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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvqPkTn40D
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfM9XsCEUh
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02d4yBedTo
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ4XNHQ3dn
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAJ2yMOVed
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2R4Tf168g
Str 7491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8k1QQK4W5
Dex 4491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz7HkjALPN
Con 8491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N8GA2DyCJ
Int 16491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUrfKzjlRU
Wis 16491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B38ohFJKO
Cha 4491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPkxaxuUli
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtzUMfxMa1
Skills491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd888QHq9le
Lunge 5491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn4wGbXsxX
Parry 5491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJvnG2ROB9
Wield Shortbow 3491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N0AHdK79E
Wield Rapier 5491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H9cFb1twF
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyexEKNIgo
You have 1 attribute point to assign.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU1VlaSOIF
You have 5 skill points to assign.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmcsKkXuOG
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR38c2nGU7V
XP 110/200
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpunDjyKoRn
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPGSl4ExmC
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTZ66QPmQs
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9KBBcE3X2
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbWgvSqINM
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVyFvQf8ZR
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiYZwl53HQ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6QuYJeM22
'I understand.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8JlLe1Z5j
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzP8G8GEXo
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPfa3f4Zkd
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzpVj22DPj
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQKU2vX50O
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpQ5Rfwdd9
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOwXc3Mf4j
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhh6lZNBV1
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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsrdaaVcFD
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0Ou0RVF9V
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqivH4YP9le
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MMCEHjg97
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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wCFtp5LZF
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGqOvdQYG1
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD0syujj0T
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObo8TeYHUA
'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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQrN66HaJ9
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f6c74Ic2D
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPqZpXhuTR
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZzYeaWjuJ
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EsUEx7n8V
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTGvc4jb0t
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmTkQUo8yp
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPEztWtswq
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNfeK7qWAY
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72RlKdnFgR
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBkDVDZKha
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yg8w7cwt1
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBDaOcUOjB
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG7Pkw3Dxk
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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2SaGQjnzN
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzqR9YGoYp
'Yes, sire.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL7RtSwi6v
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06iqHdFp2n
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).491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT83tuU00TL
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOVm4Ua36e
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDCo2tWGnr
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh29gURjk9
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINaQq6OURS
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'Well?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5SSaMUYPL
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'They are moving an army towards us.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerCNWz5ngG
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4k163hTM8
'How many troops?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhEy3cIwNv
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc3UaGFilV
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDJUIuKYUq
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58hozOTGME
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuzOhJeZTP
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftn28ep9E9
'How long have we got?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5JnWAQYWX
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHnzD4kMRH
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wa50Vjfd2
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNy51fDDXc
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzS5s3mJ64
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtiCzZNWzL
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqMkcnbsZf
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8CzqJ3uqX
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dFYLE4mh9
'No, this is about half.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz91EWVWDwR
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmULTVBbU9l
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?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQDTs9Kh1P
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeqgPyUVWQ
'No.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sBp9pWrRA
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3HYUv6UXt
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4wTx47jXZ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9osbbuaw4S
'True enough sire.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH14dRz4Do
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueu0pLvbSB
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR15AC9Gja
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKg7D1zwAp
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9pjvWRV2I
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFW2e8t7iu
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMmcJ3KtsW
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmmRLGtQ6B
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:491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmokTM9wRJ
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Greyland Archer491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj9VqQvqZj
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Fighter level 0491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT12X7enmO
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Ranged attack: 15491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzK63d8RgY
Melee attack: 8491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9zYgwsdlG
Armour Class: 2491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqERKVuu4Z
Hit Points: 5491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2uB3MidFg
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8qQSMaKOb
Skills:491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANYjjbV9ZQ
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1usaWMUJu
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MqzcAv2aL
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2iKDrQvxP
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPQSVHz96N
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIFY8lu5Sy
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKTLIyJz8X
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcHwu3T9xc
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWwf0QDveP
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L20h0yY2z
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4oX5ZNjkv
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRime3NPsSP
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOfiIj1oGn
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD1QGMinKI
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6hkzpCJAD
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegcSEulKge
'Show me to Lord Arval.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbPQCRFJ7X
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV71W0Xfkp
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJzZf6dHiJ
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1GNuJ7vAz
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjBeT9byRQ
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrla5b7bmff
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjc2phrGB6
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUqGw7EGtZ
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I nodded.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtILdzSnvU5
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3burcrQP36
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'What's the maximum range for it?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2Pk72YBS7
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSa5jjRh7Z
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSO7A66mlW
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hT6ylAaIZ
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj5qCrBtN8
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'Yes?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnTaFI0DAw
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm9qN38H16
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqQiADviPf
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpx8rKb4px
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCOArlIeBu
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf2SNHU6pe
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5BNEwBCaR
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1ZFUHaJU1
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbgnMsJ5BM
'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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbMWduYjLR
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjjTPun79X
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R7TcAb998
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'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc5ukz8pez
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLVQr1VwR3
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2tWUaz3qJ
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXml05ew6ro
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHHy9cduPy
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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhciBhvl1Ux
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMsqmRSUCm
'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?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrFNW3mMVn
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUUgK8BDwI
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNc3pBo656
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLuV6gjI8u
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysafXFb1Vi
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiZf2WEoSm
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qmBBCmGm9
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5rvEXFZH3
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGbO6nzqwy
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQYLAww74i
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXG7KqIgQW
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUqick4PpW
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCJ2wEQycP
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtgxvTbs42
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPU04N89oi
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMSeKwilzd
'Go ahead.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeiRMZ4O5X
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZmGtF3jrK
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwgHirAvGW
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUtCqCyrmf
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuWXoRu6TU
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdnW9ip4UD
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdvw85Dqql
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMIDg4FePk
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aTZNACdJL
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCPLaeVRl1
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS0bKgMyAe
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG0CXNiy1I
'And?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFcK4icOTS
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO835VhM783
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z8Fsbqexf
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAvXeH59zA
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlelgF4lTc
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhLuTZrN7E
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQQkTFcd48
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FwNgExvzc
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9N6cS932v
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'Ready sire?'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2wpPw2kDD
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlin2DvPkfU
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44aONrBrmG
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYMJ6a81Rx
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSLd22kqGA
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoANpFDkHN
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMWh1EccWv
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBlSBckBoh
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4zvrv4aqd
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyLN9erSZm
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxoV3Fvl4t
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i3YfwqUGb
'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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCmFoUNC4e
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqleR3mIzAg
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweFTIVSAnX
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2Kth4FCgP
'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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJXM8WjP53
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67rBcCi6C2
'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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4sPbMDRvF
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7gNvms8kG
'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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvdqLtGIAg
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kkZLTZtVy
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9XXWrdjLi
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ1K1dlz2I
'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!'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWm3aJH4jH
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKaI9jQnjx
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsHOX5kvMZ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0fWlItvit
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsS6YuVm5P
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnCZsiMaW0
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9SSvxTTFo
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUMKaXozzq
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K6wUCZ79X
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgk79UWAoa
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.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEJ8zfDB5u
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EBfgpNsHC
'Good luck.'491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1KzPdq2gb
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdPy9F7sZf
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzqdpDtVap
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE5zK7Drca
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.
