The walk back to the town – Carrick – was slow but satisfying. Naturally, I had my character sheet before me:305Please respect copyright.PENANAuwjYS1G8E6
305Please respect copyright.PENANAqlETHRr4xg
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland305Please respect copyright.PENANAqc15C0uJPU
305Please respect copyright.PENANADRm6ESX3kU
Fighter, Level 2 HP 16 AC 0305Please respect copyright.PENANAciCBpqhD1Q
305Please respect copyright.PENANAPsGWttR4ZY
Str 7305Please respect copyright.PENANAzWBcfAirBL
Dex 4305Please respect copyright.PENANA5ys0H9avtt
Con 8305Please respect copyright.PENANA7Sqb3AvlV1
Int 16305Please respect copyright.PENANACYnFQQYxxg
Wis 16305Please respect copyright.PENANAIB2IuPVVyL
Cha 4305Please respect copyright.PENANAhUwrnU9p5y
305Please respect copyright.PENANAPbcejuNWcj
Skills305Please respect copyright.PENANA1PAXpkhWy8
Lunge 5305Please respect copyright.PENANAOXWc4bK6Mb
Parry 5305Please respect copyright.PENANAAWscF3iNz8
Wield Shortbow 3305Please respect copyright.PENANAeM2tIAXfdI
Wield Rapier 5305Please respect copyright.PENANAedEeJ7a7F6
305Please respect copyright.PENANAsfHYpsLaff
You have 1 attribute point to assign.305Please respect copyright.PENANAGwhPBti9LN
You have 5 skill points to assign.305Please respect copyright.PENANA2Uovpkdlrl
305Please respect copyright.PENANAfIDujty0vh
XP 110/200
305Please respect copyright.PENANA7cmIinhf1j
305Please respect copyright.PENANAmSQvpu5gfK
305Please respect copyright.PENANA94iRLCkNgc
305Please respect copyright.PENANAS7H4qtkGYH
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANA4T78LqgXQ5
305Please respect copyright.PENANATdNkmbSjYj
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAY8WXMVOoKo
305Please respect copyright.PENANAkfxROHC8TA
'Can you tell me about how to improve skills?'305Please respect copyright.PENANA0mEzZihYYA
305Please respect copyright.PENANAvaUByB7duI
'I don't have access to the menus that you do, so anything I can tell you is conjecture.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAwirmdvKhE1
305Please respect copyright.PENANAbJTFu6Fs1o
'I understand.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAQyypa2YJFx
305Please respect copyright.PENANAu3hoh0Jprw
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAGGXZcKloMN
305Please respect copyright.PENANAGycLQBp8o7
'Mine seemed to go up fairly rapidly.'305Please respect copyright.PENANABP7zpeWSml
305Please respect copyright.PENANAJVv0brSnNw
Carlena looked at me thoughtfully. 'Tell me my stats.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAN4dX6YxpWM
305Please respect copyright.PENANAMxK2aNQub8
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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAuDhRDjMTje
305Please respect copyright.PENANA1SgFfJ1ViF
'Much as I thought. Although my Intelligence is slightly disappointing. Now, what are yours?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAXEguCqUo13
305Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5jEUU2YKl
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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAjdfzDDtGXj
305Please respect copyright.PENANAZVYW2VzksE
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAxvgWI8seec
305Please respect copyright.PENANACqw7HvUCYm
'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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAHkiFdTftjE
305Please respect copyright.PENANAdTSwg41y8g
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAOUtVGuKHpq
305Please respect copyright.PENANAx2EWABwwb2
'What's the maximum an attribute can be at?305Please respect copyright.PENANAUA8Xg15k1K
305Please respect copyright.PENANAnEERAU7fXS
'Again, this is conjecture, but I think for a human, twenty.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAr53nRn5xZc
305Please respect copyright.PENANAohhPGUEiZ1
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAbnryfsjwwU
305Please respect copyright.PENANA1W8W51lluD
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAzHpIGvwTMv
305Please respect copyright.PENANAeDAjViZBe1
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAmWWmJvigk3
305Please respect copyright.PENANApfzwSvhGs3
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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANA9uMBmAbVHX
305Please respect copyright.PENANAlTpwz2FoVW
'Yes, sire.'305Please respect copyright.PENANACzD258IYTK
305Please respect copyright.PENANAuOAchWE02v
