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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl54h2ATRAm
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqE3kUMngs
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Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFvoMcxLZr
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Str 7520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtagUafJJx
Dex 4520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvFuIS7kVB
Con 8520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmWPAPi0ZZ
Int 16520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtwFMv6uMJ
Wis 16520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMclcGJTnR
Cha 4520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNee5Xg6WT
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Skills520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7x66hk0Di
Lunge 5520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPbXtt2oV5
Parry 5520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3WlsxvMXo
Wield Shortbow 3520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelmkEhSumB
Wield Rapier 5520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfzZcaYZaR
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You have 1 attribute point to assign.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3Uuomz59Q
You have 5 skill points to assign.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJA1Mh0pay
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XP 110/200
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdqb4dBIcS
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4gcet9OLz
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'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7MA7DZZjh
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'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyVBaYVHar
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'I understand.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaVUIenkMk
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZYUj1ptAN
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'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFcxuFPvUn
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Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA7Rozobcl
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMHJBbWY7b
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'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUobqbmVHq
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO80CJBcsLM
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFWZpzicGJ
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'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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqpokrb1kN
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60GukOsxhL
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'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJXBq6t8qC
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'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucofqEz0Dr
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbEyRRMADT
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDa1DkCjl6
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq02mQQlT0
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV1LfmID4I
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'Yes, sire.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnHeFpMHY8
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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).520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDgp4eqjgP
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjT1UsFGgUu
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After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcze4o6B812
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'Well?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsQkKMnVP8
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'They are moving an army towards us.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU14eeQhLkZ
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'How many troops?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjebGRU2526
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ruzOT0sTT
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sG62bTR4K
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'How long have we got?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxTOqLq5z7
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7MrBvjcZ4
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAQaVNzOhR
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Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPn72ZkRaR
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I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRSy8hRg3w
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'No, this is about half.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV8bA0KXVS
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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?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvkkR4Z7UG
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'No.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKQn4YAR4p
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq9tXjI4z4
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'True enough sire.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSniIB7u5U8
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyHO7I5hGv
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAxxPHFeSC
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp676j75Qm
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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:520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsw6R5WTxO
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Greyland Archer520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DJC3zY0zn
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Fighter level 0520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XdT5ZRLhq
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Ranged attack: 15520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXSHLnVF8n
Melee attack: 8520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvVqlGdGjg
Armour Class: 2520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL38BfYTwJ
Hit Points: 5520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRkAqWqgev
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Skills:520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYrohOXRMc
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS4A3dB1Us
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR7T7X7Bg5
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw6QX1E61d
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpzbMBrMVs
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16cETp0HgV
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RCqtXZSQv
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88xydOgSlp
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWWypyPlRj
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBVIrwtZov
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAKfCYsoZL
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoeofHydV8
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xxKzzKszl
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEGSGkyKbB
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I nodded.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EZsXDcqQs
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpLE0jkoKE
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'What's the maximum range for it?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPQhCz1e5k
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq0rTo10oN
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIQ805yjOd
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODUk7vpBZM
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'Yes?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfTrFM9MAi
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3b6rLQwoq
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijmKQY27rF
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4CAIODv9r
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Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktrKfVT9ci
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'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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6p1yXSrVw
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'And what about you and the Sorceress?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdvGvBbf6z
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'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55aXayCCp6
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For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMzAy7OMoN
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQXDHZCWnb
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSujviAiENa
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'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?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SDpqYBJvj
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'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2kspsXMlf
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'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IlXsGEQTd
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'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zdd4NQJu7
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEHwA9gnGC
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbOtXL70Bd
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'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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5SE1URyJq
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'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIr2XTfPjR
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'Go ahead.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vTpFNGPWG
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RIr4AvklW
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzdRYakatp
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6wkir616Q
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'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyDNUaUaNp
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMOMzocHq2
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'And?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3F1wS0RlU
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7nblgkEeZ
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'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDglkhEs60x
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡore4qfvTh3
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When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgAxYmaPEn
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'Ready sire?'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQqZLLiDix
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'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbk6wHVCr9
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFerPn1DT7G
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WBfYQpZWs
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'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW2USXpoXX
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'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72Awa0lClp
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUztTI9cl00
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Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vz7gy6oqq
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFt9fFLL9t
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4hWb9nYjl
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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.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9wZrYWe9H
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'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGwroxL2PP
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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!'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B2CO7T1Qc
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Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFURWDldaA
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofuS3sYndH
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBohHFew19
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4KgxM1sHt
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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.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb5Gfdz57M
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'Good luck.'520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3FA2T2kiu
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'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH91WPUCXUL
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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.
