x
The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0OpnMJGqx
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACXAyihbYh
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9zho0vjRb
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL3ThKGyp9
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJrBwKL8ai
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrlS7c2Fmm
Str 7489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSrwlfuyle
Dex 4489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29aLTVPY8k
Con 8489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy0o917Hmw
Int 16489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m65PFFtBe
Wis 16489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AYVPkMJQE
Cha 4489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FAIwcZ75o
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZIMfw5hOz
Skills489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMeO10yAev
Lunge 5489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflQHdhxduw
Parry 5489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25GBsdKl47
Wield Shortbow 3489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr5TbKqJ70
Wield Rapier 5489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEwugcRdud
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXHoxX5PZr
You have 1 attribute point to assign.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcqoC4V4v0
You have 5 skill points to assign.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9bFf0xsDP
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQskUa4fMhq
XP 110/200
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSEeyflWbO
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPkftsgZzO
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWpiy98wJX
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD0n4k3KIb
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyK4pIPHJk
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvnY7JrQw0
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNXFulEeNy
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzz8TfjyNy
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfvxcz77rk
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpSDFNzoV0
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ025XfNSKzw
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJnuGp7ow6
'I understand.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLmXoDzKFh
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtGAGKbGLP
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx2voGEqkF
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtKD2VOkt4
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybMNI0ZbNs
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQYrnBSf0R
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuDHGFhRuE
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtYOtY6VQb
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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHsVTyx7xn
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdURt7wUTFn
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbkgpG2iFx
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGQR22b5UG
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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKN0C2EfLr
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQDR1Qi3Cr
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHqijBYWSi
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTulpMFbiT
'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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT5uxGIjWm
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd9WK5162d
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45aBHqeCiw
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoeeEqnvCG
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTEJWhCJ6G
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9rHjQHYIL
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3XC8Uu6F3
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDhsiEWdeS
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdIq9hHQfB
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8ZaIqcqfy
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSzY9tq8zg
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr31ifbDpz7
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJVSYFXDWp
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31xWZMnU3I
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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgZJ0XrgO0
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQpcRgB1x9
'Yes, sire.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdClNUfvaG
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUxI3uSknZ
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).489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR8P2H0nwW
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjmMCxMTgB
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwoPK8rNmS
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK2BdgdmGR
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78oTv6KZvh
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWUqBI92OO
'Well?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpTDImSdpQ
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4PHy9xXne
'They are moving an army towards us.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQSNrnQmMO
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagF1E5MKZk
'How many troops?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcIT9t5Dm7
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9ENtQplQ6
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDS0XTqWsx
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFkmfJAGGO
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ2LzfBAIH
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS5omzHamH
'How long have we got?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMey2CyGCN
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5Q3jZynH7
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB6YHBN2Tf
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcp5EslcaV
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQGBzl3LKM
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz33pgPeTP4
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvXGfTrkax
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfVQADPB79
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTn1an8uFF
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpuHu1GXeI
'No, this is about half.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNL3fqlnn5
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxOIr8QrU4
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?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UgQ27SaYh
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfF5GIOfUT
'No.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI5Yiv5ucH
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS1Yv7JjZe
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuHS3qrUkb
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFweeaqXr4
'True enough sire.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9683YozKZZ
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUXgyGwP91
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1wKK3M9s9
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpS81FadKn
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebcuwt04Td
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgCudnrpxr
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwcF9AAdRE
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dON0BRLQ4
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:489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhf4w0tKW3
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42fQsm0cpk
Greyland Archer489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56SjJiDJrV
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUiHM9utzb
Fighter level 0489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbpqE0Wobd
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsX08FdMWR
Ranged attack: 15489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdCkRJr9jx
Melee attack: 8489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6d1PwEAip
Armour Class: 2489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJztzgi1ajw
Hit Points: 5489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPaepz8qdW
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIve8RSKKvp
Skills:489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsYrPEOnwR
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT42VoXWNW
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0f4OmkA4U
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajqcIyLqRq
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ymi2nbEvn
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvdKKaxEfl
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHUYJarzjl
