After forty-two laps, I was beyond exhausted, my large body drenched in sweat, my left arm on fire. Every time a citizen came through they stopped in complete astonishment, sometimes gathering in groups to stare, until a frown sent them scurrying about their work. I lived for the nod of approval from Carradock each time I arrived back at the gate against which he leaned, often in conversation with other soldiers. Also, for the thought of a long, long warm bath.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJZQR2q4sj
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A castle servant, the one from breakfast, was ahead of me, twisting her apron in her hands and looking everywhere but into my face.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Th90FRez0
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'Wha'?' I wheezed out.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflAe6IKBJ1
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'Chef–' she flung her hand out in a gesture towards the keep, where a short man in what looked like a grey baker's outfit '–wants to know what to prepare for dinner.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEGGbQIgEa
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'Dear lord.' I came to a stop, worried my aching legs would not want to resume. 'It's not important. But keep it simple.' My predecessor had obviously enjoyed eating extensive meals with several courses. 'Just a couple of slices of roast meat and …' What would an athlete eat? Food with plenty of protein and vitamins. 'Wait. Grilled fish. Nuts. Fresh vegetables, like tomatoes and carrot, that don't need much, if any, cooking.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpEM6HIo89
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I wasn't really hungry just now, my body was too stressed, but no doubt my appetite would revive later.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzKwpLvXZR
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'Ahh…'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AdCTz7Xiz
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'What?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYQRrPvC7v
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'Chef won't be pleased.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrHi42Wg9G
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I stared at her. 'Hands up if you are king.' I put my own hand up. 'That puts me in charge.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0IUuRcQpu
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Once she had turned away, alarmed, I returned my focus back into my final few laps. Although it was distracting I when I turned a corner and was facing the keep: there I could see the chef remonstrating with the servant. He kept looking over at me, as though in appeal, but I wasn't having any of it and focused on moving one leg, then the next, and on keeping hold of that enormously heavy sword.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbTwo3yWgl
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I wasn't allowed to settle into my rhythm again though, for with a clatter of metal-hooves on cobblestone, a small group of riders came into the barracks yard. Some were soldiers of mine but one was carrying a green pennant (deep green, with a golden wolf's head) and dressed in expensive-looking clothes.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BQY9YgBVD
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'King Carlos?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfDXu2Z2iY
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Either I looked dumb, having forgotten my name here, or else the new arrival was dismayed by my appearance.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkvTVcu4aL
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'King Carlos?' he tried again.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkfcVK1h4v
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'Yes?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFrfoSEdHW
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My impression that this was a man who was attentive to his looks was reinforced as he dismounted and made his bow. No one had a beard as neat his without some effort.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJc7S6Hc69
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'Lord Oseso, ambassador to his majesty King Wace of Southway.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6FYswpehU
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'Pleased to meet you.' My politeness was automatic. I felt no warmth towards this man. Quite apart from the fact his rich, fur-lined cloak and black, oiled hair alienated me, this was the enemy.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCjLNSF8sC
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A crowd was gathering as soldiers and civilians moved closer to hear the ambassador's words.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6wMFULSbX
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'Perhaps we can take some refreshment in private?' Lord Oseso suggested.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93kROneR7z
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I shook my head. 'There's nothing you can say that I would hide from my people. Why are you here?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWnEYHGpgP
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'Are you sure?' There was a knowing sneer in his gaze, inviting some kind of complicity from me.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhv24piUuU
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'Get on with it. I'm busy.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZQWZaORAe
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Supressing a smile, the ambassador from Southland shrugged, as if to pass off any blame. 'King Wace, in his generosity, offers to make Greyland a dependency of Southway. You,' he gestured to everyone, 'are spared conquest. And you personally, sire, will be given a comfortable retirement, dining on the finest food of our realm in the company of delightful personal companionship, in return for implementing the decisions of his highness on your interface.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nJElBNsb8
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A silence fell over the square and even the crows stilled their caws, as if to listen to my answer. I let my heart and breath settle.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61Wei1RIO1
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'Firstly, we are not conquered yet. Secondly, we all know what it would mean for our kingdom to be run by an invader…' I raised my voice for all to hear. 'People dragged off to work wherever your ruler wanted; our soldiers used up in his battles to spare his own troops; our wealth drained into your coffers; starvation and ruin here.' I knew what I was talking about, it's what I intended to do to them.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHjkbFvAFr
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Lord Oseso shook his head. 'Careful what you say next, this offer won't come again.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfxCszVhjm
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'Good. If we see you again, you'll be executed as a spy. Greyland will never surrender and you can tell King Wace that unless he withdraws from our territory, it is he who will suffer conquest.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RrVLjLe5j
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'I'll tell him of your empty threat and he will laugh. And he will remind you of it when you are in chains at his feet.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WYEM6M1T5
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'That is disrespectful.' I was furious and at least a part my anger was drawn from the uncomfortable feeling, fear even, that he was going to be proven right. I walked over to him, using my height and bulk to lean down and snarl. 'Vincit qui patitur, he who endures conquers. And Greyland will endure.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H34Q2y8T7
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Perhaps he saw the determination in my eyes. Perhaps he understood how close I was to striking him with the sword in my left hand, which no longer felt heavy. In any case, the ambassador's head dropped and he stepped back, then turned away to find his horse and remount.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv65ReSTdW
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'Blindfold him and lead his horse. Don't let him look around as he leaves.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLdMk5VAOS
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'Yes sir.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzJW83t8BV
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'Right, then everyone, back to work. We're going to have to work extremely hard, myself included, to endure and escape conquest.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mgpF1B5CP
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Muttering broke out among the people and it was hard to judge the tone. Certainly, it was not the cheering enthusiasm of a people rallying to their king. But among the soldiers especially there were several faces that looked brighter and more supportive than they had.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOhW5JGjVM
