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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEl4d5UdfUM
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJHktN9No8
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ64tlSUm41
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR1R46uk46
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIPyyhnlTG
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpltE7JDGt
Str 7531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe92e04Ovqr
Dex 4531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lovub9hqu
Con 8531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dLjHKQHUR
Int 16531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljzSMvW6Mp
Wis 16531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ss0MFJX7f
Cha 4531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V4CVxers6
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdFGJw069e
Skills531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAMeZR3xqx
Lunge 5531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgJnBq3yng
Parry 5531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC0dbQCT93
Wield Shortbow 3531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EBN4lr64a
Wield Rapier 5531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF237MWwa7P
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6lbzitzkx
You have 1 attribute point to assign.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeXn41GFDo
You have 5 skill points to assign.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtB2gqy9AC
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD5IJJtZhm
XP 110/200
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531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT8LZx1wqp
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogkjco5AXz
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnKdPItguV
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PWL8ydqRa
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVGT556dNx
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeoJwzzc1o
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1ZD94XF4G
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9YSJzj0Ic
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUWBYIvwZ9
'I understand.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWG1xUtUT9
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6LMqIUCDN
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHDFazloUY
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW76dJhnCtu
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR2PoTTXPe
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGJhhCYfDv
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQxUBIqeKz
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Zs4obbrw5
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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIcil0n460
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ4q7W4xu9
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHA938L8c6b
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPkRZLJKDg
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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5TPaMufQ5
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ7ozLeZgV
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk8067254I
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOrmRhQtKy
'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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7JwBEQQbV
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBs9BVExZC
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTScCWWce3
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjOpnETtlW
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pPMeSnwP6
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72y6PDV61P
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ar998Si0B
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9cX8tGjha
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIEnzAkIrp
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FBhXpxZwh
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfZ8bHh3fe
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYv8hGQgOa
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEHeAuGbqT
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgzOr6GDdS
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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskAhToxBCB
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPMkx0lZz6
'Yes, sire.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrf8Qj6kpD
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N7RdDaFt3
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).531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJScFAAoKpV
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gTzEVwAGL
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3qKtLYaxd
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzdwGT3glk
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ilX5mDV5e
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SJoYynout
'Well?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpllhfEcMc
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'They are moving an army towards us.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhmX3KWTSU
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxnstQJEKN
'How many troops?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mtl0fYu8M
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7xfuZg62w
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsYNls6ZIP
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBzmw03ngK
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XEqBRzg41
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'How long have we got?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJCCNgc2iv
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIRgAlJyWK
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ9SosnvAS
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcbPNWWSrv
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsJXDFzTR3
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JOk4h5FwI
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42SqIA4igY
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P8FtgYTLj
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFZCXCYA1H
'No, this is about half.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75zWAET5u1
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MhEuK2HBM
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?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b0IpXxMhC
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyKXvNGu7K
'No.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD9U3xq3Cb
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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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUXj5Edp4L
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP7hLufj0e
'True enough sire.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9OySatiuS
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsah7aU0H3M
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5inz4GFnXl
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZwfAuLPzZ
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEFYp4TlLu
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCAH8x4voM
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRAORgrKja
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EvOtL33bm
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:531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsvG3IT5cR
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Greyland Archer531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjUtvWDFnL
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Fighter level 0531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV051okzMiC
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Ranged attack: 15531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGVDJHJL0O
Melee attack: 8531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBjXBuRqCZ
Armour Class: 2531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznjK3I7QYl
Hit Points: 5531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLRFYyyvQ7
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Skills:531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oCq8b8AUW
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjtgRC7c3f
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAvDiBR7nO
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXb01nzJBW
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnafJ2yQLI
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FYa6MRAWu
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVb9aWL46Z
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvqYZYQ9zl
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqARNrPAjz
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxnBy33GIm
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k3ZwHNozw
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG21ozq9Q9
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6Eh6kHW3f
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ8Bm0WMhx
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYevIxgMjqQ
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOoClrMA6Q
'Show me to Lord Arval.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYgsPu2PKg
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtAuFQtv8Z
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPGVmtLv76
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdbzfo0Nx1
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSuenPlarZ
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX6hdDvdQp
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJOkNIV3te
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZubriolGq
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RjMV9wcOT
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I nodded.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSydhKwKKlz
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYYk6d2nVC
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTAMK7JEO9
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pdFTLQjQc
'What's the maximum range for it?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpcRZ5NTOi
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIgRkmzsCI
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjIwAvfe1s
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx16CVfmaF
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOxDCy8Gq0
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM8MQ4Eo4L
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'Yes?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr92RAup56T
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGQ1hFPHYK
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLgbsx4ggB
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlpsluVJ2j
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMwkMVSunr
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocOlL9ySMa
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVFXetNeS0
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53C6MWWkiO
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOjrM4AdKW
'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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S48bLXLiM
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx4VqqG15B
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG0JHOTbm7
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqCOXNcnnB
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMep3zI9cM
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDHi3tG64g
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm4faoxUiC
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUVEl9jsgm
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv07E1tHYQ9
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxXnzYD6Bo
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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yx3XSiq5i
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s4Mb0916M
'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?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi7kI4d3Qu
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEzTZzaPUw
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yN6ucA8Ew
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7XIEH1HGA
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo7g8YEQui
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJa7znL7gN
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9w9INFnTf
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY9olAqUyG
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0SthEXn9X
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KY8bdodGt
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4amH552FSh
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTDFnNsPGX
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7L81geVDW
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYO9JU4tEP
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9jGsjuYja
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaAJCasuaA
'Go ahead.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5EnIytJ3O
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUvi2caBIi
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2NOmoC81I
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYsPE8CJyU
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPj8t6z5aT
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡernIX2wFGe
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1fDVShLOn
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbR6EIT4lo
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjok1ogpWhZ
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR8I5IbCSI
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JZ5f4xdQP
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis2I32AL17
'And?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiWZTCMntY
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJYHY4jf6f
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kYm5QHu2W
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7JuyOeVOQ
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeltHA27vw
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BmtogE7CA
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU0zY5bNOc
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnaIvv5BHS
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjxpObOP9f
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsRHTqV57T
'Ready sire?'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFQs1iQaxi
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyS7JQJNKr
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qlK0A6qkb
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkNEU2rjGt
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8ApnnMWZ2
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWOxAfByvs
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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwp2UzS3IX
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesOWeGaB2O
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfTybhs3Al
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvbV2Ecidg
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiqJgDfmCL
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuU57UbjrV
'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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJF9Pse4P8
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrbcIAXEDz
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ld4eu2y9u
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqD127CRI3
'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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21gKQazWhk
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bjOCgqxU7
'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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppW6RnoEL7
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXUZiY5QQR
'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.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ28YCNPEZo
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXU8G6Dxnj
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPs3ARBb8o
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsA4wXc96X
'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!'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNwcJbZhcO
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RqDujZeqR
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGazlNyd3I
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCtnHfD5AM
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbzLGz5Ge7
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbP2LcOkLX
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN8xJGBuVC
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpKCGrW1hq
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZqXV8UKHF
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQstKZlyer
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.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW80Ror2dBW
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvJuImQOxt
'Good luck.'531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgljUk08px
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BminNMW9e
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sHWNsziXF
531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gsb6nGaU3
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.
