x
The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwdvMGGStt
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorao7aaEAg
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyN7daokSb
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FXqrrwpvs
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQUZkm5aoT
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoYO3xmiad
Str 7618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkhrfTE0Xs
Dex 4618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxLnxUpIs7
Con 8618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nrt3YnwR6
Int 16618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViEOURrqcg
Wis 16618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2V3yeWvMe
Cha 4618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh3vTrUFK4
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq61EXD1Ki2
Skills618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP78kEDyAHW
Lunge 5618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4zJcapz6E
Parry 5618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnJ5NpOy4Q
Wield Shortbow 3618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT9ituudVv
Wield Rapier 5618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ld5BmH9kP
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJLjjtmeBM
You have 1 attribute point to assign.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOySYqGZTj
You have 5 skill points to assign.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZSSospD4Z
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx6FS4XU0F
XP 110/200
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkm0B62HrT
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt7ZOFcuUl
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUob8xeH6L
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaua2ZY6Q39
I was heartened that the system awarded a new attribute point on levelling: one that further justified my risky decision to be a Fighter. The immediate question was not what attribute to increase but whether to spend it at all. If it proved relatively easy to get attributes to move up from very low scores, but very hard to say, train Strength from 17 to 18, then I should save all my level points until I'd achieved as much as I could from exercise.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoNsskG02S
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZuFvyNv1z
Then there was the question of skill points. From the speed at which skills increased, I might have made a mistake in my Min-Max approach. I tapped Carlena on the back and asked that she wait with me while I took a breather. The cleric, however, I gestured to continue towards the town walls, which were less than a mile away.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREnREI369K
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2FyJm7XvM
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQBfiqWv9u
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqksCnMaor7
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgyZQkEuXj
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UJ7fiE4qf
'I understand.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP48cjZ58ie
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUelvajBFLE
'I believe that every time where you are in a situation where you have a chance to use a skill in earnest, there's the possibility you will increase your expertise in it. But you have to use a skill many times before you will be successful.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKOet75PKy
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFiC425riL
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebrKYLX4JD
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jkQ8axYF8
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqCa4Gmzbt
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySZH8vhR0R
It took a moment to find the right menu, then I reported them to her: 'Strength five; Dexterity eleven; Constitution nine; Intelligence seventeen; Wisdom seven; Charisma eight.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyrKrT4JN8
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlrRW1mu03
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7yzGnCm9t
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Chck6YFaM
Although I felt reluctant to share this information for some reason, I reminded myself she was on my side after all. 'Strength seven; Dexterity four; Constitution eight; Intelligence sixteen; Wisdom sixteen; Charisma four.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOFFadAyGR
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpcOpmKfVi
'By Miya's breath! Sixteen Intelligence and Wisdom? I never would have believed it!' Then she laughed. 'No offence, Sean, but I see the body of King Carlos and I see a very slow-witted man. It affects my perception of you.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNuaA7pYug
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN3LgVUdG7
'None taken,' I smiled. It was the first time I'd seen the sorceress laugh and it all of a sudden, my doubts about her retreated.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqI8t6SmMJ
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJo8IxON7c
'That's the explanation: you will learn fast with those two attributes so high. They are extraordinary, I doubt there are more than a handful of people in the world with both Intelligence and Wisdom over fifteen.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5S1YG0tQo
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIvtBnGPLT
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZXxfiQmbz
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VrbaSlICS
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISVYBaXifW
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiOqu7FRYr
I resumed my slow walk back to the safety of the town walls. It was hard to force my thick legs into motion, but my morale was high and the aches didn't trouble me. If I could get my core fighting attributes to increase, to at least to around eleven or twelve, then I could bump them up with my level gains. Meanwhile, I had a very advantageous situation in regard to skills. Obviously, I should spread my points widely, trusting to my Intelligence and Wisdom to bring them up fast. In time, I would be a very versatile warrior, capable of using a wide variety of weapons and actions at a high level, instead of a specialist in just one or two.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRag7BZTeX
