After forty-two laps, I was beyond exhausted, my large body drenched in sweat, my left arm on fire. Every time a citizen came through they stopped in complete astonishment, sometimes gathering in groups to stare, until a frown sent them scurrying about their work. I lived for the nod of approval from Carradock each time I arrived back at the gate against which he leaned, often in conversation with other soldiers. Also, for the thought of a long, long warm bath.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsvlgRqYr5
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A castle servant, the one from breakfast, was ahead of me, twisting her apron in her hands and looking everywhere but into my face.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjE0zlewVU
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'Wha'?' I wheezed out.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSaP5ecORT
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'Chef–' she flung her hand out in a gesture towards the keep, where a short man in what looked like a grey baker's outfit '–wants to know what to prepare for dinner.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jI0hOZR5D
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9h7JeILkf
'Dear lord.' I came to a stop, worried my aching legs would not want to resume. 'It's not important. But keep it simple.' My predecessor had obviously enjoyed eating extensive meals with several courses. 'Just a couple of slices of roast meat and …' What would an athlete eat? Food with plenty of protein and vitamins. 'Wait. Grilled fish. Nuts. Fresh vegetables, like tomatoes and carrot, that don't need much, if any, cooking.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CXHO8PumP
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I wasn't really hungry just now, my body was too stressed, but no doubt my appetite would revive later.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGuyE281gK
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'Ahh…'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh49QtMcmWu
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'What?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k5jGRLf8W
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'Chef won't be pleased.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DMH6O66AL
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vZ5L0ElXS
I stared at her. 'Hands up if you are king.' I put my own hand up. 'That puts me in charge.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYGJw3BgX0
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoWJ5lGvkt
Once she had turned away, alarmed, I returned my focus back into my final few laps. Although it was distracting I when I turned a corner and was facing the keep: there I could see the chef remonstrating with the servant. He kept looking over at me, as though in appeal, but I wasn't having any of it and focused on moving one leg, then the next, and on keeping hold of that enormously heavy sword.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeikiwqsAc
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1razOPz0L
I wasn't allowed to settle into my rhythm again though, for with a clatter of metal-hooves on cobblestone, a small group of riders came into the barracks yard. Some were soldiers of mine but one was carrying a green pennant (deep green, with a golden wolf's head) and dressed in expensive-looking clothes.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ7KjMh993
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'King Carlos?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z2W6kltch
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Either I looked dumb, having forgotten my name here, or else the new arrival was dismayed by my appearance.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18QIOlOrjI
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'King Carlos?' he tried again.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lIrZx2Dik
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'Yes?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTWPlt1RZ6
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My impression that this was a man who was attentive to his looks was reinforced as he dismounted and made his bow. No one had a beard as neat his without some effort.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN07zcpIGCl
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZfKIUOj1x
'Lord Oseso, ambassador to his majesty King Wace of Southway.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qXzttfH68
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEI3DInF6R
'Pleased to meet you.' My politeness was automatic. I felt no warmth towards this man. Quite apart from the fact his rich, fur-lined cloak and black, oiled hair alienated me, this was the enemy.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQacLDKBKs2
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A crowd was gathering as soldiers and civilians moved closer to hear the ambassador's words.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjfOulYopA
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'Perhaps we can take some refreshment in private?' Lord Oseso suggested.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM01arlWJK
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I shook my head. 'There's nothing you can say that I would hide from my people. Why are you here?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyMxoAsgiD
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwmdMTXR4l
'Are you sure?' There was a knowing sneer in his gaze, inviting some kind of complicity from me.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVaWGNUAHh
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'Get on with it. I'm busy.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKmEiD31Ru
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEs4l98rIQ
Supressing a smile, the ambassador from Southland shrugged, as if to pass off any blame. 'King Wace, in his generosity, offers to make Greyland a dependency of Southway. You,' he gestured to everyone, 'are spared conquest. And you personally, sire, will be given a comfortable retirement, dining on the finest food of our realm in the company of delightful personal companionship, in return for implementing the decisions of his highness on your interface.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpn9EPjBRj
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGgAf0mXaG
A silence fell over the square and even the crows stilled their caws, as if to listen to my answer. I let my heart and breath settle.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k4zLbFGMy
