
The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:549Please respect copyright.PENANAwxT9WN3Pen
549Please respect copyright.PENANAIhXwAQZTpr
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland549Please respect copyright.PENANAL5bDdJvc8O
549Please respect copyright.PENANAOvRPM9QAU3
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0549Please respect copyright.PENANAkrPntgrv2F
549Please respect copyright.PENANAIKriBdhvjJ
Str 7549Please respect copyright.PENANAcNbF8wrOrN
Dex 4549Please respect copyright.PENANARP5KxoP7B3
Con 8549Please respect copyright.PENANAuovc4KR1jS
Int 16549Please respect copyright.PENANAwYIZhRkwR9
Wis 16549Please respect copyright.PENANAa7GGqq4ARh
Cha 4549Please respect copyright.PENANApQJCsnS41A
549Please respect copyright.PENANAy6KL9TbfAu
Skills549Please respect copyright.PENANARt0IZu4Usm
Lunge 5549Please respect copyright.PENANAcjUekOV7GO
Parry 5549Please respect copyright.PENANAOUrRUbh57w
Wield Shortbow 3549Please respect copyright.PENANA5cR2oCVuEE
Wield Rapier 5549Please respect copyright.PENANABAw4DtPj93
549Please respect copyright.PENANAdB5SrlJbtc
You have 1 attribute point to assign.549Please respect copyright.PENANA6R59sUWYXf
You have 5 skill points to assign.549Please respect copyright.PENANAzgXfyWxuxj
549Please respect copyright.PENANAV3ZgCIQWtC
XP 110/200
549Please respect copyright.PENANApcNcOX99rH
549Please respect copyright.PENANASds343wvqR549Please respect copyright.PENANAjyWqDmtWJ1
549Please respect copyright.PENANAnB1gFFO6K8
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAkUbeh444BE
549Please respect copyright.PENANAKhvvskDHEp
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANA9pPzGCVq2D
549Please respect copyright.PENANAmRsUyfXcpn
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'549Please respect copyright.PENANA4JLdWkkr84
549Please respect copyright.PENANAzN6SdWfF7A
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'549Please respect copyright.PENANARLCIDdLAqr
549Please respect copyright.PENANASyJhaHGS50
'I understand.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA9w6pLrVeo6
549Please respect copyright.PENANAoQWMgKjGS5
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAaosKShoT3Q
549Please respect copyright.PENANAkYu7WcEz2I
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAzflomTxp8o
549Please respect copyright.PENANA97Or9P21ke
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA3mRBYcbfnA
549Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZhV6H7y24
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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA8I5auaj8RN
549Please respect copyright.PENANAp2cS6mr3Ek
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'549Please respect copyright.PENANA6lwPltWEbf
549Please respect copyright.PENANAKTK7YYLSUj
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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAwnPl69XTyi
549Please respect copyright.PENANAloOelZxRrv
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAwfsN8RmbKk
549Please respect copyright.PENANArl4F4hpgW6
'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.549Please respect copyright.PENANApmRw0cB6hM
549Please respect copyright.PENANAxaVHbgjIsD
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA3kmCY8J1sN
549Please respect copyright.PENANA4LkuYWL1Il
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?549Please respect copyright.PENANAKpMrktKq4c
549Please respect copyright.PENANA96Izn3XDRZ
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA6fDplqlHuL
549Please respect copyright.PENANASBbhBhctzc
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAq8KE9H0gUE
549Please respect copyright.PENANAmTDOVg0lWW
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAlhpf09I5te
549Please respect copyright.PENANAjXsnzuJJvS
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAVOrX4u2PjG
549Please respect copyright.PENANAAhT7iuKl2L
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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAWqJEY8xoCS
549Please respect copyright.PENANAziZ22p2seV
'Yes, sire.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA9f4hS4TVmN
549Please respect copyright.PENANAXizbRoBCTA
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).549Please respect copyright.PENANAgn7qsvMSBh
549Please respect copyright.PENANAq8gEfhk23O
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAyLFijjZPOL
549Please respect copyright.PENANANm8JU0cemS
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.549Please respect copyright.PENANAUVGXb0YgvJ
549Please respect copyright.PENANAXN6sZu0Owf
'Well?'549Please respect copyright.PENANADEuqu7WudU
549Please respect copyright.PENANAWSKnBkEZKq
'They are moving an army towards us.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAmQQNEsUFDU
549Please respect copyright.PENANANBFSMPYddd
'How many troops?'549Please respect copyright.PENANADckCDOtPCM
549Please respect copyright.PENANAdMu4SY386E
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAwVwSCWyO9D
549Please respect copyright.PENANAByHI0NxnD0
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAe5LHVmRvny
549Please respect copyright.PENANAm2qlG2tENr
'How long have we got?'549Please respect copyright.PENANA7iNFXHBsj3
549Please respect copyright.PENANAR5ZFuatt85
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAT2uhfWkWiF
549Please respect copyright.PENANAM3JU6hH0re
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAQuxQehpv31
