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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sFsGTmgdb
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS9HF73h8i
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Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTYewhbRoR
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Str 7519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LyuTlIZwh
Dex 4519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvdKUhCYPl
Con 8519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1E0vvF7ac
Int 16519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BuaPYtnl4
Wis 16519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFPFwUrZJG
Cha 4519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLts1W8zTE
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dI5XJm17a
Skills519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpKxEn83X9
Lunge 5519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SsNdmBy3S
Parry 5519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4qXcwXaUk
Wield Shortbow 3519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc1CXyjLbk
Wield Rapier 5519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yGpebWnpg
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You have 1 attribute point to assign.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhS0SWEH3y
You have 5 skill points to assign.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMF3ZkjLj2
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1FAjIR57N
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEtjreoUmo
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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES2jwb0EcA
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'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYl1LHYRju
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCljUjFkHLW
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9jiqII413
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'I understand.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbQyFs4tRU
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG9W4N3JLZ
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'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ndv2XBNDn
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Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKjJX63XzO
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFUEg6lC9L
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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwKcm4sOhx
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'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErH3WwIUP7
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tESuQcPRo
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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkXHDPX7qV
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKF81L5zpv
'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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d4azUq0mr
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfBZIMlBLS
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxjPTLU4pE
'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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0TofBPGHa
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCwMbKjmJZ
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSLof1ybdK
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'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDqZ5udBTc
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcILVxKx6ec
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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcMUjN7Yhi
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6XlN82Y8U
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdAriTNPVA
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuLpXumOvj
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'Yes, sire.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2daAe6nc73
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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).519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8CPV3UYOu
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpUWJA56a4
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After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJFOEN3tcQ
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'Well?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS57IqIjBaM
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'They are moving an army towards us.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERoZEbHWR5
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'How many troops?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KFyzN1nee
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMSbAWgorm
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhfFjYOPdL
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'How long have we got?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN084AISrA
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiCNEF9SWP
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxM5TXt2jX
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Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoriWfnCgf1
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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?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBpL7Ls4lT
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'No, this is about half.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qEgcAgpz2
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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?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCRho2iN6d
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'No.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWBKawhToz
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rBntiXlZJ
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'True enough sire.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPfiZTmZdC
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7axSDu6TWy
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVYNl1Doyr
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIHwuOTsEM
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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:519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANYTPoIVvd
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Greyland Archer519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkJDviqriX
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Fighter level 0519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88uenPENUO
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Ranged attack: 15519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3e1Ka12HJ
Melee attack: 8519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQIuEET24z
Armour Class: 2519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJm7awgWBw
Hit Points: 5519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4f9X7wn2V
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Skills:519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb62z5b70P
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gJLM1wzMy
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtHT59totS
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Rl34PrRm7
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAAWeE6596
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrWThqIFBS
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ1W5rfXOo
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKtRkxCktW
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc9il8CVOy
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRmxLDpetE
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCvKgnHqO2
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJwYQGabpv
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rTGcf9cxg
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWqskYHjYb
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I nodded.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIwAXwtmTx
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVAQEoxa1d
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'What's the maximum range for it?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeowG0fSEUz
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINBumrF5OB
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhvtYb7mUf
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXZTN1kTa4
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'Yes?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzvm8Okapp
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgwPl9oK0B
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP2b90lQ2k
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDNFeaNzQN
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Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonDHGLZpVF
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSmxcv8D8O
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'And what about you and the Sorceress?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u62eSqDmv
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'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbNir84yoe
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For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEMB5st2Kn
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglINZyKpji
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINOpF6TkCJ
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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?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JlxJNrY9N
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'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqCw9c4eA9
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'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdSIK1iVQp
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL23W4dlwbg
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUVxbxV1hw
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtPUjcJhmo
'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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gr42ZT8Po
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZIsTFfzys
'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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNugWYDHSr
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX1Ik6O2LP
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIQJkCY23V
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyYms8tbMS
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'Go ahead.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7o1cMdWbX
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbxHMy0eSV
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaUWRxwXYI
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtFXCLrWaR
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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W7MR6mBC8
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'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtMNroj1wL
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdt1fqmXR9
'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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH0BVrayIC
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ2Ar29EJG
'And?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2AKQwXinX
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXoc6FH9yL
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf2c0ZVTLa
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcXxVak90q
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrOYSROipE
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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYaRFo9hJ3
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When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsu3LaW12o
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'Ready sire?'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3sJB2w8Rj
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMSY2STRWf
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ81SBgXTC
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yDZGvGHg7
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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TrDhisRVT
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx2EOVBf8b
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpk0BY4XLf
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsV2bsmmBj
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'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEqE3o2H20
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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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrG94gJEqU
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Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeylk0Hkt9
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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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ml8hBhdBK
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvt10Ta1kM
'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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IR7ZkyfXo
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4jrSQjbib
'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.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpE3nQnsjR
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgK9NP2Enh
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHvB0GJNwE
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHxL9K32oi
'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!'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvoueJpWY1
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWfKpGtBZA
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVKVchozlz
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc03LR658k
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThKsNY4Vps
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Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1CKK3StCr
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlIzynMZ6m
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NtTkBY441
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBcMeuKWnN
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.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcngB5dte3D
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyLtrO23S7
'Good luck.'519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgdPKo9lXE
519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6EdKqpCGK
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ncpyIJjcF
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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.
