During the night I must have been dreaming about the food crisis, because I woke up having made two decisions. As soon as I was dressed and sat in the great hall, eating my breakfast, I acted on them. Firstly, I sent a messenger to amend Chancellor Parrin's mission. He was not simply to scout for the enemy dispositions, he was to obtain information about when and how the ripened grain from our former lands was to be transported. Then he was to liaise with Lord Arval in using our light cavalry to intercept it. Assuming we had cleared the enemy from the valley that descended to the farmlands, the way should be open for such a raiding operation. If so, I'd leave the details in Lord Arval's capable hands.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuylmomPqZ
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6l3P7ddQM
Secondly, I would ask the Necromancer for a delivery of food on account. I hated having to beg, but couldn't see an alternative. This was a job for Figus, which was a shame, because I also wanted the charismatic Bard to negotiate for the release of the prisoners. They were a burden and as soon as I could get them off my hands for any kind of recompense, the better.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7nJWK7cvW
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5xptGD95D
While drinking a mint tea (thinking that I'd give a chest of gold for a bag of coffee), I checked for the new supply of ingots. The menu showed me I had 4 now in the stores. The new picks were making a difference but I was slightly disappointed that the daily yield wasn't 5. I allocated 3 to the smithy, to finish off upgrading all the miners and was glad to put aside 1 towards my first trade with the Necromancer.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhLkdlcSfh
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBBc5iV7xd
Next, I called up my character sheet.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvczFbswa6
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPZFzhPNWL
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIMmfNpXKN
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqNZrtYrEP
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4EBhnko2S
Str 7427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUPsc6BQAx
Dex 5427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNS5pmMJPa
Con 8427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd1aPfDLuY
Int 16427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEHnmCc11U
Wis 16427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7g2v8lqt3
Cha 5427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoRxCa9mcm
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWfVY9uQ4D
Skills427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAapD9YSDc
Bash 25427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77dOLgpnjG
Block 1427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb9rdwYbUZ
Defensive Stance 1427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25f6PpkAKH
Deflect 1427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9euKoOQc6
Dodge 1427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MyLGINLvP
Impale 25427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr6NPKzKf1
Lunge 5427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFslIdOxYQ
Parry 5427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaOdHVCDsR
Wield Rapier 5427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1h58SXDAV
Wield Shortbow 3427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6wtKhYyxO
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqbsvRzWKf
Feats427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW01EieLXr
Charge! (Wis)427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooR7Ouoazy
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qbdruRiXs
You have 4 attribute points to assign.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaRIS0ZjsG
You have 15 skill points to assign.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz62OuTNPl
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuhJbE7Fue
XP 2,860 (3,200)
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELHnuU2GWg
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo4ml5E6vd
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHOS39qZQJ
It was heartening to see that my dexterity and charisma had both improved a point. That gave me an insight into the process, in that I'd been exerting myself to the utmost the previous day both to use the Rhino form effectively and to encourage the army. Probably, I'd performed actions that tested them repeatedly or under very great stress. And both were moving from extremely low starting points. There was almost certainly some non-linear progression at work here in that I'd have to do more than one day's activity to increase the higher stats.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcSKq3gkRK
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRvHW0WEws
While it was probable that weight training was the likely way to improve strength, how could I exert myself enough to trigger a constitution increase?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTBCz6dm5r
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKAYvJS6ZH
Perhaps Carradock Goblinbane would know. In any event, I wasn't going to spend my four attribute points yet. I still had to understand the system better.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcnXGOttmY
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BKWK7VJu1
It was time to choose my fifteen new skills and after placing one point in each of the following I felt a real sense of progress: Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful; Heavy armour mastery: passive, allows the use of heavy armour; Kick: action, attack enemy with a kick; Medium armour mastery: passive, allows the use of medium armour; Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon; Ride Warhorse: passive, necessary requirement for the use of other skills from horseback; Riposte: action, counter-attack enemy (can only be triggered after a successful Parry); Shield mastery: passive, allows use of all sizes of shield; Wield espadon: passive, allows the use of a double-edged, two-handed sword; Wield longbow: passive, allows the use of longbows; Wield polearm: passive, allows the use of all polearms and spears (not thrown); Wield war axe: passive, allows use of a heavy, two-handed axe.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjLKf8rzEH
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdjqaVcM7n
