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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHn0LavTKC
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQAK3mL31M
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mOTuoAxm8
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCGOriXZeS
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Next, I called up my character sheet.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3F9KjG0TI
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd8ulki1Ng
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpnECw4uDi
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Str 7352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv3PVcRGHq
Dex 5352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRUBBmgYum
Con 8352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IjRSLHK0p
Int 16352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwwVPCCxnn
Wis 16352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqudR6vJXCo
Cha 5352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5fotIVmGy
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDnkEvizIg
Skills352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7tz64oRtU
Bash 25352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl4q2NtSze
Block 1352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBOljbn4yg
Defensive Stance 1352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WBpsDTjpi
Deflect 1352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdauRj3h6H0
Dodge 1352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgJ3XpjZeN
Impale 25352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUYjGOEUCm
Lunge 5352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdLcL2dH7q
Parry 5352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYOgMP80GZ
Wield Rapier 5352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlpyZvP54F
Wield Shortbow 3352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpLIspViBk
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWupoxnzXw
Feats352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsC9xSyKwh
Charge! (Wis)352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3F2gCa14A
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBlDD22LtD
You have 4 attribute points to assign.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbit7d1iA5A
You have 15 skill points to assign.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu09zxJd18l
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLjaGi5sXr
XP 2,860 (3,200)
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryjSZwcRnO
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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?352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvGL0ZNdLo
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyOmClRIky
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLKa8vIVFi
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuv94iOSbv
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxTZTfObYY
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).352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZySuWDp6S
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoFaXnAuJ8
Of course I unlocked these with a point in each. Someday on the battlefield, they could make all the difference.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dLVzlNzhZ
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I noticed too that (Wis) had appeared beside my first Feat, and I opened that sub-menu.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaQtsbNgAF
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.
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKp84JqlS8
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxKcHu1ILJ
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aOjEha1lq
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEYX2fflpl
Carradock Goblinbane was alone at the barracks and on my arrival he saluted me eagerly and said, 'well done sire! Very well done.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCPMJ1LXgi
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUYj9n79rt
'Thank you.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1yT8gjKlo
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'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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiu2FVebhU
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4qy9Xk1Oe
'Consider yourself so instructed, Carradock. You can be my aide-de-camp when we are in battle.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWdet73dSD
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'Thank you sire.' His words were heartfelt and the tears in his eyes sincere. Good man.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTxVdw0NU6
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQiYtfBsbX
'Now, let's continue with my personal training. I want to get stronger,' I said, 'and I also want my constitution to increase.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeWsLoGmfk
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yDMfnJi1I
'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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZQ17s8E2J
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'Three months.' I sighed.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50uz4SKaTC
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'In your case, it might go quicker; you can dedicate yourself to it. As much as your duties allow.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8OUpY55hi
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB0gCoDomn
'What does survival training involve?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk2BfbJfo4
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1HtHqSvdR
'We go into the mountains and live off the land, building a lean-to, hunting and climbing every day.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWswN0bQwB
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjYZFbY6Cl
'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?352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7pKTBInPh
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyL73bFi7G
'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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38dyuUgmpT
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97pox7rBzN
I caught Carradock's eye and nodded. All the same, there was so much to do here.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R9AKkgR4n
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'What about the strength training?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYhUrteZHO
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfnKkEMfoq
'Much more straightforward, sire. I'll teach you the lifts and you practice them over and over until you are at your limit.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1mtXS5ctI
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkuFaP9lPb
'Let's begin with that then.' I literally rolled up my sleeves.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyPZpn7Nya
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPItAkjSBk
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc7LqJbUiX
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3dsKhNUqS
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIYhP19rBb
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'What's with the smirks?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzi94mHP14
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5HVBNb39L
'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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwqsoJeJbZ
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjJxIkLiLC
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyqUnFV0Qi
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvgXlHydqz
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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup9WZxMkwN
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***
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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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eN7s75bC3
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjbX06irO5
'What kind of ship?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nr1QmPgxQ
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTtH2nweQ3
'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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHtj0l89QA
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'Go fetch the Sorceress. Tell her to meet me at the quays. Get someone else to find Figus, the ambassador.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArkZUMRTHN
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'Yes sire.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nekDbM4cw
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'Carradock, come with me and bring your sword.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqmbQmqDSP
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq5KkQQWvp
'Spear, sire. I can still stick 'em with it.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfwnpooqSr
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'Right so.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkbPQN1xBt
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A2pV5C2Ri
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAN9R1MNup
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBHoFh1cTG
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'What do you know of these people, Carradock?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvJnhCaMEe
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtcdLA9nB6
'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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVD9b6Ca1I
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7iJ6x46iz
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucNRdA6EW4
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsNNOCW7WL
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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2bVKGgHlU
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIa51YYK9a
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjdAiM3D2l
'How's the mana?' I asked Carlena.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyHHhxVRvS
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'Full.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqMbXL6RIK
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'You're all we've got.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBAczi1bUC
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'This I can see.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWaYiLeLPR
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I was hoping she'd add something reassuring to that comment. She didn't.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhoX15qBGF
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGhCsJbvNu
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'Sire.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcVOkFdqCh
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'Ambassador.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mOOw1obqM
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrADEa2GQg
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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?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZytRnGuKB
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylJseOtDcj
'Just you.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRGDOyychf
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3rO7zYK7g
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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?352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpuxVDxPOI
352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZsGmRZS4I
'I am Jarl Injeborg the Red, here to speak to you on behalf of King Olgrim Beartooth of Jomskar.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3idl62fWY2
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'Go on.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlcFQMgvVy
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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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7oG335NII
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61GymvG7kc
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'Here's just fine.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHOR586Le4
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'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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2khKjNXbQm
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'Perhaps, if you and your ship could survive a level eleven Fireball.' My heart was beating fast, but my voice was steady.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9NYwhGfC1
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl90v4WcHWW
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'I'm listening.' And I really was.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdqGkJ1IDk
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'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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqmI2UHhKs
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'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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgx7IC1MSs
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'As you can imagine, their courtiers did not take this well. And, to be brief, we are at war.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOBQToTHPr
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I laughed. 'I like the sound of King Olgrim. Very well. What do you want from us?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ0vIDn1Jn
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'Iron. We know you have mines.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lEl10khHq
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RHLrogbWA
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'And in return?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhndLm4IdS
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'Fish. Salted fish. Five units for each ingot of iron.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BVhYFJRMw
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Xo4gUJFT
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'Using your own trading vessels?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBpL457kaK
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'Yes.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uAz1H3RKA
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'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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJFAWKSEgi
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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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77OCdLgsO4
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'You use slaves up in Jomskar?'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklCCYtUS22
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'We do.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkGbISSnIB
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'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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo4s60iN1R
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAS4mPNbpx
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'I will agree if our agreement is six units of fish for each iron ingot after this.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxD1v4QAd8
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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.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG4Q2lMZo8
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'Perhaps. I am already at war with two kingdoms, however, I make no promises about fighting Rockguard.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv1dXzzk5T
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'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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzjxbugomW
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'After you.'352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnELE4vWEQ5
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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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h9PJYOvWk
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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.
