After forty-two laps, I was beyond exhausted, my large body drenched in sweat, my left arm on fire. Every time a citizen came through they stopped in complete astonishment, sometimes gathering in groups to stare, until a frown sent them scurrying about their work. I lived for the nod of approval from Carradock each time I arrived back at the gate against which he leaned, often in conversation with other soldiers. Also, for the thought of a long, long warm bath.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZuxSj0Fml
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMnQdLHiXb
A castle servant, the one from breakfast, was ahead of me, twisting her apron in her hands and looking everywhere but into my face.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuqiFdZy5v
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0FDHnXcZE
'Wha'?' I wheezed out.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOgel1Mnvu
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYPNSDkKNR
'Chef–' she flung her hand out in a gesture towards the keep, where a short man in what looked like a grey baker's outfit '–wants to know what to prepare for dinner.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylotIwsZAy
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBWUYiSuTK
'Dear lord.' I came to a stop, worried my aching legs would not want to resume. 'It's not important. But keep it simple.' My predecessor had obviously enjoyed eating extensive meals with several courses. 'Just a couple of slices of roast meat and …' What would an athlete eat? Food with plenty of protein and vitamins. 'Wait. Grilled fish. Nuts. Fresh vegetables, like tomatoes and carrot, that don't need much, if any, cooking.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98zQLrWUeK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssWLCJnLUd
I wasn't really hungry just now, my body was too stressed, but no doubt my appetite would revive later.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K9pDiVCZt
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj6DMopUbk
'Ahh…'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN8ZJNRh33
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyBG3PtjCs
'What?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jg7W1ECPA
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQn5ikhVVH
'Chef won't be pleased.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjX1vrVsQ8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSHxD1ILOZ
I stared at her. 'Hands up if you are king.' I put my own hand up. 'That puts me in charge.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGsulCf1cc
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTHN0sWeHf
Once she had turned away, alarmed, I returned my focus back into my final few laps. Although it was distracting I when I turned a corner and was facing the keep: there I could see the chef remonstrating with the servant. He kept looking over at me, as though in appeal, but I wasn't having any of it and focused on moving one leg, then the next, and on keeping hold of that enormously heavy sword.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfT7EDMawQ
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ01UGfG99j
I wasn't allowed to settle into my rhythm again though, for with a clatter of metal-hooves on cobblestone, a small group of riders came into the barracks yard. Some were soldiers of mine but one was carrying a green pennant (deep green, with a golden wolf's head) and dressed in expensive-looking clothes.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsHYIIv9CG
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghWujgd7Dj
'King Carlos?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEMNG6pKya
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr250ssE3n
Either I looked dumb, having forgotten my name here, or else the new arrival was dismayed by my appearance.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFR3S3RXS5
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCZd8Da33a
'King Carlos?' he tried again.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARGVlhdblj
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4KE68XrTd
'Yes?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnjd31h29U
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMH679M2Xp
My impression that this was a man who was attentive to his looks was reinforced as he dismounted and made his bow. No one had a beard as neat his without some effort.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1G3SHhmze
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwLZDfe2mi
'Lord Oseso, ambassador to his majesty King Wace of Southway.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUfSQV66OH
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTJAYcgHfO
'Pleased to meet you.' My politeness was automatic. I felt no warmth towards this man. Quite apart from the fact his rich, fur-lined cloak and black, oiled hair alienated me, this was the enemy.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LQWWTHbP9
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGni43jQg3
A crowd was gathering as soldiers and civilians moved closer to hear the ambassador's words.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDxPVPLCVm
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d3Y6ouLkW
'Perhaps we can take some refreshment in private?' Lord Oseso suggested.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZeBET8chB
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpDQ0kpNNW
I shook my head. 'There's nothing you can say that I would hide from my people. Why are you here?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspOLPgh73Q
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1sbJAIHzx
'Are you sure?' There was a knowing sneer in his gaze, inviting some kind of complicity from me.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmAVQKukvK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3IFvswfZ7
'Get on with it. I'm busy.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KCoNTlfqb
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGeEsITyWN
Supressing a smile, the ambassador from Southland shrugged, as if to pass off any blame. 'King Wace, in his generosity, offers to make Greyland a dependency of Southway. You,' he gestured to everyone, 'are spared conquest. And you personally, sire, will be given a comfortable retirement, dining on the finest food of our realm in the company of delightful personal companionship, in return for implementing the decisions of his highness on your interface.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3ei4sXHx4
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUHPGX94Cq
A silence fell over the square and even the crows stilled their caws, as if to listen to my answer. I let my heart and breath settle.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrHcL3KzY2
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq69jheSzgC
