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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9E3pT6QmH
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnynICABjMN
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CBFecf4UC
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvYMOdtbjz
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk4xAMF09L
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwBOm3etev
Str 7436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdok160dpsP
Dex 4436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5y9tvpjxE
Con 8436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSX1bNPT31
Int 16436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3mQDxIKxz
Wis 16436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW0bM8KobK
Cha 4436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOxopDOboK
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhj54EupZP
Skills436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ4OUYsU9p
Lunge 5436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlDZn8n1nb
Parry 5436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMVHipRNeo
Wield Shortbow 3436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14MODfqddQ
Wield Rapier 5436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0nU6oZVnq
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5R6eaWmEK
You have 1 attribute point to assign.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRnKF1SmAX
You have 5 skill points to assign.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa3Qw5vwj8
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaLznRK89O
XP 110/200
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436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFT8o4iZfq
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29YId2xDrq
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BSrn5VKRK
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfze4m3YF0H
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pmiPLchrJ
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGBsO64t5D
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOVNpm0Zql
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwmFkno3QF
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1tF6z15Jf
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5NU6Q5Sgq
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t8VyL0sse
'I understand.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4d6u3Fc1I
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZcWgjuHkB
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr0ixUgTGh
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdyAZ2FxOm
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WtWQCvnba
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLoXyOsFdw
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgzXMbJuol
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8wNWpsV5I
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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeda9nnpGWo
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkXfdMvZ0T
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqRY10AGs5
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREpiKEfjBe
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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxQgDUfRI2
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6ikrHy7XQ
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLjwacT4aB
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkqeis1hqY
'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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0nazXPinW
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaUpjGQCNl
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u0n1WSXy2
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTISLvOZBCL
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNaYdjDoYO
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3PsspB5Ip
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJAdoKlmNo
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnjIPAbAEe
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfWvfdANuw
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTUKsW9V4c
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH9AS9JRE0
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNYEZCAHn0
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOghN0nNnd
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi3qvK9Rg5
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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF14uM0vAW
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi2GIMKSLy
'Yes, sire.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyEqlhBUvf
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheWt5liX5G
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).436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMwoUEnWJy
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWyiQRDK88
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhBhg7DILY
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEMVwzOGfm
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeBWTEK0r8
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnOTNuwFbr
'Well?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3NHPI3YKE
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYNcMhAbFn
'They are moving an army towards us.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2nUmOqMjr
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp0JwLrQWq
'How many troops?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ijgx0ORjo
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3RKvQ1067
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjtshDc0yW
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqifRmRYB7
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt3slSvb14
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxC6Qpaamm
'How long have we got?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYMF2mjqfd
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9hOnV0LH4
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdllz1lB7ZK
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY9DNzAUoZ
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AmKZvM5ND
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i4UCRN54w
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXwKkPDDMJ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVjHexBPUy
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxZfHBS4ZQ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VT2wgCk2f
'No, this is about half.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKuMy94czJ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pVdTbClmM
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?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRMu7lALDC
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYj0lCUMoLJ
'No.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2wuqjwOWj
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo3DkgeyrN
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQmJjgzs9A
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfQBDBF0EI
'True enough sire.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3awu5A73g
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEtqcIzQtn
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡellurJQavF
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokIyLp5tHO
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH5aq27rzC
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevf3IlsG3q
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m4xvB386B
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ20FuVyg7d
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:436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2rVoemf8H
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oiGi0bRDs
Greyland Archer436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRGpHwy0JP
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Fighter level 0436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HG3PQa07d
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Ranged attack: 15436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuNFF4pJgD
Melee attack: 8436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YzyhkAIyG
Armour Class: 2436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cEbbn3OZ9
Hit Points: 5436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GIC6igK4y
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUAzlDkMBT
Skills:436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXuymU3cN9
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJOc2J1afZ
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphj0bZm7Oa
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuFMwcdXtS
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkixWzDwMfO
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDoYHzWoyI
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6Tk80BPh2
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuP1514W0r
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLutivLoLB
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYaEFV19iA
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxxnF0fPkd
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9NX9E1JrC
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fpcFJptOP
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnikY0Yhbjw
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq2l7cyzE7
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMEGZNEAZJ
'Show me to Lord Arval.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpUnR1khJI
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86RfbDL6GW
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFPlKkhPhl
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoploFflqoA
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN7zjNCD1w
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry85wdxPb4
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBUXWDjFZE
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvFOMzkhoF
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kYQHR5mRo
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWqbcfAl9J
I nodded.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqaOp7Wt1q
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakjSwImiEu
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECVtYFSzTa
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexVsm4Moi6
'What's the maximum range for it?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYRQ0pmwSP
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HOhPQbrKk
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4eHwNA9GW
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HouFcc1o6
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tTxAVCnHz
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JH0hMjZrs
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN4IQbrBVK
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'Yes?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHeBjq9ouQ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSr3uEeOwg
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBnHAyChWn
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimTO8aWPoF
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44ubrFgZ9r
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MadtoGZVC
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKkym3QL29
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JHxRrps4x
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3WH2PGdjJ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSKwDyrZiF
'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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeau51HkFDW
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcBvhTuWE1
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMLNJeIOci
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCBUuTzkTX
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPL1VEdo83
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZwc3lFBym
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkoJyjoxLy
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEipgpKwoy
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YzzZ6iTv6
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui2mx72hD3
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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFg61DmvKO
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MWIMeORfb
'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?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWWg26p3Wy
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW17wtdLQNf
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqq5s3Ly5K
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVqLMHPJOc
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWDpXXXJ6I
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmWyTbaxX3
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKGE8rnNt9
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5ZUoL5T1W
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkqWlulN6W
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZN392Mx76
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWsO1QTDUb
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT4F5i9U1X
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0XZdKf3D7
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mcMWoOoYM
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK9rvae6FU
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKENtvftxs
'Go ahead.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3ZXKG4won
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49YrmiJd0b
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqo5bvSfOi
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZZ8Ij0Fxh
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrt8TFEyon
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9dvRrazoX
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisQ6JYWcvF
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZbLaXItOy
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rU1SGpzlP
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3RVOsKrZf
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1d1LufKbi
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09lloNSqez
'And?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC0LVlgacW
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzFW1wC5ji
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfaQcBE8Jq
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gy8VQvmAT
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp47CtLSNk
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLgtVWuTXn
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXQ32uzdkQ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMvBqQugZO
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8woCAXiqm
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvkWetcit6
'Ready sire?'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfLqNIeuz0
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOebpxrF6I
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqLfJq1JyF
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P8iXzOgru
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniBgJHFlCu
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW04BpiOwWO
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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeXJXXN5i9
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7jYzLEcU6
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATOxoSYU7x
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1FzpZiWXM
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv8rlEc7U9
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnVerJ7Jhh
'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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aQPH5iuY5
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5V01qzV8t
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduGSzHVeQb
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tzbFJ0vjN
'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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SWOkYh7Dz
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUQax9LEkS
'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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS8vfsp1hj
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmsJtkhtJz
'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.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxn2hXWdzh
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccDvJD0jaI
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElciML9Yh6
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZplRJbrXGI
'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!'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxzhxveg5U
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6PGZDsYMq
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroTJILaya1
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETrLx767qh
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOzbi0RKJ0
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqwg5d12l3
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQSmGeJ8QD
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZBlO6rdpK
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYwMIdBEmy
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9yvUAk35P
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.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9dwNJkka1
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qx7FNiUZz
'Good luck.'436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1miapYdPU
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qU3A0w2Dd
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkPraXUNQf
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJM8UwwEvz
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.
