283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqRQfTZyOB
Charge! (Wis)283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUvHmYN7OA
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr893I18vv
You have 4 attribute points to assign.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1gtwNkEi0
You have 15 skill points to assign.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnj9kaVJGI
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAGkQO6PvJ
XP 2,860 (3,200)
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe9nJrXNg2
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwqMJOYMTb
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdITbTXZYny
It was heartening to see that my dexterity and charisma had both improved a point. That gave me an insight into the process, in that I'd been exerting myself to the utmost the previous day both to use the Rhino form effectively and to encourage the army. Probably, I'd performed actions that tested them repeatedly or under very great stress. And both were moving from extremely low starting points. There was almost certainly some non-linear progression at work here in that I'd have to do more than one day's activity to increase the higher stats.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdtEvKCxWU
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWkAr5qhzS
While it was probable that weight training was the likely way to improve strength, how could I exert myself enough to trigger a constitution increase?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcljT92mXtL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmyQQw8G4s
Perhaps Carradock Goblinbane would know. In any event, I wasn't going to spend my four attribute points yet. I still had to understand the system better.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKBOpFHy0i
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtunW1PWmCM
It was time to choose my fifteen new skills and after placing one point in each of the following I felt a real sense of progress: Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful; Heavy armour mastery: passive, allows the use of heavy armour; Kick: action, attack enemy with a kick; Medium armour mastery: passive, allows the use of medium armour; Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon; Ride Warhorse: passive, necessary requirement for the use of other skills from horseback; Riposte: action, counter-attack enemy (can only be triggered after a successful Parry); Shield mastery: passive, allows use of all sizes of shield; Wield espadon: passive, allows the use of a double-edged, two-handed sword; Wield longbow: passive, allows the use of longbows; Wield polearm: passive, allows the use of all polearms and spears (not thrown); Wield war axe: passive, allows use of a heavy, two-handed axe.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22fBL4ODXx
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfncJe7nRWJ
Most of the Warlord skills clearly overlapped with other fighter classes as they were all pretty standard, generic ones, but my progression as Warlord had unlocked three eye-catching skills that were likely unique to this path. Battle Cry: action, raises the morale of allies within earshot; Detect Enemy Weakness: action, gain insight as to the extent to which the morale of the target is wavering; Stonewall: action, gain increased AC in proportion to skill level (this skill cannot be higher than Defensive Stance).283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1MdCpct6b
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwBgK17NMm
Of course I unlocked these with a point in each. Someday on the battlefield, they could make all the difference.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5Xq5p4vZT
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTzb2PD44C
I noticed too that (Wis) had appeared beside my first Feat, and I opened that sub-menu.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6GC0oH7S7
Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity get a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase. Charge! is a wisdom based feat and each point of wisdom above 15 increases the buff by an additional 1 hit point and 1% move. A wisdom of 18 therefore leads to a Charge! with the effect of +8 temporary hit points and +23% movement for all those who hear the call.