'Firstly, we are not conquered yet. Secondly, we all know what it would mean for our kingdom to be run by an invader…' I raised my voice for all to hear. 'People dragged off to work wherever your ruler wanted; our soldiers used up in his battles to spare his own troops; our wealth drained into your coffers; starvation and ruin here.' I knew what I was talking about, it's what I intended to do to them.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IlrIPRqg9
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrf5ottWtMT
Lord Oseso shook his head. 'Careful what you say next, this offer won't come again.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D1OLIZGlb
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthXgXdSeqm
'Good. If we see you again, you'll be executed as a spy. Greyland will never surrender and you can tell King Wace that unless he withdraws from our territory, it is he who will suffer conquest.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mikfLWPKd
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxoLVBz6Cl
'I'll tell him of your empty threat and he will laugh. And he will remind you of it when you are in chains at his feet.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEr4fISUXG
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DeIJzRd8H
'That is disrespectful.' I was furious and at least a part my anger was drawn from the uncomfortable feeling, fear even, that he was going to be proven right. I walked over to him, using my height and bulk to lean down and snarl. 'Vincit qui patitur, he who endures conquers. And Greyland will endure.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxw3ecLEu6
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbKJZEOYPv
Perhaps he saw the determination in my eyes. Perhaps he understood how close I was to striking him with the sword in my left hand, which no longer felt heavy. In any case, the ambassador's head dropped and he stepped back, then turned away to find his horse and remount.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mQSJTUjDy
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQWqXeITUK
'Blindfold him and lead his horse. Don't let him look around as he leaves.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAtoRgeNy8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSInxJ8NrqW
'Yes sir.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzmvh30bzG
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMbeQfugD6
'Right, then everyone, back to work. We're going to have to work extremely hard, myself included, to endure and escape conquest.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI2jnKz1jK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf4RUVemsR
Muttering broke out among the people and it was hard to judge the tone. Certainly, it was not the cheering enthusiasm of a people rallying to their king. But among the soldiers especially there were several faces that looked brighter and more supportive than they had.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPoiO7aswl
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9odyzWKivW
'Now, Carradock. I was on lap forty-four, was I not?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y1YouqphH
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjNHbKlTfO
'Forty-three sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIHLvWFJMb
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiPYP4n3zK
'Damn pedant.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVjXxoHdqd
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqupVp0nfPk
The last few laps were painful. It did help, however, that I could study the town menus and take my mind from the constant complaints of my body. That gave me one measure of the effect of my responses to the ambassador from Southway, which was that the score for Happiness under the people menu had risen from 14 to 16. At least it hadn't gone down, so on the whole, they seemed to approve of resistance rather than surrender.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZmFelEPlF
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WIUxtKTte
It was the military menu that got me thinking again.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgsfScf7Lp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIXcNSXQ5v
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3dspyKv8N
Military375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA8F1pARQj
Light infantry: 32375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mz4KyfQgE
Heavy infantry: 12375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7Fi02Kmu6
Archers: 18375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylTCsoC0PY
Light cavalry: 24375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn7kdayWP7
Heavy cavalry: 4375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAEKJziGr6
Ballista: 1375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrnFodtDgy
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr3Gj677gQ
Hospital: 17375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzEtoKYiJG
Military upkeep cost: 42 gold, 5 silver375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvATHzLUE0E
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXVfLTAT5U
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdzIkBomUI
Currently training: 1 heavy cavalry375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUww9yAaLTu
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQJqmiOnZs
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy2VP6pt1R
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YefCzTss1
Currently building: tower machicolations, 3 days
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3QqWCtdaB
Why was I training heavy cavalry? They were costly in terms of iron and tactically useless. We would be holding defensive positions for the foreseeable future and while I hoped the day would come when I rode at the head of a line of formidable heavy cavalry, that was a long way off. Although it meant losing whatever raw materials my predecessor had invested in the project, I cancelled the heavy cavalry from the training queue and instead added fifteen archers to it, at a cost of 10 iron ingots and 15 gold and 15 of the unassigned townspeople.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QnpYv3pns
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcTG0BVSu1
That left me 12 unassigned townspeople to think about. Before setting them to various tasks, I needed to know about building a trading vessel. When I tried to call up information about ships, I got a frustrating message.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzW2yflsTs
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvjDzAIKmR
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDItVugksgN
Shipbuilding375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ367cRaJDan
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssXIKYfxPe
Unknown.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNogJoGPHnK
Create a Shipwright to unlock this option.
