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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxDrA7Z0wV
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uwaPdfRHI
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SPMFhz9gO
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVJ8Pqtfz4
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSPQwgcAP1
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmYjTuE1Nl
Next, I called up my character sheet.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP473JNn5Vx
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjbXtHOdJS
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSRiIYJ0Tv
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmOmaAdA7t
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT5XWYj1NU
Str 7358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pbe2yCcHb
Dex 5358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmChQyOVfR
Con 8358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDtj11SR0x
Int 16358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYBOckAIk0
Wis 16358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RrDClow3s
Cha 5358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB96ixioo1S
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqLaHb92dU
Skills358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZE59byssq
Bash 25358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYWGloEqE2
Block 1358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxjEkw0lwr
Defensive Stance 1358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRhvATZegB
Deflect 1358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8ImfJkmZq
Dodge 1358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsc04UKvn0
Impale 25358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmCkbh6Rtm
Lunge 5358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc28w0S3k7
Parry 5358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QbUaacwIV
Wield Rapier 5358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6CfrT44vO
Wield Shortbow 3358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzHZh6WKmT
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf1qLfa2yY
Feats358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCrTCSbarc
Charge! (Wis)358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp2VTWNy4i
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzj77PYPRB
You have 4 attribute points to assign.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhJYlknVob
You have 15 skill points to assign.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZeNmJygT4
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQTtBWLnTd
XP 2,860 (3,200)
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0KSwhY6ro
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmEElRaZKh
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLIBa9YHK0
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm6GGL1fZm
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUZOwc4FC1
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?358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhGfSrQ3jN
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTRaDtihdf
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrSyPbdztY
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIOJhaMzOD
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKSU0iWNIU
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ235uKqe2FP
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).358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs7Ig38GYJ
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX1CItzdxp
Of course I unlocked these with a point in each. Someday on the battlefield, they could make all the difference.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhYDsqziRw
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIc02pbS1M
I noticed too that (Wis) had appeared beside my first Feat, and I opened that sub-menu.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pVBoQcFfV
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa2FklCqnq
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkqGCoWHpB
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxXgD9PGiW
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgwlAj4Oha
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74gjchMpo0
Carradock Goblinbane was alone at the barracks and on my arrival he saluted me eagerly and said, 'well done sire! Very well done.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsKT84FxOK
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9b5UXXUI8
'Thank you.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIG0qSXI1k
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyFNLziM3a
'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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4W342CAYT
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLKljhmvZ9
'Consider yourself so instructed, Carradock. You can be my aide-de-camp when we are in battle.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gtcYEgP8Q
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFRqSe7Bf1
'Thank you sire.' His words were heartfelt and the tears in his eyes sincere. Good man.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToZLEZUiza
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkuKAsNCGs
'Now, let's continue with my personal training. I want to get stronger,' I said, 'and I also want my constitution to increase.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5PGnyKjWP
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkhCYg8UGf
'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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwdKy90JdQ
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPf2zsY5R8
'Three months.' I sighed.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6FuYSwkRW
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIykkzAH1JT
'In your case, it might go quicker; you can dedicate yourself to it. As much as your duties allow.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGMimlTDEf
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhS0Vrq8q0
'What does survival training involve?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydil9joot6
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1FTFUvKxZ
'We go into the mountains and live off the land, building a lean-to, hunting and climbing every day.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzkeDsq8D1
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqZvKM1IXD
'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?358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8sJgvmSNc
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOMco0WPNC
'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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5MT6N4RPF
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV767DK7lSK
I caught Carradock's eye and nodded. All the same, there was so much to do here.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuopYJQILH2
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTeXa70S18
'What about the strength training?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv712nw6HH5
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGVa6r6PbV
'Much more straightforward, sire. I'll teach you the lifts and you practice them over and over until you are at your limit.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB9RxRjSsp
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTdeIq09LK
'Let's begin with that then.' I literally rolled up my sleeves.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuh0Ce4X8L
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfEr1UwqGu
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hCk1A1jJX
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHYO7EWNP4
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKw29pfKKl
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXu3xra6M6
'What's with the smirks?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFaLSu7w9r
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM5UNYChxu
'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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFlfn4mHwH
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDMxLS68L2
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVHfzfiPAQ
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGFGkbHzpL
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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunsfJZOJ7r
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEluRb7b0o
***
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkmN2uCOOz
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDoY9Rpsuj
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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qrDohex9h
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsUAkOKSOs
'What kind of ship?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwbduxknzu
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9my62l5kWr
'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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xxe75O7hL
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsND81x82Y0