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPPvSX4XzF
Now that was interesting and gave me pause for a long thought. The attribute points I'd been storing up could make this a powerful area-of-effect buff. If I put all four in Wisdom and hit 20, that would be plus 25% movement and plus 10 hit points to my nearby troops. Considering the basic, level 0 archer had only 5 hit points, that was very appealing. Before I committed myself to this idea though, I needed to test the Feat to see what the reset timer was and how many soldiers it could affect.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gDnivzA9q
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHw9IQ9jww
Very pleased indeed with these set of skills, that reminded me of my Storm Wars days when I had the skills and feats to tank major bosses, I made my way over to the barracks. There was something odd about the behaviour of the people that I passed. A quick check on the people menu told me that an increased happiness score – now up to 21 – might have had something to do with it. But there was something else going on. Furtive smiles. Little whispers to each other and looks at me that were almost sniggers. It felt like I was in fancy dress.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EGrh5C7w8
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JgDNtAeLi
Carradock Goblinbane was alone at the barracks and on my arrival he saluted me eagerly and said, 'well done sire! Very well done.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1XRiNOyOA
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNQYaYE0am
'Thank you.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzELcPvtTUX
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxWZYJJI8m
'And sire. I may only have one arm, but next time I hope you'll take me with you. I can haul on a rope, or help the soldiers get into formation.' His look was earnest, almost pleading.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOMiVdJF6r
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzOqz4VAlL
'Consider yourself so instructed, Carradock. You can be my aide-de-camp when we are in battle.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuORJdaWsC
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS2a7h7uFN
'Thank you sire.' His words were heartfelt and the tears in his eyes sincere. Good man.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ciaDBagaU
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbrlCeyFS1
'Now, let's continue with my personal training. I want to get stronger,' I said, 'and I also want my constitution to increase.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmO5KcHBZp
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qoOkuI4Uc
'The first I can help with. The second too, but not so much.' He glanced at me and must have seen a query in my expression, because he continued, 'if you assign soldiers to survival training, it takes three months for them to become hardier.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNLujbmifb
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMKPL1k9Kb
'Three months.' I sighed.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRgF9HLknJ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJPOUSrSNQ
'In your case, it might go quicker; you can dedicate yourself to it. As much as your duties allow.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vuYDFFtzN
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV28rjuMRc
'What does survival training involve?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vSpEurg0m
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzWpmTUejU
'We go into the mountains and live off the land, building a lean-to, hunting and climbing every day.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhatHHEfpnJ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2SqKQVbjj
'Living off the land you say?' It occurred to me I might make a small saving in food requirements to assign some soldiers to this training. And I would end up with better troops. But with the army so tiny, I could hardly afford this measure, could I?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVtgNfHXCI
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4XyN69rYx
'Yes sire, it's not the comfortable life a king is used to, no, not by a long way. We'll be hungry most nights. But I believe I see in you a determination that will meet the challenge.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR31idGei7
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9mfzABpIm
I caught Carradock's eye and nodded. All the same, there was so much to do here.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9OlcJpcx5
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhyGDIjoRU
'What about the strength training?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoACF8Gjnxv
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGD9TVCY0v
'Much more straightforward, sire. I'll teach you the lifts and you practice them over and over until you are at your limit.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh91hszu0E1
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjFYZtOaUu
'Let's begin with that then.' I literally rolled up my sleeves.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxZTZTk7cm
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCevjDnLEe
Soon, I was performing a variety of exercises, aimed at strengthening my arms and shoulders mostly, but Carradock also had me work on my legs with simple squats that very quickly became a challenge.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4YJF6O2kH
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFUuUdeVCT
When I took a break for water, I noticed again the presence of onlooking townspeople, who still had the furtive smiles and almost expectant expressions. Before driving them away to get on with their tasks, I leaned in towards Carradock.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hfR446oEj
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9qKD5NdYC
'What's with the smirks?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIUtlDqWzK
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLopsHmn8rp