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWstjFzmr3z
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq61akjePF
'Hey, you!' I called out to a skinny youth, who was hanging around near the steps of the keep watching me with earnest eyes as though I was last man in for a cricket team that was over a hundred runs behind. And I couldn't tell if he wanted me to fail or succeed.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFReBjsEgG
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrwm9yLrHp
'Sire?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lHhB5kAXU
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6T6WSJp5gG
'Get the Chief Carpenter for me.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DF9sX02SM
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ030ONch8hu
'Yes, sire.' The lad got up without any urgency and strolled down a shadow-filled street.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNoE12vhCY
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHlhE2oUIF
I was on lap forty-six when the carpenter arrived, he was a bald, confident looking man, with intelligent brown eyes.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHdARUaIaJ
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtGuh32tkg
'Walk with me,' I grunted.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN46LXJv2Z
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvo5RhaXKO
'Sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf2R3xTFhj
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDOBzEi0eq
'Can you make us a trading ship?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFZ88CL3GK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LPbQeG6MT
The question came as a surprise but he took it well, hardly faltering in his step. 'No sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NxVrb68lq
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dLLe8JY3Q
'What if I researched Shipbuilding One?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOslKW0FtRH
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAq3Xs0vls
The man looked at me, surprised, then down at the ground. 'As you know, sire, I only have access to a limited menu in order that I can view my tasks... I couldn't be sure about research, but Shipbuilding does sound like it will make the role of Shipbuilder available to you.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb7VufeNz8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S7FAm1HqM
'And I can then assign someone to it?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIvRboz6nR
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XikygJqrL
'If it becomes an option sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h3lX8EsJ6
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkw6Ooae5l
'Would you like to do it?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMxvSR8R1n
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8l5Mej5UQ
'Me? It's up to you sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNfXXA0phI
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lDsbUJ5VH
'Yes,' I said, a little impatiently. 'I know that. But I'd rather people enjoyed their work than hated it.' This wasn't just coming from my innate sense of politeness, it was practical too. I wanted that town happiness score to rise and surely by assigning the right people to the right jobs, at least when it came to specialist roles, that was going to help?375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvcM0ts5Wq
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl25akq63OY
We walked the entire length of the barracks square and turned back towards Carradock before the carpenter answered. 'I think I would like that sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKlSEq1g88
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzJ4pfXXYV
'Right so, find someone in your workshop who wants to be the Chief Carpenter and I'll make you Shipbuilder in…' I checked the research menu, dropped Navigation (there was no penalty, but I risked having to restart it again from the beginning), as it still had five days to go, and swapped to Shipbuilding 1, 'four days.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rhKA1TUIr
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nIdd3vAOm
'Thank you sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUaMo9DaDV
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IyfbbYGtg
'Now tell me this. I see a lot of people in the town. But not very many on the menus. Why is that?'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rtVZY2W1z
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna3lj1YH0u
Again, the carpenter looked astonished. Then a little wary, as if I'd set a trap. 'People want to join the menu, sire, to serve the goddess... and you. But it's limited, isn't it? They can't get on unless you've been able to make room.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsheu5rtgA
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzqj5v3oEG
That wasn't an answer that clarified very much, but I gave him a grunt to signal he could go back to work. It was as much as I could manage. As for the twelve unassigned people in the town, I decided to leave them for now. Soon I'd want shipbuilders and sailors.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JkzQ8KlTz
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfSJKjrDCG
Forty-seven.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmumQI3ETK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9L38zmRoO
Forty-eight.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQILUhF0pWY
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHXfmqW8yZ
Forty-nine.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31yo8NzKsX
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiG5GYSVwM
Fifty.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKAgbpme5C
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaTjt2Pkdc
'That's me done for the day.' I spoke to Carradock with as much nonchalance as I could muster. As if I could do another fifty, although every muscle was groaning.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3Fj4T0rth
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq3cFO13CM
'Well done Sire.'375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88K03kyRvi
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5yJ2mBStp
That acknowledgement lifted me all the way back to the keep.