'Go fetch the Sorceress. Tell her to meet me at the quays. Get someone else to find Figus, the ambassador.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNMRiANxPM
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrmIrXlrCd
'Yes sire.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT7XzEGQxh
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrimRbnScP
'Carradock, come with me and bring your sword.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy3bVZVylp
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8uE8cZHYo
'Spear, sire. I can still stick 'em with it.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSGOLpN0t1
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnbhigXzpe
'Right so.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGIpFGe93X
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlHhoTcRpn
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlkKQpGwbx
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU20MLdpau
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaJ6HEApSl
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNc95Ku3rB
'What do you know of these people, Carradock?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkgtz0D57S
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJXuFf8YkK
'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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoMwK4kYHN
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7fexODTc2
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8CR5IhV9y
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrrqJAndvv
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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYufRtBrtdd
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTbVIVgvHu
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaODYzpsq2
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIW9g6UQBN
'How's the mana?' I asked Carlena.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sBH0Hivsv
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAejgcgIUcn
'Full.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9gNIeyPis
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBocQs3EMW
'You're all we've got.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx0mgvtaRv
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJWbKpRtWF
'This I can see.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr406x66R9
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPG7bNVRAc
I was hoping she'd add something reassuring to that comment. She didn't.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfAk1DVagh
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAD3nQ4qZn
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bo9Ar4bqB
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxpu0rljT3
'Sire.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKPUNKcvSe
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WMRknISf1
'Ambassador.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfMxBUBS4J
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p5oSSAIzp
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgVmzWpq9N
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiprKmHCCL7
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?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lp9DcTF0R
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH8MnzNgeB
'Just you.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHBqjHRbzX
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGnOvkBpRO
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6mz0IDHPP
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eCTjFgVDb
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?358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2xhkqdu4q
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE3NnevZ6C
'I am Jarl Injeborg the Red, here to speak to you on behalf of King Olgrim Beartooth of Jomskar.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB95O8H8Kvj
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGP2cWgVkI
'Go on.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45P3x6qoeX
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb6tltEWXm
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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGjFr9IiKS
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC23R0wX0sB
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ9CJfkV5n
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8IHlE0wMV
'Here's just fine.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfq80OwGV8
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94MgwJ3pQw
'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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEYsn5rZ2E
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBmyUN6wyf
'Perhaps, if you and your ship could survive a level eleven Fireball.' My heart was beating fast, but my voice was steady.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnv3nqCTZs
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNdSNHUUEa
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xQhDgl9nX
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ002Bxe48BU
'I'm listening.' And I really was.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvm7dTNNqM
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVLgE2b8sb
'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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ912zfnOoxH
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYanGESMVX
'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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcllLDa0RXU
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7wRzQkxWu
'As you can imagine, their courtiers did not take this well. And, to be brief, we are at war.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl6I5BhrX1
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWDSQfbvH0
I laughed. 'I like the sound of King Olgrim. Very well. What do you want from us?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSNrdKgfnf
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7iuIbb4Lu
'Iron. We know you have mines.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7Ry2FptjX
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7qFH4sn71
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbXrent7ad
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj70063PjW
'And in return?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2i3I8EiTO
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOo2tYWUIF
'Fish. Salted fish. Five units for each ingot of iron.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuaNVkwdnk
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekm8uVPxNK
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEwjujiPxS
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzSGBXwgPM
'Using your own trading vessels?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRR3eZOzlT
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM7kWG5iXs
'Yes.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3afgiMLaP
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE58zWvjAaB
'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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRD8FKClDd
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4gToCRTwX
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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKYxmDeEny
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtSSTGCK77
'You use slaves up in Jomskar?'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQT3ECeK3g
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO9jqhAWaB
'We do.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIl2xRX7xR
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmffh6ScGR
'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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8udp9J2sS
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoULqPWUpDE
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORwhHXRSMs
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp4wHPO5wV
'I will agree if our agreement is six units of fish for each iron ingot after this.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWdp1Yvk7U
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMVoYqGZDV
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.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8RzAQzYyW
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cbT95MYW6
'Perhaps. I am already at war with two kingdoms, however, I make no promises about fighting Rockguard.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzoXOF4coT
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ237dmzpW0u
'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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuSx0ButVn
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVvugStb3M
'After you.'358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds4vKJzhvi
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPqDTLpBfp
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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibk0Uye4ii
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVwm5YUhUz
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.
