x
The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G4nr1VynT
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRksPDmgNO
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0veq5FS4I
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1eKjTVfFH
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiGVhx3vwD
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fsXr9eYuq
Str 7632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRI8itnhej
Dex 4632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaxRdhNbul
Con 8632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vIXfoiHib
Int 16632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EE13FgTC7
Wis 16632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxZVKPCCxA
Cha 4632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMDZXB7V8u
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsqLIR59rN
Skills632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRN8lmLv8r
Lunge 5632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncpVtbzgiD
Parry 5632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSV0lRsoOz
Wield Shortbow 3632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AFHbIAG2k
Wield Rapier 5632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbo2jhVm0V
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4c0LZqywT
You have 1 attribute point to assign.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIrwvhPvKL
You have 5 skill points to assign.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ELR91EgBc
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IVrjwrHMf
XP 110/200
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlymkCzSM0
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt21uMiBHIS
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMRvDSGzqh
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhSJA19Rfa
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgKIupGb3o
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8adtWCpON
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZqFSJ6WWh
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFxVBLRXKw
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcE5rIfv46
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdAivDKI6P
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcm7DIqCQ7X
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoe9Agu1JF
'I understand.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUda0HhHwL
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7bA0oWmy0
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBZCyzGlSs
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEhgAyvZdm
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZqAeq2Lgd
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMfktObZB8
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡismTULsgfx
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6Ex66HF0T
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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiMOtiMueF
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjweVwwrOB1
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0nSS2O3L8
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv3BKMjuKI
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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCLjs7VEUE
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJREBfZEpu
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2aUmfNCWD
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpsNEcWPZ1
'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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUYaMK2WE6
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaRZ6rmIY9
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV2n2T137K
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kk2wmPc5u
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rqzNDLSzL
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8GZk5fznQ
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBIeQW7wbn
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDWLBBLqpA
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6R4mj0wni
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4kev37Fl7
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37VOAdBcDi
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLf3c9xHgd
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoOcRkXn8J
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWsnsllWUZ
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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIiBBaGME3
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7jd0zbyKX
'Yes, sire.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jKawu6xQB
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwVIBzmwSt
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).632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuShWmtZMbp
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DzwIGcMIY
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K6mxgdXlo
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vlTOPr8Bo
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtWh5pQXCO
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMKcv9s7eL
'Well?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwPl8L2U3E
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9StJtVffkw
'They are moving an army towards us.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51sMyITYEQ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZP4uNV11y
'How many troops?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aXud2OrAS
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmLntt9LOV
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtkRmF7zna
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETQgqVspys
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiNdL2yMc2
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKW2cUlTEk
'How long have we got?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyjOBuF8DB
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzbxC7NPep
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rp7nMEr7t
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PNtBUK7FG
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqvxhvM3WH
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKbWbE7csU
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87haNl68kt
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF5soOtrBC
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoGBF5wHzn
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85ik0vj9He
'No, this is about half.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdSG23d7dy
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsrfg9WxPW
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?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvORrBBwCQQ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEnpBYHo0s
'No.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEzr0QtV1f
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXiUijEoQ6
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vUKWkr1mJ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZyUSGLeKI
'True enough sire.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxZrkqIfmf
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIT0hNOI7y
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJDhwWyC6A
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhEueRf16J
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY09hpDZGD9
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8yrhokDgm
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlYhuUhwDZ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYs9m8xiEW
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:632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaCn4Dugjt
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2TMd7Tg50
Greyland Archer632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO194Wc5Us
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyzFTcCt47
Fighter level 0632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRdoaJKqEh
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSKmv61FRI
Ranged attack: 15632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUVLs0X4E5
Melee attack: 8632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCAMamxcNc
Armour Class: 2632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVx3kbktzj
Hit Points: 5632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkt6J9GAEM
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjciNBE7xr
Skills:632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvYpZzL79V
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvftVOdhhz
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGkqZqlxVI
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1YTDxEyHK
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFfIRol7pQ
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8JhCmGio8
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWV2P0yPKR
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm4yH0IZgi