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjDBvDq4MM
'Firstly, we are not conquered yet. Secondly, we all know what it would mean for our kingdom to be run by an invader…' I raised my voice for all to hear. 'People dragged off to work wherever your ruler wanted; our soldiers used up in his battles to spare his own troops; our wealth drained into your coffers; starvation and ruin here.' I knew what I was talking about, it's what I intended to do to them.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF15hpKSWs
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgNTAGXVXa
Lord Oseso shook his head. 'Careful what you say next, this offer won't come again.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qjRbZBCvW
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeegCmhh9NZ
'Good. If we see you again, you'll be executed as a spy. Greyland will never surrender and you can tell King Wace that unless he withdraws from our territory, it is he who will suffer conquest.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS9hFYyaqV
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3bMlbbvtD
'I'll tell him of your empty threat and he will laugh. And he will remind you of it when you are in chains at his feet.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfXZX5gPkb
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg8X9wWnWn
'That is disrespectful.' I was furious and at least a part my anger was drawn from the uncomfortable feeling, fear even, that he was going to be proven right. I walked over to him, using my height and bulk to lean down and snarl. 'Vincit qui patitur, he who endures conquers. And Greyland will endure.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBwRj1dWkn
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXTAyk1uq6
Perhaps he saw the determination in my eyes. Perhaps he understood how close I was to striking him with the sword in my left hand, which no longer felt heavy. In any case, the ambassador's head dropped and he stepped back, then turned away to find his horse and remount.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUHoQaO7fh
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'Blindfold him and lead his horse. Don't let him look around as he leaves.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsbNftqvqf
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz1lAUS5HZ
'Yes sir.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKweV0r9U2
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'Right, then everyone, back to work. We're going to have to work extremely hard, myself included, to endure and escape conquest.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVR2cImR04
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZim0BetU2
Muttering broke out among the people and it was hard to judge the tone. Certainly, it was not the cheering enthusiasm of a people rallying to their king. But among the soldiers especially there were several faces that looked brighter and more supportive than they had.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPGxGGmx8x
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjb5HSyRSx
'Now, Carradock. I was on lap forty-four, was I not?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuamjcJfoI
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'Forty-three sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcwGNj06Bm
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzbkUInP1G
'Damn pedant.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjQsKbrQ1m
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7pQ91P6AI
The last few laps were painful. It did help, however, that I could study the town menus and take my mind from the constant complaints of my body. That gave me one measure of the effect of my responses to the ambassador from Southway, which was that the score for Happiness under the people menu had risen from 14 to 16. At least it hadn't gone down, so on the whole, they seemed to approve of resistance rather than surrender.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dooH3GHAY
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It was the military menu that got me thinking again.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcKCAyqr14
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Military437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wfC3CtnAV
Light infantry: 32437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4yRzvqPSn
Heavy infantry: 12437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsXVybWv6Y
Archers: 18437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkZvF8NVCe
Light cavalry: 24437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA0FGeN6V6
Heavy cavalry: 4437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iivJux64D
Ballista: 1437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoqM0K6Lsk
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Hospital: 17437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PA9M9TLrm
Military upkeep cost: 42 gold, 5 silver437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26O6SMV3NH
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Currently training: 1 heavy cavalry437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVZn2r41QN
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelZh4wU73U
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouWRVBsEmk
Currently building: tower machicolations, 3 days
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Why was I training heavy cavalry? They were costly in terms of iron and tactically useless. We would be holding defensive positions for the foreseeable future and while I hoped the day would come when I rode at the head of a line of formidable heavy cavalry, that was a long way off. Although it meant losing whatever raw materials my predecessor had invested in the project, I cancelled the heavy cavalry from the training queue and instead added fifteen archers to it, at a cost of 10 iron ingots and 15 gold and 15 of the unassigned townspeople.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrQ4W4BNAP
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That left me 12 unassigned townspeople to think about. Before setting them to various tasks, I needed to know about building a trading vessel. When I tried to call up information about ships, I got a frustrating message.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4JFNdxkw9
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Shipbuilding437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnZrk8dbou
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Unknown.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN5yLAfqbH
Create a Shipwright to unlock this option.