Most of the Warlord skills clearly overlapped with other fighter classes as they were all pretty standard, generic ones, but my progression as Warlord had unlocked three eye-catching skills that were likely unique to this path. Battle Cry: action, raises the morale of allies within earshot; Detect Enemy Weakness: action, gain insight as to the extent to which the morale of the target is wavering; Stonewall: action, gain increased AC in proportion to skill level (this skill cannot be higher than Defensive Stance).427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfcrCYmtqw
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnhLWkVXvD
Of course I unlocked these with a point in each. Someday on the battlefield, they could make all the difference.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwwxjBTYjd
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBkdmZdKEs
I noticed too that (Wis) had appeared beside my first Feat, and I opened that sub-menu.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvwYdvtuko
Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity get a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase. Charge! is a wisdom based feat and each point of wisdom above 15 increases the buff by an additional 1 hit point and 1% move. A wisdom of 18 therefore leads to a Charge! with the effect of +8 temporary hit points and +23% movement for all those who hear the call.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXHh07GCuO
Now that was interesting and gave me pause for a long thought. The attribute points I'd been storing up could make this a powerful area-of-effect buff. If I put all four in Wisdom and hit 20, that would be plus 25% movement and plus 10 hit points to my nearby troops. Considering the basic, level 0 archer had only 5 hit points, that was very appealing. Before I committed myself to this idea though, I needed to test the Feat to see what the reset timer was and how many soldiers it could affect.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS6X9ak9nO
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ929QV2uD55
Very pleased indeed with these set of skills, that reminded me of my Storm Wars days when I had the skills and feats to tank major bosses, I made my way over to the barracks. There was something odd about the behaviour of the people that I passed. A quick check on the people menu told me that an increased happiness score – now up to 21 – might have had something to do with it. But there was something else going on. Furtive smiles. Little whispers to each other and looks at me that were almost sniggers. It felt like I was in fancy dress.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vVnPEehwc
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYuQJDfdww
Carradock Goblinbane was alone at the barracks and on my arrival he saluted me eagerly and said, 'well done sire! Very well done.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKWRHlMIx4
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LbR81n0rB
'Thank you.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XzFQa7yhI
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWIGA4nBmV
'And sire. I may only have one arm, but next time I hope you'll take me with you. I can haul on a rope, or help the soldiers get into formation.' His look was earnest, almost pleading.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjfzbeo503
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEm8beQEcy
'Consider yourself so instructed, Carradock. You can be my aide-de-camp when we are in battle.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUagFFoDplN
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgypPiVD6T
'Thank you sire.' His words were heartfelt and the tears in his eyes sincere. Good man.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGc6pb9BXa
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDKCe06wB2
'Now, let's continue with my personal training. I want to get stronger,' I said, 'and I also want my constitution to increase.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjE4nmvCQtQ
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4j1JlthYs
'The first I can help with. The second too, but not so much.' He glanced at me and must have seen a query in my expression, because he continued, 'if you assign soldiers to survival training, it takes three months for them to become hardier.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCMsIO4VGF
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdymqrUMLb
'Three months.' I sighed.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgETrF4kPk
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiuel90ecw
'In your case, it might go quicker; you can dedicate yourself to it. As much as your duties allow.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6XSUC0aa0
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xOqli0wzl
'What does survival training involve?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEUqAWKCyq
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqhd0Rl8wV
'We go into the mountains and live off the land, building a lean-to, hunting and climbing every day.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGiyeddyV2
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnqM1NcGTo
'Living off the land you say?' It occurred to me I might make a small saving in food requirements to assign some soldiers to this training. And I would end up with better troops. But with the army so tiny, I could hardly afford this measure, could I?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhGIfAN72W
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh4oKYPQ7E
'Yes sire, it's not the comfortable life a king is used to, no, not by a long way. We'll be hungry most nights. But I believe I see in you a determination that will meet the challenge.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGPNgKpecz
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAAFUrZ13H
I caught Carradock's eye and nodded. All the same, there was so much to do here.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNSlt1bNFj
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTAaoQY1Ce
'What about the strength training?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJDICMF1Lh
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuYiSUpLob
'Much more straightforward, sire. I'll teach you the lifts and you practice them over and over until you are at your limit.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCHIBBk8GR
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIHF2dRqQu