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyophQ37YxS
I put a skill point into each of Bash, Block, Deflect, Defensive Stance and Dodge, which would get me started in those. And I saved my attribute point for now.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhZE41R98h
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNXBpxK6LQ
By the time we reached the eastern gate of the town (a large metal portcullis that was already mostly down, I had to duck to go through), nearly four hours had passed. I hadn't forgotten the fact that the smithy was turning out pickaxes and as soon as the iron was all used up and I had twenty-four new pickaxes, I assigned them to the miners.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBT0WpJUBs
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvareajWfbF
The Cleric was just beyond the gate, waiting for us. My instinct was to thank her, but conscious of the looks of the guards and the townspeople, I simply said, 'be ready to do the same tomorrow.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbOkLNfTrq
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfakInfNt3
'Yes, sire.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC23YxUhVKu
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh7Yf55Ngt
With a promise she would join me for dinner, Carlena bid me farewell soon after and set off towards her tower, the one I had arrived at just two days ago (though it felt like I'd been here a week at least).618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXXzBdL1mV
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfc3PVRuA2
As I entered the keep, my thoughts were entirely on a bath and even a nap before dinner, when they were jolted into focus by the presence of Chancellor Parrin. My scout had been waiting in one of several chairs that were set outside of the solar for that purpose. My heart leapt. So much depended on his report. What did his face convey? Bad news, I thought, there was unease in the way his eyes caught mine.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuZjOsPlC7
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuexDx4guO
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG9kXPsm6F
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApJ5eFucWw
'Well?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHAc9TKoT1
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMgGWQClAB
'They are moving an army towards us.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFxCkDgjoS
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrHWjMWEVD
'How many troops?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycwTI4CpeL
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl1NfKuPBg
'Sixty spearmen, twenty axemen, forty archers, thirty light cavalry, ten heavy cavalry…' he paused, 'with them are two commanders, one from each faction, and a Shaman with a sabre-tooth tiger pet, I couldn't determine their levels.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyeRodwD4c
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbADDkrRauz
They had about twice the number of troops we did. And strangely that gave me some hope. Given Greyland's tiny army, it could have been a lot worse.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ryna7abUg
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOlvq82RjM
'How long have we got?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hYQ1ee41X
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW2oDtoYDR
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7UQdC9rnq
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMhvKk2w0b
This was happening too fast. If I could have even had just a couple more personal levels, I could make a real difference to what happened in the melee. It was unfortunate too that the tower machicolations wouldn't be in place for this battle, one day and eighteen hours remained on that timer.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1TdJx5HlJ
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vh1CWAE0t
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc6b1U2td3
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmSA1nGPgj
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoZM1TTccW
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yewv4MMGF
'No, this is about half.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jmcjqEeLv
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW3yio6ki2
That really did feel like a mistake. If they had risked everything on overwhelming us, that would have been far more dangerous. Perhaps they were worried about losing control of our farmland in the event of being thrown back. Or perhaps the two rulers were not entirely of the same mind. Whatever the reason, the encouragement I offered the chancellor was not at all bluster. 'A lot will depend on how you, Lord Arval and Carlena perform, but this will be a battle we can win. We have a ballista, they don't have anything with the same range?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpeytg2w9T
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv31WS3KGak
'No.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbITIBoMVvz
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcruGDZW3I
'Because of that, they won't be able to mass their archers to eliminate ours and then drive us from the walls. They will have to come on fast and try to storm the fort while we are on top of them. And that's a big advantage to us.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21YPqOHbXL
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHjw5RuTOO
'True enough sire.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsSpcsKfFH
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivLW8v1Xfp
'Send a messenger on a fast horse with those figures to Lord Arval and tell him I'm coming; order a horse and cart big enough to carry me; let Carlena know to meet us at the fort tomorrow, early, and the cleric too, and any of the archers in the hospital able to fire a bow.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjebz8LPSsC
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBLbsm3F5d
We shared a look – for my part I tried to convey confidence and determination – and then he was striding out of the hall, his rapid footsteps echoing in the empty room. One day I would lead my armies from the front. If we survived this attack. But even if I couldn't fight in a battle effectively, I could be there to encourage the soldiers and give orders.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wHQ4kiQrb