'Oh,' Carradock had a thin, weasel-like face, more used to scowling than smiling to judge from the lines on it. But now it broke into a broad grin. 'Why sire, it's our new flag.' He pointed with his one hand.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB752QNtvq
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp7gBqdVOZ
The flagpole at the corner of the barracks had a green flag that I'd thought I'd seen previously. When the wind picked up enough to lift it fully open, however, I could see that it had indeed changed. The previous symbol had been a white circle of some sort. That was gone. Instead, it showed a galloping white rhino.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCMi9h0zDy
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvvQOtSKvi
It was probably out of character as King Carlos but I couldn't help smile. I looked around the square and shared the moment with the people who were there, letting them see I was pleased. Then called out, trying to sound gruff. 'All right, I've seen it. I approve. Now get about your tasks.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbYAAklVup
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6YVGrxp6a
***
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t1lfrzSsA
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N5PxrF86b
A couple of hours later, when I was panting from the weight training and sweat was pouring from my body, despite the cool autumn day, a messenger came hurrying to find me. It was a gangly teenage boy who I'd seen around the keep. 'Sire, sire! A ship is making for our harbour.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3wwKjYUDs
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tCDScy4cq
'What kind of ship?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT533tSIRp
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTwbWzh34q
'A Viking ship!' His eyes were wide with alarm. And my heart lurched too. We had no troops at all in Carrick. Well, a one-armed sergeant, a level three Bard, an over-weight Fighter who couldn't fit into any of the town's armour, and a Sorceress. At least we had Carlena, I hoped her mana was fully restored.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q4u4TaVD4
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUM073uRc4
'Go fetch the Sorceress. Tell her to meet me at the quays. Get someone else to find Figus, the ambassador.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PRMae31f6
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKOMBX89to
'Yes sire.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y5rRoVkDo
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJlnoao63e
'Carradock, come with me and bring your sword.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnraJXiRuV
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdATvEc4Q9
'Spear, sire. I can still stick 'em with it.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79f4vLgLn6
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevvI2rIhdc
'Right so.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPCrH8pDVO
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeswQflor4l
The quayside of the town of Carrick was a simple affair. One pier of stone stretched out into a grey sea for about thirty yards. In the protection of the lee of the wall bobbed two rowboats that were moored to buoys. It really needed a tower here, to help against invasion. At least we were outside the town walls and could fall back through a portcullis.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq5nFBFreO
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lOvoxAsyo
Shading my hand from the reddish sun, I could see the ship clearly enough. A bank of oars on each side; a large, square-rigged sail with a black and white stripe; and the ominous dragon head, facing us, rising up and down as they worked their oars and drove their ship towards us.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLfy5F2GkP
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCuSvIZjvT
'What do you know of these people, Carradock?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPr1GMgIqf
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5pQNufGHb
'Dangerous, sire. Fierce fighters. Robbers. Their land – Jomskar – is north, beyond the Kingdom of Lost Souls. We have a saying, "never turn your back on a Jomsviking", because they'd do you sire. Give you a knock on the head and you'd wake up a slave of theirs.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDfIfKgVzU
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqb42lwNQt
A clatter of boots on cobbles heralded the arrival of Carlena, the boy with her. The Sorceress was in her fighting outfit of trousers and tunic and as she gave me a nod of greeting, she tied her hair up tightly into a bun.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFUUlfnq6n
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wDtbiM0wy
I addressed the lad, 'get everyone you can from the town and take whatever helmets and shields we have in the armoury in the keep and hurry to the walls. Try to make it seem like we have plenty of soldiers in the town. And get some people to the portcullis.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX9uuh9uUB
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8407Plvu6X
The boy's large Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed heavily. Then he was off, almost slipping on the cobbles as he scrambled over-eagerly back towards town. This really was a lesson for me. Never to leave the town completely without troops. Hopefully, the infantry that Lord Arval was sending on leave would arrive before nightfall but for now, we were desperately weak. Even this one ship posed a significant threat.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NpbCfHpUJ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKVlWtRDRN
'How's the mana?' I asked Carlena.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqLWCR4QLK
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ElgyFy9N3
'Full.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡil7hAsdIkr
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGkNCcc7R6
'You're all we've got.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCvwcsEABu
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07QTxtlcYi