'Let's begin with that then.' I literally rolled up my sleeves.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMSXdTPUMI
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBSf2YdXpt
Soon, I was performing a variety of exercises, aimed at strengthening my arms and shoulders mostly, but Carradock also had me work on my legs with simple squats that very quickly became a challenge.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlhbFBTWlL
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7vizxwrga
When I took a break for water, I noticed again the presence of onlooking townspeople, who still had the furtive smiles and almost expectant expressions. Before driving them away to get on with their tasks, I leaned in towards Carradock.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8QKvDUWwO
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs95Do7vpDj
'What's with the smirks?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D8dt6UwF2
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfge795DgIf
'Oh,' Carradock had a thin, weasel-like face, more used to scowling than smiling to judge from the lines on it. But now it broke into a broad grin. 'Why sire, it's our new flag.' He pointed with his one hand.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wWfhHjXhx
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH2Z41GM43
The flagpole at the corner of the barracks had a green flag that I'd thought I'd seen previously. When the wind picked up enough to lift it fully open, however, I could see that it had indeed changed. The previous symbol had been a white circle of some sort. That was gone. Instead, it showed a galloping white rhino.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHjwKF0plS
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubtKVe25ZD
It was probably out of character as King Carlos but I couldn't help smile. I looked around the square and shared the moment with the people who were there, letting them see I was pleased. Then called out, trying to sound gruff. 'All right, I've seen it. I approve. Now get about your tasks.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlWkzaDZ3y
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48D6X20xEK
***
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427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YPsrvAntj
A couple of hours later, when I was panting from the weight training and sweat was pouring from my body, despite the cool autumn day, a messenger came hurrying to find me. It was a gangly teenage boy who I'd seen around the keep. 'Sire, sire! A ship is making for our harbour.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1QKmAlrm4
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W5D0p7k3j
'What kind of ship?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A6Y1bxjR9
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW2EGtRgNp
'A Viking ship!' His eyes were wide with alarm. And my heart lurched too. We had no troops at all in Carrick. Well, a one-armed sergeant, a level three Bard, an over-weight Fighter who couldn't fit into any of the town's armour, and a Sorceress. At least we had Carlena, I hoped her mana was fully restored.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBpucK9e1Q
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7HwSBRSTW
'Go fetch the Sorceress. Tell her to meet me at the quays. Get someone else to find Figus, the ambassador.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCCll4kklD
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6mqZfT2LW
'Yes sire.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RA5334K8U
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJUDwaMIEC
'Carradock, come with me and bring your sword.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4alw69sQQ
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRGdVc1uiK
'Spear, sire. I can still stick 'em with it.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuEBm3oLh0
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT35XM1XZia
'Right so.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG4RRk0q3W
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruhkj93lGo
The quayside of the town of Carrick was a simple affair. One pier of stone stretched out into a grey sea for about thirty yards. In the protection of the lee of the wall bobbed two rowboats that were moored to buoys. It really needed a tower here, to help against invasion. At least we were outside the town walls and could fall back through a portcullis.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbkvr1tEyo
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRbOpNr5bt
Shading my hand from the reddish sun, I could see the ship clearly enough. A bank of oars on each side; a large, square-rigged sail with a black and white stripe; and the ominous dragon head, facing us, rising up and down as they worked their oars and drove their ship towards us.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ376jeT089l
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQhTAz1fBW
'What do you know of these people, Carradock?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSHvC3Os3j
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p29mF62GP
'Dangerous, sire. Fierce fighters. Robbers. Their land – Jomskar – is north, beyond the Kingdom of Lost Souls. We have a saying, "never turn your back on a Jomsviking", because they'd do you sire. Give you a knock on the head and you'd wake up a slave of theirs.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSM2NGzdG7
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQHsvGUZvq
A clatter of boots on cobbles heralded the arrival of Carlena, the boy with her. The Sorceress was in her fighting outfit of trousers and tunic and as she gave me a nod of greeting, she tied her hair up tightly into a bun.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq0VNOuN8s
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IhloBhsTh
I addressed the lad, 'get everyone you can from the town and take whatever helmets and shields we have in the armoury in the keep and hurry to the walls. Try to make it seem like we have plenty of soldiers in the town. And get some people to the portcullis.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0fAkohLrl
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSj85Yok6b
The boy's large Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed heavily. Then he was off, almost slipping on the cobbles as he scrambled over-eagerly back towards town. This really was a lesson for me. Never to leave the town completely without troops. Hopefully, the infantry that Lord Arval was sending on leave would arrive before nightfall but for now, we were desperately weak. Even this one ship posed a significant threat.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicKw0qRQlJ