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvbRIqvEJN
After a wash and change and a meal (fish again) I went outside the keep to where a man sat on a long cart, which was drawn by two horses. I was going to have to travel through an uncomfortable night on those bare planks and over a bumpy road.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafewzMcPe2
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wJ7V6KMK7
It really was a painful journey, several times I was jolted so badly even my bulky body rose off the planks. As best I could, I distracted myself by reading up on the game menus, giving particular attention to the stats on the soldiers. It was possible to get details on each soldier type, so our 33 archers, for example, read as follows:618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cxg3pLBJB
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrlXrX8hBC
Greyland Archer618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA2hWzNZe4
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9GuntDoAz
Fighter level 0618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkuS7zgjf7
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3vdXWaa5w
Ranged attack: 15618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWa4t3CciO
Melee attack: 8618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa1Dw7nxGl
Armour Class: 2618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmJuHyT9ny
Hit Points: 5618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW437r2Vu60
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLgcrQzMmo
Skills:618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lzmtpuDAK
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhcIeoAUq1
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDr7lDIq4D
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYYbg6IVkb
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowxnC1Fz5z
I had also been keeping an eye on the town menu and just after dawn, 4 iron ingots appeared in the resources area. That was excellent, it showed that applying steel pickaxes to mining really was an effective way to increase production. I allocated the ingots to the smithy, meaning I would have 48 new pickaxes in due course. Assuming we survived the day ahead.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPJEiZd8pR
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8Y1o4uY8B
Lively birdsong accompanied the spread of grey light across the sky. Because we were making our way down a valley, I didn't see the rising sun, only a pink glow that became a bright yellow sun by the time it rose high enough to cross the shadows of the horizon. It was a beautiful day and I was struck by the realisation that it might be my last. Unlike a game, this could be the end for me. I was placing myself in proximity to 160 or so enemy soldiers who wouldn't hesitate to kill me if they could. And there was no possibility of escape if it all went wrong, not with this body.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFx1dKmElC
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstfmZBc0yr
Did every soldier feel the same, the morning before battle? A heightening of all the senses? An appreciation of the sky, the breeze, the birdsong? Even of the breaths I was taking. Yes, I felt a certain amount of fear, but it was very much in the background. I had to do what I had to do.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4fWD0hlQp
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTDtWx77AI
Three Ways was the area at meeting of two valleys at the confluence of two small mountain rivers with a bridge over the emerging river. The fort was a wooden tower on a rocky outcrop to my right, the river I was following was on my left. Extending from the tower and all the way to the riverbank where there was another, much smaller, tower was a wooden palisade. There was a gate where the road passed through the wall.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk1QH2X8W5
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tO62DI0CD
My first impression was positive. We had control of the main route up towards Carrick. In theory, you could march along the other side of the river, in the narrow strip of rocky ground before the hill began to rise steeply. That would let you bypass the fort, but it would be slow going and we could harass the enemy from our side of the river. The walls of the hillside were even steeper near the main fort tower, including slaps of sheer rock in places. There was no way an army could skirt around us.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ1OpVP67l
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM7AZmgaoF
A picket of a dozen light infantry called on the cart to stop and as soon as they saw me, they stiffened to attention. With some difficulty I got myself out of the cart and over to the soldiers who looked at me with solemn expressions.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUhlLUSVRH
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNhLOwLBdB
'Show me to Lord Arval.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOuIGRCMlf
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybJeDMZSxZ
A guard saluted and led the way towards the main fort tower; before we were half way there, a cluster of soldiers came out of it, Lord Arval at their head, body armour shining silver in the morning light.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXKQ5SKW7S
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1M5rXqimW
'Well met, sir, well met!' Lord Arval offered his hand and shook mine earnestly. 'I have made my dispositions, but I'm glad you are here to check them and lead us in the battle.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ksr61MFPb
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfdKB7ewDI
'Thank you, Lord Arval. I don't suppose this world has invented coffee? No. Some hot water then if you can, while you explain your set up.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPZNmMGqis
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gm1D0Is1p
'Certainly sire.' He gestured an aide to obtain my drink, then began his account. 'Our light cavalry, twenty-four of them, are scouting further down the road. They will bring us word of the enemy advance.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJhzwEXlXF
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH6q850V50
I nodded.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8povMNDVeG
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutlm1Roi8G
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlRSzFb6kW
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cvUByS8UL
'What's the maximum range for it?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjobVGxAqaT
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnsgiaFp7f
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfNOvlqJaS
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjjTMWEIea
It took some effort, and I nearly had to ask for a push from behind, but I got up a narrow wooden staircase and stood with the Paladin above the gate. Ahead of me, the road turned left to cross the bridge and then follow the river downstream on its left bank. That valley was where our opponents would arrive from. From here I could see the other stream and the mouth of the other valley, which was around the corner to the right of our main tower, with the stream running across the ground ahead of us to the main river about four hundred yards from where I was standing.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7JrHjNOKs
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mFUVmLPDK
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yOjmWN30r
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK738yZFsB
'Yes?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpyTHS1dMU
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa21OF2Gm6O
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX8Di7tt9L
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wiyFADpX0
While it was good that we could be shooting at the enemy as they crossed the bridge, I wasn't sure about placing the ballista crew in a position where they could be fired upon once the enemy was over the crossing. Not at all.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qjFCPMenp
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC0vhN1ydu
'All along the palisade will be our light infantry. They have been hauling rocks up ever since we heard the news. Also about half the archers. Only fifteen can fit alongside the ballista crew on the top of the tower.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwftFY5uMB8
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85L3paqBQH
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJESPRoh9ga
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo0sVCdx1n
'I was thinking that the twelve heavy infantry and four heavy cavalry should be there on that rise, as our reserve.' He pointed back the way I had come from.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUKNy6y26v
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEYizOM109
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomNInfTtDP
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aOCnO637k
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52yWLW2Kuo
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTuXn03Riz
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTkp2Jc5dr
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ734iZrCY
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKg8tc0t7E
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gex8dIAy2
Lord Arval looked thoughtful and rubbed his bald head slowly as he considered the ground ahead of us. 'I'd probably rush my archers to the main tower and try to silence the ballista, maybe having prepared screens first, so as to protect from incoming arrows from the walls. If I succeeded, I'd clear the palisade next, as much as I could.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWAgAgCgLb
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc5kP3sZQq
'I think the same. So would you consider putting our ballista with the reserve? Too far for their arrows to reach but within range of them?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHAGYzL9vl
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dquafabXO
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGZb6p82cD
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WSgyqAB4O
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7abbT5Salo
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGezua3b1h7
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5TGtQYY89
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWH71TIVVwP
'We could put Carlena here, she has a fire dart spell that would do a great deal of damage or drive them off if they come close.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm4O74QwlB
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyBlEBFMIy
'Aye.' He had a distant look, probably I did too. We were trying to imagine what the battle might look like. Though as any writer on warfare would tell you, no plan survives contact with the enemy. 'Aye,' he said again, more decisively, 'I think you are right.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjQtLxdmn9
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJikmjcdXta
'And the advantage of my idea is that we keep everyone under cover for the duel between ballista and their archers. Your way, we might win, but are likely to lose a lot of troops.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSy4EsqT65
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiao9ABCTJ
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNxVPyEkE1
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EElerQd2a
'Go ahead.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A3uXyY2bY
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWkGHf1JMX
It took over an hour before the ballista was set up on the rise behind the palisade, even with a pulley to lower the equipment down the side of the tower. Not long afterwards Carlena arrived with Chancellor Parrin, the Cleric and two more archers, who had recovered enough in the hospital to participate.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyhbABac3J
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAtNTknqKR
The Cleric was put in the reserve and then the four of us: Arval, Parrin, Carlena and myself went to the small tower while we talked over the plan. In short, it was to win the artillery duel and therefore be able to have the infantry throw rocks and spears from the palisade without fearing incoming arrows.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnsfeevVB5
