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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmojn3S1214
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FiOV04E8H
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIQBvzeA1i
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFuck8B5wU
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37h93fTMoF
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddd6AzckvO
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe3tYA9aLd
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTpgfz8bfk
'I heard about your training today sire. It gave encouragement to the troops.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlUWadv3jj
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGoKohbXZq
'There's a long way to go.' I glanced at my fleshy arms, so different to my previous body.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEfopqg14p
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsfi0hNHoo
'I also heard that you scorned the ambassador of Southway.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUHQUBmTvX
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr228QyYNVP
'Oh did you? What did your sources say, exactly?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6vdBzmTZC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUHgOC3HsO
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctHKAnEq0m
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVccnCjkStN
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqAML89mB1
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu80AfIeyP
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn6RD2i6O2
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aP25pF3UM
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve65jQHndC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsoLQIFPrB
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBkSJg1irF
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDACqEx7gp
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhUARLG327
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlHLvCese4
'Spoken like the old Carlos,' said Parrin with a smile when we had the room to ourselves.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAnCcieKbF
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qhnLhYJ3s
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmr39qxVDP
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzJhQBPALy
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfEIsantPJ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpfTHXPieF
'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?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfDbF9VX2T
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6BO2jPVP0
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieMb7CqH8W
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDKs8WWiTT
That made sense and exporing how to raise happiness was yet another goal for me to add to the 'to do' list.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjclF6pHJQ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEHl6UHvnJ
'How goes your personal progress?' asked Parrin.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnBP9E5kED
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh9dmfXM0L
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AwYlIc0Xd
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEw7Np3ckT
Carlena frowned. 'What level Fighter are you?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oosdBxXjw
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZigXyeH88
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfLHqDJHwV
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUp1bLiXhY
All three of them turned pale faces towards me, eyes glistening in the candlelight.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9M1lEsVfb
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqzE93lqow
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVfXDqmAFT
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl3kXGq4P0
'I believe King Wace is level twelve,' muttered the Chancellor pointedly. 'And Queen Rorgesta of Trolland is eleven at least.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JL7ahwWIp
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lWl72bNuf
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?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVTvgG5doH
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2k2oYLwPk
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F3JgjzHpZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWICrfw5Zy
'And we can bring you to areas nearby where there are monsters you can fight and kill for experience,' offered Lord Parrin.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaQpK1YM0J
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwUnEKoZFL
That sounded promising and exactly like the RPGs I was used to.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqjmcltMjp
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn4Yr3OBmv
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLzoHv8LUl
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxVoWlsl84
'True.' Lord Arval nodded. 'Don't push so hard you damage yourself.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW5xZjjnQa
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOqWxu6Mbm
'We need time. Time to fix the kingdom's economy and time for me to level up.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFrWiOjsej
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRMGV8DCBb
'Indeed. And in that light, provoking the king of Southway might not have been wise.' Carlena spoke tentatively, as if exploring the idea.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ06EZY8uf
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vy63AYhdr
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHBHkcFRys
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr51YA7e3Yt
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1gj4rBBR5
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcLIXD12sQ
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUswreyrbV
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOD8Vure9m
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbedaC1OGF
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4BWYupgby
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6ZlrfCxiZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK0qcIk40S
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWouEkRKT3P
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXwM72CFjT
Everyone greeted my proposal with approval.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxDRQ7DxDY
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1feplpVC9
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?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazNaMCmh7x
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sgNaWcCK5
'Perhaps,' the Chancellor nodded. 'It would be a mission for Figus.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1DusgQAVO
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7WlDifWLY
'When he gets back,' I said.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8baPNLGHw
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lPSQ0UQKI
'When he gets back,' Parrin repeated.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSabR5KEBt2
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVQTY95J7R
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhfCNCzTar
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33Un0JmXer
'Me?' Parrin looked surprised. 'We have scouts, of course.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0PqfdqAyr
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ1F38kC7V
'Yes, but they are all level zero, right? Whereas you are level nine.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymuATxFJ6V
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqmEDsx3UD
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSRhVeKLWv
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlegti8mIu
'Just don't take any risks.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRabyRaiQl
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0iNkd8UkS
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeed9sGczdr
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ty1eX1L38
'Can the king ask for a massage?' I leaned in towards the General.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62CvROsOjf
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJRtRaqRME
'Of course. I'll send someone.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmrqrrlNzR
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzYrrRozAs
'Good, I'll go on up to my bed.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVQ0zjpAQG
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dqP2lKurY
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrsRkmhhHt
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Und6nWXQL
'Massage sire?' he asked gruffly.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BMY75OdK3
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXXTd9Z4QF
'Please.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6NaveuNU9
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPmHTn4rY4
'Saw you walking today sire. You'll want the legs looked at.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzZhhB9zWZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB0qzS2fvl
'Left shoulder too, from carrying that sword.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYx1svjJoH
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDBxA4Qi7Z
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpvk5azWzZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFErZLzcNY
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo4geEWcnL
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbZJvrqA9X
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyEOM5n0bT
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuuhseSbCg
I paused the massage long enough to call down the town menu, then got back into position while I studied it.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUuX0BGNg1
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9mu0cWr6F
Greyland408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG70n82LTjn
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI86Gz2Kf8A
Economy408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vXWF8Kckt
Currently building:408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjuohTc8Vv
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcYOconCKX
Monthly trade income: 0408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfVzbibH4Z
Monthly tax income: 54 gold408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DFJbDgtDm
Treasury: 2 gold408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UbJ67ypkZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpQzmDGKIa
Daily food consumption: 13 units408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1pKDkpejL
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUfDZ8lp4d
Grain yield: 0 due in 17 days408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK3h6wto7W
Vegetable yield: 35 food units due in 20 days408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTTVTj0iTt
Wool yield: 3 bales due in 33 days408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCdBDQUavE
Meat yield: 5 units daily408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhsbskV6y5
Timber yield: 17 planks daily408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP1ECplhfQ
Iron yield: 2 ingots daily408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY69LJQk0Ci
Quarry yield: 6 blocks daily408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm86EGooK9Y
Smithy yield: steel pickaxes on hold. Awaiting iron.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTon6qtnR4r
Weaving yield: 4 bolts daily408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rB1kCTPyF
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypEF1DUPmv
Research: Shipbuilding One408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zfJxqPX5Y
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV1HaCEDFK
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTHauqqcMJ
Resources:408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZyoPm2D3Q
Wheat: 14 food units408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVmU7Y1PIp
Vegetables: 25 food units408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gkJZ81y2B
Meat: 8 food units408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs9zc4zyTF
Wool: 7 bales408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2MlT62ppb
Timber: 150 planks408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahwPDplldx
Iron: 0 ingots408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwqBzOCGi4
Stone: 39 blocks408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmpROKtqYW
Cloth: 4 bolts
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmSSRLcfDK
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD1jO6hIzu
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDpf7mSadQ
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPTsZmGc5A
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcwSxBLHmJ
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIYnGNFP8E
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzDuVID6Hv
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln3qna59R6
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwEjuL1YZB
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.
