A long bath helped, but afterwards, as I made my way down to dinner, every step was a painful one. My muscles were already stiffening. It would be even worse in the morning. Still, I was determined. And that encounter with the ambassador of Southway just made me even more so.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDzla5zpzy
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SPReoetk8
A long, polished wooden table had been laid out with what looked like a banquet to me, despite my instructions. Silver candelabra held our source of light, light which glittered off a wide array of polished trays and bowls. There were grapes; cherries, apples and peaches stacked high; there were at least four kinds of fish, filleted and laid out with herbs and lemon on trays decorated with fishing net designs; bowls of peas, green beans, tomatoes and carrots were full to the brim, at least four different kinds of bread had been prepared, with slices and rolls displayed on yet more silver trays; while goblets of cut glass sparkled, ready to receive wine from a choice of six decanters.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5K888jHts
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV470O6LxXs
The table was laid for four people but the placings were spaced so far apart that it was like a socially distanced event during the COVID pandemic back home. Much to the consternation of a servant who was standing by the wall and hurriedly came over to help, I started re-arranging the plates and cutlery, bringing all the places up to the top end.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA3pioEXpf
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtenoDn1ORq
No sooner than I'd taken my own seat, than Lord Arval, my Paladin General came in with a brisk march. Even for dinner, it seemed, he wore his chainmail and carried his sword. With a gesture that was nearly a smile, he took the seat to my right after I pointed to it.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcJDok4h7P
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4zBiDeuIG
'I heard about your training today sire. It gave encouragement to the troops.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOjputouwQ
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvIJHifdaq
'There's a long way to go.' I glanced at my fleshy arms, so different to my previous body.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG9LVeflXH
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfApKbAlf0J
'I also heard that you scorned the ambassador of Southway.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp6EjwIQcK
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1nGQVsqSd
'Oh did you? What did your sources say, exactly?'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdLvPLO77g
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6Tkf8OYQo
'That you were offered wine and women for the rest of your life if you'd do the bidding of their king and you refused, telling him that it was him who would be grovelling in chains before you.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJCQQCJKlW
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M7kvCYZr8
'Did I though?' I laughed. 'The story has grown. Good. They have the spirit right at least. That guy was so smug, I wanted to punch him in the face.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrrNNEhQin
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TtRMJ9H2w
We were interrupted by the arrival of Chancellor Parrin and the sorceress Carlena. Although they were not arm in arm, there was something about them that suggested to me they might be a couple. They were the right ages – she with silver hair and he with the grey and sliver of his beard – and they moved towards me with an ease in each other's company.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQH5F5eKkl
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0AVrdnTdJ
'Another innovation I see,' said the Chancellor with a glance at the place settings and then at the servants. I got the message: careful, go easy on the changes.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjuy9ahjnH
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKw0MG0Xz5
I repeated my story of meeting the ambassador of Southway, to the approval of Parrin and Carlena but they were surprisingly taciturn. Only when we had eaten did Carlena lean towards me, so that I caught the full intensity of her stunning purple eyes, and whisper, 'send the servants away please, so we can talk properly.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelaShlxitT
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eVi1PCIIZ
I nodded. And after the next time my glass was refilled, I slapped the table with my heavy palm (it was effective for that at least). 'Out! Servants out and don't disturb us until you are called for.' I spoke with unnecessary volume as they jumped to respond.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtib16MsxUZ
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiGZh3R0fM
'Spoken like the old Carlos,' said Parrin with a smile when we had the room to ourselves.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UNyIeEfA5
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vNME57nT0
The two of them then began an interrogation that would have never have been allowed by the previous king. What was I researching? What was I building? How would we cope with the loss of our grain-generating lands? What other information was in the menus? On the whole they were cautiously positive about my decisions and plans. At least, they didn't propose I make any changes to it. I was warned that my popularity, already very low, would drop further if we did start trading iron to the necromancer king, but they could see the necessity of this.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo22tuMSBq
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbOfwDGrGS
