x
The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBJCOTHgzi
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29iRlgB0PY
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBB8L90V8W
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5RKIh9fKu
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVE4z6E1F8
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCpqz2wdp0
Str 7567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhOpR9m8LJ
Dex 4567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHxmFYTIxu
Con 8567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuyQOcXHZR
Int 16567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH7SY0qjxx
Wis 16567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAjGLcKDfH
Cha 4567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMJJP3tSQF
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oXF93Sh5L
Skills567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCPBcmbjCB
Lunge 5567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvJDCed7sH
Parry 5567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYF3rHYAb5
Wield Shortbow 3567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT67N6bYpoU
Wield Rapier 5567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIGVlOUo4t
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhya5JsNw7
You have 1 attribute point to assign.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aCDuuZUDK
You have 5 skill points to assign.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie1CXbRa5B
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWeCKADJvw
XP 110/200
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh66l9cjA2
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAS4bN7YA3
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqdJZA7ct1
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AaHSTYPcY
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKek7FnSmw
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zFZDAzvxx
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEybu68HgO
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOLTJlpLcu
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAXt5FgeEH
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGO7jW4abf
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwIBHqIfFu
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrZoXSufoM
'I understand.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ZMqKjpAw
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9PbG4Cawp
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ig9CiQeCW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ913pGi6Zfd
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl3Nc3n9Ho
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjrVCbyUNM
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCCtJs4cvZ
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckjmnHHfsn
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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGOaRZn6sm
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKmgrMvSuu
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFyBDGgjJi
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy4jXcuhdl
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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1xOrbUfxo
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsjp3T4fPF
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS8Jh2p4Gz
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2szfX1Tvbl
'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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjFHL27oHx
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgAYF3LSON
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBFKQq2CgK
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfyzJKX5DA
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSpxb87z5T
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY5lWq6bSA
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSO4iAtAq8
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX8wpCy9WZ
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaflFjEX3M
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2sRnnPEiG
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiyScDbDoo
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ25hULZGQH
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSt8VRoTzQ
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4bEzE3n8n
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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuLcP28K37
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghGX7Ap33I
'Yes, sire.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD57yTkhoq
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeuh3xn1v6
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).567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqhRD026Xs
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV2JbqT4Lw
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLfPJsW554
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvUEylaJ0W
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP3q2ENXam
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RrSjB2REi
'Well?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkRfxuobbA
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xM6ZH6DeA
'They are moving an army towards us.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlTTG29jaw
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJBU0ZEAcJ
'How many troops?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sYr7lsvSA
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wLWqFigM2
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdULhSs0hP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2rzRMMYGa
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZiyT7ck7k
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2JhiL0tyw
'How long have we got?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkypH0tWSK
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaA1wMtaFe
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUP13ciLBI
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKBGgFsNgi
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu6en7HFO6
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NzDi7H4TT
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOI012wqeW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDRpMbuMju
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZiryYMddv
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFjyNjVCsx
'No, this is about half.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx3iiB2YL3
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6CbjNThNb
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?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51AA8tCqYB
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O7M5vvJc3
'No.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDfo4j1lLW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe39qUSdjp
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrHOoFjCR1
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPSXD9U5Pb
'True enough sire.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrJJurTMa8
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsIm6lqOuU
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm4idD1pxD
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1CeHOr3Hx
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFsAp0vUEc
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZKEWSf5cM
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmzAMRbqAV
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04Qofog7Ni
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:567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKyRqHqeug
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZF3ZaWjAo
Greyland Archer567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjtTSCLJCl
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVxu8dfeaz
Fighter level 0567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mmVEay1Fy
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk3vit3PXF
Ranged attack: 15567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bRTWwIOqv
Melee attack: 8567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRht4emLRWj
Armour Class: 2567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKWWC3Zv48
Hit Points: 5567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeT8dQ4taS
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yJ1YsXOmD
Skills:567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl0qBclGrE
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZVQyw3H68
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvrJFomVUi
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs3L6b3X5C
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq0JLDa0v0
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lgxhgIqTv
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTIjO2MgLT
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b6ZCFPrDm
