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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIybAoIj64u
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf2nR6CWOM
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIzVr5es8c
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Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dAPqRUbTJ
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Str 7429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt6xNXC7iA
Dex 4429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnGSqVc0eB
Con 8429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpGuEEqELI
Int 16429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsTjo4FDrD
Wis 16429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9mmQp4pIX
Cha 4429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW4joq0Rm8
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡengM3ymsdj
Skills429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IIIUVdzCm
Lunge 5429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDzxfhltLk
Parry 5429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QifFM0t2i
Wield Shortbow 3429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IpNqNUUw1
Wield Rapier 5429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKnkf94xE8
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghta5lBuNK
You have 1 attribute point to assign.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSyDzYEhr3
You have 5 skill points to assign.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4Grf8V1pH
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoifA1BqgzF
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh19jdhujnn
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV1aRVLmKe
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E5DgagSvH
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW1Xos256K
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLvUZgUyAp
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2kiKu9TMv
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'I understand.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZRDmguDx2
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGNfiiZK6J
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8rVMO4p3H
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzV0Lr33KX
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB16M8JY5O
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG5kgzbxVq
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQEOVcBdzN
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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZksoLGNqz7
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0m4S6HAdG
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrafb6LQGMG
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSHCoCroX8
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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLYNDsJIyu
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYMV0IrYyM
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1LoxAZKLV
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'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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGyiWRRunX
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOz7Zg4Miz
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJXtvy3vMV
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2UaB8bjjC
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6StwrPrirq
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'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGcYxGg4AL
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeflzXcMvyJ
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWf5CkqH9P
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs11tasPZHB
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoCvwwxtsd
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08tXWiKfM3
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM0yWEzwJE
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'Yes, sire.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIAWBzd3nE
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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).429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ03mHmJhp
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEiYGJnofs
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsRJu6kjjx
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW5vxuWTji
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04JkSsiNSe
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'Well?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXwzXWtUhv
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'They are moving an army towards us.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjmN5zCYjK
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'How many troops?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DNaAKEciq
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JIK7hKQwi
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATIeU9GpCB
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'How long have we got?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvPpUTZKfP
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB2foONwQn
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilLApPWJHA
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Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7J6szOMMu
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I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPEdgxf34K
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'No, this is about half.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeS1veElqx
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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?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPENj5lGVab
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'No.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq0e3l3OyI
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlyWDN54h4
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'True enough sire.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid79OLnku0
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WZkz9Cdze
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNKXU9Mb0F
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhKKwqxNZF
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5A5lADI2w
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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:429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaQSpOrgWB
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Greyland Archer429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52MxCrMS4F
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Fighter level 0429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhEJgkz5ZI
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Ranged attack: 15429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF5XcWuBWG
Melee attack: 8429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkGPnf8XYX
Armour Class: 2429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEF4z2xHhU
Hit Points: 5429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx4rKpIxPK
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Skills:429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb6618doHv
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED7u0gW0WX
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbpzH96OEo
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgSDvHsycb
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CTLf4UbsH
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLrwvKC30U
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqwnmnJQwI
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUhuuwXC0w
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m6Pz8qh3u
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgpJMbWjce
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEzAvUzqq5
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4YUxqz3sy
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncrbmLDicB
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Rtv9rHdqV
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tgq9uHTKo
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xlleJShUB
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I nodded.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t5SEi40Lz
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS4jLUl9fv
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'What's the maximum range for it?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5AxqyYONu
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEtXGT3ikL
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZmutkPKMB
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaArXUQvZ4
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aCRmhPTf6
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'Yes?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CyvsT0FOp
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wzenVq8nl
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbiO03Cs8e
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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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUzSDGRhnB
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Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqBrkEggCS
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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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNRzcXSxt4
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'And what about you and the Sorceress?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtso1DL4Nbi
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'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRB38pQHvA
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJlua2fehh
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh3HkiAhWh
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccBAeKPo1q
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreY8foNuUg
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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dqkIi73jE
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'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?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLZymAcWjz
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'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uO6s318ax
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'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnH9lXAfcZN
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgtqaMiE1i
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIbKK4plMO
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq75Mje2HW
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G8bVbgz7C
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoFzkyFzp5
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYZyM6jcJT
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVFhpvVI2L
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j0rdOeEVp
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3TDLbSx76
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppbawgLqO8
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3AzVxKzi3
'Go ahead.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGSo8cBXmT
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UF7ibrBU2
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1zTVflFRL
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u8Zfo2LTW
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq9nZNo2Fr
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq20s1yYBXh
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh63TsE6xpv
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPz62bNkiI
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqIcYtPGyd
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1be43oDbx
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkINAjimbeR
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06pUKTArZf
'And?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGKCEWhmiG
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulg09cRzQ3
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPhCU0vIle
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmJG7nw8Ew
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NQYdY29be
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJMWNvYLRs
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsf5WdYZxOk
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG2QYfg8Ma
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiUWIqQXO6
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'Ready sire?'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIEKe19ZSc
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf0zLaBTvw
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM9bVagwS5
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYTsrD2fIl
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjAS7GRFDB
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmpUpTqmcb
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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz676HjNYwN
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccRcLKiAkG
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJP7K3Kbf7
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIzPoYK8oH
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJYxl9C9YP
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhF2ZoUYkp
'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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs1uk2RfUI
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG8isBCv0e
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmlqrrU7V1
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBIraViELl
'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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEzVBoF357
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYdX6OVEWx
'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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhCS6KzLii
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3skXvp1trM
'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.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC1lUTP0lV
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXQchiyUNp
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3piks7rxYi
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YnTHGon2z
'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!'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyDMUzSiyX
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDINTZ9akq3
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIkb1RIbYl
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n4OnApMqQ
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbzZTwwWb6
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwCwUlvDkt
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyajQCec95I
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBOPPriUJj
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJxCEFWTRX
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp66HHaiWf
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.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeWGOh4Ayj
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuuZESU1qC
'Good luck.'429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP4Ef43W4l
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3UY1FJpRl
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN3mQrSVJt
429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQKbnpWhR7
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.
