
The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:490Please respect copyright.PENANA8zyhtcl4nL
490Please respect copyright.PENANAkUYpjjyPZs
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland490Please respect copyright.PENANAt9XU88imDu
490Please respect copyright.PENANAFHlZDf8i7W
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0490Please respect copyright.PENANAnLfL8vf5Ix
490Please respect copyright.PENANAMpHm8epZyX
Str 7490Please respect copyright.PENANA4gSFUwgKOb
Dex 4490Please respect copyright.PENANATdgpVFERZR
Con 8490Please respect copyright.PENANAUyA50BBZPU
Int 16490Please respect copyright.PENANAnCdcZLdel1
Wis 16490Please respect copyright.PENANAdZSioP90ju
Cha 4490Please respect copyright.PENANAbxZ9CYimCU
490Please respect copyright.PENANA4U9B941mnH
Skills490Please respect copyright.PENANA7YGuoNREV9
Lunge 5490Please respect copyright.PENANArbYxVF6gxZ
Parry 5490Please respect copyright.PENANAH6n1M4gFdW
Wield Shortbow 3490Please respect copyright.PENANAEtdOCQjoAj
Wield Rapier 5490Please respect copyright.PENANAmzOGp1AzSE
490Please respect copyright.PENANAPzXAdojrcs
You have 1 attribute point to assign.490Please respect copyright.PENANAH2Csmjhi91
You have 5 skill points to assign.490Please respect copyright.PENANAs3AB26GKlq
490Please respect copyright.PENANAjLshzuUteq
XP 110/200
490Please respect copyright.PENANAIs9wzonxZQ
490Please respect copyright.PENANAh7a8W9daIj490Please respect copyright.PENANAOdBqtyI5y8
490Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7sawD01nZ
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANA1riQb7Egib
490Please respect copyright.PENANANxgNRJHQiK
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAIRmifvmf35
490Please respect copyright.PENANAcVag4wwRP2
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAUKT87ap0KD
490Please respect copyright.PENANA4M2AEAELyZ
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAKbXE1fgupV
490Please respect copyright.PENANA3JHVEANNpy
'I understand.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAkhLCG8zOdG
490Please respect copyright.PENANAbk4UoQccbH
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAUt9WWKCKMV
490Please respect copyright.PENANAOQzP3F1THG
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAMCpVmT0mVE
490Please respect copyright.PENANAHuZsft24Yd
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'490Please respect copyright.PENANA6IRehQiUFm
490Please respect copyright.PENANAfEh4EhDBG8
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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAxppEn22pRO
490Please respect copyright.PENANA1G1wCu9eDd
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAmEsgMq6EXp
490Please respect copyright.PENANAczoEVUjwUM
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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAy01s2vC2pq
490Please respect copyright.PENANAvOkPUyvydm
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAnWAG5sx886
490Please respect copyright.PENANAa4AB2UL5m3
'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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAmDcWrhwgwq
490Please respect copyright.PENANAzEqz1JKIuj
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAnQVs9WICcI
490Please respect copyright.PENANAFNsawFf0zw
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?490Please respect copyright.PENANA2lrcAwMEcG
490Please respect copyright.PENANAjOfq5Ad5Sc
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAXC39udSx0F
490Please respect copyright.PENANARkTGCv99la
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAlSJa1C0tx5
490Please respect copyright.PENANAIxkW5TzC8m
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAt2WWkskMLw
490Please respect copyright.PENANAhVjF4Evfzy
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAD2HaUvwsuD
490Please respect copyright.PENANAcGL5BAYvVi
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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANA43fWgIRfjG
490Please respect copyright.PENANAW8IEAocm5o
'Yes, sire.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAmzOtTXGwk0
490Please respect copyright.PENANAHZZImCqqav
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).490Please respect copyright.PENANArRthEGdYRc
490Please respect copyright.PENANAEMJy5kRdXM
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAIYJbEdR2M6
490Please respect copyright.PENANAkQnLO0Z09K
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.490Please respect copyright.PENANAiUkXSEQN5E
490Please respect copyright.PENANAqgB7exKuj0
'Well?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAcd6FODbZKY
490Please respect copyright.PENANAQb8t3vsnjv
'They are moving an army towards us.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAtU6uDgndEF
490Please respect copyright.PENANAmBHME1ocmC
'How many troops?'490Please respect copyright.PENANA4hWLDxs9r7
490Please respect copyright.PENANARM5WLFuHla
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAeZwLuMXaFO
490Please respect copyright.PENANAVTOkQPUWLa
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAdGx4ksxnpJ
490Please respect copyright.PENANAiZu42XWVIw
'How long have we got?'490Please respect copyright.PENANARFOUppsSa3
490Please respect copyright.PENANAiRKdyhCfK0
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAqCCeWrvDiK
490Please respect copyright.PENANAbl7XugtnNq
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAX7dcTlZP8i
490Please respect copyright.PENANA42ChNNvOXd