549Please respect copyright.PENANAjCyqQ4a7eL
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAFkVbnkIhus
549Please respect copyright.PENANAu30V7PzXIw
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAft0ZvH2CtF
549Please respect copyright.PENANAk8RftVQjFL
'No, this is about half.'549Please respect copyright.PENANANGXMODwg5y
549Please respect copyright.PENANAaWLA9Q61x9
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?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAmpBrN7b6dS
549Please respect copyright.PENANA0ChCftTAQ0
'No.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAaUrf3FYVwO
549Please respect copyright.PENANAUxyp6mQl47
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAwiaRFzAFVU
549Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ39ELuXww
'True enough sire.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAzj7R8jM22S
549Please respect copyright.PENANA3jfDaBAJrC
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAvozyZ62MKn
549Please respect copyright.PENANADz6AZqPgZ6
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANACEVXtDSs1P
549Please respect copyright.PENANAstd01FQxMG
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAagkzVmkl1z
549Please respect copyright.PENANAodBiTK93HE
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:549Please respect copyright.PENANAF7FN2jCiQK
549Please respect copyright.PENANAp56KkiFjkL
Greyland Archer549Please respect copyright.PENANATnLJskE9d4
549Please respect copyright.PENANASKdQr6fnMW
Fighter level 0549Please respect copyright.PENANAVvhYuGgQBH
549Please respect copyright.PENANA6at9pPoRoQ
Ranged attack: 15549Please respect copyright.PENANA42s5qnHkaN
Melee attack: 8549Please respect copyright.PENANAmmDm5VDwsI
Armour Class: 2549Please respect copyright.PENANAfd5HoNzC0o
Hit Points: 5549Please respect copyright.PENANAdRER3uNnag
549Please respect copyright.PENANAMKaMeYaCjq
Skills:549Please respect copyright.PENANAGPiQI53ndV
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience549Please respect copyright.PENANAGkWouyFso8
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience549Please respect copyright.PENANAWGe9xfqaZQ
549Please respect copyright.PENANA74gOiyFxdC
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
549Please respect copyright.PENANAFx1xJOuCfN
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAAAsKbwr3Yi
549Please respect copyright.PENANAcMnGRaefrN
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAaLhwc6Y16Y
549Please respect copyright.PENANAn4gRRFDHSp
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANA0TNPY9CzMD
549Please respect copyright.PENANAuduWugbjxv
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAOe3uTbfNDF
549Please respect copyright.PENANANu4ne42km0
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAyVUgbxEMwQ
549Please respect copyright.PENANAiLcbjh0V99
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANATnPwZjfdHW
549Please respect copyright.PENANAtU307eekAF
'Show me to Lord Arval.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAgsS2l3zKBD
549Please respect copyright.PENANANuKIHAoPvl
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAsYIyx3ApRt
549Please respect copyright.PENANAF8fPJPGEnj
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAOOc2sReeMU
549Please respect copyright.PENANAo3fIIILeFM
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAQMP5dJikxY
549Please respect copyright.PENANA8dqmoLS9ua
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANADv2H2XXcAU
549Please respect copyright.PENANAe151H9gILp
I nodded.549Please respect copyright.PENANAGAg6Mnyv4G
549Please respect copyright.PENANACFDqhhVUNC
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAcFGDs2jW6x
549Please respect copyright.PENANAGsJyo5IlkU
'What's the maximum range for it?'549Please respect copyright.PENANA1uiRiiXo8R
549Please respect copyright.PENANA6LeUBl7yRj
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAv5NlKH2yoM
549Please respect copyright.PENANAxZW5i0yo0f
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAenqLzPgj15
549Please respect copyright.PENANAejd3tB2CBN
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAsAm1dItaXd
549Please respect copyright.PENANA85PBVC0c90
'Yes?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAr61r9aCejn
549Please respect copyright.PENANAcqIyad1Nui
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAs0RQL4dATi
549Please respect copyright.PENANAdtcK9XBNUu
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAXBcO9cFLAM
549Please respect copyright.PENANAql5eXBIH0r
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANArldHssUheR
549Please respect copyright.PENANAmoPut9RPD3
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.549Please respect copyright.PENANAThILCZZwEt
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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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAsCVl8lxlry
549Please respect copyright.PENANAn1zd1mMMr6
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAmGBJbYsfdz
549Please respect copyright.PENANAevbVwS9JnK
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'549Please respect copyright.PENANADlFcEfydzj
549Please respect copyright.PENANAkiQHRjFR3A
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.549Please respect copyright.PENANAz68lOBwWNZ
549Please respect copyright.PENANA2vh1RfKSyQ
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAlkpudEAeqS
