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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSiJTLlW4R
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilUceb3aUw
A castle servant, the one from breakfast, was ahead of me, twisting her apron in her hands and looking everywhere but into my face.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcvVWLf2pj
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ3Nkuphmh
'Wha'?' I wheezed out.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXEGAZnuQy
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNONWpnhUXW
'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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotJT2XG96H
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvWIw4bw67
'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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0ZdcD6xVR
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxPODWRKvB
I wasn't really hungry just now, my body was too stressed, but no doubt my appetite would revive later.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCJgEXuXMW
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaoBVXgMlk
'Ahh…'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyKrOyQXRv
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDxyNWykMo
'What?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kvkXYF1l9
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScm9DZ0Xzr
'Chef won't be pleased.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ5svFGlcg
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs00ult7s2L
I stared at her. 'Hands up if you are king.' I put my own hand up. 'That puts me in charge.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH7W5Dv9zH
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuxchqg0Ei
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWnIZm9vRC
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PfWBbScoC
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhuQV5grLa
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlljfu8wSI6
'King Carlos?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEi82ourjx
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA9SsZzp77
Either I looked dumb, having forgotten my name here, or else the new arrival was dismayed by my appearance.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg3Olb6Ds4
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW3gKgckBu
'King Carlos?' he tried again.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdJX0zLgwl
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1eCa29dCI
'Yes?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfBIMIQftS
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7YBzg1oDT
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWAmW2rsU9
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl050WMuoum
'Lord Oseso, ambassador to his majesty King Wace of Southway.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBVIEKDtLS
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJcJUE3ibh
'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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPVjMpc1fO
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnimxIDB3WT
A crowd was gathering as soldiers and civilians moved closer to hear the ambassador's words.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1URwdNrau
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQA9eL5Exn
'Perhaps we can take some refreshment in private?' Lord Oseso suggested.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZAotXBHoP
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD884sgipy
I shook my head. 'There's nothing you can say that I would hide from my people. Why are you here?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqDOQEuVO3
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDg6qX0ARf
'Are you sure?' There was a knowing sneer in his gaze, inviting some kind of complicity from me.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8koUI5EDd
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXWqnMD4Gl
'Get on with it. I'm busy.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXSdbmGca2
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUVoZOprzR
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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk6Q4hYxJx
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDtKxvLCyX
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxlL4Q5ucH
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPdiB1MrGT
'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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1FAAl6USP
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkVXWEYuKK
Lord Oseso shook his head. 'Careful what you say next, this offer won't come again.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSlUigDeQO
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWysMsiIsh
'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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QOzNuCPtF
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoV375PGaR
'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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcarP9SNya
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2EN7cEMMA
'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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnre9iBNYh9
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsCUYaszrY
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1VeR14wLV
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXqiD2MjcG
'Blindfold him and lead his horse. Don't let him look around as he leaves.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL0gBFgJ1q
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUMv87Aniz
'Yes sir.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfOyvKm4Yp
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVLc0orb0A
'Right, then everyone, back to work. We're going to have to work extremely hard, myself included, to endure and escape conquest.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xNSyPQy6B
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39hRtxsdsz
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYjAxu40NE
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5Lt3AiPGL
'Now, Carradock. I was on lap forty-four, was I not?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeKXzyakgf
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj89Xr2hW8
'Forty-three sire.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg68iG4vrY
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2B5bIAx3C
'Damn pedant.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGwLiY9w8y
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxl9igTDg7
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF2QxctL7s
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9xcV7Mrt8
It was the military menu that got me thinking again.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB7q32ST2M
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qXTgGB5DL
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2XPFzvury
Military423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyNcAuteBg
Light infantry: 32423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Fs5eAP7b0
Heavy infantry: 12423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2lZydsJt5
Archers: 18423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eV5fXMxO4
Light cavalry: 24423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPVyoCMiPN
Heavy cavalry: 4423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjIusWPRQe
Ballista: 1423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmQZFEXA85
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvasqmqSrOO
Hospital: 17423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5OyvdEcGB
Military upkeep cost: 42 gold, 5 silver423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrG0o87qUt
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxMGfpDmlD
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw7gQT5Fnr
Currently training: 1 heavy cavalry423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTW5Ly5VlZ
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVN5yVbvnI
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPiZfDKeXi
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lHsBVfPtP
Currently building: tower machicolations, 3 days
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMHG3sdoUn
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgxP4EkaJW
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyywDsBzK6
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBcNlqtaKR
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla128BWrJf
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MQEQMgdRe
Shipbuilding423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBGOaNGz8r
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTuWDH3oo7
Unknown.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvuTOgSQdS
Create a Shipwright to unlock this option.
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCWYwuBvtX
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBCf0QxmUU
'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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgdNTxmD8L
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRbHU5KiZC
'Sire?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCAMgqd9st
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCGFdfaOgK
'Get the Chief Carpenter for me.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wqVj9ylw9
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M1SXufvtN
'Yes, sire.' The lad got up without any urgency and strolled down a shadow-filled street.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7ZWz5Y7NF
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47a9HNjwkQ
I was on lap forty-six when the carpenter arrived, he was a bald, confident looking man, with intelligent brown eyes.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpBjHUN8tR
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqkZNICZoE
'Walk with me,' I grunted.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10Cpx64hGc
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkwzJwECuQ
'Sire.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx53NpcWFYE
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vuigpO2qp
'Can you make us a trading ship?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XnLKmFsOv
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi4Uv7ACWk
The question came as a surprise but he took it well, hardly faltering in his step. 'No sire.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dSFnUfefj
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe46V1TGILi
'What if I researched Shipbuilding One?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrrCyBWyc7
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYnednCWKM
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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rq1ztFYDO
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8zhIXfkzP
'And I can then assign someone to it?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OvbVjx5vs
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vvRmcgLhO
'If it becomes an option sire.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUoaS74vcN
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOhfX6UMN8
'Would you like to do it?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyCFdN8Tcm
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50eKzpxbyL
'Me? It's up to you sire.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0SJIoJ4pD
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHcChMIUBv
'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?423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SAIMQMoMz
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWOYlKv1bn
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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUE2bKP6eb
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMVEevEuYR
'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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BwtuwIuqE
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkFmg5e7NC
'Thank you sire.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWw40TFemY
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AYgnJ5Rqu
'Now tell me this. I see a lot of people in the town. But not very many on the menus. Why is that?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL07bQVYogE
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlTWqA0DMZ
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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7mCDFKK0a
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuRhwWCQ36
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCozfxnVMNs
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG0rwi51U2
Forty-seven.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhlvyJT0Ar
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8C96rbZIc
Forty-eight.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu9aNMnJQo
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKecZLHQGd
Forty-nine.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM3nTiQKFV
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpoldXTsIr
Fifty.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aOQUjOuMn
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOZxkRHuN9
'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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBdAPsewTM
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbuN2frAGW
'Well done Sire.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dEnNGo2Hm
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDUa5u6G17
That acknowledgement lifted me all the way back to the keep.
