Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.459Please respect copyright.PENANATMyiLsDIU0
459Please respect copyright.PENANAuJMFE5Vzdy
'Except those guarding prisoners, fall in to your units!' My order brought their training back and even the most wretched looking stiffened and hurried to find a place in the ranks.459Please respect copyright.PENANAMr3Xb5xaBN
459Please respect copyright.PENANAmfVd3TTJid
'You fought well. Very well! And today will be the day I promised you. You will eat out on the story of the battle of Three Ways for the rest of your lives. But our work isn't yet done. Those of you on horseback…' I made my way to the light cavalry, half of whom were missing, chasing the retreating enemy, 'ride down the road, killing any enemy stragglers you find. Then, when our own soldiers return, scout beyond them until evening and report back here by dark… On you go!'459Please respect copyright.PENANA4m6ii3vPmZ
459Please respect copyright.PENANAwhY6voppu7
As the riders rode off, I turned to our archers. 'Sergeants, have your squads take the abandoned bows and quivers of the enemy; gather any unbroken arrows you can.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAS6YXQ8Natn
459Please respect copyright.PENANAimMO3SzlqZ
'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'459Please respect copyright.PENANA6Wf9jspVxS
459Please respect copyright.PENANADWzFeZ77rF
'Sergeant of the swordsmen,' this to the squad leader of our twelve heavy infantry, 'take the prisoners and find a way to lock them in the small tower. They can be given food and water but make sure none of them is armed.'459Please respect copyright.PENANA7DpJ91g2RN
459Please respect copyright.PENANAqCeMIaYNpH
'Yes sire!'459Please respect copyright.PENANAXHFeBpCPUb
459Please respect copyright.PENANAagaVsRPgqb
'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAGdYXCpMIzc
459Please respect copyright.PENANAbltFmMaJPG
'And you,' looking at the sergeant of my other infantry squad, 'get a cart and fill it with the abandoned weapons and any armour that is still useful. Also, tell the ballista crew to report to me at the bridge.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAK1KghWOllZ
459Please respect copyright.PENANAGcx0OGPnpd
There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.459Please respect copyright.PENANA94rbzIdXKQ
459Please respect copyright.PENANAlSImtcC3d8
'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAnJW6fIM24Q
459Please respect copyright.PENANA1msfgvNzrC
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAOcbKHSWEYU
459Please respect copyright.PENANA7HCsTeJe70
Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAqXO1ibS3FF
459Please respect copyright.PENANA1JfO7Ye1dP
By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAqyC5Sp4MFe
459Please respect copyright.PENANAx9yCnHG68o
'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.459Please respect copyright.PENANAv9LTLisiW5
459Please respect copyright.PENANAp7OiUC7W1r
'That… that was magnificent. Your charge. I'll never forget it, ever. I don't have the words.' And indeed, I could see tears were welling up in the elderly man's dark eyes.459Please respect copyright.PENANAfrrVFVFky0
459Please respect copyright.PENANAf4jq93sWIf
'Good man yourself, Chancellor, your backstab was an excellent initiative.' I gave him a slap with my free arm. 'The Shaman might not have been able to save the battle for them, but we were about to lose a lot of men. It was brave too, with the sabre-toothed tiger at his side.'459Please respect copyright.PENANACZ4lqwqGyB
459Please respect copyright.PENANAQNIMP3HJaQ
I turned to Carlena. 'You too. To face the Shaman's spells and his pet without hesitation was impressive. I'm proud to be working with such courageous comrades.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAPb4wDmyxfX
459Please respect copyright.PENANAfab1AK6GZw
Carlena gave me the warmest smile I'd yet seen from her, a sincere one, from the heart. 'A rhino was a good choice for the potion.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAHG12bR0QsH
459Please respect copyright.PENANAdjSguoTUOE
'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAmTaLFKZbVX
459Please respect copyright.PENANAvqD04ktO7M
'Well done sire.' She dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Thank you Sean de Courcy. You really are the warrior we need. King Carlos would have stayed in Carrick. Yet that was a battle we might easily have lost and with it, the realm.'459Please respect copyright.PENANA0SqfnOYrL5
459Please respect copyright.PENANAv63hoJSLXs
Our mutual fan club was broken up by the arrival of the ballista crew, who had come at the double, as if to make up for the fact they had missed out on the fighting. Their sergeant saluted.459Please respect copyright.PENANAyPyf4Sj4G4
459Please respect copyright.PENANAzgrmpULMUm
