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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNhahnPoLe
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JS8ATaiS3
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLreAPIL3e
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37SbxZHifa
Next, I called up my character sheet.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8k1bV7orX
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaUX3z7bFz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLId23O1o0
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLfy0fbFR6
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Str 7475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMllek64M0
Dex 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFJTFIdgTP
Con 8475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYAgZTxgFZ
Int 16475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWOpZAOAGs
Wis 16475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys1feyRcN6
Cha 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA8TsVXDIm
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Skills475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EbIc5GGA1
Bash 25475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iwM3GZEUw
Block 1475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25lVg9hH6y
Defensive Stance 1475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ep2YIYFZK
Deflect 1475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUViCGqpye
Dodge 1475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ257Nfb6y9N
Impale 25475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtIxTVvzLK
Lunge 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRIJIXLiO8
Parry 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjoEUXwXiY
Wield Rapier 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1EJtmQGC1
Wield Shortbow 3475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRKhmQxMiv
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Feats475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemz6BReqU7
Charge! (Wis)475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNrxHC6u9a
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5E7fsPNxz
You have 4 attribute points to assign.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzYbUzenXY
You have 15 skill points to assign.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGgduXH0mi
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnizvFFSF4
XP 2,860 (3,200)
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj47BmPVubH
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnhdEzTQpW
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?475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLXBk1X45O
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwDTx0dhry
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNvVWLJ9Kz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm7xB3P7Oi
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3i5slzRBw
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iwn1MWmUE
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).475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t1jM7ZIDF
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Of course I unlocked these with a point in each. Someday on the battlefield, they could make all the difference.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vGD1DVuYn
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I noticed too that (Wis) had appeared beside my first Feat, and I opened that sub-menu.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M6JIRG2OB
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.
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPgYDH99Gj
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlrZr0lTEB
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbYptbhdYs
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC84aAp7z8
Carradock Goblinbane was alone at the barracks and on my arrival he saluted me eagerly and said, 'well done sire! Very well done.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjz6dE5igZ
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbtqCRBus9
'Thank you.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhSVF74eNB
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'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXjfCBHjCm
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3Wdk9r1EC
'Consider yourself so instructed, Carradock. You can be my aide-de-camp when we are in battle.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU2rJi3E1b
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65GAKOjmOV
'Thank you sire.' His words were heartfelt and the tears in his eyes sincere. Good man.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIzwaGGc30
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieGF5aN8oz
'Now, let's continue with my personal training. I want to get stronger,' I said, 'and I also want my constitution to increase.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTgKL7Ecwf
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokwPHARqXI
'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pb3TGkUaC
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'Three months.' I sighed.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikUxtMdrM8
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'In your case, it might go quicker; you can dedicate yourself to it. As much as your duties allow.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOohIrCnQbe
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFpz1Z42pm
'What does survival training involve?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGJFsW4DMy
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcbsAGSiXi
'We go into the mountains and live off the land, building a lean-to, hunting and climbing every day.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqwu84xYYH
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVorgwHqnjT
'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?475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8OIxmJmKz
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'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe5Pw6BWtH
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtVnm2Iji3
I caught Carradock's eye and nodded. All the same, there was so much to do here.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6GSxT49t8
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'What about the strength training?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvQByWEvDM
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKzx8CAWze
'Much more straightforward, sire. I'll teach you the lifts and you practice them over and over until you are at your limit.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL1f5RU6S2
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkykaX24SHB
'Let's begin with that then.' I literally rolled up my sleeves.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhyq8pgvQJ
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGOuF60Rxc
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY6px1z8vP
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YqGmE5HO1
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CB5SxK9my
'What's with the smirks?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dWvad7Jij
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK29Dj03JO
'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjFKZoPU5c
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq9Kh2L0HH
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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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUCJhE8NQn
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***
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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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy81cmR0ebs
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk4170hx5h
'What kind of ship?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEXeRrzc9I
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIB7NPICuy
'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RPRunider
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'Go fetch the Sorceress. Tell her to meet me at the quays. Get someone else to find Figus, the ambassador.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa5xCKvDUW
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'Yes sire.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ecmJHVkny
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'Carradock, come with me and bring your sword.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uguEMv4i9
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'Spear, sire. I can still stick 'em with it.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrlHy1DDxK
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'Right so.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCza71bPE56
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKkYWN586t
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdt38CCsiU
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAxmGMjW50
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'What do you know of these people, Carradock?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvkhk38ZTm
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugnnBajNSN
'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhkh0cubXf
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMipdBKvXnz
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFW3GlBJ31
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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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07S1W2MTEi
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezD4BBjfFM
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSW6OLlJut
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'How's the mana?' I asked Carlena.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoKcadngQQ
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'Full.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lKnepZNll
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'You're all we've got.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhhmustpCm
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'This I can see.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JF7N81i55
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I was hoping she'd add something reassuring to that comment. She didn't.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iqCbjmc1L
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAVP9mLxO8
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'Sire.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQNjDEkkpB
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'Ambassador.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5uaWcRDZq
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9padg0qiY
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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?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFACcZv8mq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Zkey7cbZ
'Just you.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGaM6tQxek
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqWGlxCf52
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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?475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpCOgsm1hs
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCEGxZMOvB
'I am Jarl Injeborg the Red, here to speak to you on behalf of King Olgrim Beartooth of Jomskar.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9PmKm9ObK
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'Go on.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJCNQON78i
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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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl9aajxE2T
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGvCiQDwgx
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBbiu3g4WI
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'Here's just fine.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrG00t5LbN
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'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw5n8KXWVJ
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'Perhaps, if you and your ship could survive a level eleven Fireball.' My heart was beating fast, but my voice was steady.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZXfVOvnBW
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO98tusw9Q5
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'I'm listening.' And I really was.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7eujZIRZI
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'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32oUf31igE
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'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSSFEFptBL
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'As you can imagine, their courtiers did not take this well. And, to be brief, we are at war.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33yi3RjC8V
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I laughed. 'I like the sound of King Olgrim. Very well. What do you want from us?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD3uneeFNM
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'Iron. We know you have mines.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqXcAoLrzq
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehM1umkGjy
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'And in return?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBHxikLlPr
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'Fish. Salted fish. Five units for each ingot of iron.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNzHIHAvTR
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreOLy03eXr
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'Using your own trading vessels?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EkWt2pXcR
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'Yes.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkhFvyE94R
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'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gkAkXpJkN
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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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uuk6kcnjS
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'You use slaves up in Jomskar?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUnJkpNLhT
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'We do.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiU0Wtd2m1
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'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU2PJpQtAS
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpsLAmA0Ep
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'I will agree if our agreement is six units of fish for each iron ingot after this.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGUaaoH1Uv
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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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRaamxaVRq
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'Perhaps. I am already at war with two kingdoms, however, I make no promises about fighting Rockguard.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3flmXtxibb
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'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3spsAAemj
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'After you.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuTz7zSVqv
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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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQZ2lPGQf0
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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.