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'Hey, you!' I called out to a skinny youth, who was hanging around near the steps of the keep watching me with earnest eyes as though I was last man in for a cricket team that was over a hundred runs behind. And I couldn't tell if he wanted me to fail or succeed.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFvV8eZjef
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'Sire?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfdAlHqfFE
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'Get the Chief Carpenter for me.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFahQuIMSwE
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'Yes, sire.' The lad got up without any urgency and strolled down a shadow-filled street.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxJZgIaq6i
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiEmiRjU9s
I was on lap forty-six when the carpenter arrived, he was a bald, confident looking man, with intelligent brown eyes.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw8Kltq2KX
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'Walk with me,' I grunted.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3sS1fAram
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'Sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98TLrfjPdl
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'Can you make us a trading ship?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmSbDTNYzd
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The question came as a surprise but he took it well, hardly faltering in his step. 'No sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6e21xDd2L
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg9kRjHpl9
'What if I researched Shipbuilding One?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxYPmQqTkC
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The man looked at me, surprised, then down at the ground. 'As you know, sire, I only have access to a limited menu in order that I can view my tasks... I couldn't be sure about research, but Shipbuilding does sound like it will make the role of Shipbuilder available to you.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpUiSH0FTy
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm6ed0pNHZ
'And I can then assign someone to it?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPbi3vjv1G
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'If it becomes an option sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC7Lzf07eC
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'Would you like to do it?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvcZXBPtEc
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'Me? It's up to you sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM7K3Ps9dy
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz8cmpjyzT
'Yes,' I said, a little impatiently. 'I know that. But I'd rather people enjoyed their work than hated it.' This wasn't just coming from my innate sense of politeness, it was practical too. I wanted that town happiness score to rise and surely by assigning the right people to the right jobs, at least when it came to specialist roles, that was going to help?437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zXkx5RHKY
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We walked the entire length of the barracks square and turned back towards Carradock before the carpenter answered. 'I think I would like that sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6j2KCLSDd
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvKugbkdEn
'Right so, find someone in your workshop who wants to be the Chief Carpenter and I'll make you Shipbuilder in…' I checked the research menu, dropped Navigation (there was no penalty, but I risked having to restart it again from the beginning), as it still had five days to go, and swapped to Shipbuilding 1, 'four days.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafszSm9BRM
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'Thank you sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFxjU49BYS
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctRONfkbGr
'Now tell me this. I see a lot of people in the town. But not very many on the menus. Why is that?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bNIXWEO5Z
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxb0OICl39
Again, the carpenter looked astonished. Then a little wary, as if I'd set a trap. 'People want to join the menu, sire, to serve the goddess... and you. But it's limited, isn't it? They can't get on unless you've been able to make room.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSVSFK01tj
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbLAmEx17H
That wasn't an answer that clarified very much, but I gave him a grunt to signal he could go back to work. It was as much as I could manage. As for the twelve unassigned people in the town, I decided to leave them for now. Soon I'd want shipbuilders and sailors.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyxfkjUZ7S
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Forty-seven.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnL2o5rgRC
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Forty-eight.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACqKmzCyxb
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Forty-nine.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1QhTP2sGa
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Fifty.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeobazm0Tnp
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'That's me done for the day.' I spoke to Carradock with as much nonchalance as I could muster. As if I could do another fifty, although every muscle was groaning.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XZEmgoQed
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKqq0bKUtz
'Well done Sire.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jcxxlfxj9
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUp6kVJzO8
That acknowledgement lifted me all the way back to the keep.