'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'459Please respect copyright.PENANACPCrcmg0yu
459Please respect copyright.PENANA82OtzyrkJk
Checking first that I wasn't looking too serious, the powerful-looking young man allowed himself a reply. 'We're very disappointed sire; next time I hope you'll leave some for us.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAIbvOCwHeG6
459Please respect copyright.PENANABwi8GnAVj4
'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAEQ0T8AIz1D
459Please respect copyright.PENANA4I9ylF14lO
'As honest as a mirror sire.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAI7E6L1RTqu
459Please respect copyright.PENANACt53K2cMqo
'That's what I hoped. I want you to search all the enemy bodies for coin. Then roll the corpses into the river along with any dead horses. We'll demoralise their army downstream as their dead comrades float past. Our own dead we'll bring home in carts for their families. When you've all the coin, report to me and I'll share it equally with every soldier here. Even you lot.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAhUV1gX5nF8
459Please respect copyright.PENANANXpVjvECbS
'You heard the king!' The sergeant gave me a salute and the crew immediately set to their somewhat morbid task as though it was a pleasure. Which perhaps it was. Loot was loot after all. Which gave me a thought.459Please respect copyright.PENANAefchjZZy2z
459Please respect copyright.PENANAfdwSwV1VvU
'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.459Please respect copyright.PENANA129AqVfkZu
459Please respect copyright.PENANAc8P5h0xtuD
'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'459Please respect copyright.PENANA6H1E2Bneu5
459Please respect copyright.PENANAECzOmbHu3i
'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.459Please respect copyright.PENANAmwLx0aBal7
459Please respect copyright.PENANAP3rvqHA5CI
'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.459Please respect copyright.PENANAFWfbVcOGsy
459Please respect copyright.PENANAhuC0BDlAps
'Soon I'll want you to go scouting again, in case the rest of their army moves up towards us. I've a feeling that they won't. For now though, if you could find some decent wine and tolerable bread, I could really use it. Being a rhino for eight minutes is a hell of a calorie burn… I mean it gives you an appetite.'459Please respect copyright.PENANA7Xi0gYgVE5
459Please respect copyright.PENANAQHg1VXKU5b
Slowly, I made my way back over the bridge and up to the gatehouse, bringing the Cleric with me. On my way, busy soldiers glanced at me in an entirely different way than they had before the battle. There was respect and admiration in their eyes. Affection too even. I was becoming the king they wanted. And whenever my gaze rested on soldiers performing their duties, they hurried that bit faster, as though wanting to demonstrate their backing for me. This was a complete contrast to the sullen looks and slow responses when I had first gone to the barracks in Carrick.459Please respect copyright.PENANAIG2lL0vnJA
459Please respect copyright.PENANAd7NgEhmgKr
Of course, I'd been wanting to study the effects of the battle on my character sheet ever since the fighting had ended, but only now, after a deliberate pause to consider if I had overlooked any important orders, did I feel the time had come when I could open that menu.459Please respect copyright.PENANAiMD1rURKCL
459Please respect copyright.PENANAwZWkAPspFI
459Please respect copyright.PENANAVVJ5r5skWl
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland459Please respect copyright.PENANArj6FFHGtzj
459Please respect copyright.PENANAtJwkkoULJh
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0459Please respect copyright.PENANA1cDfRSrlgf
459Please respect copyright.PENANAObxs682q9N
Str 7459Please respect copyright.PENANAXQVTAdJlDM
Dex 4459Please respect copyright.PENANALRvur4v2m1
Con 8459Please respect copyright.PENANAH1mRduSYlb
Int 16459Please respect copyright.PENANAzh8MgIkEAZ
Wis 16459Please respect copyright.PENANAWAMCTn3dvZ
Cha 4459Please respect copyright.PENANAR7h9st9beO
459Please respect copyright.PENANAykwyDePt8K
Top Skills459Please respect copyright.PENANAB2n2JpivZe
Bash 25459Please respect copyright.PENANA7VuwGv2tqa
Impale 25459Please respect copyright.PENANAY98IjHcwlF
Lunge 5459Please respect copyright.PENANAo9oMl1cbNI
Parry 5459Please respect copyright.PENANAbspPcbd8Nr
Wield Rapier 5459Please respect copyright.PENANAsOWkxCizts
Wield Shortbow 3459Please respect copyright.PENANANeyPFc8bw2
Block 1459Please respect copyright.PENANAxkxoWIVzyE
Defensive Stance 1459Please respect copyright.PENANAnX110Tg3XK
Deflect 1459Please respect copyright.PENANAs70fdis7EX
Dodge 1459Please respect copyright.PENANAcAcNpe7Dqp
459Please respect copyright.PENANAyq9B3SCrX5
459Please respect copyright.PENANAsgG8nlpWdb
You have 4 attribute points to assign.459Please respect copyright.PENANAo7mwZGZ0pY
