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The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5sOp3T9BA
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbchvrumy5
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliHm8Gi1p8
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Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDoVL8RnH1
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Str 7577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqPLxJBcfU
Dex 4577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLx8fPiNG0
Con 8577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Imc9qSxbA
Int 16577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5N2fCFG4C
Wis 16577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWFmbBTH8U
Cha 4577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbwzhEbaMz
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Skills577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVUly53Qhs
Lunge 5577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC7AozfLQ3
Parry 5577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnm0kfgzVP
Wield Shortbow 3577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8IS64PGyO
Wield Rapier 5577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA42ki0XZuM
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You have 1 attribute point to assign.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTD2YiYKoy
You have 5 skill points to assign.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO75NaxVdD
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKQbMx61d9
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzlVVI6Qo1
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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhTjbSfY1H
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'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGxm94QMnt
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'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63y7XQf2Mf
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'I understand.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9D6Z1D3Yt
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPubSI1phG5
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'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2XpEmblGn
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Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSCqKwfjtP
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO2eWNmOWo
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'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK4szQrGoq
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHrgnqtOIR
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQBXcTzGbC
'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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG0VFMjQ7P
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOHc9N9k8c
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v9SguqrPd
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'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeXyyQmTjC
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'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8XKHbmucy
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5666cqSd6
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92uWiJVJSK
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8F8joS2tG
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIB790Yp0J
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'Yes, sire.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr3mHomWUl
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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).577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufPHlAsHnd
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rZwMBkVCN
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After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcQWvLYf9K
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'Well?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvnE44ERun
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'They are moving an army towards us.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjgQrV8xkY
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'How many troops?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2S4fLUjDv
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeevo6pospA
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxHhgeiqK4
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'How long have we got?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNcedWhTzu
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'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoB61pG8pS
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbchaJKjZD
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Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9rK42qTAX
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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?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0T3htUkYU
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'No, this is about half.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiyfVE9YCV
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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?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscQHDg6wM1
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'No.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvydCDKmEG
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQErHjfeOFE
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'True enough sire.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvkfu3BjTf
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPuEmcRea1
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhIFLmp8qQ
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEtjyHisGx
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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:577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQAZ8Z01XG
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Greyland Archer577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYkXdLHMcv
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Fighter level 0577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvTyxhGD7p
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Ranged attack: 15577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknENAnOGsc
Melee attack: 8577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgSznpKnxT
Armour Class: 2577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JorRVuS71
Hit Points: 5577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl20AnHkRa
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Skills:577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXrqxyczsF
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQtikOkptu
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq368uK3SzD
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8hf8hVBly
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9AG0Ia36J
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gnutp27MP
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQklMOVZJan
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs2cK4zwBl
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7H1MqDG6j
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'Show me to Lord Arval.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4sE8q0oYG
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyzkm21etq
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGkOK0bZ9W
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GpP4Cmm1e
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltXUvIkEWD
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I nodded.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vAPMlVOJQ
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'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f0E5Nin0L
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'What's the maximum range for it?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DIHZEicTY
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'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNJQ3tSZ5Y
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9qR6PEc4d
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'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq4fyPa1Za
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'Yes?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SbIG7giWV
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'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAJnahgiPF
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9HeAk6j6z
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2ZDOUUgHL
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Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMWFQxINtp
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4UbV5MheH
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'And what about you and the Sorceress?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIyiD6vTot
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'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaD8eJBQHy
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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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoBMCEk3L9
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'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzvSbw2rjU
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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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiGVelOgZ3
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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?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPeVd7fmHh
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'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mNvLFEJDL
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'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGp0ZdAu0Q
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXBMj70PA6
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YiPp5K8QX
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGWy6kKQ9c
'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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DyAgQ0M0Y
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhHyZBhYlO
'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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMquTueRNrn
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT0KIq39hs
'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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMxzuqPKx5
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJal3UH8XCi
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPWSs748iG
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL7mlex0xP
'Go ahead.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrIqoplxUm
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAT3Xl5IZu
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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7BzFjYF8J
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoDgCFGsnT
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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxdqj2xbgj
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMVoAzoSNz
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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldRJyMskRs
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfYprhLIr2
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS1JE6v4zu
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8im2mTmoIp
'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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5qbsYkipb
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnAbyiF75X
'And?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdkhy8e4fR
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDDH8C4TeK
'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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIEX2R5kYZ
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXkDIrJr2R
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iH3dCT5ZE
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTTzv7qv1d
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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7oPfFX8LK
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiENA186lS6
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1FaM2uDSm
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'Ready sire?'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKyXEtFMyL
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3DnkI1ZjY
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCI2UXMCe4
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdZvZUhLkH
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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH8pOTrIN8
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcUlX2DH4V
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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoGgBiEKry
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXc8hMnAkJ
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTv6ocLxmh
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjlh9WuKGp
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c2dbNdUjh
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pYEOQdwoD
'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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo96VEF3Gk5
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNBcHLvCBh
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdUCxBjGnt
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC8xGGiE0v
'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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbxflCfiWz
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcykC9k7MmO
'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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0uQhOEVFZ
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIrQFVYzAQ
'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.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH2ogNh2Lt
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhVvAzabKo
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiP1wCJGhs
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS0fhANcgZ
'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!'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORB7vCxC1k
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGC0cl6clz
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzBJ3jj6Sf
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBOB4ccUOl
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafqJDbLgMT
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX5t98CXIS
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb23G1SGmaf
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOKxW1Kyz9
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD8cpWMRMI
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5G636xhFZ
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.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2VXzpIHIu
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUhfG3tHMo
'Good luck.'577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqAjQHb96i
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DAjAMyAGr
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74WGcsM5pN
577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LgXBw2KxK
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.