By the end of their questions, I was totally clear about one thing. Carlena, Parrin and (to a lesser extent) Lord Arval saw me as their instrument. I was accountable to them and had to take their instruction. In business terms, this was a board meeting and I was the CEO, not a king with absolute power. This didn't upset me. I could totally see their point of view: the kingdom was on the ropes and everything they owned, including their lives, was in jeopardy. They couldn't afford any mistakes from me. Also, while I quite enjoyed the authority of being king and the way all the people were quick to obey me, I didn't like the barrier that the role created. At least here, with these three, I could be myself.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD0BVZUCNn
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn8puCWPi0
'I have a question about the menus,' I looked from one to the other. 'How is it there are so few people on them compared to the size of Carrick?'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFCE2VwVeb
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTEqmMZSnK
It was Carlena who answered. 'I believe the numbers allowed on the menu are capped in some way by the overall happiness of the realm. Most of our citizens would join the menus if allowed, wanting Miya to triumph and not wishing to be conquered. You should try to facilitate them.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPAtrUwYwH
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx9rB5OjQx
That made sense and exporing how to raise happiness was yet another goal for me to add to the 'to do' list.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B041it179
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThIVcOZpbd
'How goes your personal progress?' asked Parrin.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2T92OFx6b
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVL1YVDptO
'I don't know yet.' I patted the rolls of stomach fat that were resting on the table top. 'I've made a start on shedding these. But I haven't seen any change to my character sheet yet.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRO3yDe7pW
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8cG6tvYsC
Carlena frowned. 'What level Fighter are you?'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumyYIrXBqY
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFRoAewaEj
'I'm not even a Fighter yet,' I confessed. 'In fact I was thinking my character sheet meant I should be a Sorcerer or Cleric.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oK8geR7f4
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXWt0XAajh
All three of them turned pale faces towards me, eyes glistening in the candlelight.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmcUK2aLIG
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKFRig028j
'Oh no,' said Carlena. 'Not a Sorcerer. You won't have any spells. To obtain spells you have to build a scriptorium of the spell level and then research them, getting a random result It would take you forever. And it's not what we need on the battlefield.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ4yOXtAYR
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyXBUpE3f0
'I believe King Wace is level twelve,' muttered the Chancellor pointedly. 'And Queen Rorgesta of Trolland is eleven at least.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbeC03HWt0
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf37NaZfug
I caught the Scout's eyes and said, 'I'll start levelling up soon. But with my current stats, I'd be a hopeless warrior of any sort. I have to find out can I improve my Strength before starting my personal progression as a fighter. Really, I should be a caster: a mage or cleric. And I also need to know how to level. Do I fight monsters? Complete quests?'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0R0TnYPS1
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBjDERQJfJ
'I suppose you are right to wait,' Lord Arval spoke after a short interval. 'But every day that you are not progressing is a day more for them to get ahead. You could easily reach level two or even three by performing task quests in the town itself.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqandJsd5yo
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R4z8SMfCZ
'And we can bring you to areas nearby where there are monsters you can fight and kill for experience,' offered Lord Parrin.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQpylwzCRU
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgm9wcaAjS
That sounded promising and exactly like the RPGs I was used to.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT3katGzvN
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm12iej8hP
I took a deep breath. 'I will progress soon then. For now though, my body is a mass of aches and pain. I can barely lift this fork with my left hand, my shoulder is so sore. There's nothing more I could have done today to advance this body towards where it should be.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1Ylo6c2Wo
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLywI02PTZQ
'True.' Lord Arval nodded. 'Don't push so hard you damage yourself.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNrFBoWOGz
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvF6LdkUFa
'We need time. Time to fix the kingdom's economy and time for me to level up.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib60iDwSo0
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WNy5QO3IC
'Indeed. And in that light, provoking the king of Southway might not have been wise.' Carlena spoke tentatively, as if exploring the idea.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYjJOfap2F
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyQ0COWfKn
'Sean was right to refute him so publicly and so firmly,' Arval came in, 'the message to the soldiers and people was clear. We will endure.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCzEm9wcqX
