The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VXFm3yxr2
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMkXxDsDcM
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPWDL0QQDa
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULOdVBTSxz
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjE03yYUi4S
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3DF1b7sME
Str 7659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lNMTTTPKX
Dex 4659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aRcay8LVk
Con 8659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0kTH0nb1y
Int 16659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GEvETcIbc
Wis 16659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGxbAjJwef
Cha 4659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCHHJZjxJJ
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCkruewtg5
Skills659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZtmboOGYt
Lunge 5659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimnmoXI2dD
Parry 5659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesGGKfKVjH
Wield Shortbow 3659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA176Ft817u
Wield Rapier 5659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEi5isuAsR
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf6p30V7C8
You have 1 attribute point to assign.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIvyxNzaYc
You have 5 skill points to assign.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBrdOAWQea
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEZobJCJ4e
XP 110/200
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659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUp5okMuBY
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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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1Y4en6PGy
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALxrYk6nP5
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBzvcwAlj5
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGegskZtXcW
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFNH1Xdnkb
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4XynBuBtU
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5uBLxxrnx
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvVALIREvE
'I understand.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3tD8PpEXI
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBeIo4Z9YG
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IJNuUfHfE
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxh7yYql0o
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDxZkpaM2o
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b0zXJpLKX
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oAd3mFFBa
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy1ErwmJew
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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8pUlnK9op
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU2V8DsI6e
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZoWl3iFnC
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A1gxowaLz
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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0VB4nlvlj
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaHhpsJDda
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEFS8pLRtx
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l0NYpr4HI
'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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj450svEPB
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcLiXNTYgS
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh7s9oPZXj
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwL2WgbnKb
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAqEX6ma33
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0xPitxRmM
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZqIt7EGVJ
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEUhne3LAo
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoNmias6AC
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKhHgsSUkU
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBTFmnxuC6
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9sj2G0OF8
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPBMNkn34H
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztoc7jh5o4
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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVO7T9LOLS
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTdEaed5qT
'Yes, sire.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiN47K4VFv
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4KgSFhNsQ
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).659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx5sdkz42j
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW8ikPVwXb
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTqXbjOvPc
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEB6LWp6fE
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkeVcgpvo2
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'Well?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p7Axybkzl
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV1Ne6pOgY
'They are moving an army towards us.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKv4I4QSng
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsAxytj8ui
'How many troops?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrHbcSxSff
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzrAvWKeuP
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRkbESW4An
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLKsm8oT4e
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3dbl7t3xs
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVgJD3UCfu
'How long have we got?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOK823QUfv
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2f4NdBG1I
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuflfRBo74
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsRb3YRHeZ
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAInE9t3fb
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXPny9QZp5
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIB3X44ZVy
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB83PoaA5G5
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc1GhlDoZo
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'No, this is about half.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0E1Be3zkw
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM6kEPpbjr
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?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICkG2ARiz7
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaVpIPbUts
'No.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KKDEf89IT
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB2D264euJ
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytgNqurAhu
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRByzKqamAr
'True enough sire.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz2ao7c140
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzlVeRgFWk
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKbWXVH66H
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbFEeDmII1
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ563ONVjzSf
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6Kp2wic8J
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8hSJBKOHH
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw2kXfOJpL
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:659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlvQwA7yCb
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfQtioFIUG
Greyland Archer659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBAUM6PYJO
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Fighter level 0659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELzZKAoriZ
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Ranged attack: 15659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoj3G4eU89
Melee attack: 8659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO31bU4pCZN
Armour Class: 2659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnsM6oOLVo
Hit Points: 5659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5EnKGOFaf
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsGcngtHVA
Skills:659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvcUI85Ale
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqXRlezBf4
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspCnjahIyL
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc15AO7D2MB
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrDm4uHlpU
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs1BGBRMKk
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMR3ig3H4q
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IBjqhzkYw
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJPHS3yT4I
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBe7B7Wn09
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe0JfMStwi
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGQ6EBYANO
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAtfOFvP1I
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k3Al6gysl
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDFdac4uzB
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuDipEMMJd
'Show me to Lord Arval.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEPsiFH0lf
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12eidROE7V
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg4nCsOAqA
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGRJFJDnGz
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKI3Qem83x
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVBMh0ObqO
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmCNmzox4m
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsP896sZF9
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vmdwv2cBF
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdXPSvD0bM
I nodded.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm64uU82fip
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3Y0pxT24A
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'What's the maximum range for it?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILUlhcGFz0
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrlZyislM1
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuIwjc1XAz
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu3yL7PLji
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOHGcVknSK
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTGcWFaI3m
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'Yes?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2CTnPhsaK
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF9i7psb5N
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xal5Giuea
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAArMHpPYUV
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGXByq479M
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx01mYoPa0
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuANQasn2pf
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHEVBQBIFH
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK45eC0PdK
'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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctrqwtNkDR
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XEkH3DpHx
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbETHg1Wg0
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAaXtcHR6f
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFdsJZ1t5S
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg28TXDtH2M
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8Xtgy8dD2
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4eRcP8Izi
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrUolJd2Cv
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJqzDGvUla
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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhbUJWbXqP
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3HuDmM2JX
'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?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd18yIRCCN
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9mNp4I3Bl
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHfJdwDS8j
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF8QmiLWdh
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOsR6pMTYB
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'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfiAnCtFVC
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'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkvhV2FMCW
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xpvhQI4Ye
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncZI07DWjZ
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepBCBCn7w6
'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwGER8Qyrd
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhD2F6LNHw
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWW2hXRSP0
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'Go ahead.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5zgZQW5Il
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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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuJzc3fGu5
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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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69eQ1QvlUn
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa1DCUFLyQ
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcFUfftzAl
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'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYeohgQSXP
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'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGDNkVx8Ud
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'And?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClMGgkRt83
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'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9QeGWSAZc
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2GxCewgSd
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoUNAqhgYw
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33EZBS0SUB
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifo9V5Cz4I
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When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TldIXnsBJ
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'Ready sire?'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMyHjuEXwQ
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'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhoZM5JwzD
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4dZAHUwTw
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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG3mXzbNKR
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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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOAYHy1PoY
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'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GEyL71sfS
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'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8trHue1gO6
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'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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOiZ0TH1sG
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Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8YEffO8se
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'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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnfRDmFyCr
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'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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm2MdJ75JT
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'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.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOaBZVvF3z
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1luFT4dzxi
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuQkbPb2kk
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'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!'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8zZQWSBFN
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Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTClb5aAMp
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR7dpI5Ef5
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCsLSDih5V
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'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqahABFLMI
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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.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pZbNVmmlL
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'Good luck.'659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3fbMlmGUe
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'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivpCuMYwN5
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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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