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv0DdEIo5a
Time moves slowly before battle. It was still early in the morning and I wondered if it was worth feeding our soldiers in the near future or not. I asked Lord Arval.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwfGd7WmdE
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIwNsDzkMI
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgZmvMXGo7
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpYnDncJkl
'No one knows sire. There is a story of an emperor who had the same question. So he took two groups of twelve soldiers and had them fight. One group did so after a hearty meal, the others with no food inside them.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy1EEOwTWQ
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSdYKaxvSV
'And?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZFXAHVMQg
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrgFqVCYD3
'Inconclusive, sire, I believe the no-food side won, but only by a man. Personally, I find a small amount of food, especially fruit, optimum.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVjGPwJ5Vw
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDUZwKeToA
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS3AzjGUAE
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM3dfVwpIz
Our opponents did not, however, arrive until after a long, long wait, the sun well past midday. Then time began to move rapidly, beginning with the return of our light cavalry: a distant dust rising into the clear blue sky, then the sounds of their hooves and finally the sight of them clattering across the bridge.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVcl4VZ4rW
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPk5YuqcpT
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84vUgSz4aX
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD92kEjo1aw
'Ready sire?'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa7XDmtGXN
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeVTeZkOYS
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxTopXbMkC
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4XpNnb1nf
Lord Arval nodded approvingly, while Chancellor Parrin's long, bearded face was inscrutable. He probably had years of practice at hiding his feelings from Carlos. Carlena, however, was clearly sceptical.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAdUOq1EcS
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogSXE51UE0
From a rock on the rise, with a good view of the cavalry to my left and the infantry below, whose faces were tipped up towards me, I tried to remember some of the rousing speeches I'd heard in films.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkW0DLT4x8
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BMnPt7koi
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IXE57KyJF
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb699NWg2CS
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JRtJ3ah1v
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWRHl1msMx
'Soldiers of Greyland!' I began, my big body proving good for this purpose, with my voice strong and echoing from the rocks. The men looked at me with hopeful expressions. 'This day, the twenty-fourth of the month of Abya, is forever going to be remembered in the history of our realm. For it is on this day that we will turn the course of this war.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpwhRvoNz7
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t6nhkjIys
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQHG1X0hUH
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEhYrdpgeO
'And you are the lucky ones. There will come a time when vast armies under my command will conquer the twenty-five kingdoms. And they will all know that it began here, with just a few of us, a lucky few. A band of warring brothers.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLFbU19s6X
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSqWyi0ikP
'You will be able to say, with pride, I was there that day. With King Carlos, with Lord Arval, Chancellor Parrin and Sorceress Carlena, when we smashed the army that tried to invade our mountains and sent them fleeing back down the valley.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCODSoY45Bp
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFf2iig9AP
'It will be a tough battle, they have more soldiers; but we have much the better position and the advantage of the ballista. Let no one think of retreat. Either we hold this fort or the enemy capture Carrick and enslave your families.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg5HIygYdM
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcdEjwqxY9
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOdrX8qnQP
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgAVxO8j7x
'Those recruits in years to come who were not here will think themselves cursed. And listen in silence when any of you speak. You who fought at the battle of Three Ways!'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeR3qQ4Acb
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLMBh94aSM
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZD9bYU6eN
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKSdPxhdi8
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtHE4rpBXw
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKwXs2qe7p
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHRscsy2G4
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKbH1M74ZD
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzTqmXS816
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsxTJFAqii
Passing me a small bottle of turquoise liquid, she said, 'just drink and name the creature. Make it one around your size or it might fail. You will have eight minutes.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDrjh8midm
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRTclw2WDV
'Good luck.'618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJkP3C4qVE
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDFTet29z7
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunvzwD1IB9
618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBOGsbwWm0
Before Lord Arval had returned, a new sound came from the valley beyond the bridge, an ominous deep series of thuds. The enemy were coming, marching to drums of war.