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'490Please respect copyright.PENANA2RJtN8PPYe
490Please respect copyright.PENANA57xKipfIjS
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAcOL1Qy0D8N
490Please respect copyright.PENANAmQaBpvuZ6R
'No, this is about half.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAFbnrtjt5WR
490Please respect copyright.PENANA7VNW0TTqy1
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?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAzbbJImcEx5
490Please respect copyright.PENANAZCs1LcvQQy
'No.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAtiYF9QmGLc
490Please respect copyright.PENANAgdaILCgydA
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAbHK1mIpYim
490Please respect copyright.PENANA7Sl4glSRCX
'True enough sire.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAtiaHZXbhCW
490Please respect copyright.PENANAdT8SXzuYFy
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANASJiPj7K5tk
490Please respect copyright.PENANATkN1SVryou
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANA78pUtn8W5e
490Please respect copyright.PENANAXQ1LwevgIa
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANApU8dWlPzhz
490Please respect copyright.PENANAAwuHweUEvm
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:490Please respect copyright.PENANAxXxoUZLsT5
490Please respect copyright.PENANASHYJiW5LAY
Greyland Archer490Please respect copyright.PENANAtgcno0RIb8
490Please respect copyright.PENANA0INcYgSRYc
Fighter level 0490Please respect copyright.PENANAolZh9cXj6l
490Please respect copyright.PENANATWZKNSGPJA
Ranged attack: 15490Please respect copyright.PENANAGydErcZbO4
Melee attack: 8490Please respect copyright.PENANArETMlnbJCt
Armour Class: 2490Please respect copyright.PENANAngqOxmTdmF
Hit Points: 5490Please respect copyright.PENANAC3WDBVG1Kj
490Please respect copyright.PENANA6xZwfETAnv
Skills:490Please respect copyright.PENANAIsFvjGhv6o
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience490Please respect copyright.PENANAOiL0iLoDtC
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience490Please respect copyright.PENANAU6ztKmGPyK
490Please respect copyright.PENANA9xr7EwPmuy
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
490Please respect copyright.PENANAL1RbowtjJu
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAHeSzIuKWhu
490Please respect copyright.PENANAuokJ5fa2yc
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAgPu1d0XecE
490Please respect copyright.PENANA7zEEcHeDUC
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAknYkJ3DmTw
490Please respect copyright.PENANA1LJKT4y0g2
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAMWQpUU4CPv
490Please respect copyright.PENANAlguevCjkbs
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAf689y2jWGF
490Please respect copyright.PENANAHvGHyL6AvI
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANA1pSHi4VoOd
490Please respect copyright.PENANAcgOtURnRIl
'Show me to Lord Arval.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAnBvIyc9RN0
490Please respect copyright.PENANAK0yWn4ROcn
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANA0Kg6anaRvF
490Please respect copyright.PENANAjmwrlnqDNz
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAClhL2qBqOH
490Please respect copyright.PENANAa9wdRogZF0
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAcV0qxWTBuP
490Please respect copyright.PENANAPXnIMS3nJv
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAImYYFPi2RT
490Please respect copyright.PENANAwm77mJfuvD
I nodded.490Please respect copyright.PENANAzC6rld7zuo
490Please respect copyright.PENANAiqpI4Lwogv
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAsCOF6sOrKV
490Please respect copyright.PENANAkKdRUn6Njv
'What's the maximum range for it?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAcibomEU309
490Please respect copyright.PENANA1YSsy2WWhH
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAIA3CV2ChoS
490Please respect copyright.PENANAwf1Uh7iDoh
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ6DJeETr2
490Please respect copyright.PENANAj4iwwMwQxW
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAcBtXjCLc7r
490Please respect copyright.PENANAIZ25KdEf85
'Yes?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAvCjI5cTICe
490Please respect copyright.PENANAOxLVEfyTGk
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'490Please respect copyright.PENANADpL5OJP3G4
490Please respect copyright.PENANABIrcbS8ZyK
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAKgNXurZ6yB
490Please respect copyright.PENANAUzA1ZcGj3w
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAgNCSLWRMuh
490Please respect copyright.PENANAAXbGpTXH1E
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.490Please respect copyright.PENANAMpEwVRWaos
490Please respect copyright.PENANAvJd8ndzIPo
'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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAzfdOjgdPzu
490Please respect copyright.PENANAwP8xQ01kql
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'490Please respect copyright.PENANACwTOWQeyCy
490Please respect copyright.PENANAod7PAqMgp3
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAYNas1ur7JS
490Please respect copyright.PENANAQIFdxjXGvw
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.490Please respect copyright.PENANAcxCpMe9IAD
490Please respect copyright.PENANALsNlkwadFw
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAcLMedx600T
490Please respect copyright.PENANA3swI5JyhPs