549Please respect copyright.PENANAhtiTjQCiuW
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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAO4lty0rp4C
549Please respect copyright.PENANAwnU6FMsEhk
'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?'549Please respect copyright.PENANADlL72oMbH2
549Please respect copyright.PENANAyFv36pI71z
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA5PL8IAfxuC
549Please respect copyright.PENANA9GQvSbtZhE
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'549Please respect copyright.PENANASrN5JnZUcB
549Please respect copyright.PENANAiDMrGoOvhK
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'549Please respect copyright.PENANA4DlrjNcERw
549Please respect copyright.PENANAH7gCu5yWmE
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANATIP6gPFVq7
549Please respect copyright.PENANA6QPJgiU1Rs
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANATimZNjqdMm
549Please respect copyright.PENANARfEszWeNPj
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANApxhVEU70uU
549Please respect copyright.PENANAyKyQKQaJeH
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'549Please respect copyright.PENANALTAN3mf2WV
549Please respect copyright.PENANAJcFIfFLa8d
'Go ahead.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAWNvmm7zW74
549Please respect copyright.PENANA66Ldiur0M0
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAOSxv6huAYK
549Please respect copyright.PENANAVvoPyIljrq
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANA6M7dqXic55
549Please respect copyright.PENANAP6dHRDt9VI
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAXGcDnX2jRO
549Please respect copyright.PENANAGZnh3FUEKj
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAfKgw4efR7N
549Please respect copyright.PENANAf8DjOsO8ar
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA7IJdDvzrlA
549Please respect copyright.PENANAqc4lWlhfaI
'And?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAoxJzUEuJ6v
549Please respect copyright.PENANAVPQgCc1CKf
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAbw746fUyzk
549Please respect copyright.PENANAp5NDFEIGpG
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA3DqOhcJrG5
549Please respect copyright.PENANAF9rWWBYpl3
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANArDBxJCnX3J
549Please respect copyright.PENANAEKbhMj1DNZ
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.549Please respect copyright.PENANABMhXaqTo5y
549Please respect copyright.PENANAwnagIEgRsf
'Ready sire?'549Please respect copyright.PENANAlezEdhmJig
549Please respect copyright.PENANAyHOvUd9zOU
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAwUI65vX2om
549Please respect copyright.PENANAmTuloeWDKH
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAzh0QVbo8kR
549Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ku9LSaQza
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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAbxDheEpPEJ
549Please respect copyright.PENANABbyirR6hn5
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.549Please respect copyright.PENANAkpHcu7myFA
549Please respect copyright.PENANAvyMDr5CBae
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'549Please respect copyright.PENANA5O2yY2yoxM
549Please respect copyright.PENANAJaUbOfS2Yq
'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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAon6Xmljh3U
549Please respect copyright.PENANAxcVqyompji
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.549Please respect copyright.PENANApKT9wyZKTT
549Please respect copyright.PENANA4mgIMPMoHm
'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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAwSYbANYUmg
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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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAm1EdiGFFWM
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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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAlgU5rORpCr
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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.549Please respect copyright.PENANAwiPirm49vZ
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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!'549Please respect copyright.PENANAeFbHHhEeSq
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Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.549Please respect copyright.PENANAoR2ZRTKqCp
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.549Please respect copyright.PENANA9tEd0CA4on
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAowTg9Fy4vc
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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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAZiIjsQSPar
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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.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAGBVH5Vy4uN
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'Good luck.'549Please respect copyright.PENANAHzjODlGzjx
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'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.549Please respect copyright.PENANA3U9w6yRB5S
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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.