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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6PIn2v4IV
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSohwwycm85
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtzFJqqbNL
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Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpudEaSPNoY
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWtkiAs6rg
Str 7526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPm8X00mgBz
Dex 4526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqZdvs4BMa
Con 8526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP8DSfl0ja
Int 16526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXPUXiqi7A
Wis 16526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFfmSIoQD8
Cha 4526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1p9aUdRbY
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kHvfCRhOz
Skills526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7TQLfEwkk
Lunge 5526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4WzZiG8z4
Parry 5526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf31PJneDj
Wield Shortbow 3526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS9ocedoNK
Wield Rapier 5526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwa4zXUZlH
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You have 1 attribute point to assign.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj0RxENf70
You have 5 skill points to assign.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJujxGuC0B0
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioqz9Xk8bK
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw6ihUYYvP
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0I8tAi562
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'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pOaLxE17C
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySh5RgsoyY
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt60Bhy1g7u
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'I understand.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8vRxL1rhT
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUbJOCX8Pc
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'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyXOyhX7aw
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Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigWfq5eqKI
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPupCsvRY7
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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRlIeejlR2
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TFIGsH0fi
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplHotk2usQ
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4AKcdnnoW
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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QwXvgTqzp
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnBlP7jFSb
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDG14qUCEn
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6DCNteFxC
'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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtDDi3zj5x
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZbfemoHS1
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5JXkVSJhm
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWX9cMrsY4
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7ulz1SaRa
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aE8wLBpYZ
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC93zxLHjc
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvEo7nw3PH
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXxBpSCFiS
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxT8junE8C
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GBJfZSG3O
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8frcvbfK4
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusXqONPvnN
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7ezcjLJFF
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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz6F8OV3p2
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'Yes, sire.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxzADYtIMf
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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).526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrxG9RTZuS
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIhgNKiPqF
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj4BQwumPX
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After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpbrwbTP2P
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'Well?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjeaIN7Iqk
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'They are moving an army towards us.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL1j0mNPtF
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'How many troops?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fGRk4RvDe
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNBSEKLJbP
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuRxOHMzr6
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGFomO3plv
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'How long have we got?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnq1OVgqj7
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0PyIV7hCJ
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznladWhmEZ
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEzd3uFj49
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTmxS3dYTR
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jdL3VfqHt
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SCgnHrCQJ
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAlHKLOn36
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'No, this is about half.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4eNOPMLur
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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?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWeqnyEB7Z
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'No.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9Mf3LuKVu
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71bv2EyGkn
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'True enough sire.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsaxmV6AYu
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dGfqUGQaT
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbmqDyBC3a
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUdaccyNVm
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f6NQyAQ7Q
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TrUVuj4m2
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:526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeq3MpIdNc
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Greyland Archer526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyUGBkbVE0
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Fighter level 0526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQdhe8myR7
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Ranged attack: 15526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a4s3vaXQ0
Melee attack: 8526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2myDW2Tvf
Armour Class: 2526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN9teSjF4N
Hit Points: 5526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U5AAy296D
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Skills:526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGkkGEb196
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NTIgIacrE
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cgBTZxEjn
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQqPPpAllU
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYdujJdPq8
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvUmIHrqtH
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmNpyaeuHB
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ldIRTo5zv
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwGYiDPCot
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M3tZtZg0R
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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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4TxtQW8qO
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJIwl9usDD
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCveAMSltc8
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4t7ouPkOq
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I nodded.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwahR7uD2g
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfUNw3OS8u
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'What's the maximum range for it?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OjRszGIV8
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVkM18Ta3H
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXWcPQs9Y8
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTYvxBeUJf
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RQJkJrtqf
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'Yes?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdO3HJos7N
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡintmwouE2q
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX80hPE4u19
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcoo2decNe
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'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ8AvxgNza
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLGLcraBtf
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGBDF2wSdM
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'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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5MRcxDupY
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'And what about you and the Sorceress?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJLio2cCYS
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeHHFoSaNK
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj63ySUy6v
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmgujQD6U9
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7zZKGeHXf
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycZZ4ibkAI
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GFP7e3XKH
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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8agebBpfMn
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamoG5Zgt85
'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?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsflY9KBiTq
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAfcyGT2c2
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a5wCyo1Xc
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztiXxmOS9i
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkChgedUtoc
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG0UGu6CKi
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsRKlEGEof
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxvIVsgi6z
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Cb5zKuzTu
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rq6v0A3Fk
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8sRCb55gs
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI2vT3mIuT
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXqGe489gz
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtbYRmuQSZ
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99gyPBSXJ0
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsonZqoZ7k
'Go ahead.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vfzpRE67l
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRFV0oOtu0
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2CON3ObAK
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjL3c8zyta
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PCnl8Xka3
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhmZY599iY
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnBa3cINvN
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r6Bau0a0s
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0kxL9ILtg
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3C9ZQKaP0
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPaytJ94ZY
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntxFVhHNtU
'And?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29NzQYoNxj
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsWpZDxFGp
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG4XEaUlZq
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN43TLCFNc
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p4axCqid3
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbOm7d4wLV
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRrf2PNIKe
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNoSJSJBsY
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbLdhggUqo
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lcusMfFYg
'Ready sire?'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHAwjpesED
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUiyTs4534
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiwJRFVNd5
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hy9TQL9Ie
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyvquS7cqC
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm9IQO3j6O
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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRefiOeGiH
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrOEuQrvle
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaifzEHli4
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqH837WTLr
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhbTan7qnH
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmTXSAFRyW
'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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdi3xQL1MY
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFs0oYCl9g
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qKiaZW5TY
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiU7gTO401
'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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkuUQlyK7y
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ765YgSMxo4
'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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosNhozXP9x
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpX1VWNOMs
'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.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzsngMGvFy
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rGpHilvhs
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHmJaHJCLF
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7OXSpNSqX
'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!'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPTnfdjxv6
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmxJjEwYTs
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRpqORzR9H
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7TywAaH0g
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwLygeDGrT
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqpMXdRypG
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLem8lQlRV
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrylKsBnVXN
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbWqTXXYSd
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvMF1xMktx
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.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRlOSr1FAM
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC9BGzHxID
'Good luck.'526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41nfnyrDVe
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkDwmoqt80
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HMCeJfGro
526Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpVNmnCVby
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.