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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0ioXup2G5
490Please respect copyright.PENANAlf7fDDyVcs
'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?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAEmkBhzZe8f
490Please respect copyright.PENANA24B96yh6HL
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAhwx40hl2iU
490Please respect copyright.PENANAkqX678dlJH
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'490Please respect copyright.PENANATJG7YZwKww
490Please respect copyright.PENANAKukMIWVS4B
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAZvhnMySPzE
490Please respect copyright.PENANAhucANEchFC
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANA6Sr9orMlk2
490Please respect copyright.PENANA3zYfPH10Qi
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAiJ9yjxj69r
490Please respect copyright.PENANAcuf32Le31I
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6bo0wR2cp
490Please respect copyright.PENANAKuA11ij8Sc
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAGomzUg7Ljo
490Please respect copyright.PENANAgoEuUQiwZz
'Go ahead.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAeFBGqBVs7k
490Please respect copyright.PENANAfYQDM63OgL
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAk9qI41hZFI
490Please respect copyright.PENANAsb1jU1pH2S
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAmtAi0Kffrw
490Please respect copyright.PENANAqrJNGbslnp
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAiDl8o6NIf5
490Please respect copyright.PENANAaXFH8fmvrJ
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'490Please respect copyright.PENANA5P1dnpWcck
490Please respect copyright.PENANAY23ekag6vC
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANA0kq5mKaVyG
490Please respect copyright.PENANA6JVkriZIj9
'And?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAcRXeDQz1ll
490Please respect copyright.PENANAiYUSa9DvrX
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAns3Nhyd1pw
490Please respect copyright.PENANA6zfxratqyV
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAmJX5ZeCDXW
490Please respect copyright.PENANAPlbZt3vQrF
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAi5RM2zfuQb
490Please respect copyright.PENANASxLePc594v
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.490Please respect copyright.PENANAZLVmmvlRx7
490Please respect copyright.PENANAdkNwFV50Pe
'Ready sire?'490Please respect copyright.PENANAHI9RMj7dGs
490Please respect copyright.PENANA1q32xmA9g3
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAlhgiTm8lx9
490Please respect copyright.PENANA2d8IVkuwPs
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAqHMA84Ge6J
490Please respect copyright.PENANAdEwTtTSDJc
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.490Please respect copyright.PENANAcjHh8cjQvh
490Please respect copyright.PENANAt4S3VXxBXG
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.490Please respect copyright.PENANAEc3X3rNa0Q
490Please respect copyright.PENANAKey66HfRTO
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'490Please respect copyright.PENANArasHVBAeMn
490Please respect copyright.PENANAbYle94co8X
'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.'490Please respect copyright.PENANA1O0TESuYFB
490Please respect copyright.PENANAh05PdIcqb5
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.490Please respect copyright.PENANA5cHZtP6WFO
490Please respect copyright.PENANACPMqwVOYlL
'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.490Please respect copyright.PENANApEeaXUBly6
490Please respect copyright.PENANAyNRyT8CzUM
'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.490Please respect copyright.PENANA3bMyLj3Hph
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'It will be a tough battle, they have more soldiers; but we have much the better position and the advantage of the ballista. Let no one think of retreat. Either we hold this fort or the enemy capture Carrick and enslave your families.490Please respect copyright.PENANA2vV42GtPuj
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'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.490Please respect copyright.PENANA69qXuKGUhU
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'Those recruits in years to come who were not here will think themselves cursed. And listen in silence when any of you speak. You who fought at the battle of Three Ways!'490Please respect copyright.PENANARuj5pjOdGj
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Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.490Please respect copyright.PENANA38MDh1tgQ8
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.490Please respect copyright.PENANA5dySsQjg1W
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAgPVkdAuAsY
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'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAxeJ2YPkPjn
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Passing me a small bottle of turquoise liquid, she said, 'just drink and name the creature. Make it one around your size or it might fail. You will have eight minutes.'490Please respect copyright.PENANAAvLVu21bqg
490Please respect copyright.PENANAv4aELyqoYr
'Good luck.'490Please respect copyright.PENANARvgsTYxbkM
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'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.490Please respect copyright.PENANA0SjTfZDm3d
490Please respect copyright.PENANAmikKvcEbSe
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.