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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7a8W9daIj
490Please 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
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1HQxcGChL
'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
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53zDHlgiYm
'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
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1afU9iU2E9
'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
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyJvmmMZ12
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38MDh1tgQ8
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypdiMaqBSm
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dySsQjg1W
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lueac4Irf
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPVkdAuAsY
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQfAyL8cWn
'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
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxVJkHximl
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
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMhhGWw6Al
'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.