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1VRwAIySK
Chancellor Parrin nodded. 'I think so too. But still, there is a real danger of the two armies continuing their advance together and overcoming our defences.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bIPKE1GM0
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO3hUuriLD
'Speaking of which, I'd like to see them. We have a fort at the head of the valley that leads here, right? I might be able to upgrade it.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUxHtBhx78
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ql7u07KDQ
'You can't get there, it is thirty miles away and no horse can carry you.' It was Arval who made this depressing, if practical, point.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHSo6iwWQG
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDSTA4nK6t
'I can show you on the map at least,' offering Parrin, 'and you should be able to find a menu for it. It's called Three-Ways Fort.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVvBul9Km1
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMTKyeMmCB
'I'll check later. And if it's all right with you, I'll move any remaining troops from here down to it, including the new archers.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS64ME9UqG
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBl2Qs47uD
Everyone greeted my proposal with approval.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNKsK6Ytjp
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw90z1zgkU
I had been thinking about Carlena's point about unnecessarily provoking King Wace. 'Could we maybe divide them? By talking with Queen Rorg… whatever … the Trolland queen. By suggesting that we might be willing to be a protectorate under her?'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFowUDjtpf
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDIj7zBwNE
'Perhaps,' the Chancellor nodded. 'It would be a mission for Figus.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMZ2nas5AP
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO6IX0Q0mv
'When he gets back,' I said.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd0Ehts1DI
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby0D3IOOVs
'When he gets back,' Parrin repeated.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3o0lMGrAC
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BbP2Ka7vJ
'In the meantime, I think you need to go down to the lowlands and monitor the enemy's movements, to give us notice if they are advancing.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQgZQSQ0iI
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvVEs1lCSy
'Me?' Parrin looked surprised. 'We have scouts, of course.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAtmfJuPEZ
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40XULCsdZW
'Yes, but they are all level zero, right? Whereas you are level nine.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQryeRmRV6L
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOquG0MHZMS
'It's been a while since I dusted off my scout skills, but you know what, I'll do it!' Parrin rubbed his beard around his mouth, where a smile was forming. 'I'll set out in the morning.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuf6kUDXpd
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy6PSuRpzj
'Just don't take any risks.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQKcDj1Z1C
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vqm66guTt
When our strategizing was at an end, Lord Arval called the servants back in and we resumed a more formal tone, until I was ready for my bed. Well, not quite ready.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ016l6zG2oc
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHOEG8HbG9
'Can the king ask for a massage?' I leaned in towards the General.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcaRcqiHmM
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0LMIgRWCT
'Of course. I'll send someone.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWh0Wn5WiI
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09b8WrpofQ
'Good, I'll go on up to my bed.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYv1n3SwuS
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkW5AAH241T
It was an effort, I was almost tempted to ask for help and a push, but my groaning legs carried me up two flights of stairs until I collapsed on the bed. Not long after I did so, a heavy knock came on the door and after I called for the person to come in. It was the masseur I was expecting. Well, not quite. A tall, muscular man in a soldier's tunic came in.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPqtx1fyti
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMIhQQzOSh
'Massage sire?' he asked gruffly.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVF3fLlE07
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPWQM8HSWc
'Please.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9vvup3zOu
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FiUV1Gbk1
'Saw you walking today sire. You'll want the legs looked at.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8A6g2LrjU
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZVYKjFiNr
'Left shoulder too, from carrying that sword.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZTfXE37pU
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHDIje4vod
He nodded. 'Too right. You know they make the dummy out of lead, deliberate like? So when you pick up your first real blade, it feels light.'410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4pdNZ4r5q
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVPiYFtda1
I didn't reply and soon I felt his hands on the backs of my thighs, through my clothes. I wasn't going to remove them, even if that limited his access.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9FExR3vg4
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGU0WiD2nN