'This I can see.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16AC5oJUnd
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDnVgI4na7
I was hoping she'd add something reassuring to that comment. She didn't.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TZikT6vtv
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn7JSGI6fj
In contrast to the tension of Carlena's stance, the arrival of Figus was almost nonchalant in the confidence of his stride. He was well-dressed in good quality cloth, which was embroidered with intricate patterns based on the interweaving of wild flowers.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nhTRFSsNG
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzpkJhtADS
'Sire.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjT7zLIlWF
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMPSZ6ogwE
'Ambassador.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ycaF4T7ue
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajK73oxPmD
The four of us moved part way along the pier and stood in silence as the ship drew closer and closer. Seagulls swooped and squabbled and the scent of the ocean was as salty as on Earth. There was an extraordinary difference with my experience of the sea back home though. Here, on the horizon was a line of white mist that sparkled under the midday sun. The edge of the word, presumably.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2rafTmHuf
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukER9rdXaM
As the ship came around the head of the pier, I could see the men – and women – aboard. They were long-haired, tall and sturdy. How I envied them their fitness. And to my great relief, they were not brandishing weapons and helmeted up. At the front of the ship, one arm on the fabulously carved prow, was a red-haired woman whose dark green cloak fluttered around her. She caught my eye and gave a shout. 'Hail King Carlos, permission to enter your lands?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68QxRLnseR
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQRc5v53Tr
'Just you.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHuJHwDcBS
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6a72arx2E
With that their spokeswoman threw out a coiled rope with considerable dexterity and it was Carradock, despite only having one arm, who caught it and tied it off on a bollard. With an impressively uniform response to a command barked from the man at the tiller, the oars came in and the ship lay easy just a few yards from the pier. The crew were looking at us frankly, with curiosity, and were clearly unafraid.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwThgqGbaW
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxTb4IIk8i
Two planks were found to bridge the gap to us and without hesitation the woman ran across. She was in her thirties; had a wide, attractive face; and brown eyes that shone with amusement, or was it cunning?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tZpuNoVuG
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilfpPcW9DZ
'I am Jarl Injeborg the Red, here to speak to you on behalf of King Olgrim Beartooth of Jomskar.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUEIn2PVhT
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsBju3JqZ3
'Go on.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtK2Bm1D9k
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMkYMWv9DL
She laughed. 'In my land, we greet ambassadors with generous hospitality. No wonder this place is called Greyland. Will we not go to your castle? A room? Some wine? Or mead if you like.' She turned to her crew. 'Ragnald, throw over a bottle of mead.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL8UJZkewM
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSElasJaNBG
One of the Vikings rummaged up a bottle, threw it accurately and Injeborg caught it effortlessly. Again it was an impressive display of skill and the whole crew knew it too, there were grins on all their faces.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1beKh8rnL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUgjJiCIbN
'Here's just fine.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDLvzlfHjH
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQnX7h2MHq
'Suspicious?' She opened her arms wide, throwing back her cloak to show that the only weapon on her was a small knife in a decorated leather scabbard on her belt. Then she dropped the smile. 'If we wanted to, we could cut you down right now.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2cyhvKQ0U
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsbBzVFmnT
'Perhaps, if you and your ship could survive a level eleven Fireball.' My heart was beating fast, but my voice was steady.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8MUM0oDsk
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrhBE6US6k
A quick flick of her eyes towards Carlena. 'We are here in peace and I am to offer you an alliance.' She paused, expecting perhaps that I would now bring her to a room in the keep for our negotiations.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0S4MT0Hr4
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGQNFYV8w4
'I'm listening.' And I really was.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVdSNPGhXJ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8GeGNSAi0
'Very well, we'll talk out here, in the wind.' Injeborg's long, red hair had several braids, but even so often streamed across her face. 'Recently, King Olgrim had a meeting with King Cillian mac Gille Coemgáin of Rockguard and it did not go well. Knowing he has the stronger army, mac Gille Coemgáin tried to impose tribute on us. And due to adversity and the recent loss of our mines to the frost giants, our king would have agreed. Except that when it came to shaking hands on the agreement, mac Gille Coemgáin instead demanded King Olgrim kiss his foot.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gzi535bNp
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK10BXnAQ4
