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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD3tTycuV4
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYgOYCCXN8
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFDUgyPw2A
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJF703ZLZk
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAzc10kSEb
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG6T4NMkeT
Str 7603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAAyOeDEzb
Dex 4603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUywyBiT12I
Con 8603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAr3EME0nD
Int 16603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpBDA4NLsM
Wis 16603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzvtiWYaD3
Cha 4603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXSIegIzf4
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZw3dXEDaY
Skills603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlEH5NgTvL
Lunge 5603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcaGSqIyLR
Parry 5603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTDtdE8gZI
Wield Shortbow 3603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTiSHk5JQk
Wield Rapier 5603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aRSY4JMI1
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vq0gsvEt8
You have 1 attribute point to assign.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjUa0ndSct
You have 5 skill points to assign.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyC0HeGMXF
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepb1xtYeC8
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK4DEUoICH
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuU7olKY7h
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf1msGWgKv
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaveodesGYZ
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGvCSxAX5X
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5fjDNCitu
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbC3KQwcwQ
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyMSmIUHeM
'I understand.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcyi6x6LPt
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZxIX1STHv
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuLu3DBq7h
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZy1MmQHS6
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdD711UVO3
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer0DshR7SI
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tJuJuixxE
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDUzv7aZmZ
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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijMpzupLDL
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0hIGCs1B3
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8yZj3Oayp
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqM4IsLIao
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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7LTMYdPKa
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmXd2CtGIh
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS2lXctLji
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvckdKBQExg
'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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd1OUHSa1t
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pMrI5NCXD
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq3vCr6pnN
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GetjWHN12
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqzvGrydYT
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCFUHsd3wC
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUrjOP3qe4
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUrQIhvybQ
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowWrkdaGMx
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx6gXYdmjd
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jjIM4mfTZ
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgI6zuVnJF
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGNYDEjY7D
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUnJuVN3JO
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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgFHGbU9Au
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuMOKR25SP
'Yes, sire.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zTaYgDQyx
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqkqbegJV4
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).603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNZFiHwxzE
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYSRw0Mh2o
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAp7apNzSI
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kgDoG02W3
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yJUAhqiaG
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'Well?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XFnTDbEk2
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYHe11eV4X
'They are moving an army towards us.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYssqJSJzq3
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFIp4ZFlUd
'How many troops?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcAv41yTTI
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aJHQ5ed7q
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oaKtK2X4f
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpnd8K3KJt
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGx3u9ZFlK
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'How long have we got?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9F3EIcC1j
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKZwe6SYqQ
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74AzhyfVcx
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5YJFhUCvZ
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIA3cthROU
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Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFeiLd2v2t
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2qAYgTYRE
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5KafgF59j
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'No, this is about half.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rz20qISwY
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkpiWXLKH6
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?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTF7Bw9Ri9
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoyY3cQqvs
'No.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sBrdqMwWV
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSj4JLeFBt
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ0gaWZjXB
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4FKcqV7ly
'True enough sire.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQx9uPOifx
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUljBHxgFJ
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR9LOspMQ2
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZiUBZGMHj
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrggy4vr32T
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtrGUdAM9a
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6JyGGv3BU
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxLOMBjfUk
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:603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO1NfFQa4M
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Greyland Archer603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0yCUswxGt
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Fighter level 0603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs4EtC0cSJ
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Ranged attack: 15603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRkuXrMS4c
Melee attack: 8603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFblliV3ql
Armour Class: 2603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp92qtA3ew
Hit Points: 5603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPufMpFD8E5
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Cq1UmDUD
Skills:603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhJV8h5Aju
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjqYGRXCke
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzfGyd0Vih
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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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ759youP83a
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudRshTfOZv
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gdVfi10Za
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6EY8273a6
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc9g4w2db8
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemNYEOCarl
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulKbepw3To
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYd42d2XC1
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIKRO8Lj9q
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufVrgeP241
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWlc7EUmjk
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmWcsxyQu5
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl5oryMKtv
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANIf57W4sf
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2UzjosMKg
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEYs3F9W0T
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqRHMfyrIi
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY12yUvmB6
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKmZpAAUhg
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tk9YZoRme
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I nodded.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpXiXnrDbB
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5vxdBm9rU
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'What's the maximum range for it?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRX41fz9mK
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaUHUk9REw
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa5GGC2rVh
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAmLVi1jDO
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHryD6eOe1d
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xJeN4XUWJ
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'Yes?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP48SrAz8aY
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE6ECO1irv
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsAHElcSyE
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMwCGe4ws9
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP4qaSwb9Z
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAsOylYsfU
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Aa9HoXzhJ
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceXuh01etl
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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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyPd9Ym28b
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmzQtM0Ed5
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEjgcqPwSm
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'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ULXGoN4b3
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68EKINjHsZ
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYyKmZgVuE
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9hQo9bw68
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2Sjq29Gh6
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUip0j8evG
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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIKnzqzWkd
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUMRsDhEfk
'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?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYZ6hDXcer
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYAh28Srol
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU0bmf9QVv
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwHn0dmrP8
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4Eqw2WLop
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6oNhoNhc3
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC5FVVx2m6
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIwaABQyDM
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJTE7c7dC0
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo6ltU5dIa
'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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOkLP9UBSo
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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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUHjRdPz86
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttDIvGCBQB
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvl2wq0O7V
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5YApx8ANB
'Go ahead.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQUIvIoIAZ
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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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgdSGJyPQN
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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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSsc1NMlrS
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqFKGsTIHq
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUszJOxxZmc
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlrIsldblz
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhTlW79ZKv
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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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h0Ws6WdFT
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8smdJoUMz4
'And?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPZgNK4JRj
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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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WKwNhfbri
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIfLe9Quuk
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHSsFRxpQi
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN90xtERv8
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd6RmMbkMk
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY0Iw5ElnJ
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSbatrVT6M
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'Ready sire?'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3Pt0r6wu1
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'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDzGtjkwOv
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rzlyKwb97
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZHcnEosW0
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxSVGB2DbE
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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mwGDTnZKI
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMdRCJ8ncP
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AlwWshgTg
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7APBZ4AM9S
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlNKxzWfay
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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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEsrlqL2Mh
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMphKKkQwH
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF4yDVvsdb
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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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza6no68hyk
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YCo77kH0H
'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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRdAZi6RW5
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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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMnKcB7Hnw
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuYZOt4ta4
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduFzVaO2xr
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdAkTQQwg5
'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!'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H0pBBx05y
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KWUrcOkyx
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBcUesT4ST
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7exAQE30JW
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkizVUHJnj3
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZIIV218rK
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKRgxdLKKK
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANPRivME1c
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EA4pLUVD1
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.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kdq096fD6
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS5StN0u1h
'Good luck.'603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcEz8vVlIe
603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsfxtxQcwy
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZKYBS2QfA
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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.