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWONDKLyMv
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG89DwJAlN
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUbOTa4gCa
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBe2Bl1TRn
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55umbCpH7T
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF46ZHk9io
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgx4tA9AmU
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcabY01Een
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6Fahy3nde
'Show me to Lord Arval.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk5EzGpZUV
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIrxwSoo0X
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqrQ8nF0vk
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLi8qPNJX4
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOIexCgXsH
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckWNkTgonX
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3du3IMjFv
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDdzl3q0f9
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1fUV6YPIB
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd9MRzEmkq
I nodded.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTCvezopvX
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlrV3y2WoZ
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJS3y5WbOLV
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBicYjlg2SF
'What's the maximum range for it?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6655FJtLC8
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRuv6NPzeI
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhSgPocepY
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvXOV9UAU5
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBMYNKbcZ2
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRohcSetbDW
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtNqGWzGRA
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtktiObaBw
'Yes?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWto3L2Xo8Z
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgMAXU1QFZ
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlMA4fcgWJ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PNyOAEDC3
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ux6P2pgDP
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNNk7yrAws
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBMf7Rpu4x
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnn4fZN1ob
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg1jRA74If
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHx7OLvr1t
'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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUzadXlvK7
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHZ5Bbzl8R
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclJTFgWO37
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtW0LEz3FW
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eC91ZCRVU
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9IAbA07RP
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKQ6mrmxsJ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQUygnpemP
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R4DjZ5AW4
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Dn35KmYXo
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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzNfphvp71
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiQAnFaST7
'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?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrkf2wj0u8
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrKRjpkfRB
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWrDK2sVwG
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50dOpaOtAc
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGevYAMSSu
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLpTBBGw5G
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDqY7tLyBe
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ531mgQozuW
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBmnew0B64
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxVY6IOpQm
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiFlaayiJn
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9Ex2UpjAb
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T9RXS2AD1
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmScZCLpgmA
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNNctPMh3C
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GQt8OiZAL
'Go ahead.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWmDRhrEjT
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvL7lbPkpi
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVV6QeSe6w
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHiAPfePWy
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSj43tNBKX
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx9BPe8orD
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOQxlbICzA
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58JKqW5guN
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1Syuc76EZ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen92wuVczS
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatTdxFsmG6
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj9AplfdRD
'And?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9PrDYruZV
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3W5kjuC3Wy
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9P3MQacY9
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAUWdyGVxq
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLhiyY5dBJ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEQ2VvG6M9
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn41LEDN18
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe3FYQX2LK
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7YJrFMx3S
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNKVHemQVp
'Ready sire?'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekWjfgfEJk
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmCX6z5GoY
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbBAwEetMa
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbrjv0hWj1
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxFWzHdeNJ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaRiUcqQh0
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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQDgim5N3i
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlyL2C1Oom
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrDK3imEru
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD0C37Rawj
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZafwc06nx
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBKGiZdGHL
'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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1GKJaWLvx
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavgZl7z86J
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P3sspsWZv
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP3NCfds0l
'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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNvgd1tLel
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIEEtLHn7z
'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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzm0WdYN4o
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB3I6anSYK
'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.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0y8j24Ety
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z75VDrcCn
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6toxTEVRnU
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymiy8gbV4A
'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!'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEcq3aSIPq
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpCgypUgHM
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZtarQ1WrN
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIB7q9fcEY
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qj0xbb1Jo
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH0IFHszgl
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL5POqDeCK
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27kaCqcKnt
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVjfp3eCH7
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnXGnk72Ju
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.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCB86OwChJ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ498A4xo3VJ
'Good luck.'632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0xebFPkYV
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLpIUXjIrf
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzDuRXYKZZ
632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB9bict54n
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.
