
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.PENANAt21uMiBHIS632Please 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
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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.632Please respect copyright.PENANAt0y8j24Ety
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'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
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'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
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Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.632Please respect copyright.PENANARZtarQ1WrN
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.632Please respect copyright.PENANA7qj0xbb1Jo
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'632Please respect copyright.PENANAwL5POqDeCK
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'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
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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
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'Good luck.'632Please respect copyright.PENANAw0xebFPkYV
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'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.632Please respect copyright.PENANAzzDuRXYKZZ
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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.