You have 15 skill points to assign.459Please respect copyright.PENANAOm0uZT9OIM
459Please respect copyright.PENANAV62Ez3u0d8
XP 2,860 (3,200)
459Please respect copyright.PENANAViG7ZSk2Ud459Please respect copyright.PENANAXyYs8PNDCD
459Please respect copyright.PENANAivPwRYAikA
My attribute points I decided to save, again, tempting though it was tempting to put a point in Dexterity. Assuming I could train up the low stats, I'd want those points for later.459Please respect copyright.PENANA0AZ4jsCBJU
459Please respect copyright.PENANAjcHK1QMP90
There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.459Please respect copyright.PENANAuZD5DQ7BfH
459Please respect copyright.PENANAFmjvIgOUjc
459Please respect copyright.PENANAVBpHV2vcDP
Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:459Please respect copyright.PENANAak23mXl1Ml
459Please respect copyright.PENANAt18QJb0YCw
Berserker459Please respect copyright.PENANA1bRVOW8CEH
Champion459Please respect copyright.PENANAA6K8fK3GW1
Paladin459Please respect copyright.PENANAiFjDpaKjfR
Shadow Knight459Please respect copyright.PENANAghqD6bfLVx
Warlord
459Please respect copyright.PENANAXRzm8dzl2q
Each had a description, which corresponded to fighter sub-types I was familiar with from Storm Wars: the Berserker specialised in speed, high DPS and was a master of improvisation, downside, medium armour only; the Champion was a duellist, a weapons specialist perfect for one-on-one fights, downside, all the benefits were individual only; the Paladin had holy spells as well as combat skills, downside incompatible with evil troops and creatures; the Shadow Knight was the opposite to the Paladin, with unholy spells and an incompatibility with good; the Warlord was the opposite to the Champion, a tactical specialist, all the benefits were group ones.459Please respect copyright.PENANAcQJH2fsGdI
459Please respect copyright.PENANA2PZEczZnRH
Obviously, with Lord Arval being a Paladin, the Shadow Knight was out. And it wasn't smart to replicate his spells and skill bonuses when I could gain new ones for our realm. Even if I got this body into reasonable shape, I was never going to be a Berserker. So that left Champion and Warlord.459Please respect copyright.PENANALmVkainCjG
459Please respect copyright.PENANAQJr3rQzBBQ
Rereading the description of both, the Champion appealed to my pride. Following that path would ultimately lead to a character who could defeat anyone else in the world in a face-to-face encounter. I could visualise myself using Lightning Draw to bring a sword into my hands faster than my opponent anticipated and cutting them down with Critical Strike before they'd even drawn breath.459Please respect copyright.PENANAtThuIbqYcM
459Please respect copyright.PENANANAh9HqxyzT
It was clear though, that in this world of twenty-five kingdoms battling for mastery, the Warlord was going to be the right option. As a Warlord I'd get feats that could rally shaken troops, that could heighten the combat skills of those nearby and at high level could identify unfamiliar enemy troop types. I selected it and immediately got twenty or so new skill options and my first Warlord feat, Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity got a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase.459Please respect copyright.PENANAeK5dwdcNNB
459Please respect copyright.PENANAGzToluTq0n
As for the skills, since I knew I would learn fast from practice, I would simply put one point in each to unlock them. With 15 skill points to assign, I could get all but five. My exact choices, however, could wait.459Please respect copyright.PENANAgHrAnCGEEx
459Please respect copyright.PENANAjBDz39LmaZ
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:459Please respect copyright.PENANAWnKeLYbSCr
459Please respect copyright.PENANAGZM66DaiVK
459Please respect copyright.PENANAyCbJiAlC8R
Military459Please respect copyright.PENANAetf5g6NuiH
Light infantry: 26*459Please respect copyright.PENANA8QkvXPhFmb
Heavy infantry: 11*459Please respect copyright.PENANA6bMc1uC9pg
Archers: 34*459Please respect copyright.PENANAUXBy4METnJ
Light cavalry: 18*459Please respect copyright.PENANAcOgrf9IGdA
Heavy cavalry: 4*459Please respect copyright.PENANAOn1Ft0OK7U
Ballista: 1459Please respect copyright.PENANAcrXmGT50Cr
459Please respect copyright.PENANA1yv6VYD6Me
(*veterans)459Please respect copyright.PENANAUZlQO3sQK8
459Please respect copyright.PENANAd7Z2VASRTE
Hospital: 18459Please respect copyright.PENANAPKBp6GwD1F
459Please respect copyright.PENANAziQRq2xrpW
Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver459Please respect copyright.PENANAnPJm0bWYFE
459Please respect copyright.PENANAiGHc37lISu
Currently training:459Please respect copyright.PENANAcV4VqbTQA9
459Please respect copyright.PENANA4XTPiGToed
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1459Please respect copyright.PENANAn4X4CidXOO
