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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5ALWBlRKQ
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A castle servant, the one from breakfast, was ahead of me, twisting her apron in her hands and looking everywhere but into my face.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP5YmFdJY6
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'Wha'?' I wheezed out.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBxLpBq1Yb
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqLdjyODDR
'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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcDZTJIoYD
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe0AAGuIqX
'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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEKSEh6N2U
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I wasn't really hungry just now, my body was too stressed, but no doubt my appetite would revive later.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK8xEe4A7s
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'Ahh…'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EkL58AUE9
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'What?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCN7NEFavc
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'Chef won't be pleased.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSJWUA09ZT
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uOzx2Yb9B
I stared at her. 'Hands up if you are king.' I put my own hand up. 'That puts me in charge.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEqI8tJsaW
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt94LcIky6
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR3JzCfdDE
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIA5fPfhUL
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXeM8X5Xec
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXZM9EQefA
'King Carlos?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAqGP1Rzmw
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Either I looked dumb, having forgotten my name here, or else the new arrival was dismayed by my appearance.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3CCem8hHq
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00dtSgcmjI
'King Carlos?' he tried again.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYZ2HFwcCX
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVE36h7e9o
'Yes?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybTlwA7ZDc
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZYH1PlVvQ
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEFbYl5Opk
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFMPK6P7Cj
'Lord Oseso, ambassador to his majesty King Wace of Southway.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwClPvqpO7l
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnMCLZe4B8
'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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HBRIyE8Uq
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QyVHUwbBB
A crowd was gathering as soldiers and civilians moved closer to hear the ambassador's words.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyLvPeVQER
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'Perhaps we can take some refreshment in private?' Lord Oseso suggested.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsnuvf7dLR
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I shook my head. 'There's nothing you can say that I would hide from my people. Why are you here?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGquCnmPmX
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ450pNPfsHN
'Are you sure?' There was a knowing sneer in his gaze, inviting some kind of complicity from me.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m4KgzcDQI
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'Get on with it. I'm busy.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcSuymdkWa
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DICW4T0ve
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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDvkPSFx8A
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIvzFIa1mV
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVccj6s7c46
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv7KUEbuxu
'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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6vMeDSKiR
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGpOjgJ3uu
Lord Oseso shook his head. 'Careful what you say next, this offer won't come again.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOKrxBkgJC
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQOn9hy2cU
'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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIea7KkUgi
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBHUtiRnJC
'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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBk1KDfTrR
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO8IbA6vAC
'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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvzeeve5AL
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TU44nwjyF
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vCLljBinf
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'Blindfold him and lead his horse. Don't let him look around as he leaves.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMXCalqc6j
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HuJE0jv5r
'Yes sir.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWoMx89AV7
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYT7yvF4Rw
'Right, then everyone, back to work. We're going to have to work extremely hard, myself included, to endure and escape conquest.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn8CEV4EWC
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlJkuVs3N9
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKiIBtfJrq
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvKAXy6nfu
'Now, Carradock. I was on lap forty-four, was I not?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rn30nqVqJ
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTOLF8Ifm0
'Forty-three sire.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH1xjp69X2
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnQVaDAP51
'Damn pedant.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TPEil1Zr4
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhjcQ0IfFb
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc6o3zbvgL
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It was the military menu that got me thinking again.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijtrDFUz7r
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390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5jFEE3GH4
Military390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gCtWGGkXa
Light infantry: 32390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiJ7uZMw2D
Heavy infantry: 12390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW78ZrEbrLn
Archers: 18390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlipTJAU8sg
Light cavalry: 24390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u0ze41k0j
Heavy cavalry: 4390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EnSm64Xdx
Ballista: 1390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKqJabZ3zC
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJtAUddHIv
Hospital: 17390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqShUip1N2
Military upkeep cost: 42 gold, 5 silver390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH5GZzTtsT
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHZNcQob88
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Api9X2Esu
Currently training: 1 heavy cavalry390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxokQLuH5Ab
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvWuztu36G
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuMxx0j5Oz
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AXE7fayzL
Currently building: tower machicolations, 3 days
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Why was I training heavy cavalry? They were costly in terms of iron and tactically useless. We would be holding defensive positions for the foreseeable future and while I hoped the day would come when I rode at the head of a line of formidable heavy cavalry, that was a long way off. Although it meant losing whatever raw materials my predecessor had invested in the project, I cancelled the heavy cavalry from the training queue and instead added fifteen archers to it, at a cost of 10 iron ingots and 15 gold and 15 of the unassigned townspeople.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGMpqmMdMO
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkLx9MkCW1
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjx4M8Q4U6
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Shipbuilding390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ7oED9yq3
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Unknown.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU7iSqL1wk
Create a Shipwright to unlock this option.
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390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQOK5XQFRJ
'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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dzggCmr9O
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'Sire?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX8eJBijnn
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'Get the Chief Carpenter for me.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh7ONhrNOs
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'Yes, sire.' The lad got up without any urgency and strolled down a shadow-filled street.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpKiI2DUQY
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgWaPBR3z4
I was on lap forty-six when the carpenter arrived, he was a bald, confident looking man, with intelligent brown eyes.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iwc2NZ3X9
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'Walk with me,' I grunted.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimqrrlS4rs
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FAjG9eqPY
'Sire.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJbywrbMCp
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqw4MRlYNh
'Can you make us a trading ship?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Uxudu8M4I
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSOS6omWeJ
The question came as a surprise but he took it well, hardly faltering in his step. 'No sire.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4xPDFa3PH
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrerqlabuC
'What if I researched Shipbuilding One?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0PDsgYYob
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjybZOa1uL
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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq1O2L4n2q
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICpXfsqjYr
'And I can then assign someone to it?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b9pGVKC2X
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'If it becomes an option sire.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt7vQONKMe
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXxk7BcErO
'Would you like to do it?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68iklPmB99
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bnWQRWmmq
'Me? It's up to you sire.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78U3L7kKOr
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5hZ5wk1LM
'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?390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXF1sntfUB
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMrFO8OUXu
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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lwl4c8qJ8
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dSgoG07uU
'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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIFOXsuw5K
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBnWp01ybZ
'Thank you sire.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfMu058XJK
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnNi3OcueC
'Now tell me this. I see a lot of people in the town. But not very many on the menus. Why is that?'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfn0xN2933
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyZmOz8Tt0
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.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wadSkgP7R
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5rU2xWRPu
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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyfHbJ8vHa
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCFngWuji7
Forty-seven.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF974V1Tqry
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Forty-eight.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMHE2tFsny
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Forty-nine.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2giuERj10
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Fifty.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqvo4zMxSo
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss4Il7dbPw
'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.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqCw8VGY5D
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwvpygl3El
'Well done Sire.'390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEht3ZCfU0Y
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyLD6mhrO1
That acknowledgement lifted me all the way back to the keep.