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ads4UADHt
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI1dlMTJZs
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LZsy9Pofy
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILdhmyhU5b
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZqdfKB0Q5
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdajZcVyVJ
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEjAkZIStM
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwrRpvZY5T
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LM9pH8EzZ
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0uph8bkOP
'Show me to Lord Arval.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM4vt1tqYy
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneMywy343e
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvrsN5xiCa
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoqnKCbaT9
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxlbBOnSm4
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpqN2VXVWk
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9Gz0HDFAA
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVEsx5KK4B
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdqWmeHJoZ
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9CnSb0sx1
I nodded.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54g2takaVh
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pyr9KMkjX
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9w0iiXvOQ
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8ZbaQHCSN
'What's the maximum range for it?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5zxVF0A62
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvIkALw3bd
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH2WzLke2l
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4alSl0TfZP
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1lX80yQ8t
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kStaRI0uz
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc88d3TqqFk
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye5mXXzhbL
'Yes?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaSYKE2JlN
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXHhpliKov
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct29yzoP6L
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2hGt6M10V
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLAryzilCg
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ824UovtEMr
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlydZouWH0
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVjNnvLZxj
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPxdhGMutp
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3GzMsDMmW
'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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27uMN8ccdM
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jqDjArKHj
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZTIyiCZMx
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwkqHB52FW
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCIZ4bixph
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL1zQxUHJ3
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IwW2l95Sd
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuQDo7JKw1
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuQnbrQjBo
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gNyojOITg
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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSejFVE5F1k
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mW0pLOmT3
'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?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPgEwbv6DO
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMLeonTLDf
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq82ITazMqI
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiUfS4KtUH
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oiML4zZwM
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgFfgEPGKA
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcap9oleBHv
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKTHT2UIwj
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApHVsvLIIE
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJeDOjsUmq
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSlfmTcBdu
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuy65huIwn
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaOWwQPx9X
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ek4fjS7RR
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe3h8j9tiP
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFOCpaOTnT
'Go ahead.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IMdMlS4Id
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡendECNOQfb
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kZOz3tJ92
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeaJRYVleT
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRs5ddomKA
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxxm0HbrOq
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQcN8bbcLL
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9JPrcZL1J
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng4isQGjOK
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIbbN9IiGo
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gDS0dmcro
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgaggxNJxm
'And?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMKtaja9mw
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEBkNBXrPn
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NeAqlIva7
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoGpmWaHg2
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFgRhIiN53
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVdcqaqjtg
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbZDEXE5Ri
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmVtbqmakk
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jbQV92zuP
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVll1o3vzo
'Ready sire?'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lYwSYjgZU
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvEllTCL7I
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7246yKsq8
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFOcV89Yka
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIftZYNZ3is
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF5vcPy7N2
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHumcKSGDZ
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPhK6OZ5Gq
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlA15fTm7m
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAVT27a6KR
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7BvFWbJKi
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvgq3oG8lY
'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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC28ODrtRj
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7CrRXUFXc
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp8yIpLZsN
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsZRGyOsEc
'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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDziJmPR5h
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL0kWQ8nUi
'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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J4GGDuXk1
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd2uAULDSz
'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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5qZY7fqlK
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zVx32Aonj
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRjlj8htej
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyFRDzOQwW
'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!'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4npYr3rKP
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzDvcpU7fZ
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5ggXP4znR
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH418JzhSY
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQyhKjSJrS
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiowFBTzN6p
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd8uo38EAL
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFizXkd880
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGKn6CY08w
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL5BVojATM
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.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl3pdJqzff
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD4YSzxmKR
'Good luck.'489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIywPne8Rn
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEc4vcP0kQ
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jkcpd8mgs
489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAGWqW5CTI
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.