459Please respect copyright.PENANA0GPls8Fav9
Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
459Please respect copyright.PENANARyZROCda5c
Not at all bad. In fact, considering my original plan, which would have been costly in terms of archers and probably infantry, it was a fantastic result. Greyland's army was small, but it was still intact, a viable force with which to face the other half of the army of our enemies, should they dare advance. If anything, we were actually stronger than when the day had begun, since a new veteran tag had appeared over most of the troops.459Please respect copyright.PENANAioj5lEU4R4
459Please respect copyright.PENANAp5zy4D4QcP
There were rooms in the larger tower and although I struggled to get up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly beneath me, I found a bench on the first level that could accommodate my bulk. The Cleric stood uncertainly by the door.459Please respect copyright.PENANAlg7YvdWeNh
459Please respect copyright.PENANAvbGNbMCbJy
'Take a seat.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAhvusVVeeVx
459Please respect copyright.PENANAq60TcuU4wf
She obeyed me.459Please respect copyright.PENANAGZJ4e09VzP
459Please respect copyright.PENANAjlmVqVhSWe
'What's your name?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAPwySLOTHxw
459Please respect copyright.PENANAz87UAWRggQ
'Anthea Greyford, sire.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ1lP44NU4
459Please respect copyright.PENANAbXCs4HN8cb
'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAmmtsXxkkK6
459Please respect copyright.PENANAdWn18YlYGE
'Yes sire.'459Please respect copyright.PENANADrqGyh0BH3
459Please respect copyright.PENANAiF9rsGXk14
'Well, you aren't…' I struggled for the words that she might understand. 'You are listed under the church menu but you aren't a special person. You can't level up, or can you?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAy5wd5WjmLg
459Please respect copyright.PENANAXr4QndXPeq
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAPV58eUh6Py
459Please respect copyright.PENANAIXkpgcHWuK
'I was reading about the various levels of church earlier and while it's not a priority …' I held back from expressing my concern about the food supply, 'that upgrade will happen. But it wasn't clear if you would gain a level. I learned only that the town would gain a second Cleric and those attending the church would be able to obtain cures for moderate wounds and the delay of poisons and disease.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAhEk6SZ90Zn
459Please respect copyright.PENANAvjBP9gAEec
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAPL6N9EKyia
459Please respect copyright.PENANATiWr2xYiyq
'Let's hope so. And let's hope you can join me progressing. Because we are going to need a strong healer, both to level me up as fast as possible and for future battles.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAe5KyIA2kA9
459Please respect copyright.PENANAiqqsyJJLw7
It was hard to see her response: in her full chainmail armour the coif put most of her face in shade. Her mouth looked determined enough though and she gave a nod.459Please respect copyright.PENANAdlzjwyRs1i
459Please respect copyright.PENANAAYv9lDs4LR
Footsteps from below announced the arrival of the chancellor, bearing the very welcome load of two bottles of wine and four tin goblets. Behind him, a soldier had a basket with bread rolls and apples.459Please respect copyright.PENANAvIDjYnlnaC
459Please respect copyright.PENANA3NDrO5E1JA
'Well done Chancellor.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAunbcHrtw4P
459Please respect copyright.PENANAuQzeA8hYuP
'Thank you sire.'459Please respect copyright.PENANA99IJarCTde
459Please respect copyright.PENANA6qvu8mfL3s
One of the joys of a high Dexterity, it seemed, was the ability to draw a cork from a bottle with just a narrow blade from his Scout's tool kit and it was only a moment's work before the comforting gurgle of wine being poured was heard.459Please respect copyright.PENANAuFYuJwmd2j
459Please respect copyright.PENANAV6eUY2QQLY
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.459Please respect copyright.PENANA1eE9mmzjOB
459Please respect copyright.PENANA4YJmKEFpfh
I asked Parrin about his sneak attack on the Shaman and was listening to his account – it reminded me that the Scout had an extremely important Ring of Silent Movement – when Carlena joined us, a look of quiet pleasure on her face that made me hopeful. That and the finely made rapier she carried.459Please respect copyright.PENANAnXPqb3hMPv
459Please respect copyright.PENANANdt4EY6QAL
'Four magic items sire.' She emptied a bag onto the bare wooden floor with a satisfying clatter from the three items that fell out. 'I've used the rest of my mana for the day casting Insight to discover their properties, but I thought you'd want to know.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAIR56KKmiO5
