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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLzp1PCmb3
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPkK6vhGku
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Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HFYfV1IO2
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Str 7533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHSoBmzkBV
Dex 4533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i0GQa2bdy
Con 8533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu58not79X
Int 16533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBCdXPJM2r
Wis 16533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kelV4TPTC
Cha 4533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnXAvRMZlN
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Skills533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrbsmh5lSI
Lunge 5533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEhgQUPOJC
Parry 5533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwRlbqG15v
Wield Shortbow 3533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uO2DKrYR1
Wield Rapier 5533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O1WNRAwHv
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You have 1 attribute point to assign.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9guBgz3Xmu
You have 5 skill points to assign.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rxSHhQVW4
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XP 110/200
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I was heartened that the system awarded a new attribute point on levelling: one that further justified my risky decision to be a Fighter. The immediate question was not what attribute to increase but whether to spend it at all. If it proved relatively easy to get attributes to move up from very low scores, but very hard to say, train Strength from 17 to 18, then I should save all my level points until I'd achieved as much as I could from exercise.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5mOl9u1Xx
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkznuf8R9d
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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6DvMBCOos
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'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR2SZCSWT1
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'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKi81ocdNK
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'I understand.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBnPaw1Q0l
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUWkkfNHYd
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'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWjRYSlVH1
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Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYOiWiUATY
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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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHL0RGSB0F
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'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzdDK9SwSL
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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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFH9nUo30D
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0R7pKXYAH
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'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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5VCOiu6yV
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkK6C5mgx6
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'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1gMRHV1Px
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'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOZ2EhBYUE
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWyonKsCVO
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3gXWbRFWv
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f4XZTKwIh
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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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGwckDqzlK
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'Yes, sire.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjOgYTMCe0
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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).533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicUo9tbucK
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEKNMW5P29
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After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt1z2osXop
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'Well?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuOF02vswG
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'They are moving an army towards us.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0RNoplGYH
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'How many troops?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc6dkupPpy
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu72ObofOV4
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzICT2OoA6o
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'How long have we got?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWJlgn5Njv
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXWXqpZSal
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvThrjGmUDm
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Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPJ1GR7rZY
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I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvmr81t06F
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'No, this is about half.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFAvciaARh
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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?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQBVYpYqMN
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'No.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUTS80MgT9
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ohvu79ebz
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'True enough sire.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60avRj5Hr4
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjfxFXwMe2
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwioPc80qn
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNH3dp4TIx
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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:533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV90Dxbh7E4
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Greyland Archer533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9j9j4FYHn
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Fighter level 0533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwnqNv0M2d
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Ranged attack: 15533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGX96gOgcD
Melee attack: 8533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeuBFI2UK3
Armour Class: 2533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X53lpYAAM
Hit Points: 5533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gtM713NjA
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Skills:533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrhYthv1ky
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoaKMw7rYs
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz0XLHrA34
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Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
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I had also been keeping an eye on the town menu and just after dawn, 4 iron ingots appeared in the resources area. That was excellent, it showed that applying steel pickaxes to mining really was an effective way to increase production. I allocated the ingots to the smithy, meaning I would have 48 new pickaxes in due course. Assuming we survived the day ahead.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ISC1nXbIx
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XlUavtoWn
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosDIXOZl0N
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz3Gp1XeHe
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdLyAUo39S
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJTGL3eUzQ
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bBj6t95GQ
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjTnPcLBpy
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGGP3UaF4N
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g0fLig31v
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK6jWa2XbZ
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I nodded.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zFmCwGtZw
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoBwpHgUMs
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'What's the maximum range for it?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuW4SW8xTE
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL7N6riNk4
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRnZds6kdA
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30CnoK6jSg
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'Yes?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK2FMMhM9X
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIPdNYwfau
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3fUVE6Jre
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YJSKma7Jz
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Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdkU1LZdAy
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'I was thinking that the twelve heavy infantry and four heavy cavalry should be there on that rise, as our reserve.' He pointed back the way I had come from.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s94htGike
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'And what about you and the Sorceress?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoku1dATkoN
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'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKqmZGD02p
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK59OTDCfRm
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5ZUReLhBp
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU0XxnzTAU
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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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirKtUCo59U
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'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?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4OhByscvl
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'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAVw4tPb9F
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'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8WYVWBsPe
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBShqvh4TXm
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovSsYW4T9N
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'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3f22L5uom
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL0AuwHduk
'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzbRE8QVg0
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'And the advantage of my idea is that we keep everyone under cover for the duel between ballista and their archers. Your way, we might win, but are likely to lose a lot of troops.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtPD6DMmOm
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstLf8r7jN9
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JisRMnxLl
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfJo40EGGq
'Go ahead.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88hI1Ns77o
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It took over an hour before the ballista was set up on the rise behind the palisade, even with a pulley to lower the equipment down the side of the tower. Not long afterwards Carlena arrived with Chancellor Parrin, the Cleric and two more archers, who had recovered enough in the hospital to participate.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGOcZsqgyI
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfbN6dBZ7U
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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfX3Bx5rZa
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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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzOMUPkfkP
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fpk52EoDS
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b7XetVLCY
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJlxAAysvt
'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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGRTTMIYkp
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'And?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7LB2mA0p2
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'Inconclusive, sire, I believe the no-food side won, but only by a man. Personally, I find a small amount of food, especially fruit, optimum.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOorM1buJNi
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUl6vXHL6k
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKkSEDFtm5
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HQ1J4MXT1
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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWmXP15y3V
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When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1mqfPiaFA
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'Ready sire?'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOHHYUYpuI
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'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgm5qSlJ7H
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhTqxEP46z
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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rFIhihg7C
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDe3vUYSfM
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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmoo3aP9ug
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'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT6kZ5nqfd
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'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLHvz7IHws
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'Soldiers of Greyland!' I began, my big body proving good for this purpose, with my voice strong and echoing from the rocks. The men looked at me with hopeful expressions. 'This day, the twenty-fourth of the month of Abya, is forever going to be remembered in the history of our realm. For it is on this day that we will turn the course of this war.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxTnMztMVc
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp2QmEVaKZ
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzaZ3W6eCZ
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'And you are the lucky ones. There will come a time when vast armies under my command will conquer the twenty-five kingdoms. And they will all know that it began here, with just a few of us, a lucky few. A band of warring brothers.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ496QURsLi7
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH9zShl7zM
'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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0NLPVcMsF
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiloWw8oFW
'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.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeuCLhWrHb
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZODm7EdwC
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OEPsjJ6P4
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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!'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7uBF7L0pE
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlYdoZnQBt
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6FMoaNRKq
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'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ovdl0uLrO
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlS0DNwT61
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspRlIUQATB
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxiGNIafpH
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmlgBpNydi
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.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC3gNy9aOn
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQDTk1I7jz
'Good luck.'533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FNQyPtYXM
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'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjzL5Z56nR
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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.