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFf8N7peju
'How's the mana?' I asked Carlena.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStea6DaNNb
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vndFekYlh
'Full.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKhxCX7ElD
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMUGEu7BCi
'You're all we've got.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCQIrsVpWf
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRrgVrDmIT
'This I can see.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yiTSrwDEY
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I was hoping she'd add something reassuring to that comment. She didn't.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqFUJTqyFT
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQsByJReGd
In contrast to the tension of Carlena's stance, the arrival of Figus was almost nonchalant in the confidence of his stride. He was well-dressed in good quality cloth, which was embroidered with intricate patterns based on the interweaving of wild flowers.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvySSZMWct
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILz9mwhNzO
'Sire.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrzihbzlH0
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO85DkYwTh
'Ambassador.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM7ZiPvHlc
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGWBT2fqvA
The four of us moved part way along the pier and stood in silence as the ship drew closer and closer. Seagulls swooped and squabbled and the scent of the ocean was as salty as on Earth. There was an extraordinary difference with my experience of the sea back home though. Here, on the horizon was a line of white mist that sparkled under the midday sun. The edge of the word, presumably.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgEhF7tj5h
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRTxNHaeRh
As the ship came around the head of the pier, I could see the men – and women – aboard. They were long-haired, tall and sturdy. How I envied them their fitness. And to my great relief, they were not brandishing weapons and helmeted up. At the front of the ship, one arm on the fabulously carved prow, was a red-haired woman whose dark green cloak fluttered around her. She caught my eye and gave a shout. 'Hail King Carlos, permission to enter your lands?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gTGHUfRuB
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvP9zFE2qr
'Just you.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZJIkUd2lO
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFKlzqCbgT
With that their spokeswoman threw out a coiled rope with considerable dexterity and it was Carradock, despite only having one arm, who caught it and tied it off on a bollard. With an impressively uniform response to a command barked from the man at the tiller, the oars came in and the ship lay easy just a few yards from the pier. The crew were looking at us frankly, with curiosity, and were clearly unafraid.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdvx41npA3
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaT6JDktSt
Two planks were found to bridge the gap to us and without hesitation the woman ran across. She was in her thirties; had a wide, attractive face; and brown eyes that shone with amusement, or was it cunning?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbjrtWcecL
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zXCSyl3NU
'I am Jarl Injeborg the Red, here to speak to you on behalf of King Olgrim Beartooth of Jomskar.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80ULf4Ft6B
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4m3bgKjNd
'Go on.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaOSsAyAny
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcalwhoDM5
She laughed. 'In my land, we greet ambassadors with generous hospitality. No wonder this place is called Greyland. Will we not go to your castle? A room? Some wine? Or mead if you like.' She turned to her crew. 'Ragnald, throw over a bottle of mead.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdlSA9WmUi
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNdvhUdfAM
One of the Vikings rummaged up a bottle, threw it accurately and Injeborg caught it effortlessly. Again it was an impressive display of skill and the whole crew knew it too, there were grins on all their faces.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYucsZg6CT
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57G1k2yYAC
'Here's just fine.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVargPogXxh
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu0s3vWSzS
'Suspicious?' She opened her arms wide, throwing back her cloak to show that the only weapon on her was a small knife in a decorated leather scabbard on her belt. Then she dropped the smile. 'If we wanted to, we could cut you down right now.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3y1U8soM0
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaETywebFKv
'Perhaps, if you and your ship could survive a level eleven Fireball.' My heart was beating fast, but my voice was steady.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEvXoTrKQy
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8eY0aJMjX
A quick flick of her eyes towards Carlena. 'We are here in peace and I am to offer you an alliance.' She paused, expecting perhaps that I would now bring her to a room in the keep for our negotiations.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXmhbekyWD
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh5zMhggcc
'I'm listening.' And I really was.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5BeZArsop
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w322C8XkU
'Very well, we'll talk out here, in the wind.' Injeborg's long, red hair had several braids, but even so often streamed across her face. 'Recently, King Olgrim had a meeting with King Cillian mac Gille Coemgáin of Rockguard and it did not go well. Knowing he has the stronger army, mac Gille Coemgáin tried to impose tribute on us. And due to adversity and the recent loss of our mines to the frost giants, our king would have agreed. Except that when it came to shaking hands on the agreement, mac Gille Coemgáin instead demanded King Olgrim kiss his foot.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioFL27qNdz