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'Now, Carradock. I was on lap forty-four, was I not?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4L4nrr2uh
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'Forty-three sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gdTEue7Sk
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'Damn pedant.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcptKf8kgIW
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The last few laps were painful. It did help, however, that I could study the town menus and take my mind from the constant complaints of my body. That gave me one measure of the effect of my responses to the ambassador from Southway, which was that the score for Happiness under the people menu had risen from 14 to 16. At least it hadn't gone down, so on the whole, they seemed to approve of resistance rather than surrender.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR60u9BuEH
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It was the military menu that got me thinking again.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu0DIKhNhJ
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Military383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdesFejJWG
Light infantry: 32383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqUweUZEdE
Heavy infantry: 12383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5wdfg3r1j
Archers: 18383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw52JEVjfYM
Light cavalry: 24383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohlT3KnJjD
Heavy cavalry: 4383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc5esSyKDN
Ballista: 1383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrV0kj5lEf
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Hospital: 17383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkVdKsMpTO
Military upkeep cost: 42 gold, 5 silver383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJsBVbRrvE
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Currently training: 1 heavy cavalry383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuJncyGNjQ
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElFXXI81yV
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Currently building: tower machicolations, 3 days
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Why was I training heavy cavalry? They were costly in terms of iron and tactically useless. We would be holding defensive positions for the foreseeable future and while I hoped the day would come when I rode at the head of a line of formidable heavy cavalry, that was a long way off. Although it meant losing whatever raw materials my predecessor had invested in the project, I cancelled the heavy cavalry from the training queue and instead added fifteen archers to it, at a cost of 10 iron ingots and 15 gold and 15 of the unassigned townspeople.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKcqBtggdo
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That left me 12 unassigned townspeople to think about. Before setting them to various tasks, I needed to know about building a trading vessel. When I tried to call up information about ships, I got a frustrating message.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn7JGmaahD
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Shipbuilding383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbfOw7kgzB
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Unknown.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCrxh7NsVM
Create a Shipwright to unlock this option.
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'Hey, you!' I called out to a skinny youth, who was hanging around near the steps of the keep watching me with earnest eyes as though I was last man in for a cricket team that was over a hundred runs behind. And I couldn't tell if he wanted me to fail or succeed.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOLvzZHIMk
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'Sire?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOb7ciJq6Z
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'Get the Chief Carpenter for me.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Od7OPMNV6
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'Yes, sire.' The lad got up without any urgency and strolled down a shadow-filled street.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZn9yXTGcB
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I was on lap forty-six when the carpenter arrived, he was a bald, confident looking man, with intelligent brown eyes.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2Vx2BCEpc
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'Walk with me,' I grunted.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YC5LMOOwx
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'Sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqwVwj0ZGu
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'Can you make us a trading ship?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ1cgPtYhM
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The question came as a surprise but he took it well, hardly faltering in his step. 'No sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugGRo6NPU5
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'What if I researched Shipbuilding One?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtZYUDsYCT
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The man looked at me, surprised, then down at the ground. 'As you know, sire, I only have access to a limited menu in order that I can view my tasks... I couldn't be sure about research, but Shipbuilding does sound like it will make the role of Shipbuilder available to you.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPezQN3zbG
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'And I can then assign someone to it?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ837PMBtNT
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'If it becomes an option sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzqsShdGIq
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'Would you like to do it?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6UJVN7t3K
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'Me? It's up to you sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8gDPcqlr3
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'Yes,' I said, a little impatiently. 'I know that. But I'd rather people enjoyed their work than hated it.' This wasn't just coming from my innate sense of politeness, it was practical too. I wanted that town happiness score to rise and surely by assigning the right people to the right jobs, at least when it came to specialist roles, that was going to help?383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NGyhLQIkc
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We walked the entire length of the barracks square and turned back towards Carradock before the carpenter answered. 'I think I would like that sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqLMZTwyUC
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'Right so, find someone in your workshop who wants to be the Chief Carpenter and I'll make you Shipbuilder in…' I checked the research menu, dropped Navigation (there was no penalty, but I risked having to restart it again from the beginning), as it still had five days to go, and swapped to Shipbuilding 1, 'four days.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr36oeoEx9T
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'Thank you sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88RK9gTr9k
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'Now tell me this. I see a lot of people in the town. But not very many on the menus. Why is that?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIXxKBdoF8
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Again, the carpenter looked astonished. Then a little wary, as if I'd set a trap. 'People want to join the menu, sire, to serve the goddess... and you. But it's limited, isn't it? They can't get on unless you've been able to make room.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI6rtRHvYc
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That wasn't an answer that clarified very much, but I gave him a grunt to signal he could go back to work. It was as much as I could manage. As for the twelve unassigned people in the town, I decided to leave them for now. Soon I'd want shipbuilders and sailors.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWgW74Eidk
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Forty-seven.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc2GCGstR2
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Forty-eight.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A5S6MTvFF
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Forty-nine.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbqzCEkHxN
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Fifty.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5iAOvOrrO
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'That's me done for the day.' I spoke to Carradock with as much nonchalance as I could muster. As if I could do another fifty, although every muscle was groaning.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4CstHb4bm
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'Well done Sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP3dS8oemd
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That acknowledgement lifted me all the way back to the keep.