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ2jYFaVrM
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIhXmVpbNn
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3RU8M6gn6
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgw4kgjV8Y
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3e48RTUBK
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwvymtXbJO
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosRa6qiK0c
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN948AZ8vB
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdNtz2Lklo
'Show me to Lord Arval.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBfh00Mdyq
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08HmmqoJWL
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mIoNEj4Bn
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5aZ9zG6Ky
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDvbXrGhvq
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7AjCjPlqI
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc54kE2o0r
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5g6OUoSPK
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLTde5nm4S
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFu0UANia5
I nodded.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA68kQsISx
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC1zhGcIsy
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg4BQWPjZu
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHV0pobg0t
'What's the maximum range for it?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaolh6F5EUW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAzJp2vFRa
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyWKD4kWRW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg6irfAYGX
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZqCiFG0GX
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpMt1ENtJq
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzfAnKLM2q
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwLsXn6Xsi
'Yes?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXEcuH5Uy5
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj2WKjLMgr
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHdonkDBsa
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SZwaLGL3z
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd6BDKrNVp
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhYTkIAmFd
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4rXKkmn9h
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeWSssG0MG
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfDSl113xP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTH8O7JfpA
'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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZKDhA2iAL
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBlq7Ci5OW
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebYhk476q4
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBD7dtACYv
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RPlNZPoyB
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUVz3y8mFH
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvASAppchF
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwCgHfmm9O
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvoFcaa2dH
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLK1EC7muy
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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnatZp9qNpP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxBRkB6mgi
'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?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfSAHwhsrP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRUOZ9f1e7
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwQ0tDEQh8
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBmFCXlWOE
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0LsW01e4d
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEllSHLBbZ
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ417rjlGpKx
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7Cim7psK4
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UlSMEQYsU
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98wohxRI4t
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3cnhgCfup
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX18mNvhJL
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMzrXMY1la
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dL32TCY2k
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte1z5z5sv7
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOtYT6F9y6
'Go ahead.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k7tiXfjaq
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRAi4zrO7F
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO28Pu17LA1
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgCC6zWs9x
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6Vg3HjiZt
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C5oeG6WxF
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHiLYWiQQt
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHsVkDiSyg
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPemJyhM1dN
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pAMGDe6BA
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtyEETlFhi
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4VFWGz0YJ
'And?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcwZTsp4A8
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kcv6dMB1v
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcProyQWc0K
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9BJlzy5Ic
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1wLBTTAuv
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVKcZKcfX0
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePnA8djfYC
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLiKhKFB6F
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfXgSUbXYW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpeClGTrPR
'Ready sire?'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH0z9Z5YfQ
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBVKfIzts3
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBEvqhSp86
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydC9cEK933
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmAH0hu70l
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCnhQeHIqf
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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LNIoG4tKY
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1d7X0Wl8y
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz9KGgLOpz
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4Pk8OHgwW
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnmyEfa9fF
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigoCzb8Zct
'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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtHSRIZ01T
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF5TkoQq6d
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ut0kOILk2
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmCunjUk2j
'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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7W1ZXuonF
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLqCdtNVUS
'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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEzDS8jcBn
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPPQ6F7XmV
'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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkEn1E2Ot4
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk4NrMd85e
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oVsxp4RXW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7fpxWYiPv
'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!'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBXecvJxxZ
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3iOdxEIaW
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5frpYj38IW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSSmBnbAnl
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdbL7cPq4L
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaksLoWBGA
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lHIp8xOQu
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gjvZUoyDW
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKAsfsGfNj
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYlSY3J0va
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.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy11LuzTre7
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOvijoEfrQ
'Good luck.'567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYYoS1jRxu
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzet7ltX693
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2TAt3XN8v
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidZBwu95F8
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.