'This was in front of the courts of both realms. I was there. And our king said, "are you sure?" Mac Gille Coemgáin just laughed and said, "kiss it", holding his foot out. "Well," said King Olgrim, "it was your request." And with that he grabbed the royal foot and being a big, strong bear of a man, turned Mac Gille Coemgáin upside down. While the ruler of Rockguard wriggled like a frog, King Olgrim kissed his foot, then dropped him on his head.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgJzFtyWSN
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfCUWDLDd1
'As you can imagine, their courtiers did not take this well. And, to be brief, we are at war.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMn7xBcltT
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vp9f5XVCN
I laughed. 'I like the sound of King Olgrim. Very well. What do you want from us?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9a5sJ4mL6
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT15YSnCsv6
'Iron. We know you have mines.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp3f8RE3Tt
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluEPTPYC9D
Iron again. I had been ramping production up as quickly as I could but perhaps I could do more. It clearly was a vital resource. Should I reassign people from other jobs? I'd ask Carlena about this later. It seemed that the power of the menus, whether divine or magic, gave the workers the appropriate skills in response to my decisions. But perhaps there would be a cost to reassigning someone, rather than using someone who was currently without a task.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwJ6aHuXbb
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRcLOH7ALb
'And in return?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GxM6mUAwr
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATwNdDbSZu
'Fish. Salted fish. Five units for each ingot of iron.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbActXpl5f
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTDW4Otq6x
Not as good an offer as from the necromancer but, still, food was food and I wanted it badly. Deliberately slowing down my heart, looking into the distance and the slow movements of the sea, I tried to make my next words as unconcerned as possible.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e6mmdvvHs
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwVMY0J6N6
'Using your own trading vessels?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpgmGyEGyT
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcx67gPvwr
'Yes.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZZpaDl9Dq
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy4ETZodWv
'I'll speak directly and to the point. For every seven units of fish, I'll send you an ingot of iron. Right now, however, I'm very short of iron myself. In two weeks, though, I promise I'll give you twenty if you return with a hundred and forty barrels of fish.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwUodgie4u
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00de8ONqsu
She looked thoughtful. 'I can shake hands with you now at six for one. Seven would need me to sail back to King Olgrim. And have you any iron to hand at all? We have barrels of fish with us now. Thirty of them.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i1yzPXsMA
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ijRRmMOer
'You use slaves up in Jomskar?'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0Zp0swOmI
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjcS8ckupZ
'We do.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0yTEKePVQ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGbvNDkd68
'Then I can give you two iron ingots and about fifteen slaves for those thirty barrels.' I was thinking of the four new iron ingots (possibly five) that I would have at dawn but even better of the chance to rid myself of some of the unwanted prisoners. The ones from Southway. I was still hoping to achieve peace with Trolland and their prisoners might be useful.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl9KPB928d
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkAQ3oPREW
For a moment, there was a silence but for the waves, the seagulls and the creaking of their ship. I tried not to let my tension show, nor stare at the holds of their ship. We really needed those fish.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODxJ3rX8zD
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH93wDO2NC
'I will agree if our agreement is six units of fish for each iron ingot after this.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV54jKikVy
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt3MMnWT5Y
I held out my hand and the jarl shook it with a very firm grip. Then she gave me a fierce look. 'This trade is only the start. I can see you are a man who despite appearances is strong at heart. Soon, we will be comrades on the battlefield.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdbSRRuNDA
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwiC8FEypE
'Perhaps. I am already at war with two kingdoms, however, I make no promises about fighting Rockguard.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvHFbid48i
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK1zeNlGMN
'I understand. Let's drink all the same, to the trade agreement.' Injeborg drew her knife and cut away the wax seal on the bottle. Then she offered the drink to me.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYGvljqrHq
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteJdHA8Ul8
'After you.'283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh0FWmdjS9
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1HgBNpxwX
With a laugh she took a large swig from the bottle, making sure I saw her swallow it. After which I did the same. It was fiery and sweet. Delicious. 'Put one of those bottles into the trade will you,' I said, passing it to Figus who held it for a moment distastefully, then took a modest mouthful and passed it on to Carlena.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgan3XMtR4N
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAunl2cAiv
Injeborg laughed again, white teeth flashing. She laughed easily and while aware that I might have been affected by her obviously high charisma, I had the thought that these people might indeed make good allies.
