The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkf2A64JXg
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6uuRPbYfI
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDxNSFPx3E
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2G1irz06U
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6QBqu2xwC
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcLweeqpAF
Str 7559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWEwFMrisj
Dex 4559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdspi63vv9
Con 8559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rbSf0CQlc
Int 16559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeeDKkddwg
Wis 16559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkXVGMoI7O
Cha 4559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDI0eYFrHk
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzfRcV9tgn
Skills559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbisOyZfJgX
Lunge 5559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCiPBSnl0X
Parry 5559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YYmxkUUJo
Wield Shortbow 3559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITBwIUcWNg
Wield Rapier 5559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYKQ8VCljd
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5OQYdh8sN
You have 1 attribute point to assign.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84a7pYTgCU
You have 5 skill points to assign.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIQpK7G4cu
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF30NHjw3L
XP 110/200
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559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfIAFgamSX
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi11sKDedC
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaTH7zfz0I
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9VFLKaJM5
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzECtpDUuwJ
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8Kh79cBVU
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kAwURdD3q
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30iYMhC7AR
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtCNZtewov
'I understand.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TNYRRIjC9
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL3mlQ0HyN
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof0UqpDo7f
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVRCy4zTYL
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk6jLGOyZP
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6B5AUxR6G
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tFx5lySeJ
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEbU9xlqLu
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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W9WvAnzrR
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyJlkYGVy2
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVeCK0Hpy7
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgerLM0ILj
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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaA6fE8zuLb
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiivr1qVO8B
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh5Cys8kx8
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IrmOmbtkX
'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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLro0oWLKi
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQC9l7tewi
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJCWfNXZ9H
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3o2Ocv1nw
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vn8IBcP8D
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk1F0bYnGQ
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGGDzucMeQ
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNvoz3s3NS
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvahHWJeEJL
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgW9DcJYyS
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbWm24O9UJ
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykLQE21mlR
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3G023wJGMI
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2d2orVeY0
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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ760F9cqEIp
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqxJzLcU6Q
'Yes, sire.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHjfze8Ofe
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY8WRVm8vR
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).559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktXDdWwepB
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7FUwm7MKV
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBmKNyiEBA
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks9Sd0Kg8M
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOSmjox9nE
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1alijk12S8
'Well?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL3E6rlYKA
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBVbKLHRKu
'They are moving an army towards us.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAjrgSCvRP
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ltHYww3du
'How many troops?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR9XNo40Ya
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3Gi7V7blF
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nwbRSFaUs
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGDOreLORw
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOz3ODXxxa
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhim3BehZDc
'How long have we got?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5OEfZl4xY
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfY4V7cSoQ
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDsILtYwAs
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfztDNAj8y
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiydtKuwz0
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPnbgwTHSp
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOINNFQuh8
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UZ28VhnKa
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1KNPzcGYW
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdly35o5B0I
'No, this is about half.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPv0Hw2XNr
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rAK1eYqFp
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?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcIhBOvzys
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMeaAH8stV
'No.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BsQ7ugmHQ
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56bBFOKOCC
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFNWiY3Ndn
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWJ4XHocN7
'True enough sire.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9blLxDHQ4
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9oSiEeXa2
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SfNGZlZu8
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GDYp1OBS5
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIM3wpi9tV
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwZANv3iaN
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76i7gKSU6D
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPVMc3S81e
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:559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeetVN9z4W7
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmjqtlar4T
Greyland Archer559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAP16AF914
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Fighter level 0559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zrYssisvf
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GmYO2smHF
Ranged attack: 15559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx90dDvYvw
Melee attack: 8559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV5M9XmifE
Armour Class: 2559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ0pUUIUlh
Hit Points: 5559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEuHl65Zw9
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyulnPQUylx
Skills:559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8dMjyGvvJ
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96RJ2lOgta
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNeXuKGHCQ
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNdSHi65tf
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23ndOcKQfp
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqn7x272lU
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjB9tCtXJI
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENHBOImucB
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGkvXGvFre
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4BW16pJ3E
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVX5HuL5uK
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y2Uwcxjq0
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmE4EQsgUy
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGxszDawMN
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHItSzRpjt
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLOjqFXUJ0
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi9anzIpqW
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9131eFuh2c
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIUlHz8zXk
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFpU2cPJe2
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxYUKbEqfP
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv1suw2hAi
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TIWr46xJf
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasYOoH1rs1
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLccGDnL1Rn
I nodded.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzk7B96e6x
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVDzEihIl6
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG00E84DMpg
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjqfumY6nV
'What's the maximum range for it?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3sF1mgYBD
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8oBmLycMn
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f4PjW6geH
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBioIJQ97Ju
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNZFSYSlgx
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xcmwsJ4k1
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MpXtI67B8
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'Yes?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwxes14dn7
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaiuTZADsM
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimsG0MnXZO
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYIKIaaDZY
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekg8ZYYMpS
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoytfkl7Dm
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuU5D2HltU
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTYZ62waHv
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnFtIWd8Hj
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruODYJ0bac
'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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrylWxlrYw7
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY93lu9Qc3
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt0Hmqfgnh
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46XOeF9Fif
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmxloPq7KF
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH84JMD7Uc
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDbnwIgzAw
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE3KkDUyKZ
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6tlyg6Cau
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqawUFRZ9Yp
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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOtrcdjXRH
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc2WIkgb1y
'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?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhilskxlyH
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2OIGNLsLL
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfXmw6iOct
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNoPiWccar
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKZR3FW7U3
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h1Hf8lIhU
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KvVUM5jpM
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LVhopxvr0
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ1wPfHHSa
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnlTuNDvmG
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8DjAbYYgA
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNsVbRnZAt
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DqqatDlb3
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0daUsPguo
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ593xe8gM6H
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCIGJ9KJsG
'Go ahead.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl9qNkO5AA
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQziH4s92V
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUMh3XKA5U
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoRbKd5xyh
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZpOtmfxdV
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU26VyckDr
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fqgszAsrk
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82KZKJ5Gt0
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfdQb88orV
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt4NMCg17l
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSAGeFvvrW
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyq0qxPKyj
'And?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6EOG27IqP
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq86DJXCLB
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddKTtXruIC
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaWjyI419h
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10hTyyZITj
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ssak8xK0V
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmiLwjQowf
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLo9hUwdmn
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDFpEP5eSf
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SVASSqx4h
'Ready sire?'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SUHbd3zcf
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Kx1ywXTWI
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMc3rZSRTG
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc9qjXvGBr
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrBhqMhW3d
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7xfWakwuO
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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY0JPplgZu
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydJGl8Z9dZ
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaeQbxZ9HB
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnZAM66jg1
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibSHKhfhEs
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF78B7E5hSE
'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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14ncrDinMt
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33aB5HViDC
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeds74PATyM
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTh66q2lPe
'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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uHPNft8IP
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTtLAWFmkq
'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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABD47rC4R3
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2go5UFVOe
'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.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJiMZcSXFu
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu4M1ZGciD
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVyhm9yDGV
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TkiEB3JdM
'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!'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdWcK73VFk
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmPU25hptF
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZIfWncpot
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J8j6Wv7wP
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkHhMYUMgs
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuKX6WCNZV
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TDfc0fux4
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QGfDFZ6t7
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U2VUTNj1R
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rFz3KvUg0
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.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuojNknzQF
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2kiJbehII
'Good luck.'559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAbEdq8UUy
559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo3ThVsj4N
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.559Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBK24XPfjg
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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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