459Please respect copyright.PENANAolaJi7ZN9N
I nodded.459Please respect copyright.PENANABtszYGkAOO
459Please respect copyright.PENANArlvhoze1jg
'Their Shaman had a scroll of Hold Animal and an amulet with the spell Hide from Animals stored in it; one of their officers had Bracers of Archery; and the other had this: a plus-two rapier.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAl6qJUcmFop
459Please respect copyright.PENANAMwAylSYtw0
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAVziUrxmuVa
459Please respect copyright.PENANAuUtq7gMQQ6
'Give you five skill points in your wield skill for all bows; a slightly faster rate of fire; and fifty-percent increase in all ranges.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAAhHnq0P1Tc
459Please respect copyright.PENANArinO33by86
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'459Please respect copyright.PENANA53912XpQAB
459Please respect copyright.PENANAkY29NWyPC3
'The pity is that I can't add them to my spell book, with their being Shaman spells not those of a sorceress, but as a once off, I can cast those spells.'459Please respect copyright.PENANA2a9A4LiAIp
459Please respect copyright.PENANAiQ9n8uPpp9
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAxGIIye5CpO
459Please respect copyright.PENANAASBSErHfpZ
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAK7Uj0J3sWl
459Please respect copyright.PENANAlkHOJd1fX4
We were well into the second bottle of wine and nothing but crumbs and apple cores remained in the basket when Lord Arval bounded up the stairs and into the room. A glance, then he stepped over to me, knelt and clasped my hands in his.459Please respect copyright.PENANAjc4QP8oelp
459Please respect copyright.PENANAZbAJqmngqz
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'459Please respect copyright.PENANANcYgARDatO
459Please respect copyright.PENANACVvwSSdhh5
'Nor I Lord Arval, now take a seat and a drink.' I freed my hands from the warrior, picked up my goblet and passed it to him. 'I'm only sorry we ate all the bread.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAWBc0gVHcCg
459Please respect copyright.PENANArrLc1VzgNF
Our general was clearly exhausted, his face was wan and he sat with obvious relief. Yet his eyes were darting to check we all shared his happiness. And watching him, I had another thought. Perhaps the PCs had levelled too? I raised my arm. Carlena and Parrin were both still level 9. But Lord Arval had reached level 8.459Please respect copyright.PENANAVNPdm6jCze
459Please respect copyright.PENANACfphnJBHBF
459Please respect copyright.PENANAWxrJlmyBqm
Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8459Please respect copyright.PENANAomnGPWV5qs
459Please respect copyright.PENANArVPman1BMT
HP 79459Please respect copyright.PENANASJhoNWsIE2
AC 18459Please respect copyright.PENANAO145ZLIltW
XP 30,124 (64,200)459Please respect copyright.PENANAHcjwATKU57
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.459Please respect copyright.PENANAAzqwpLIGuO
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
459Please respect copyright.PENANAkvzHTFjWLe
'Another toast!' I declared, though I no longer had a goblet and had to raise just my hand. 'To Lord Arval, our level eight Paladin!'459Please respect copyright.PENANA7VQC5uDyOl
459Please respect copyright.PENANAoWzYfLMoVs
'Congratulations!'459Please respect copyright.PENANAKrIZXB4T3F
459Please respect copyright.PENANAfVl2WjB7io
'To Lord Arval!'459Please respect copyright.PENANAHSXwkwcjNB
459Please respect copyright.PENANAB7eOAbg4K0
Our general acknowledged the goodwill in the room with a cheerful wave. Then Carlena told him about the magic items we had gained and he told us about the rout of the enemy, whom he pursued for miles down the valley. After that we fell into a comfortable silence, the silence of those who had been through battle together and who were reflecting on the day's events.459Please respect copyright.PENANA2oBWCJ7tEj
459Please respect copyright.PENANAZs0eecw6Sx
At least, that's what I thought they were doing. Lord Arval, however, looked over at the cleric and spoke: 'Can you leave us some privacy, please.'459Please respect copyright.PENANAlW8XB4Ky4K
459Please respect copyright.PENANA8XBSEPHt02
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.459Please respect copyright.PENANA6mqTUi18ul
459Please respect copyright.PENANAD0tFDCvWn0
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.459Please respect copyright.PENANAWtkfGJCbYd
459Please respect copyright.PENANAIafISg3dTW
He smiled. 'It's nothing urgent. But I wanted to know: how did this day compare to the battles you experienced in your world? You must have had other victories like this?'459Please respect copyright.PENANAFUVH8pRJc8
459Please respect copyright.PENANAMOtIsR3QUj
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.