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).305Please respect copyright.PENANAh5m7FLsY45
305Please respect copyright.PENANAdkiawkiPKA
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANASsilg3nHWD
305Please respect copyright.PENANAZOyy34VHO9
After taking my throne and ordering the servants to leave, I called the chancellor close.305Please respect copyright.PENANA21mT9nq1Z2
305Please respect copyright.PENANArsOVUpUhHg
'Well?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAgdjPrcjz1M
305Please respect copyright.PENANAB0ixUsBblO
'They are moving an army towards us.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAKcVyhQnKkJ
305Please respect copyright.PENANAMKNWDDy5jl
'How many troops?'305Please respect copyright.PENANApgp0u3qyCL
305Please respect copyright.PENANABRQGib1A1u
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAExDmt33ySf
305Please respect copyright.PENANA5K9jCHrJEF
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAzHBzV63Jyd
305Please respect copyright.PENANAL6qpswEPKZ
'How long have we got?'305Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZrjUro0Q1
305Please respect copyright.PENANA9YLQoKHyNa
'They will arrive at Three-Ways tomorrow, probably near enough to noon.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAQCVjzxt4dR
305Please respect copyright.PENANAy7fHM9GuXk
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAxkXAKxEBz1
305Please respect copyright.PENANAh9GdICuz7O
Perhaps I was looking worried, because Parrin asked, 'can we stop them?'305Please respect copyright.PENANA3LvsT9Eour
305Please respect copyright.PENANAILbxd7Gkgx
I smiled. 'Of course we can. In fact, I think they've made a mistake. They didn't bring their full army?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAIMn1CeNhAq
305Please respect copyright.PENANAmMT39W8wRd
'No, this is about half.'305Please respect copyright.PENANATalH7S4YgB
305Please respect copyright.PENANAZzVab5c5mW
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?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAJQ6o5H1E80
305Please respect copyright.PENANAIGDFuP4Jey
'No.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAQnvJMuG5ir
305Please respect copyright.PENANA94A9dfeTRY
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANA5DBexoGojx
305Please respect copyright.PENANAaIu3onJmhp
'True enough sire.'305Please respect copyright.PENANANPZJ5D9BXf
305Please respect copyright.PENANAuZihB09lMf
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAuPyzM6gaUe
305Please respect copyright.PENANA0HLZttqaLf
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAFyAPa9Cg9M
305Please respect copyright.PENANAMR03xmSU6w
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAfIMISwdbgO
305Please respect copyright.PENANAyleHwz3PEG
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:305Please respect copyright.PENANAUetX1EfpsL
305Please respect copyright.PENANAo5Db1PLZQL
Greyland Archer305Please respect copyright.PENANA1fwsgsBJ8w
305Please respect copyright.PENANAJYrAPBRPaO
Fighter level 0305Please respect copyright.PENANAsmcjO8nsH1
305Please respect copyright.PENANA3n8CHbPWZX
Ranged attack: 15305Please respect copyright.PENANA3njI6uuCA6
Melee attack: 8305Please respect copyright.PENANAQHx62HSrPv
Armour Class: 2305Please respect copyright.PENANAw9ihQsOhbS
Hit Points: 5305Please respect copyright.PENANAsQFdgsnzqh
305Please respect copyright.PENANAApAEN0B75d
Skills:305Please respect copyright.PENANA3hz0gE4Ar2
Wield Longbow variable, according to experience305Please respect copyright.PENANAyQEgaSIAgB
Wield Shortsword variable, according to experience305Please respect copyright.PENANAdyqYIYYRit
305Please respect copyright.PENANA6u3KGdayiZ
Monthly Upkeep: 4sp
305Please respect copyright.PENANAdJMbLNBb2X
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANA12QoQM6Nga
305Please respect copyright.PENANAsjKys92Amw
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANApCqzuqvPkt
305Please respect copyright.PENANAkyorxcK4lb
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ov4MP949Z
305Please respect copyright.PENANAz7hb0EU1fI
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAQXja9vSDTQ
305Please respect copyright.PENANA1K8nWHtC7Z
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANArT4R0CZXW4
305Please respect copyright.PENANAj183FTijUY
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANASQsmOwokhG
305Please respect copyright.PENANAFNyoRNYunw
