The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m1w2gCTom
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2hqhZHG09
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysjC4OTVWn
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCOW2VebZm
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLKcH4KCWg
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r9jXTolVU
Str 7674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNycUNkK0Xv
Dex 4674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDJn4cbvo7
Con 8674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbwYi4s9u5
Int 16674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z53Qf7AqR
Wis 16674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNhI1vMQEf
Cha 4674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ApXkt0vbA
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1FA4kn68a
Skills674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5pqHyHl6A
Lunge 5674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcHXicgSWW
Parry 5674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjaZoKWpes
Wield Shortbow 3674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qWlBtiDhi
Wield Rapier 5674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpCYpmRtpR
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yZvcGoy1g
You have 1 attribute point to assign.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwwYEQcshG
You have 5 skill points to assign.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4uWS8N1Wx
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQg1Hugy7Fj
XP 110/200
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60UMrMXWHo
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2hjjwvcsN
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5JxDVqtCJ
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml4uRUscAf
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjLAPq9Jn2
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJp5Xo6fLn
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCPTN6hLS8
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEOITX2l6V
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbGa6ivNOg
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZoWj1n7YQ
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FGav4N4oZ
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbbwOUSpZ1
'I understand.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnnr7bHX8I
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlD2idf7CZ
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDCaGZV6fU
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRobRtvhoT
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XxyjRIrN2
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40dXoU8dgG
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh1gIuD5bD
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssLt8xAZNv
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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHmbBG2Lg1
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1RguY5mjc
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyna2mIE3m
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1pdCwS6sR
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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNfPej773U
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwoXlyyPbK
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3ETlZW3ce
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08DsjSZETc
'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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONoqnCr9QC
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pjYSN2O5p
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjxtCOLuUM
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8eBzryqsx
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAfsnJKWPw
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBywlElzXu
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyie4UHYMvK
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza9Tc6guG3
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtBcJdZ4VU
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotMK21I2JH
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGxkxp6F9P
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAvyMWbuLm
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByEHnUMqWa
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSPNJd4yst
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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHYgDnAJqd
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQt6NUWVke
'Yes, sire.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQYXbGLZQm
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbkEAUS3cZ
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).674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4LZsPNxNX
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWjlNeS7Kn
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVTsQnVndV
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt4s8fEyoh
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxIsOrabiE
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Cdp7S0YRo
'Well?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLMOnCAQO7
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdhXJjO0zE
'They are moving an army towards us.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kHLGHCmOF
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72XHQmMS1d
'How many troops?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1Ckfjpm1O
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0EOXHKWFW
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaWPFCKjf0
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeKVovlTu7
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeil3qORxc
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRYlT4Gag7
'How long have we got?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnRbkcf9PI
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz9uvZezLA
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1vqQV9sTr
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXzjYtGe6J
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGQNEugVge
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVjYqU6Way
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnSfIiDO8s
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyL9NlVcHX
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP81UB8V6sY
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxefsfmfO4
'No, this is about half.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyVG74aDnc
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOIEey9hXS
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?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMkRSyZKDv
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d1v924M6t
'No.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPgzaElUim
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm71zgfBm4
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInV0rw61HV
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS0R5AUOqw
'True enough sire.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLXiFVSQs5
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3FPmSWQwb
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUetFDYUXf4
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQIlpiko6C
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkdDTjLReP
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgpvBukMa2
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAynUJhlqJ
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5ufrOGTHI
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:674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmCZJ8zefm
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyUy2PdbVV
Greyland Archer674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfc1pjR487
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIiDwHFiBn
Fighter level 0674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf13JJac7p
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYzjhsRM7Y
Ranged attack: 15674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj46Bkjchm4
Melee attack: 8674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ3WGMJgBE
Armour Class: 2674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDfeRmRyct
Hit Points: 5674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnazHlrZFcR
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbk7XsU2ZD
Skills:674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eD2soHEGh
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cYEseb4xR
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWtMYKWSX6
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ebgeoZcDs
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygUIda5Lfs
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVWYTbm64a
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxsz581XXg
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA0g66DHiS
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CaLfWibtP
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Vl1xFAen
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2GvZuzmxU
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXnWMOxOBL
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwYqYWn86d
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57gS84RXoR
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokN5PRI6t3
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnMogBURwT
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXGptORfYf
'Show me to Lord Arval.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2024HUCv6t
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y8SuoZoDO
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3brCaDBb4
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3qEba0eKu
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCFTYqel1W
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSepFBuVZf
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOoq8nnCv7
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLhCEVfBls
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPORXivV1ng
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajn6dDfE7Q
I nodded.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeehXnskG08
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXaXzT5u9S
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyQjQpVQha
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p2eg8x1af
'What's the maximum range for it?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kj2YlugTX
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqmjjM3DHV
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQhLy0hMNf
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9IxKIvBgL
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJwNPvohHE
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpyPWnR6DY
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMJ4x7Sz35
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv68HUQ3z4
'Yes?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SWTWAEAYO
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2HIGeGBka
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYNsCJlrAh
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewpbkMklqG
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK99PRfMYEs
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsaLdQNcwt
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fw622U5xs
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5e9KKqiWP
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0wOSwzvTP
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUbFI2bnqX
'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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0MfzLx4PW
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG8y3bJMn3
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKoUmVaFDm
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqMMpIiLMf
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Lrf3U0kiL
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEnqf9Syye
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGH783HknT
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sWkul8NMD
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i553qSVko
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pzIPLKr3Z
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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVstm4Fm7u9
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaxwRqnCcl
'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?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofQjHBHcO6
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgFRfVAl0E
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ3Hjw7pCi
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZEuOEXyL2
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgbhRiHcbQ
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMLwjbczRB
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQB3zht15q
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fjqELG39y
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeU2MCVkBa
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0enrf7QfBh
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWmGjqUX5G
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe54HH3V7Q
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipY5L6V82m
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNKiK5oAWB
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbuZU3IsdL
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'Go ahead.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcOl4YSxje
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C4fTvWh9s
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIlpUC5gUC
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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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBMuaM2Odd
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeXDWRB7SS
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG41Yf7N3L
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1sWlCDYVs
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGGMToF2kQ
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGRnNIc6Br
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1loSLrsz8
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxeVT8Gsa2
'And?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuad9uEdtah
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6T4pWfILCH
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppV5B4Rgb9
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG1N6b0ElL
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ424qaZYwND
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDymAdHmge
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GKox4aeDu
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0etufjqTzd
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4PtGpH3BE
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'Ready sire?'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUotG55ha0Q
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKb8uUIBqC
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc8Orjo5dF
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2i0E1ORpO
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PlVhmUS3Y
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYd41m9cnK
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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbulQSyptI
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0GZFGVAZV
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PxgTw5V2P
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVB4GiBVDk
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVf2Cz4K2P
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZoOniwdTK
'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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaijUpIaNVY
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOBBHCEy8M
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZQfNa3jrc
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAWATgEWEB
'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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGP6Xla3Rn
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wGKs5qUSk
'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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcHbDZ8NQL
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYu8p5wIBM
'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.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAhbOFYRRI
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FqRvsZ0MG
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68CBIAvMj4
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpynvYkxwk
'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!'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFDuHAPkqz
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAbWqYfAM8
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0QDKsgACV
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfUOkuDaqx
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs2KqD5gjf
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qQUxusTdJ
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0L7uxgJN9
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHLmZ5OL6S
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLQQXR1Bfx
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORMtDdHeQz
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.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBjIYrrFLr
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZah77RJUgo
'Good luck.'674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiro5hufWS6
674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomkHB2DB4d
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.674Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JozHaeoR9
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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.
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