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFC1VxgyWI
'This was in front of the courts of both realms. I was there. And our king said, "are you sure?" Mac Gille Coemgáin just laughed and said, "kiss it", holding his foot out. "Well," said King Olgrim, "it was your request." And with that he grabbed the royal foot and being a big, strong bear of a man, turned Mac Gille Coemgáin upside down. While the ruler of Rockguard wriggled like a frog, King Olgrim kissed his foot, then dropped him on his head.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YO5NnF3bT
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Y79ngMUS
'As you can imagine, their courtiers did not take this well. And, to be brief, we are at war.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoijfHDzyrd
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd0xaIJAhz
I laughed. 'I like the sound of King Olgrim. Very well. What do you want from us?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzRI8iha1C
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWp3Hz2wtX
'Iron. We know you have mines.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxOasp7cKF
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9M6ynFJ1S
Iron again. I had been ramping production up as quickly as I could but perhaps I could do more. It clearly was a vital resource. Should I reassign people from other jobs? I'd ask Carlena about this later. It seemed that the power of the menus, whether divine or magic, gave the workers the appropriate skills in response to my decisions. But perhaps there would be a cost to reassigning someone, rather than using someone who was currently without a task.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HNa3exmek
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOrgsZwUn9
'And in return?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjidewKLzv
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg9iyMZDJa
'Fish. Salted fish. Five units for each ingot of iron.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfAoIbrONZ
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwijKsTrtaT
Not as good an offer as from the necromancer but, still, food was food and I wanted it badly. Deliberately slowing down my heart, looking into the distance and the slow movements of the sea, I tried to make my next words as unconcerned as possible.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRuWtgNzIr
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TU6ib1zUr
'Using your own trading vessels?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFjtgLK8fJ
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Uu1wJ74nr
'Yes.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNDTNJK4Xa
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GPDpdNa3Q
'I'll speak directly and to the point. For every seven units of fish, I'll send you an ingot of iron. Right now, however, I'm very short of iron myself. In two weeks, though, I promise I'll give you twenty if you return with a hundred and forty barrels of fish.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsO1W5kkky
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1vlVsHrGX
She looked thoughtful. 'I can shake hands with you now at six for one. Seven would need me to sail back to King Olgrim. And have you any iron to hand at all? We have barrels of fish with us now. Thirty of them.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wjhTt6xli
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesT9CktWAH
'You use slaves up in Jomskar?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFF7rpKGUD
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpHq4d59jv
'We do.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ODxUwJ0x
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG6UShKhda
'Then I can give you two iron ingots and about fifteen slaves for those thirty barrels.' I was thinking of the four new iron ingots (possibly five) that I would have at dawn but even better of the chance to rid myself of some of the unwanted prisoners. The ones from Southway. I was still hoping to achieve peace with Trolland and their prisoners might be useful.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8z1EmPsjM
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ebh4GGvUv
For a moment, there was a silence but for the waves, the seagulls and the creaking of their ship. I tried not to let my tension show, nor stare at the holds of their ship. We really needed those fish.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTU0R5L3qG
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ13VALRPz
'I will agree if our agreement is six units of fish for each iron ingot after this.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjpK04YSLj
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNP0yVD19I
I held out my hand and the jarl shook it with a very firm grip. Then she gave me a fierce look. 'This trade is only the start. I can see you are a man who despite appearances is strong at heart. Soon, we will be comrades on the battlefield.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdK7z28BSq
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiRjLEtphH
'Perhaps. I am already at war with two kingdoms, however, I make no promises about fighting Rockguard.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aMi9Xwuvr
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfj8sw4lSj
'I understand. Let's drink all the same, to the trade agreement.' Injeborg drew her knife and cut away the wax seal on the bottle. Then she offered the drink to me.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPmsCRABo6
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi6QrOIlEM
'After you.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDckpq7qwiX
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuBXStJUWB
With a laugh she took a large swig from the bottle, making sure I saw her swallow it. After which I did the same. It was fiery and sweet. Delicious. 'Put one of those bottles into the trade will you,' I said, passing it to Figus who held it for a moment distastefully, then took a modest mouthful and passed it on to Carlena.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY9wtC9yQl
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeEiywfqzj
Injeborg laughed again, white teeth flashing. She laughed easily and while aware that I might have been affected by her obviously high charisma, I had the thought that these people might indeed make good allies.