'Show me to Lord Arval.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAp183FAnMZR
305Please respect copyright.PENANArNYFeR5XFm
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAdih4FBHIeL
305Please respect copyright.PENANABRTqWayHHt
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANApZXZh45OzZ
305Please respect copyright.PENANAuEt3zrPnCE
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAF2cbXfzyNT
305Please respect copyright.PENANAkGhbsTl8fJ
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAmX2ImEs3MQ
305Please respect copyright.PENANAjKWcbjO5fj
I nodded.305Please respect copyright.PENANAjU2WvnoGlF
305Please respect copyright.PENANAibushU895r
'The ballista is on top of the main tower.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAnIVVvdfize
305Please respect copyright.PENANAmlsxg0lWjB
'What's the maximum range for it?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAJheKNf4xYQ
305Please respect copyright.PENANAmCanBlyoyg
'I can show you, if you'll come up to the palisade walkway.'305Please respect copyright.PENANA5xSczZirY8
305Please respect copyright.PENANAVYDA9SOCMj
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANANsl0vFenWZ
305Please respect copyright.PENANAGuTW29T9t6
'See that reddish rock beyond the bridge?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAG3EcmYPItr
305Please respect copyright.PENANA6gcqKPpF4N
'Yes?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAHaCasuyoNl
305Please respect copyright.PENANAM19BDEDVm1
'The ballista can hit that. I know, I had them fire at it.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAxoEw0IcTjt
305Please respect copyright.PENANAm7dkKeM2Mr
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAWlsPZNBxue
305Please respect copyright.PENANAYIjIwTUYeY
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAY7ivbQYn2I
305Please respect copyright.PENANA2fOhHpiWjL
Lord Arval looked at me and then continued.305Please respect copyright.PENANAm08a5Yz9rf
305Please respect copyright.PENANAe8P4thgXBZ
'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.305Please respect copyright.PENANA94rEJw4zqd
305Please respect copyright.PENANAU1llSZAIpF
'And what about you and the Sorceress?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAMe3MB8rIJw
305Please respect copyright.PENANAzf1wdCU6kY
'It seems to me, she should be on the small tower, nearest the bridge, and myself with the reserve.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAsoR1iC2raU
305Please respect copyright.PENANAJDB7YP2sWC
For a while I studied the position and everyone waited silently, the only sound that of our flags flapping in a light breeze.305Please respect copyright.PENANAZT7q0Tr7lF
305Please respect copyright.PENANA1n0pZ0fSxT
'Suppose you were their general, what would you do?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAzNaCHdrHVv
305Please respect copyright.PENANAmwkAhgrMe0
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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAVyobqWXwLZ
305Please respect copyright.PENANAZTmTySlpWE
'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?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAq3LWzSwXrI
305Please respect copyright.PENANAzDoIcd2hW3
'We'd lose the opportunity to fire when they are crowding the bridge.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAHc43MrxzWb
305Please respect copyright.PENANA2s79YAJTF7
'If they are smart, they will cross in single file.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAjHrxoqNqMF
305Please respect copyright.PENANAhABFxpeUUt
'What if they stand close to our walls? We might not have the elevation for the ballista to see them?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAEpx3zlchIL
305Please respect copyright.PENANAwJnAxKxhAE
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAEIcVC3Ua4e
305Please respect copyright.PENANAuMut6mYSEn
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAl3jhojkfS7
305Please respect copyright.PENANAefgTQotHD5
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANA8oQnpS0hrn
305Please respect copyright.PENANAzS5FyKFQ04
'Very good sire. Shall I order it moved now, we need time.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAVpdQHeDNTq
305Please respect copyright.PENANA2bYFvMSSzx
'Go ahead.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAYpsccxr9BS
305Please respect copyright.PENANADzlq3HZuXW
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAunfVnI1DlV
305Please respect copyright.PENANA9yRgIDImUr