Before long, I was getting some serious work done, loosening my cramped and tight muscles and while it was borderline painful, it was effective. What with the wine and the exercise, I'd sleep well. There was one thought still nagging me though, arising from the questions that the sorceress and the chancellor had raised with me. Oh yes. The hunting lodge, level 2 had been due for completion earlier this evening.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXEjTAf5z6
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SwcBwlHK8
I paused the massage long enough to call down the town menu, then got back into position while I studied it.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGubxQ3t6vi
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFEHgMe6ss
Greyland410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFtzmOmArk
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP34LTtIZpY
Economy410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8ytHNjC0o
Currently building:410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEYzzHou63
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuiKKIfT5U
Monthly trade income: 0410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajFuiYjAt6
Monthly tax income: 54 gold410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYDgwscVBq
Treasury: 2 gold410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F01ddtFLF
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m55mYY1mR
Daily food consumption: 13 units410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRipa7cgGQ
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OIjOUjtlY
Grain yield: 0 due in 17 days410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k0AQud5Gj
Vegetable yield: 35 food units due in 20 days410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lbBqiEtTD
Wool yield: 3 bales due in 33 days410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJoj1iXWbr
Meat yield: 5 units daily410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUzQoXkPpF
Timber yield: 17 planks daily410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ePBDH9CtC
Iron yield: 2 ingots daily410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqHDJLouyA
Quarry yield: 6 blocks daily410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jhBwDFYxq
Smithy yield: steel pickaxes on hold. Awaiting iron.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGPYgXfdfL
Weaving yield: 4 bolts daily410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQT0nxVGo4
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmXfvg31eg
Research: Shipbuilding One410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qW9x4UQmq
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKFgGu9fl1
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YnNWa4Q3s
Resources:410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYdmp1iPFO
Wheat: 14 food units410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5xAffPxvc
Vegetables: 25 food units410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdoVplSdbx
Meat: 8 food units410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUMxhmECG4
Wool: 7 bales410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0eu6HOAqH
Timber: 150 planks410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s9XkpxddJ
Iron: 0 ingots410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWetKQ0j0l
Stone: 39 blocks410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJWfS3NeTn
Cloth: 4 bolts
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hylVPbHR5
The meat yield had gone up by one. I had hoped for two but I couldn't argue with a 25% increase. That still left us losing about 6 food units a day, with reserves of 47. I winced, and not from the pain of the knuckles digging into my shoulder. I had to set a new town building project and the attractive options were hunting lodge level 3 or mine level 3. Both would take two days to upgrade.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5II9SM8klH
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8g4ejK4ZJ
In trying to figure out which of the two would work best for solving the food crisis, I realised that something was wrong. The smithy should have made me eighty-four steel pickaxes. If they significantly improved iron output, I would build the next level of hunting lodge. Yet the smithy was on hold.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0icurJP2ad
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9NQLnOXhL
The problem was iron. I had made a mistake. I blushed at the thought of talking about this with the others. If I had waited to create the new archers, I would have had plenty of iron for the pickaxes. Scrolling deeper into the menus, I could see that the Smithy had built a stock of 12 pickaxes before I had assigned the remaining iron to training the archers. Then it had come to a halt.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHSfXf5rdN
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQTIur4hQo
Oh well, I allocated the twelve new pickaxes to the miners and given that at least two iron would come in tomorrow, the Smithy would be able to make 24 steel pickaxes, which would surely improve the daily output of iron? Three days would see me with a mining workforce fully equipped with the new pickaxes. Three days though. When I should have been using those days in building up a surplus ready to trade for food if Figus came back from the Necromancer with a decent deal.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReM2YuicBm
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaolsq5n4M1
This was discouraging, but more positive was the discovery that the hunting lodge level 2 had the capacity for four more workers. That was a must. I assigned the new hunters from the reserves of workers (now only 8 strong) and went for the hunting lodge level 3 as the next build. While iron was vital, food was even more so and there was no guaranteeing that my ambassador would even return, let alone with a trade agreement.