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAHKRDy4c0M5
305Please respect copyright.PENANAxuZ1nFFMwm
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANA5QwUc2CLgN
305Please respect copyright.PENANAnw7LO8IJ1E
'Does a soldier fight better on an empty or full stomach?'305Please respect copyright.PENANA2S7IHLlz8k
305Please respect copyright.PENANA6pv7u6zUSW
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANACoqLSBsHiG
305Please respect copyright.PENANAYL2KL5wwas
'And?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAWU2ovDaaZr
305Please respect copyright.PENANAiOO50BzgJE
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAdlhWlBpdaZ
305Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1gOXhC8R1
'Very good, distribute it now, in case the enemy are making good speed.'305Please respect copyright.PENANA91lVzTsQPN
305Please respect copyright.PENANAbxZQIw02ph
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANA4wyZ7v9cay
305Please respect copyright.PENANAc4m2aAiQ6p
When they were drawn up beside the four heavy cavalrymen, Lord Arval had the gates closed and barred.305Please respect copyright.PENANA1ktRy50vry
305Please respect copyright.PENANARo1AOKXSK1
'Ready sire?'305Please respect copyright.PENANAf4BBtNmqGS
305Please respect copyright.PENANAGVxiRrvOnz
'Not quite, gather the soldiers, I'll speak to them.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAXv3Ob8MED8
305Please respect copyright.PENANA9lZyW49tgh
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAul9jUcIQIa
305Please respect copyright.PENANA5UIvv0buXe
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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAbj99aRHhIN
305Please respect copyright.PENANAnkx7FKvWnh
'What day is it?' I asked Chancellor Parrin in a low voice.305Please respect copyright.PENANAODvrfS6tci
305Please respect copyright.PENANAE439iWCyW9
'Twenty-fourth of the month of Abya.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAFfGRQu6S2i
305Please respect copyright.PENANA6cWUpulTVs
'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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZEYIejUOh
305Please respect copyright.PENANAnPNFKLs6Tx
Lord Arval gave a roar and shook a spear, which encouraged many of the men to do the same.305Please respect copyright.PENANAMWLr9Qpqfq
305Please respect copyright.PENANAiwqsGop3qA
'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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAEYL3ew6Cru
305Please respect copyright.PENANARsWe0mCBDe
'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.305Please respect copyright.PENANA8Rfh25VCOm
305Please respect copyright.PENANA27crjSombn
'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.305Please respect copyright.PENANAacZIFKUNm0
305Please respect copyright.PENANAViIb3XqQ2t
'This is where we make our stand. This is where they will break. Fight for yourself, your comrades, and your families at home.305Please respect copyright.PENANA9wXlZTOn1e
305Please respect copyright.PENANAslF5Njdh54
'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!'305Please respect copyright.PENANArKvKKxzEAC
305Please respect copyright.PENANA1ORswiw7zy
Lord Arval gave another roar and this time there was a really satisfying response, one that resounded all around us.305Please respect copyright.PENANALjKjnWIaip
305Please respect copyright.PENANAsrPQIH8YNy
'Positions!' Our Paladin, now on his horse, led the troops back to the palisade.305Please respect copyright.PENANAZZLNH6yA0N
305Please respect copyright.PENANAvt9kLqe2hp
Before she left, I called Carlena over. 'I think today might be the day for your potion.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAotnbARgIMi
305Please respect copyright.PENANAge9HmIA5mK
'You might be right.' She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before from her: respect. 'You spoke well.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAwWrCnLEVXg
305Please respect copyright.PENANAcTP5PNjneT
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.'305Please respect copyright.PENANArT9UeQipFc
305Please respect copyright.PENANAvZZDDDGAo9
'Good luck.'305Please respect copyright.PENANAlbssH0DUCr
305Please respect copyright.PENANAjiPixA0WY1
'And to you.' She walked towards the gate and her position.305Please respect copyright.PENANAZ909B0wJKd
305Please respect copyright.PENANA8Js1UpLbeL
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.